Automatic control of automotive rearview mirror

• US 20060155444A1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Lee, Yong H., Deng, Weiwen
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,041 B2
• 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 side rearview mirror control system for a vehicle that automatically changes a rear viewing angle of a side rearview mirror. The control system receives various vehicle inputs to determine if and when a vehicle operator will turn the vehicle, make a lane change, merge into a lane of traffic, etc. The system pivots the mirror to eliminate a potential blind spot during these conditions. In one embodiment, the rear view mirror control system receives input signals from a vehicle hand-wheel angle sensor, a vehicle yaw rate sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a turn signal indicator, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and map information to determine whether the vehicle is turning or will be turning.

Claims

1. A system for automatically adjusting a vehicle side rearview mirror between a normal rear viewing zone and a modified rear viewing zone based on predetermined vehicle operating conditions, said system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for providing signals indicative of the vehicle condition; and

a rearview mirror controller for controlling the position of the rearview mirror, said rearview mirror controller being responsive to the signals and changing the rear viewing angle of the mirror between the normal rear viewing zone and the modified rear viewing zone.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors are selected from the group consisting of a vehicle hand-wheel angle sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a vehicle yaw rate sensor, a vehicle turn signal sensor, a GPS receiver and a digital map.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the rearview mirror controller moves the mirror from the normal rear viewing zone to the modified rear viewing zone in response to turning of the vehicle or an anticipated turn of the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of sensors include a hand-wheel angle sensor, said hand-wheel angle sensor providing a signal to the mirror controller of the vehicle turn.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the rearview mirror controller moves the mirror from the normal rear viewing zone to the modified rear viewing zone in response to a turn or merge in the road based on map information.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the rearview mirror controller moves the mirror from the normal viewing zone to the modified rear viewing zone in response to a vehicle position signal from a GPS receiver and map information.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the difference between the normal rear viewing zone and the modified rear viewing zone is about 5°

.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the rearview mirror controller moves the mirror to any location in a predetermined range of positions.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly including a mirror, said mirror being automatically adjustable relative to the mirror assembly so as to change the rear viewing angle of the mirror;

a vehicle hand-wheel angle sensor for providing a signal of the position of a vehicle hand wheel;

a vehicle speed sensor for providing a signal of the vehicle speed;

a vehicle yaw rate sensor for providing a signal of the vehicle yaw rate;

a vehicle turn signal sensor for providing a signal that a vehicle turn signal is on;

a GPS receiver and digital map for providing a signal of the position of the vehicle and road information; and

a rearview mirror controller for controlling the position of the mirror, said rearview mirror controller being responsive to the signals from the vehicle hand-wheel angle sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, the vehicle yaw rate sensor, the vehicle turn signal sensor, the GPS receiver and the digital map, said rearview mirror controller setting the position of the mirror based on the signals, wherein the rearview mirror controller moves the mirror from a normal rear viewing zone to a modified rear viewing zone in response to turning of the vehicle or an anticipated turn of the vehicle, a merge condition or a lane change condition.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the position of the mirror is moved about 5°

.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the rearview mirror controller moves the mirror to any location in a predetermined range of positions.

12. A method for automatically setting a position of a vehicle side rearview mirror between a normal rear viewing position and a modified rear viewing position based on a vehicle operating condition, said method comprising:

determining a current position of the rearview mirror;

determining whether a turn signal of the vehicle is activated;

moving the mirror to the modified rear viewing position if the turn signal is activated;

determining whether the vehicle is or will be traveling a long a curved path;

moving the mirror to the modified rear viewing position if the vehicle is or will be traveling along the curved path;

determining whether the vehicle is or will be merging onto a road; and

moving the mirror to the modified rear viewing position if the vehicle is or will be merging onto the road.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising using a set of a vehicle speed signal, a vehicle yaw rate signal and a vehicle hand-wheel position signal to determine whether the mirror should be moved to the modified rear view position if the turn signal is activated.

14. The method according to claim 12 further comprising using a set of a vehicle speed signal, a road curvature signal and a vehicle hand-wheel position signal to determine whether the mirror should be moved to the modified rear view position if the vehicle is or will be traveling along the curved path.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising using a set of a GPS receiver signal, a map information signal and a vehicle hand-wheel position signal to determine whether the mirror should be moved to the modified rear view position if the vehicle is or will be merging onto the road.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising using a set of a vehicle speed signal, a vehicle yaw rate signal, a vehicle hand-wheel position signal, a GPS receiver signal and a map information signal to determine whether the mirror should be moved to the modified rear view position if the turn signal is activated, whether the mirror should be moved to the modified rear view position if the vehicle is or will be traveling along the curved path, and whether the mirror should be moved to the modified rear view position if the vehicle is or will be merging onto the road.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein determining whether the vehicle is traveling along a curved path includes determining whether the curved path is banked.