Television – Special applications – Observation of or from a specific location
Patent
1996-04-09
1998-06-02
Chin, Tommy P.
Television
Special applications
Observation of or from a specific location
348148, 348151, H04N 718
Patent
active
057608288
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel external back-vision system for motor vehicles of all types, such as cars, trucks, buses, caravans, etc., and including, in addition, competition vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
External rear-view mirrors of the state of the art involve a number of limitations which reduce and even cancel out the necessary periodical information which the driver requires of them. Such drawbacks are the existence of a blindspot in which vision is impossible; non-operation of the mirrors in rainy weather; loss of the necessary front vision when looking in the mirrors; vulnerability to changes in adjustment or breakages caused by acts of vandalism, accidents and the like; dazzling caused by the headlamps of following vehicles at night or by the sun in certain situations such as, for example, when driving away from the sun at dusk; parking difficulties caused by the lack of reference to the ground; difficulties in looking in the mirrors on account of trailers and caravans during certain maneuvers; and, finally, the aerodynamic resistance which external rearview mirrors cause and which, to a greater or lesser degree, translates into an increase in fuel consumption.
Many of these drawbacks are exacerbated in the case of competition vehicles, particularly in respect of the blindspot, speed of looking in the mirror, nonoperation in adverse weather conditions and the resistance which conventional rear-view mirrors offer to forward progress. In connection with this latter aspect, it must be taken into account that the aerodynamic resistance increases with the square of the velocity and, therefore, in vehicles moving at over 300 km/h, such as F-1s, prototypes, etc., the rear-view mirrors account for a considerable resistance to forward progress which translates into lower speed and greater consumption.
There are known video cameras in the state of the art which make it possible to pick up images and sound and to store them on a tape for subsequent reproduction on monitors or television screens or, alternatively, to display what is being filmed at the very instant this is taking place. With the development of the technology and for specific purposes, models of cameras have been developed which are smaller in size than traditional cameras but which, nevertheless, offer the same levels of performance: these are known as microcameras and are intended for very different uses, including, in particular, security (CCTV), medicine, observing nature, sports broadcasts and other shots in locations with limited access. However, to date, no use has been found for them in the field of back-vision in vehicles nor, of course, have the problems involved in such an application been solved.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
All the drawbacks mentioned above are totally or at least very substantially eliminated with the rear-view system for vehicles of the present invention, which takes advantage of the potential of video cameras for back-vision in motor vehicles.
The present invention therefore relates to a back-vision system for vehicles, which comprises a microcamera, its control unit, the corresponding monitor and the housing for the microcamera which is composed of the assembly formed by an external casing with an opening to permit focusing of the objective of the microcamera and an internal box in communication with said external casing and open, in a preferred embodiment, on the side opposite it to allow the introduction of the microcamera. This assembly is finished off, in a preferred embodiment, by a cover which enables the internal box to be closed on the side opposite the external casing and, in addition, a glass pane to be fitted in the closure of the said opening. Preferably, the space around the microcamera, inside the assembly formed by the external casing and the internal box, is filled with an insulating material and, as has just been pointed out, the opening of the external casing is closed by means of a glass pane for protecting the microcamera. All the aforesai
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Chin Tommy P.
Idesa Accesorios, S.A.
Rao Anand
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