Abstract: A commercial trailer camera interface for providing an apparatus and method for connecting video cameras and data buses from a trailer to the tow vehicle. The trailer camera interface generally includes a nose box, which affixes to the front of the trailer, a tail box which affixes inside the rear of the tow vehicle, and an umbilical cable which connects the nose box to the tail box. The nose box encodes the video signals, for example as differential signals, for transmission over the umbilical cable and the tail box decodes the received encoded signals to recover the video signals. The nose box and the tail box may each include a plurality of video camera connectors. The tail box may include a video handler to display or record or stream the video signals.

Abstract: An electronics module is attachable to an exterior mirror of a vehicle and supports a camera and/or a display. The electronics module may be an add-on device that is retrofittable to the exterior mirror. The display may be arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.

Abstract: A commercial trailer camera interface for providing an apparatus and method for connecting video cameras and data buses from a trailer to the tow vehicle. The trailer camera interface generally includes a nose box, which affixes to the front of the trailer, a tail box which affixes inside the rear of the tow vehicle, and an umbilical cable which connects the nose box to the tail box. The nose box encodes the video signals, for example as differential signals, for transmission over the umbilical cable and the tail box decodes the received encoded signals to recover the video signals. The nose box and the tail box may each include a plurality of video camera connectors. The tail box may include a video handler to display or record or stream the video signals.

Abstract: A system for detecting objects in a blind spot of a vehicle provides detectors and/or cameras mounted at or near the top of the vehicle and at or near a center of each side of the vehicle. A camera or sensor may be provided at the top center of each side of a semi-trailer to provide a down directed view at each side of the trailer. A sensor or camera may also be provided at the top center of the back of the trailer and at or near the top of the trailer.

Abstract: A dual camera system for viewing a coupling of a hitch to a trailer, such as on a semi tractor truck, includes two video cameras. Two doors that open automatically by arms and linkages expose the video cameras when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. A split screen view is shown to the driver rearward toward the trailer and forward toward the hitch plate. The arms and linkages automatically close the doors after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse, such as after a delay that permits the driver to determine if the hitch latch is secure. The linkages are sliding linkages with a spring so that the doors can be opened manually for cleaning the lenses of the cameras.

Abstract: A dual camera system for viewing a coupling of a hitch to a trailer, such as on a semi tractor truck, includes two video cameras. Two doors that open automatically by arms and linkages expose the video cameras when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. A split screen view is shown to the driver rearward toward the trailer and forward toward the hitch plate. The arms and linkages automatically close the doors after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse, such as after a delay that permits the driver to determine if the hitch latch is secure. The linkages are sliding linkages with a spring so that the doors can be opened manually for cleaning the lenses of the cameras.

Abstract: A dual camera system for viewing a coupling of a hitch to a trailer, such as on a semi tractor truck, includes a camera housing having two video cameras. The housing includes two doors that open automatically by a motor, arms and linkages when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. A split screen view is shown to the driver rearward toward the trailer and forward toward the hitch plate. The motor, arms and linkages automatically close the doors after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse, such as after a delay to determine if the hitch latch is secure. The linkages are sliding linkages with a spring so that the doors can be opened manually for cleaning the lenses of the cameras. A heating element is inside the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle camera mount has a bracket, a support arm, and a camera housing. The bracket is used to fasten the support arm to a vehicle. The camera housing is connected to the support arm, the camera housing contains a camera, and the camera housing has a wind resistance reducing aerodynamic profile configured to reduce wind resistance by the camera housing as the vehicle is moving. The support arm is configured to support the camera housing to the vehicle so that the camera housing is above a front fender of the vehicle and alongside a hood of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mirror mount that mounts a mirror to a fender of a vehicle includes a base member having a first end generally vertical when the base member is affixed to a fender and arranged to receive a fastener passing through the first end, through the fender, and into the base member so as to fasten the base member to the fender, a second end, a side portion extending between the first end and the second end and having a contour that follows an exterior profile of the fender, and a reinforcement reinforcing the first end.

Abstract: An electronics module is attachable to an exterior mirror of a vehicle and supports a camera and/or a display. The electronics module may be an add-on device that is retrofittable to the exterior mirror. The display may be arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.

Abstract: A mirror mount that mounts a mirror to a fender of a vehicle includes a base member having a first end generally vertical when the base member is affixed to a fender and arranged to receive a fastener passing through the first end, through the fender, and into the base member so as to fasten the base member to the fender, a second end, a side portion extending between the first end and the second end and having a contour that follows an exterior profile of the fender, and a reinforcement reinforcing the first end.

Abstract: An electronics module is attachable to an exterior mirror of a vehicle and supports a camera and/or a display. The electronics module may be an add-on device that is retrofittable to the exterior mirror. The display may be arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.