Vehicular Mirror Having a Camera for Enhanced Vision

• US 20100079883A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: ENGLANDER, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,022,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/083 Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system and/or apparatus provided as a side-view or rear-view mirror for providing a plurality of independently moveable reflective surfaces to enable a driver increased visibility. To increase visibility for the driver, the system and/or apparatus includes a camera for providing images around a vehicle to the driver within a vehicle during low-light or poor lighting conditions.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle, comprising:

a first mounting plate mounted to the housing of the rear view mirror unit;

an adjustment mechanism mounted to said first mounting plate;

a second mounting plate mounted to said adjustment mechanism and including a camera connection area disposed therein;

a camera mounted to the camera connection area of said second mounting plate; and

a mirror mounted to said second mounting plate and configured to provide a viewing area for said camera mounted to said second mounting plate while reflecting an area to the rear of the vehicle.

2. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the viewing area for said camera further comprises:

a first window in the mirror comprising at least one of a cutout, a transparent element, and a one-way mirror element, and

the camera coupled to the second mounting plate and aligned with respect to the first window.

3. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one motor coupled to the adjustment mechanism,

the at least one motor enabling the adjustment mechanism to move the mirror and the camera simultaneously in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction.

4. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a connection mechanism connecting the camera to the camera connection area of said second mounting plate, the connection mechanism including at least one of a thread mating to a thread on the camera, a snap-in mechanism, pins, rivets, a bracket held by screws, a bracket held by pins, and a bracket held by rivets.

5. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second mounting plate further comprises:

at least one tab configured to affix the mirror to the second mounting plate,

the at least one tab elastically biased to prevent vibration in the mirror.

6. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one solenoid,

the at least one solenoid further comprising a spring core,

the spring core securing the adjustment mechanism when the at least one solenoid is not energized.

7. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one light source at least one of connected to said rear view mirror unit, disposed on the vehicle and integrated within the housing.

8. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a third mounting plate mounted to said housing;

a second adjustment mechanism mounted to said third mounting plate

a fourth mounting plate mounted to said second adjustment mechanism; and

a second mirror mounted to said fourth mounting plate.

9. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 8, wherein said fourth mounting plate includes a second camera connection area, and wherein said rear view mirror unit further comprises:

a second camera mounted to the second camera connection area, and

the second mirror configured to provide a second viewing area for said second camera mounted to said fourth mounting plate while reflecting a second area with respect to the vehicle.

10. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a second camera,

the second camera configured to provide a viewing area to the front of the vehicle.

22. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the camera is mounted to a camera connection area disposed at least one of in and on the second mounting plate.

11. A rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle, comprising:

a first mounting plate mounted to the housing of the rear view mirror unit;

a first adjustment mechanism mounted to said first mounting plate;

a second mounting plate mounted to said adjustment mechanism and including a camera connection area disposed therein;

a first mirror mounted to said second mounting plate;

a third mounting plate mounted to the housing of the rear view mirror unit;

a second adjustment mechanism mounted to said third mounting plate;

a fourth mounting plate mounted to said adjustment mechanism and including a camera connection area;

a camera mounted to the camera connection area on the fourth mounting plate; and

a second mirror mounted to said fourth mounting plate.

12. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one first motor coupled to the first adjustment mechanism,

the at least one first motor enabling the first adjustment mechanism to move in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction; and

at least one second motor coupled to the second adjustment mechanism,

the at least one second motor enabling the second adjustment mechanism to move the mirror and the camera simultaneously in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction.

13. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a connection mechanism connecting the camera to the camera connection area of the fourth mounting plate,

the connection mechanism including at least one of a thread mating to a thread on the camera, a snap-in mechanism, pins, rivets, a bracket held by screws, a bracket held by pins, and a bracket held by rivets.

14. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a first solenoid and a second solenoid,

the first solenoid securing the first adjustment mechanism when the first solenoid is not activated, and

the second solenoid securing the second adjustment mechanism when the second solenoid is not activated.

15. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 11, further comprising at least one light source at least one of connected to said rear view mirror unit, disposed on the vehicle and integrated within the housing.

16. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a second camera,

the first mirror configured to provide a viewing area for said second camera mounted to said second mounting plate while reflecting an area to the rear of the vehicle.

17. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a second camera,

the second camera configured to provide a viewing area to the front of the vehicle.

18. The rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle of claim 16, further comprising:

a third camera,

the third camera configured to provide a viewing area to the front of the vehicle.

19. A method of assembling a rear view mirror having a housing, comprising:

mounting a first mounting support to the housing;

mounting an adjustment mechanism to the first mounting support;

mounting a second mounting support to the adjustment mechanism;

mounting a mirror to the second mounting support; and

mounting a camera to the second mounting support, and configuring the mirror and the camera to provide a viewing area for the camera mounted to the second mounting plate while reflecting an area to the rear of the vehicle to enable the mirror and the camera to be simultaneously adjusted by the adjustment mechanism in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

mounting at least one light source at least one of connected to the housing, disposed on the vehicle and integrated within the housing.

21. A rear view mirror unit including a housing for attachment to a vehicle, comprising:

a first mounting support mounted to the housing of the rear view mirror unit;

an adjustment mechanism mounted to said first mounting support;

a second mounting support mounted to said adjustment mechanism and including a camera connection area disposed therein;

a camera mounted to the camera connection area of said second mounting support; and

a mirror mounted to said second mounting support and configured to provide a viewing area for said camera mounted to said second mounting support while reflecting an area to the rear of the vehicle.