METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF VEHICLE OUTSIDE MIRRORS
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting an outside mirror of a vehicle comprising:
- providing at least one seat position sensor, a driver position detector and a mirror actuator;
determining a position of the driver'"'"'s seat with the at least one seat position sensor;
adjusting an angular orientation of the outside mirror with the mirror actuator based on the determined position of the driver'"'"'s seat such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in at least a portion of the outside mirror;
detecting a location of a driver'"'"'s head with the driver position detector when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat; and
readjusting the angular orientation of the outside mirror with the mirror actuator based on the detected position of the driver'"'"'s head such that a rear of the vehicle is visible to the driver in at least a portion of the outside mirror when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for adjusting an outside mirror of a vehicle includes providing at least one seat position sensor, a driver position detector and a mirror actuator. The position of the driver'"'"'s seat is determined with the at least one seat position sensor. An angular orientation of the outside mirror is adjusted with the mirror actuator based on the determined position of the driver'"'"'s seat such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in the outside mirror. Thereafter, a location of a driver'"'"'s head may be determined with the driver position detector when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat. The angular orientation of the outside mirror is readjusted with the mirror actuator based on the detected position of the driver'"'"'s head such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in the outside mirror when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.
30 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for adjusting an outside mirror of a vehicle comprising:
-
providing at least one seat position sensor, a driver position detector and a mirror actuator; determining a position of the driver'"'"'s seat with the at least one seat position sensor; adjusting an angular orientation of the outside mirror with the mirror actuator based on the determined position of the driver'"'"'s seat such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in at least a portion of the outside mirror; detecting a location of a driver'"'"'s head with the driver position detector when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat; and readjusting the angular orientation of the outside mirror with the mirror actuator based on the detected position of the driver'"'"'s head such that a rear of the vehicle is visible to the driver in at least a portion of the outside mirror when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for adjusting an outside mirror of a vehicle comprising:
-
providing at least one seat position sensor, a driver position detector and a mirror actuator; determining a position of the driver'"'"'s seat with the at least one seat position sensor; adjusting an angular orientation of the outside mirror with the mirror actuator based on the determined position of the driver'"'"'s seat such that a rear of the vehicle is visible in at least a portion of the outside mirror; detecting a location of a driver'"'"'s head with the driver position detector when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat; readjusting the angular orientation of the outside mirror with the mirror actuator based on the detected position of the driver'"'"'s head such that a rear of the vehicle is visible to the driver in at least a portion of the outside mirror when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat; rotating the mirror away from the vehicle when a turn signal of the vehicle is actuated; and rotating the mirror toward the vehicle and downward when the vehicle is reversing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for adjusting a position of an outside mirror of a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit operatively coupled to a mirror actuator, at least one seat position sensor operatively coupled to a driver'"'"'s seat and the electronic control unit, a driver position detector operatively coupled to the electronic control unit and a mirror actuator mechanically coupled to the outside mirror and the electronic control unit, wherein:
-
the at least one seat position sensor is operable to send a first electronic signal to the electronic control unit indicative of a position of the driver'"'"'s seat at vehicle start-up; the electronic control unit is programmed to receive the first electronic signal indicative of the position of the driver'"'"'s seat at vehicle start-up and adjust an angular orientation of the outside mirror based on the received first electronic signal by sending a first control signal to the mirror actuator, wherein the first control signal sent to the mirror actuator positions the mirror such that the rear of the vehicle is visible in at least a portion of the outside mirror; the driver position detector is operable to detect a location of the driver'"'"'s head while the vehicle is in drive and send a second electronic signal to the electronic control unit indicative of the detected location of the driver'"'"'s head; and the electronic control unit is further programmed to receive the second electronic signal indicative of the location of the driver'"'"'s head and readjust the angular orientation of the outside mirror based on the received second electronic signal by sending a second control signal to the mirror actuator, wherein the second control signal sent to the mirror actuator positions the mirror such that the rear of the vehicle is visible in at least a portion of the outside mirror. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification