Patent ID: 7432800
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: B60Q,B60R,G01S

Abstract:
1. A vehicle blind spot detection and warning system for a vehicle travelling in a designated traffic lane, said system comprising: a first detector for detecting the presence of an object in a vehicle blind spot detection zone in an adjacent traffic lane; a second detector for detecting whether the vehicle is anticipated to be moving toward an object in the vehicle blind spot detection zone in response to receipt of at least one input from one or more of vehicle navigation, direction control or indicator control systems; a warning display carried on a reflective surface of a vehicle sideview mirror for visually alerting a vehicle operator of the detection of an object in the vehicle blind spot detection zone, said warning display comprising a two-way mirror, a diffuser disposed behind said two-way mirror and a variable intensity light source disposed behind said diffuser, said diffuser having an imaging medium configured to define a warning icon; and a controller for adaptively controlling illumination of the light source to substantially extinguish said light source in the absence of an object in said detection zone to substantially obscure said warning icon, and to back illuminate said warning icon at a first, fixed intensity, relatively low illumination level in response to a first input from said first detector and to increase back illumination of the warning icon to a second, fixed intensity, relative high illumination level in response to a second input from said second detector when the vehicle is anticipated to be moving toward the object.