Dale Robert Gauthier

US Patent:

53032055, Apr 12, 1994

Filed:

Jul 2, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/908267

Inventors:

Dale R. Gauthier - Cedar MI
Thomas R. Wayne - Grand Rapids MI

Assignee:

Trend Tec Inc. - Traverse City MI

International Classification:

G01S 1500

US Classification:

367108

Abstract:

A vehicular distance measuring system includes a distance measuring device for detecting a distance to an object and, in response, supplying a distance signal. An ultrasonic transducer mounted in a vehicle taillight or running light assembly is used to ultrasonically detect and range objects in back of, and along side a vehicle in which the system is installed. A display includes (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a transparent window portion located therein, and (ii) a digital display mounted on the vehicular mirror and viewable through the window portion. The digital display is responsive to the distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object. The distance measuring device includes a comparator for comparing the distance to the object with a predetermined threshold distance and, in response, supplying a display unblank signal. The digital display is responsive to the display unblank signal for selectively blanking the digital display and displaying the detected distance to the object.

US Patent:

53734823, Dec 13, 1994

Filed:

Feb 3, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/012827

Inventors:

Dale R. Gauthier - Cedar MI

Assignee:

Trend Tec Inc. - Traverse City MI

International Classification:

G01S 1500

US Classification:

367 99

Abstract:

A distance measuring system includes a device for detecting ringing signals (false echoes) generated by ultrasonic transducers used to generate probe signals and detect echoes of the probe signals to determine the distance of an external object from the measurement system. The absence or duration of ringing signals are determined, and the display of the distance measuring system is operated accordingly. False indications of distance measurements are limited by storing a number of distance measurements in a memory, and selecting the measurement most likely to indicate the presence of an object from which the distance to the measuring system is determined.

US Patent:

57933081, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Apr 12, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/229607

Inventors:

Albin Rosinski - Cedar MI
Joseph Wisniewski - Maple City MI
Dale R. Gauthier - Cedar MI

Assignee:

Sensorvision Technologies, L.L.C. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G08G 116

US Classification:

340903

Abstract:

A vehicular position monitoring system includes an integral mirror video display. The display is capable of showing various fields of vision from various parts of the vehicle and can be strobed by the vehicle operator. The position monitoring system can be combined with a distance measurement system so that alpha-numeric graphics of distance between a vehicle and an object behind the vehicle can be displayed with the video image of regions seen from various points on the vehicle.