Method and system for automatically scanning a side view mirror of a vehicle

• US 20050154518A1
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fan-Dwo Hsieh, Hsien-Tsung Tou, Mao-Lien Huang, Tung-Pao Lo
• Original Assignee: Fan-Dwo Hsieh, Hsien-Tsung Tou, Mao-Lien Huang, Tung-Pao Lo
• Inventors: Lo, Tung-Pao, Tou, Hsien-Tsung, Hsieh, Fan-Dwo, Huang, Mao-Lien
• Application Number:
  US10/760,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors

Abstract

A method for automatically scanning a side view mirror of a vehicle maintains an original state of the side view mirror during driving and sends a control signal via a turning-signal processing unit or a steering-wheel processing unit to determine which side view mirror to scan. The selected side view mirror is driven to scan automatically in real time. A steering wheel or and a front tire is returned to a predetermined angle. The side view mirror returns to the original state thereof simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method for automatically scanning a side view mirror of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) maintaining an original state of each of two side view mirrors while driving;

(b) switching an indicator switch and sending a control signal via a turning-signal processing unit to determine which side view mirror to scan, wherein the indicator switch electrically connects the turning-signal processing unit, and the control signal and the side view mirror are determined by a switching direction due to the indicator switch;

(c) transmitting the control signal to the side view mirror by the turning-signal processing unit;

(d) driving the side view mirror to scan automatically in real time; and

(e) delivering a recovery signal to the side view mirror, wherein the side view mirror returns to the original state thereof simultaneously.

2. The method claimed as claim 1, further including providing a steering wheel and a front tire thereof back with a predetermined angle to switch on the recovery signal after step (d).

3. A method for automatically scanning a side view mirror of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) maintaining an original state of each of two side view mirrors while driving;

(b) turning on a real-time scanning switch to be ready for providing automatic scanning;

(c) handling a steering wheel and sending a control signal via a steering-wheel processing unit to determine which side view mirror to scan, wherein the control signal and the side view mirror are determined by a handling direction of the steering wheel;

(d) transmitting the control signal to the side view mirror by the steering-wheel processing unit;

(e) driving the side view mirror to scan automatically in real time; and

(f) turning off the real-time scanning switch to deliver a recovery signal to the side view mirror, wherein the side view mirror returns to the original state thereof simultaneously.

4. A system for automatically scanning a side view mirror of a vehicle, comprising:

at least two side view mirrors disposed respectively on two lateral sides of a vehicle;

at least two driving units respectively electrically connecting the two side view mirrors; and

an operation unit electrically connecting the two driving units, wherein the operation unit includes a turning-signal processing unit and a steering-wheel processing unit;

whereby the system determines which side view mirror to scan automatically by the turning-signal processing unit and the steering-wheel processing unit according to different cases, and send as control signal to each of the driving units of the side view mirror.

5. The system claimed as claim 4, further including an indicator switch electrically connecting the turning-signal processing unit, whereby each of the two side view mirrors is determined to be driven according to a switching direction of the indicator switch.

6. The system claimed as claim 4, further including a real-time scanning switch electrically connecting the two driving units and the steering-wheel processing unit, whereby each of the two side view mirrors is determined to be driven according to a handling direction of a steering wheel, wherein the steering wheel connects the steering-wheel processing unit.

7. The system claimed as claim 4, further including a bracket protecting each of the two side view mirrors and a motor driving the bracket to rotate, wherein the motor electrically connects the operation unit, the bracket is driven by the motor thereof and the side view mirrors are respectively driven by the driving units, and the bracket and each of the two side view mirrors are independently driven from each other and are capable of wide-scanning in a cooperative manner for diminishing a blind spot while driving.