US 2,012,062,743 · Filed 2010-02-25
The Patent That Lights Up Your Mirrors When Something's Behind You
Imagine your car's side mirrors and rearview mirror suddenly light up or flash when something is creeping up behind you. This patent covers a safety system that uses a camera pointed backward to spot objects, then triggers visual alerts on your mirrors to tell you to look at the display screen. It's like having a co-pilot tapping your shoulder whenever danger approaches.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a vehicle alert system that combines a rearward-facing camera with visual alert devices mounted inside the rearview mirror and on both exterior side mirrors. What's protected here is the specific integration of these components: the ability to detect objects behind the vehicle, process that detection through a control system, and then activate visual alerts (lights or indicators) on those mirror assemblies to prompt the driver to check the video display. The patent protects this coordinated feedback loop as a whole.
Why it matters
This patent represents a practical approach to solving blind-spot and backup safety issues—a real problem that leads to accidents and injuries every year. By combining camera detection with intuitive visual feedback at the driver's natural line of sight (the mirrors), the system aims to reduce reaction time and human error. Magna Electronics, a major supplier to automotive manufacturers, owns this technology, which suggests it has commercial value in the aftermarket and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) safety systems.
Real-world use
When you're backing out of a parking space and a shopping cart rolls behind your car, the system spots it and flashes a light on your side mirrors to alert you before you hit it.
Original USPTO abstract
An alert system for a vehicle includes a video display, an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver side visual alert device disposed at a driver side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger side visual alert device disposed at a passenger side exterior rearview mirror assembly. A control is operable to activate at least one of the alert devices in response to a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle. The alert devices are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check the images captured by a rearward facing camera and displayed in the vehicle cabin by the video display so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,012,062,743
- Filing date
- 2010-02-25
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Magna Electronics Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- LYNAM NIALL R., NIX AXEL
- CPC class
- G06V20/58
Want to file your own patent?
If you're designing a safety feature for vehicles, check our free patent scanner to see what's already locked down in the automotive-gadgets space before you pitch your idea.
Free patentability scan