U.S. patent application number 10/968557 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for vehicle monitoring apparatus.
Invention is credited to Fu-Lai Chu.
Application Number | 20060232670 10/968557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36120818 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060232670 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chu; Fu-Lai |
October 19, 2006 |
Vehicle monitoring apparatus
Abstract
A vehicle monitoring device includes an image taking device
having a housing for attaching to a vehicle, a motor disposed in
the housing and having a spindle, a follower attached to the
spindle and arranged to be rotated and driven by the motor and
having a compartment. A video camera is attached to the follower,
and rotated in concert with the follower. Another motor is disposed
in the compartment of the follower and coupled to the video camera
with such as a rack-and-pinion coupling, to rotate and adjust the
video camera relative to the follower to different angular
directions. A wiper may be attached to the housing, for wiping and
cleaning a cap of the housing.
Inventors: |
Chu; Fu-Lai; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
SUITE 309
90 JOHN STREET
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
36120818 |
Appl. No.: |
10/968557 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/118 ;
348/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2300/406 20130101;
B60R 1/00 20130101; B60R 1/10 20130101; B60R 1/12 20130101; B60R
2300/105 20130101; B60R 2300/802 20130101; B60R 2300/8066 20130101;
B60S 1/566 20130101; B60R 2300/101 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/118 ;
348/148 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/18 20060101
H04N007/18; H04N 9/47 20060101 H04N009/47 |
Claims
1. A vehicle monitoring apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an
image taking device including a housing, a first motor disposed in
said housing and including a spindle extended therefrom, a follower
attached to said spindle of said first motor, and arranged to be
rotated and driven by said first motor, said follower including a
compartment formed therein, a video camera rotatably attached to
said follower, and rotated in concert with said follower, and a
second motor disposed in said compartment of said follower and
coupled to said video camera, to rotate and adjust said video
camera relative to said follower to different angular
directions.
2. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said housing includes a base panel for attaching to the vehicle,
and a casing secured to said base panel and having a space formed
therein for receiving said first motor therein.
3. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said follower includes an orifice formed therein for receiving said
spindle of said first motor.
4. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein
said follower includes a non-circular portion formed in said
orifice thereof, and said spindle of said first motor includes a
non-circular end portion received in said non-circular portion of
said follower, to prevent said follower from being rotated relative
to said spindle of said first motor.
5. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said follower includes a socket formed therein, said video camera
includes a ball attached thereto, and rotatably received in said
socket of said follower, to allow said video camera to be rotated
and adjusted relative to said follower.
6. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said video camera includes a rack attached thereto and having a
plurality of teeth provided thereon, said second motor includes a
pinion attached thereto and engaged with said teeth of said rack,
to rotate and adjust said rack and thus said video camera relative
to said follower.
7. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said housing includes an opening formed therein, and a cap engaged
in said opening of said housing, to enclose said opening of said
housing, and to prevent dirt or particles from entering into said
housing.
8. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein
said image taking device includes a wiper attached to said housing,
for wiping and cleaning said cap.
9. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein
said image taking device includes at least one water supplying
nozzle attached to said housing, for supplying water to clean said
cap.
10. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein
said image taking device includes at least one air supplying nozzle
attached to said housing, for supplying air to clean said cap.
11. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said image taking device includes a control device coupled to said
video camera, to control and operate said video camera.
12. The vehicle monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 11,
wherein said control device includes at least one display device
coupled to said video camera, to display images taken by said video
camera.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle monitoring
apparatus, and more particularly to a vehicle monitoring apparatus
having image taking devices or video cameras adjustable to
different directions for broadening rearward viewing.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical vehicles may comprise a display device provided in a
rearview mirror of a vehicle, for showing or displaying various
information for the drivers of the vehicles, such as inside
temperature in the vehicle, the humidity in the vehicle, the air
pressure, the pollution content within the vehicle, the light
intensity outside the vehicle, the map of the environment, etc.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,638 to Kaspar et al.
discloses a typical information system in a motor vehicle,
including one or more electric circuits connected to a vehicle
computer of the motor vehicle and one or more sensors, and a
display device for displaying information for drivers. However, the
typical information system may not be used to show or to view or to
see the objects or views behind the vehicles.
[0006] The other typical vehicle monitoring apparatuses have been
developed and comprise three or more image taking devices or video
cameras attached to two front side portions and a rear portion of
vehicles, for taking images or views behind the vehicles, and for
allowing the drivers to clearly see the objects or views behind the
vehicles.
[0007] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,443 to Hsieh discloses one
of the typical vehicle monitoring apparatuses comprising a display
device coupled to three or more video cameras, for taking images or
views behind the two side portions and the rear portion of the
vehicles, and for allowing the drivers to clearly see the objects
or views behind the vehicles via the display device.
