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Visually show blinds spots, turn signals etc are working.
[Category : - OTHER- Automotive Accessories - Navigation and orientation]
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Protected by U.S. Patent 9,843,734 B2
I was recently issued a patent for a retractable camera fitted to a vehicle, I’ll refer to the camera as “the device”. The device is primarily intended for use on cars and trucks but it has other application potential.rn rnThe patent focuses on the device to be fitted on the rear or front license plate frame or other area on the front or rear, or on each side of a vehicle. The idea is to enable the vehicle operator to see if his or her turn signals, brake lights, license plate light or back up lights are working. The device also acts as a rearview camera. Additionally, the device is intended to enable a driver to see blind spots on either side of a vehicle or in the front or rear of a vehicle. The device allows the driver to view blind spots when pulling out of areas with limited visibility. Inside the cabin of the vehicle there is a dual video display and a connection to the ODB port. The ODP port is where vehicle diagnostics can be read by a plug-in analyzer. You may have seen some insurance companies offer a device to plug into the ODB port to monitor driving behavior and offer discounts for safe driving. So, when a driver turns on, for example, their left turn signal, the ODB port tells the device to extend the retractable camera mounted on the rear, and/or the front and/or side of the vehicle, to extend and point the camera to the left rear/front turn signal or the sides of a vehicle for blind spot detection. The in-cabin video display will show whether the turn signal is working and will to show objects in the blind spots on either side of the vehicle. The same thing occurs when the driver turns on their right turn signal. Additionally, the retractable camera can be actuated manually by pressing specific buttons. This would be used if the driver wants to check whether their brake, backup or license plate lights are working or on the front of the vehicle whether both headlights are working. This is what the patent shows via drawings and verbiage.rn rnI added additional functionality to the patent that is not reflected in the patent drawings but nevertheless is part of the patent, claims 16 and 17 on last page of the patent. That is to mount the device on both sides of the vehicle toward the front, near the side-view mirrors, so that when the left or right turn signal is selected the driver can see the blind spots on either side of the vehicle or can activate the device manually via buttons. This works as described above but when the driver selects a turn signal, the retractable camera extends, looks rearward, and shows the blind spots on the visual display inside the vehicle cabin. Additionally, a driver could have the device mounted on the front and rear of the car so that when he or rnshe presses a button the extender arm swings out and shows a view of the areas on either side of the vehicle. For example, this functionality could be used when the driver is pulling out of a driveway across a sidewalk into the street. The area that will be shown is the view of the sidewalk to the left and right of the vehicle allowing the driver to see if there are any pedestrians approaching before pulling all the way out. This functionality would also be valuable when pulling out of a parking space at a shopping mall.rn rnThe patentable part of the device is that it is a retractable camera mounted on a vehicle. An important part of this device is that it will be housed in an enclosure to keep the cameras clean.rnrnrnA front or rear camera on a rotating arm where rotation of the camera is coupled to movement of the rotating arm such that when the rotating arm is against the front or rear of the car (parallel thereto) the camera points away from the vehicle. When the arm is rotated away from the car, the camera rotates towards the car pointing to one of a left blinker, right blinker, or license plate. This can be controlled via a manual switch in the car which rotates one or both of the camera and rotating arm or automatically as a function of placing the car in reverse or using a turn signal, such as by way of acting on output from a car
Patent publications:
US 9843734
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