Onboard monitoring device to ensure safe disembarkation of a transportation means

• US 6,947,818 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coligen Corp.
• Original Assignee: Shih-Hsiung Li
• Inventors: Li, Shih-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/945,629
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/51, 340/903, 340/435, 348/148
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An onboard monitoring device includes at least one image receiving device for receiving images coming from a rear of the vehicle, an image processing unit operateably connected to the at least one image receiving device to receive signals from the at least one image receiving device for analyzing the images so as to determine dimension change rate of the images based on velocities of the images, and a microprocessor operateably connected to the image processing unit so as to receive image signals from the image processing unit to determine locking status of the at least one vehicle door.

Claims

1. An onboard monitoring device to ensure safe disembarkation of a transportation means having at least one door, the monitoring device comprising:

at least one image receiving device for receiving images coming from a rear of the transportation means;

an image processing unit operably connected to the at least one image receiving device to receive signals from the at least one image receiving device for analyzing the images so as to determine dimension change rate of the images based on velocities of the images; and

a microprocessor operably connected to the image processing unit so as to receive image signals from the image processing unit to determine a locking status of the at least one vehicle door.

2. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a buzzer operably connected to the microprocessor so that after the microprocessor receives the signal from the image processing unit to indicate that timing for opening the at least one vehicle door is inappropriate, the buzzer sends out a warning signal.

3. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a linkage device operably connected to the microprocessor to be controlled by the microprocessor such that the microprocessor is able to control opening status of the at least one vehicle door via the linkage device.

4. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a linkage device operably connected to the microprocessor to be controlled by the microprocessor such that the microprocessor is able to control opening status of the at least one vehicle door via the linkage device.

5. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one monitor is operably connected to the microprocessor to indicate the image signals from the image processing unit.

6. The onboard monitoring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are at least four image receiving devices.