[0008] However, the video cameras are solidly fixed to the
vehicles, and may not be adjusted relative to the vehicles to
different angular directions, such the rearward viewing of the
vehicles is limited and may not be directed or adjusted to
different viewing directions.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional vehicle
monitoring apparatuses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a vehicle monitoring apparatus including one or more image taking
devices or video cameras adjustable to different directions for
broadening rearward viewing, and for allowing users to reliably and
safely view toward various directions behind the vehicles.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a vehicle monitoring apparatus for a vehicle, comprising
an image taking device including a housing, a first motor disposed
in the housing and including a spindle extended therefrom, a
follower attached to the spindle of the first motor, and arranged
to be rotated and driven by the first motor, the follower including
a compartment formed therein, a video camera rotatably attached to
the follower, and rotated in concert with the follower, and a
second motor disposed in the compartment of the follower and
coupled to the video camera, to rotate and adjust the video camera
relative to the follower to different angular directions.
[0012] The housing includes a base panel for attaching to the
vehicle, and a casing secured to the base panel and having a space
formed therein for receiving the first motor therein.
[0013] The follower includes an orifice formed therein for
receiving the spindle of the first motor. The follower includes a
non-circular portion formed in the orifice thereof, and the spindle
of the first motor includes a non-circular end portion received in
the non-circular portion of the follower, to prevent the follower
from being rotated relative to the spindle of the first motor.
[0014] The follower includes a socket formed therein, the video
camera includes a ball attached thereto, and rotatably received in
the socket of the follower, to allow the video camera to be rotated
and adjusted relative to the follower.
[0015] The video camera includes a rack attached thereto and having
a number of teeth provided thereon, the second motor includes a
pinion attached thereto and engaged with the teeth of the rack, to
rotate and adjust the rack and thus the video camera relative to
the follower.
[0016] The housing includes an opening formed therein, and a cap
engaged in the opening of the housing, to enclose the opening of
the housing, and to prevent dirt or particles from entering into
the housing. The image taking device includes a wiper attached to
the housing, for wiping and cleaning the cap.
[0017] The image taking device includes at least one water
supplying nozzle attached to the housing, for supplying water to
clean the cap. The image taking device may further include at least
one air supplying nozzle attached to the housing, for supplying air
to clean the cap.
[0018] The image taking device includes a control device coupled to
the video camera, to control and operate the video camera. The
control device includes at least one display device coupled to the
video camera, to display images taken by the video camera.
[0019] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle in accordance
with the present invention including a monitoring apparatus having
one or more image taking devices or video cameras adjustable to
different directions;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the vehicle;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the vehicle;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines
4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines
5-5 of FIG. 4;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view illustrating one of the
image taking devices of the vehicle monitoring apparatus in
accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating
a portion of the image taking device;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the image taking
device of the vehicle monitoring apparatus;
[0028] FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial rear perspective view
illustrating a rear portion of the vehicle;
[0029] FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial side schematic view
illustrating the rear portion of the vehicle;
[0030] FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view taken
along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;
[0031] FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view similar
to FIG. 11, illustrating the operation of the image taking device
of the vehicle monitoring apparatus;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a partial plan view illustrating the control
panel or device of the vehicle monitoring apparatus;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a partial plan view similar to FIG. 13,
illustrating the other arrangement of the control panel or device
of the vehicle monitoring apparatus;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a partial plan view illustrating the display
device of the vehicle monitoring apparatus;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a partial plan view similar to FIG. 15,
illustrating the other arrangement of the display device of the
vehicle monitoring apparatus;
[0036] FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial plan view illustrating one of
the front image taking devices of the vehicle monitoring
apparatus;
[0037] FIG. 18 is an enlarged partial plan view illustrating the
rear image taking device of the vehicle monitoring apparatus;
and
[0038] FIG. 19 is a top elevational view similar to FIG. 3,
illustrating the further arrangement of the display device and the
control device of the vehicle monitoring apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a
vehicle monitoring apparatus in accordance with the present
invention comprises one or more, such as two front image taking
devices 30 attached to a front portion 11 of a vehicle, and one or
more further rear image taking devices 30 attached to a rear
portion 12 of the vehicle 10, for taking pictures or for viewing
the side portions and the rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[0040] Each of the front image taking devices 30 includes a housing
31 secured to the side portions of the front portion 11 of the
vehicle 10 with such as fasteners 13 (FIGS. 4-6). For example, each
of the housings 31 of the front image taking devices 30 includes a
base panel 32 secured to the vehicle 10 with the fasteners 13. The
rear image taking device 30 also includes a housing 31 formed in
the rear portion 12 of the vehicle 10 (FIGS. 1 and 9-12), and
having a base panel 32 formed or provided therein.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 4-8, each of the image taking devices 30
includes a chamber 33 formed in the housing 31, and includes an
opening 34 formed therein and communicating with the chamber 33
thereof, and includes a glass or transparent or semi-transparent
cap 35 engaged in the opening 34 thereof, for enclosing the opening
34 and the chamber 33 thereof, and for preventing dirt or particles
or other objects from entering into the housings 31, and for
protecting the image taking devices 30.
