Rear warning system employing outside mirror in vehicle

• US 7,385,488 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/300,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/435, 340/903, 340/463, 340/468, 340/471, 340/472
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

Disclosed is a rear warning system employing an outside mirror of a vehicle. When a driver moves a vehicle backward and parks the vehicle, the rear warning system warns a driver that the vehicle approaches a person or an obstacle existing behind the vehicle and provides the driver with a visual indication of the distance between the rear end of the vehicle and the person or the obstacle, so that a vehicular collision can be prevented and the vehicle can be stopped or parked at an exact distance, thereby enhancing the convenience in driving the vehicle.

Claims

1. A rear warning system employing an outside mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a reverse switch operating unit for operating a reverse gear transmission used when moving a vehicle backward and park the vehicle;

an ultrasonic sensor installed on the rear bumper of the vehicle for determining an object existing behind the vehicle and detecting distance between the rear end of the vehicle and the object;

a main controller for controlling the ultrasonic sensor when the reverse switch operating unit is manipulated; and

an outside mirror comprising a frame and a mirror supported by the frame, in which the angle of the outside mirror is adjusted by the main controller and the outside mirror has an LED display and a distance indicator provided on the frame for indicating the distance between the rear end of the vehicle and the object in multiple steps, wherein while the vehicle is moved forward, the LED display and the distance indicator are positioned inside the mirror, whereas while the vehicle is moved backward and parked, the LED display and the distance indicator are positioned outside the mirror.

3. A rear warning system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mirror is rotated in such a way that while the vehicle is moved forward, a margin part is provided at the upper part of the frame of the outside mirror, whereas while the vehicle is moved backward and parked, the margin part is provided at the lower part of the frame.

4. A rear warning system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the LED display and the distance indicator are embedded inside the frame of the outside mirror.

5. A rear warning system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the LED display and the distance indicator are operated only when the reverse switching operating unit is manipulated.

6. A rear warning system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance indicator indicates information upside down.

7. A rear warning system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the downward tilt angle of the outside mirror is set to 15°

in relation to a vertical plane.

2. A rear warning system employing an outside mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a reverse switch operating unit for operating a reverse a gear transmission used when moving a vehicle backward and park the vehicle;

an ultrasonic sensor installed on the rear bumper of the vehicle for detecting an object existing behind the vehicle and determining the distance between the rear end of the vehicle and the object;

a main controller for controlling the ultrasonic sensor when the reverse switch operating unit is manipulated;

an outside mirror formed by a frame and a mirror supported by the frame, in which the angle of the outside mirror is adjusted by the main controller and the outside mirror has an LED display and a distance indicator provided on the frame for indicating the distance between the rear end of the vehicle and an object in multiple steps, wherein while the vehicle is moved forward, the LED display and the distance indicator are positioned inside the mirror, whereas while the vehicle is moved backward and parked, the LED display and the distance indicator are positioned outside the mirror;

a side mirror unit installed between the main controller and the outside mirror to control the angle of the outside mirror; and

a sensor for receiving a signal concerning the input condition of the reverse gear transmission from the main controller and for recognizing the angle of the outside mirror and sending a signal concerning the angle to the side mirror unit.