VEHICLE MIRROR
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle which mirror assembly incorporates (i) a mirror housing in which a mirror having a moveable reflective surface is mounted (ii) a mirror adjusting means capable of adjusting the orientation of the said reflective surface of the mirror (iii) an image sensing means attached to or forming part of the mirror housing, which image sensing means can detect a part of the vehicle or the trailer or part of a trailer connected to the vehicle (iv) a control system able to process signals from the image sensing means and which controls the mirror adjusting means and is able to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface of the mirror in response to movement of part of the vehicle or the trailer or part of a trailer as it moves across the field of view of the image sensing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly for an articulated vehicle incorporates an image sensor which detects part of the trailer e.g. the end of the trailer, so that as the vehicle turns the image sensor maintains the image in its field of view and the mirror is automatically adjusted to maintain the driver'"'"'s view of the part of the trailer in the mirror.
4 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle which mirror assembly incorporates (i) a mirror housing in which a mirror having a moveable reflective surface is mounted (ii) a mirror adjusting means capable of adjusting the orientation of the said reflective surface of the mirror (iii) an image sensing means attached to or forming part of the mirror housing, which image sensing means can detect a part of the vehicle or the trailer or part of a trailer connected to the vehicle (iv) a control system able to process signals from the image sensing means and which controls the mirror adjusting means and is able to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface of the mirror in response to movement of part of the vehicle or the trailer or part of a trailer as it moves across the field of view of the image sensing means.
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5. The mirror assembly according to 1 in which the mirror assembly incorporates a means to transmit additional data to modules that are integrated to the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system by a means selected from direct cable connection, by infrared or wireless remote link.
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9. A mirror assembly for a vehicle which mirror assembly incorporates (i) a mirror housing in which a mirror having a moveable reflective surface is mounted (ii) a mirror adjusting means capable of adjusting the orientation of the said reflective surface of the mirror (iii) an image sensing means selected from cameras and CMOS cameras rigidly attached to or forming part of the mirror housing, so that adjustment of the reflective surface by the adjusting means will not alter the position of the image sensing means, the image sensing means passively sensing the vehicle or trailer connected to the vehicle (iv) a control system connected to the image sensing means and which controls the mirror adjusting means and is able to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface of the mirror in response to movement of the indicator image across the field of view of the image sensing means.
- 10. A vehicle incorporating a mirror assembly which mirror assembly incorporates (i) a mirror housing in which a mirror having a moveable reflective surface is mounted (ii) a mirror adjusting means capable of adjusting the orientation of the said reflective surface of the mirror (iii) an image sensing means attached to or forming part of the mirror housing, which image sensing means can detect a part of the vehicle or the trailer or part of a trailer connected to the vehicle (iv) a control system able to process signals from the image sensing means and which controls the mirror adjusting means and is able to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface of the mirror in response to movement of part of the vehicle or the trailer or part of a trailer as it moves across the field of view of the image sensing means
Specification