[0042] Each of the image taking devices 30 further includes a
casing 36 disposed in the chamber 33 thereof, and secured to the
base panel 32 with such as fasteners 37, and having a space 38
formed therein for receiving a motor 40 therein. The motor 40
includes a spindle 41 extended therefrom and having a longitudinal
axis 42, and having a cut off portion 43 formed in the free end
portion 44 thereof (FIG. 7), to form or define one or more flat
surfaces therein, or to form a non-circular free end portion 44 for
the spindle 41.
[0043] A follower 50 includes an orifice 51 formed therein (FIGS.
6, 7), for receiving the spindle 41 of the motor 40, which may be
secured to the follower 50 with such as lock pins 52, fasteners,
latches, or the like. It is preferable that the follower 50 also
includes a corresponding non-circular portion 53 formed in the
orifice 51 thereof (FIG. 6), for receiving the corresponding
non-circular free end portion 44 of the spindle 41.
[0044] For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the non-circular free end
portion 44 of the spindle 41 may be engaged out through the
corresponding non-circular portion 53 of the orifice 51 of the
follower 50, and then locked or secured to the follower 50 with the
lock pins 52, to prevent the follower 50 from being rotated
relative to the spindle 41 of the motor 40, and thus to allow the
follower 50 to be rotated or driven by the motor 40.
[0045] The follower 50 further includes a compartment 54 formed
therein (FIGS. 6, 8), for receiving another motor 60, which
includes a spindle 61 offset or spaced away from the spindle 41 of
the motor 40, and inclined or perpendicular to the spindle 41 of
the motor 40. The motor 60 further includes a pinion 62 secured to
the spindle 61 thereof and rotated in concert with the spindle 61
thereof. The follower 50 further includes a socket 55 formed
therein.
[0046] A video camera 70, such as a charge couple device (CCD) 70
includes a ball 71 attached to a rear portion thereof, and
rotatably received in the socket 55 of the follower 50, to allow
the video camera 70 to be rotated or adjusted relative to the
follower 50 about a rotating axis 75 that is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis 42 of the spindle 41 of the motor 40, and
includes a rack 72 secured to the front portion thereof with such
as fasteners 73, and having a number of teeth 74 provided therein,
for engaging with the pinion 62, and thus for allowing the video
camera 70 to be rotated or adjusted relative to the follower 50 by
the motor 60, toward different angular directions.
[0047] In operation, as shown in FIG. 8, the follower 50 and the
video camera 70 may be rotated or driven or adjusted by the motor
40 around the longitudinal axis 42 of the spindle 41 of the motor
40. In addition, the video camera 70 may also be the rotated or
driven or adjusted by the motor 60 around the rotating axis 75 of
the video camera 70, to allow the video camera 70 to be rotated or
adjusted toward different angular directions relative to the
follower 50 and the casing 36 by the motors 40, 60, and thus to
allow the video camera 70 to clearly take pictures or to suitably
view the side portions and the rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 4-6, 9-12, and 17-18, each of the front
and rear image taking devices 30 includes a wiper 80 attached to
the front portion thereof, for wiping the cap 35, and for allowing
the video camera 70 to more clearly take pictures or to suitably
view the side portions and the rear portion of the vehicle 10. One
or more water supplying nozzles 81 and one or more air supplying
nozzles 82 may also be attached to the front portion of the image
taking devices 30, for supplying water and/or air to clean the cap
35.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 13-14, the vehicle monitoring
apparatus further includes a control device 90 disposed such as
beside the driver cabinet, and coupled to the video cameras 70
and/or the motors 40, 60 of the image taking devices 30 with such
as electric wires or cables 77, for controlling or operating the
video cameras 70 and/or the motors 40, 60 of the image taking
devices 30. The control device 90 may further includes one or more
screens or display devices 92, 93, 94 provided thereon, and coupled
to the video cameras 70 respectively, for displaying the images or
pictures taken by the video cameras 70 respectively, and thus for
allowing the users to easily see or view the side portions and the
rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 15-16 and 19, the control device 90 of the
vehicle monitoring apparatus may further include one or more
screens or display devices 92, 93, 94 formed or provided in the
rear view mirror 15 of the vehicle 10, and also coupled to the
video cameras 70 respectively, for displaying the images or
pictures taken by the video cameras 70 respectively, and thus for
allowing the users to easily see or view the side portions and the
rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[0051] The video cameras 70 of the image taking devices 30 may thus
be rotated or adjusted toward different angular directions relative
to the follower 50 and the casing 36 by the motors 40, 60, to allow
the video camera 70 to clearly take pictures or to suitably view
the side portions and the rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[0052] Accordingly, the vehicle monitoring apparatus in accordance
with the present invention includes one or more image taking
devices or video cameras adjustable to different directions for
broadening rearward viewing, and for allowing users to reliably and
safely view toward various directions behind the vehicles.
[0053] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *