Vehicle rear side video monitoring system

• US 7,889,230 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SIN ETKE Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: SIN ETKE Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Kuo-Rong, Lee, Chun-Chung, Huang, Cheng-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US11/334,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20060176370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 348117-120, 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0001 characterised by position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking

Abstract

Disclosed is an inexpensive, easy-to-install, highly durable vehicle rear side video monitoring system, which uses a CMOS image pickup device to pick up the image of the scene behind the vehicle, and a high brightness LED to provide sufficient illumination for enabling the CMOS image pickup device to pick up the image clearly.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear side video monitoring system installed in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a CMOS (Comprehensive Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image pickup device installed in a specific position of a rear side of said motor vehicle and adapted to pick up and process an image of the scene behind said motor vehicle and to output a corresponding video signal;

at least one high brightness LED (light emitting diode) installed in an another specific position of the rear side of said motor vehicle near said specific position;

a display unit mounted inside said motor vehicle;

a controller electrically connected to said CMOS image pickup device, said at least one high brightness LED, and said display unit, wherein said controller controls said at least one high brightness LED to give off light when controlling said CMOS image pickup device to pick up and process the image of the scene behind said motor vehicle, and controls said display unit to display the image of the scene behind said motor vehicle; and

a starting device electrically connected to said controller and controllable to output a starting signal to said controller, said controller fetches said starting signal to accordingly drive said at least one high brightness LED to give off light,

wherein said starting device comprises an electronic clock;

said starting signal is an alarm signal produced by said electronic clock.

2. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one high brightness LED includes a high brightness white light LED.

3. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said starting device is a reverse gear transmition device;

said starting signal is a reverse shift signal produced by said reverse gear transmition device when in a reverse gear shift thereof.

4. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said starting device comprises a photo sensor;

said starting signal is a low illumination signal produced by said photo sensor when in low illuminations.

5. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said starting device comprises a wireless receiver, and a remote controller;

said starting signal is a wireless signal produced by said remote controller.

6. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said CMOS image pickup device is installed in a rear bumper of said motor vehicle.

7. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said CMOS image pickup device is installed in one rearview side-mirror of said motor vehicle.

8. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one high brightness LED is installed in a license light housing at the rear side of said motor vehicle adjacent to a license plate.

9. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises an LCD (liquid crystal display).

10. The vehicle rear side video monitoring system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said display unit comprises a head-up display installed in an instrument panel of said motor vehicle and facing to a front windshield of said motor vehicle.