Intelligent rear-view mirror system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rear view mirror apparatus, comprising:
- a mirror housing;
a first planar reflective surface, and a second planar reflective surface that is semi-transparent and angled with respect to the first planar reflective surface;
first and second actuation devices configured to rotate the first and second planar reflective surfaces within the mirror housing along vertical and horizontal axes;
a camera device configured to capture imagery in a night mode using a first camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first planar reflective surface, and to capture the imagery in a day mode using a second camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second planar reflective surface; and
a processor device configured to;
detect that the planar reflective surface, previously positioned automatically into a particular position, is knocked away from the particular position; and
automatically responsive to the detecting;
determine whether the camera device is in the night mode or the day mode;
capture image information including at least a portion of an image of a vehicle driver when the planar reflective surface is in the default position, where in the capturing is according to the first direction responsive to determining that the camera device is in the night mode, and the capturing is according to the second direction responsive to determining that the camera device is in the day mode;
map the image information to a set of coordinates;
identify, within the image information, a viewer position of the set of coordinates;
identify a vertical position and a horizontal position within the image information, each halfway between the viewer position and an origin point of the set of coordinates; and
generate instructions to the first and second actuation devices to rotate the planar reflective surface within the mirror housing so that the first direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the night mode, and so that the second direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the day mode.
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Abstract
Described herein is a rear view mirror system that is configured to adjust to a user'"'"'s position without direct user interaction. In some embodiments, a camera may be included in the rear view mirror system so that its line of sight is perpendicular to a reflective surface. The camera may capture a digital image of the user. Eye patterns may be identified from the image information to determine an appropriate position for the mirror. In some embodiments, the mirror may be repositioned so that the camera'"'"'s line of sight is directed halfway between the identified eye information and the center of a rear window. In some embodiments, the mirror may be re-adjusted periodically.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A rear view mirror apparatus, comprising:
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a mirror housing; a first planar reflective surface, and a second planar reflective surface that is semi-transparent and angled with respect to the first planar reflective surface; first and second actuation devices configured to rotate the first and second planar reflective surfaces within the mirror housing along vertical and horizontal axes; a camera device configured to capture imagery in a night mode using a first camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first planar reflective surface, and to capture the imagery in a day mode using a second camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second planar reflective surface; and a processor device configured to; detect that the planar reflective surface, previously positioned automatically into a particular position, is knocked away from the particular position; and automatically responsive to the detecting; determine whether the camera device is in the night mode or the day mode; capture image information including at least a portion of an image of a vehicle driver when the planar reflective surface is in the default position, where in the capturing is according to the first direction responsive to determining that the camera device is in the night mode, and the capturing is according to the second direction responsive to determining that the camera device is in the day mode; map the image information to a set of coordinates; identify, within the image information, a viewer position of the set of coordinates; identify a vertical position and a horizontal position within the image information, each halfway between the viewer position and an origin point of the set of coordinates; and generate instructions to the first and second actuation devices to rotate the planar reflective surface within the mirror housing so that the first direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the night mode, and so that the second direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the day mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21)
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8. A method comprising:
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detecting that a planar reflective surface of a vehicle mirror previously positioned automatically into a particular position, is knocked away from the particular position, the planar reflective surface being one of a first planar reflective surface or a second planar reflective surface that is semi-transparent and angled with respect to the first planar reflective surface; and responsive to the detecting; determining whether a camera device is in a night mode or a day mode, the camera device configured to capture imagery using a first camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first planar reflective surface in the night mode, and to capture the imagery using a second camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second planar reflective surface in the day mode; capturing image information using the camera device, the image information comprising at least a portion of an image of a vehicle driver; identifying, within the image information, a viewer position mapped to a set of coordinates; identifying a vertical position and a horizontal position within the image information, each halfway between the viewer position and an origin point of the set of coordinates; and rotating, via a first actuation device and a second actuation device, the first and second planar reflective surfaces within a mirror housing so that the first direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the night mode, and so that the second direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the day mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle mirror system, comprising:
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a processor device; and a memory having a default position of a planar reflective surface stored thereon, and including instructions that, when executed with the processor device, cause the processor device to, at least; detect that the planar reflective surface previously positioned automatically into a particular position, is knocked away from the particular position, the planar reflective surface being one of a first planar reflective surface or a second planar reflective surface that is semi-transparent and angled with respect to the first planar reflective surface; and automatically responsive to the detecting; determine whether a camera device is in a night mode or a day mode, the camera device configured to capture imagery using a first camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first planar reflective surface in the night mode, and to capture the imagery using a second camera oriented to capture the imagery primarily along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second planar reflective surface in the day mode; capture image information, by the camera device, including at least a portion of an image of a vehicle driver; identify, within the image information, a viewer position mapped to a set of coordinates; identify a vertical position and a horizontal position within the image information, each halfway between the viewer position and an origin point of the set of coordinates; and generate instructions to the first and second actuation devices to rotate the first and second planar reflective surfaces within the mirror housing so that the first direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the night mode, and so that the second direction is aligned with the identified vertical position and with the identified horizontal position responsive to determining that the camera device is in the day mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification