GB2258199A

GB2258199A - A viewing device for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2258199A
Application number: GB9116757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Adrian Gilbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-02
Filing date: 1991-08-02
Publication date: 1993-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-02
Also published as: GB9116757D0; GB2258199B

Abstract

A fibre optic cable 1 is attached to an image receiving unit 2 at one end, and to a an image display unit 6 at the other end. Unit 2 has a convex lens 4 which focuses parallel light to a concave lens 5, and concave lens 5 refocuses the focused light into parallel light for transmission through the fibre optic cable 1. Unit 6 has a concave lens 8 and convex lens 9 which receives light from the fibre optic cable 1 and creates an image on a screen 10 corresponding to the image received by unit 2. The image receiving unit may be positioned at the front of a vehicle to enable sideways vision for pulling out of a side road. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a viewing device, and more particularly to a viewing device to allow vehicles to see more clearly pulling out of driveways or small side roads or-when parking or reversing.

Most drivers of vehicles have experienced the danger of pulling out of driveways or small side roads when vision is obscured, for example by parked vehicles, trees or houses. The prdblem is that very often the vehicle extends well into the road it is entering before the driver has full vision of cars travelling along the road. The invention provides a viewing device for drivers which enable the driver to see before the vehicle enters onto a road. It is also difficult for vehicles, particularly lorries, to see when parking or reversing due to lack of vision. The invention seeks to overcome this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a viewing device comprising: a) a fibre optic cable having first and second ends b) an image receiving unit adapted to focus a light image to said fibre optic first end, and c) a image display unit connected to said fibre optic second end adapted to display said light image transmitted through said fibre optic cable focused to said fibre optic first end.

Preferably said image receiving unit comprises a convex lens which focusses parallel light to a concave lens, and said concave lens refocuses the focused light into parallel light for transmission through the fibre optic cable. Preferably the image display unit comprises a concave lens a convex lens and an opaque screen, said concave and convex lenses receiving light from said fibre optic cable and creating an image on the screen corresponding to the image received by said image receiving unit.

The invention also provides a vehicle having one or more of the above viewing devices, and wherein each image receiving unit is preferably mounted on the perimeter of the vehicle, and each image display unit is mounted on or near the dashboard.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the invention, and Figure 2 shows a typical display of four image display units on a dashboard of a vehicle.

Referring to figure 1, there is shown a fibre optic cable 1. An image receiving unit 2 at one end of the cable 1. Unit 2 comprises a casing 3 housing a convex lens 4 and a concave lens 5. Parallel Light received by lens 4 is focused towards lens five which in turn refocuses the light into parallel light which travels down cable 1.

At the other end of cable I to the image receving unit 2, is an image display unit 6. Unit 6 comprises a casing 7 housing a concave lens 8, convex lens 9, and a screen 10. Light emerging from cable 1 passes through lenses 8 and 9, and an image is displayed on screen 10.

Screen 10 may be an opaque screen of plastics or glass. The housings 3 and 7 may be of any suitabe materail such as plastics or metal. The lenses 4,5,8 and 9 may be of any suitable material such as glass or plastics.

In use of the invention, unit 2 may for example be positioned on the front of the car facing to the right at 90 degrees to the direction of the car and the screen mounted on the dashboard. A car pulling out of a side onto a main road would be able to see on the screen the view down the main road and consequently any on-coming traffic (in countries in which vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road). In countries where vehicles drive on the right hand side of the road, the unit 2 would be mounted on the front facing left;.

Referring now to figure 2, a vehicle may be fitted with four devices of the invention. Two image receive units might be positioned on the front left and right corners, and two image receive units positoned on the rear left and right corners. The two on the front may face left and right at 90 degrees to the direction of the car, and the two at the rear would face backwards. Each of the respective image display units could be positioned in a "square" configuration as shown in figure 2, showing visually on the screens 10 the view from the front left, front right, rear left, and rear right. The view from the front is useful when pulling out onto a main road when vision is obstructed, and the view to the rear is useful when parking.

The invention may be fitted to vehicles other than cars such as lorries, vans, caravans, and trailers. any number light receiving units and light diplay units may be fitted and in any suitable position.

Further modifications will be aparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A viewing device comprising: a) a fibre optic cable having first and second ends, b) an image receiving unit adapted to focus a light image to said fibre optic first end, and c) an image display unit connected to said fibre optic second end adapted to display said light image transmitted through said fibre optic cable focussed to said fibre optic first end.

2. A viewing device according to claim 1, wherein said image receiving unit comprises a convex lens which focuses parallel light to a concave lens, and said concave lens refocuses the focused light into parallel light for transmission through the fibre optic cable.

3. A viewing device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the image display unit comprises a concave lens, a convex lens , and an opaque screen, said concave and convex lenses receiving light from said fibre optic cable and creating an image on the screen corresponding to the image received by said image receiving unit.

4. A viewing device according to claim 3 wherein the concave lens, convex lens, and opaque screen are mounted in a common housing.

5. A vehicle comprising one or more viewing devices according to any preceding claim.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5 having four viewing devices, and wherein each image receiving unit being mounted on a separate corner of the vehicle.

7. A vehicle according to claim 5 having four viewing devices, and wherein each image display unit is mounted in a common housing.

8. A viewing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A vehicle incorporating a viewing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.