Safety mirror with telescoping head and motor vehicle

• US 10,594,989 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents SARL
• Inventors: Herrmann, Andreas, Henion, Paul, Brooks, Darryl, Hottmann, Philipp, Sinelli, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Romain, Pinel E
• Application Number:
  US16/444,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20190306466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 296 971, 296 975
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0035 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/408 using a data bus
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A safety mirror system for a motor vehicle includes at least one sun visor including a safety mirror having a mirror element in a folded down position, and at least one camera or monitoring system including a support arm pivotally secured to a base, the support arm pivotal between retracted and extended positions, a positioning arm secured to the support arm and movable with respect to the support arm and including a camera mount, and at least one camera attached to the camera mount at a distal end of the positioning arm, the camera configured to provide images exterior to the vehicle, wherein the safety mirror further includes at least one attachment structure configured to separately and selectively attach the safety mirror to each of the sun visor and the camera mount.

Claims

1. A safety mirror system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one sun visor movably attached to the motor vehicle comprising a safety mirror having a mirror element viewable by a driver or passenger in a folded down or opened position of the sun visor; and

at least one camera or monitoring system comprising

a support arm pivotally secured to a base, which is attached to the motor vehicle,

a positioning arm secured to the support arm and movable with respect to the support arm and comprising a camera mount; and

at least one camera attached to the camera mount at a distal end of the positioning arm, the camera configured to provide images exterior to the vehicle,

wherein the safety mirror further comprises at least one attachment structure configured to separately and selectively attach the safety mirror to each of the sun visor and the camera mount.

2. The safety mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate provided on one side with a reflective layer for providing a mirror surface and on an opposite side with the attachment structure.

3. The safety mirror system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of

the substrate and the attachment structure are each made of a plastic in a two component molding process;

and

the reflective layer comprises a chromium base.

4. The safety mirror system according claim 1, wherein the attachment structure comprises a first attachment element complementary to a visor attachment structure of the sun visor and a second attachment element complementary to a mounting structure of the camera mount.

5. The safety mirror system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of

the first attachment element is formed together with the second attachment element;

and

the first attachment element is identical to the second attachment element.

6. The safety mirror system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment structure comprises at least one of:

a first locking element for locking an attachment to the sun visor; and

a second locking element for locking an attachment to the camera mount.

7. The safety mirror system according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the safety mirror has smooth edges with a radius of at least 2.5 mm.

8. The safety mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising a second safety mirror, wherein each of the safety mirror and the second safety mirror comprises different specifications corresponding to different country or geographic region requirements.

9. The safety mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising a camera motor operatively connected to at least one of the camera or the camera mount to change orientation of the camera with respect to the distal end of the positioning arm.

10. The safety mirror system according to claim 9, further comprising a camera gear fixedly secured to at least one of the camera or the camera mount.

11. The safety mirror system according to claim 10, wherein the camera motor includes a shaft having a worm gear fixedly secured thereto extending out from the camera motor for providing rotational motion.

12. The safety mirror system according to claim 11, wherein the worm gear engages the camera gear.

13. The safety mirror system according to claim 12, wherein the camera is oriented by the camera motor independently of a position of the support arm.

14. The safety mirror system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of

the positioning arm telescopes with respect to the support arm;

and

the support arms pivots between a retracted and an extended position.

15. A motor vehicle, comprising a safety mirror system comprising:

at least one sun visor attached to the motor vehicle comprising a safety mirror having a mirror element viewable by a driver or passenger in a folded down or opened position of the sun visor; and

at least one camera or monitoring system comprising

a support arm pivotally secured to the base attached to the motor vehicle

a positioning arm secured to the support arm and movable with respect to the support arm and comprising a camera mount; and

at least one camera attached to the camera mount at a distal end of the positioning arm, the camera configured to provide images exterior to the vehicle,

wherein the safety mirror further comprises at least one attachment structure configured to separately and selectively attach the safety mirror to each of the sun visor and the camera mount.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the safety mirror in a first position, determined by normal operation of the camera or monitoring system, is attached to the sun visor via a first fastening element so that in the opened or folded-down state of the sun visor it is accessible to a driver or passenger of the motor vehicle, and the safety mirror is detachable from the sun visor by the driver or passenger.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the safety mirror is detachable from the sun visor by engagement with one hand in at least one engaging tab of the sun visor or by applying a force of 40 to 100 Newton.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the safety mirror is configured to be mounted in a second position on the camera mounting via a second fastening element.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the safety mirror is configured to be connected to the sun visor or the camera mounting via a clip or a latching connection.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein at least one of

the sun visor comprises at least one mounting element for attaching the safety mirror;

and

the camera mount comprises at least one mounting element for mounting the safety mirror.

21. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the sun visor is arranged in the motor vehicle on a driver'"'"'s side, and the camera mount is arranged outside the motor vehicle for attaching the safety mirror on a passenger side.