Vehicle Rear-View Mirror Shifting System Implemented With Aim To Eliminate The Dead Angle

• US 20100046104A1
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mate Rimac
• Original Assignee: Mate Rimac
• Inventors: Rimac, Mate
• Application Number:
  US12/555,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046104A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/843
• 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

The rear-view mirror system for an automobile to eliminate driver blind spots comprises electrically controlled external side rear-view mirrors and an electrically controlled interior center rear-view mirror, and a control unit which rotates the external rear-view mirrors and moves and turns the interior center rear view mirror to provide a view of the blind spot. The system is activated either by the driver by a button press, or automatically upon initiation of a turn signal or upon turning of the steering wheel, and then automatically released to return the mirrors to their normal position after a predetermined length of time or upon completion of a turn.

Claims

1. A rear-view mirror system for an automobile providing visibility in a driver blind spot, comprising:

an electrically actuated remotely controlled external left side rear-view mirror;

an electrically actuated remotely controlled external right side rear-view mirror;

an electrically actuated remotely controlled interior center rear-view mirror;

a control unit operable to position the external left side rear-view mirror, external right side rear-view mirror, and the interior center rear-view mirror in a default position;

said control unit being operable to position the external left side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror in a left blind spot viewing position;

said control unit being operable to position the external right side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror in a right blind spot viewing position.

2. The rear-view mirror system of claim 1, wherein the electrically actuated remotely controlled interior center rear-view mirror has a mirror surface which is rotated and moved sideways.

3. The rear-view mirror system of claim 2, wherein the electrically actuated remotely controlled interior center rear-view mirror rotates and moves the mirror surface to a predetermined left blind spot viewing position when actuated for left blind spot viewing, or to a predetermined right blind spot viewing position when actuated for right blind spot viewing.

4. The rear-view mirror system of claim 3, wherein the electrically actuated remotely controlled external left side rear-view mirror and the electrically actuated remotely controlled interior center rear-view mirror simultaneously rotate in a clockwise direction to predetermined left blind spot viewing positions.

5. The rear-view mirror system of claim 3, wherein the electrically actuated remotely controlled external right side rear-view mirror and the electrically actuated remotely controlled interior center rear-view mirror simultaneously rotate in a counterclockwise direction to predetermined right blind spot viewing positions.

6. The rear view mirror system of claim 4 having a left blind spot mirror system actuator associated with a driver'"'"'s steering wheel to activate the rear view mirror system to the left blind spot viewing position by driver activation.

7. The rear view mirror system of claim 4 having a right blind spot mirror system actuator associated with a driver'"'"'s steering wheel to activate the rear view mirror system to the right blind spot viewing position by driver activation.

8. The rear view mirror system of claim 6 which is released and the mirrors are positioned in the default position upon release of the left blind spot mirror system actuator by the driver.

9. The rear view mirror system of claim 7 which is released and the mirrors are positioned in the default position upon release of the right blind spot mirror system actuator by the driver.

10. The rear view mirror system of claim 4 having a left blind spot mirror actuation means automatically activated by operation of the left turn signal, activation of said left blind spot mirror actuation means causing said external left side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to rotate to their predetermined left blind spot viewing positions.

11. The rear view mirror system of claim 10, wherein the left blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external left side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after a predetermined time period.

12. The rear view mirror system of claim 11, wherein the left blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external left side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after 0.5 seconds to 3 seconds.

13. The rear view mirror system of claim 10, wherein the left blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external left side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after a steering wheel sensor detects a predetermined rotation of the steering wheel.

14. The rear view mirror system of claim 13, wherein the left blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external left side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after a steering wheel sensor detects a rotation of the steering wheel of 15 degrees or more.

15. The rear view mirror system of claim 5 having a right blind spot mirror actuation means automatically activated by operation of the right turn signal, activation of said right blind spot mirror actuation means causing said external right side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to rotate to their predetermined right blind spot viewing positions.

16. The rear view mirror system of claim 15, wherein the right blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external right side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after a predetermined time period.

17. The rear view mirror system of claim 16, wherein the right blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external right side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after 0.5 seconds to 3 seconds.

18. The rear view mirror system of claim 15, wherein the right blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external right side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after a steering wheel sensor detects a predetermined rotation of the steering wheel.

19. The rear view mirror system of claim 18, wherein the right blind spot mirror actuation means returns the external right side rear-view mirror and the interior center rear-view mirror to their default positions after a steering wheel sensor detects a rotation of the steering wheel of 15 degrees or more.