System for Controlling the Adjustment of a Side Rearview Device

• US 20140330487A1
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trailertrack APS
• Original Assignee: Trailertrack APS
• Inventors: Brandt, Tajs, Hatt, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 9,403,484 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for controlling the adjustment of a side rearview minor mounted on a vehicle, where the system comprises at least one side rearview minor operated by a motor controlled by a control unit, wherein the system comprises at least one direction guide, where the direction guide comprises at least one gyro, where sensing devices in contact with the gyro determines a change in direction of the vehicle and provides corresponding output data, where the control unit comprises a data processor provided for determining the adjustment of the rearview minor, where the processor is adapted for reading output data from the sensing device and based on at least the sensing device output provide a control signal for the motor operating the mirror and where the motor is adapted for adjusting the mirror accordingly.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the adjustment of a side rearview device mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising at least one side rearview device, operable to change view area, wherein the system comprises a control unit comprising at least two direction guides selected from the group consisting of gyros and accelerometers, wherein the direction guides comprise at least one kinetic sensing device registering change of movement direction of the vehicle, and providing corresponding output signal, wherein the control unit comprises a data processor provided for determining the adjustment of the rearview device, wherein the processor is adapted for reading output signals from the sensing device and based on at least the sensing device output provides a control signal for adjusting the rearview area and wherein the rearview device is adapted for adjusting the rear view area accordingly.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is towing a trailer and the at least one direction guide is mounted on the towing vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, which comprises a rearview minor or a rearview camera operated by a motor controlled by the control unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises two gyros or two accelerometers.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit can operate the motor to change a view in the side rearview device in horizontal and/or vertical direction.

6. The system according to claim 1, which comprises two side rearview devices.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the system comprises a camera and a display in the vehicle changes view area of a larger picture frame in response to a change in direction of the vehicle.

8. A method for determining a correction for a rearview device in a system according to claim 1, the method comprising:

determining in a coordinate system with a center at a connection between a tractor and a trailer and with the tractor and trailer aligned in the same direction, a location of three main positions,

Driver position

minor position

trailer rear end position

Determining an angular change between the tractor and the trailer direction;

based on the angular change, determining a new position of the trailer rear end;

determining a change in rearview area for the rearview device to maintain an optimum rearview.

9. A vehicle comprising the system according to claim 1.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, which is selected from the group consisting of:

larger trucks transporting heavy weight freight containers, buses, vans, and cars and other vehicles coupled with trailers.

11. A system for controlling adjustment of a side rearview device mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising at least one side rearview device, operable to change view area, wherein the system comprises:

a) at least one direction guide, wherein the direction guide comprises at least one kinetic sensing device registering change of movement direction of the vehicle, and providing corresponding output signal,

b) a control unit comprising a data processor for determining the adjustment of the rearview device, wherein the processor is adapted for reading output signals from the sensing device and, based on at least the sensing device output, providing a control signal for adjusting a rearview area,

wherein the rearview device is adapted for adjusting the rear view area according to the control signal provided by the processor, and

wherein the system comprises a camera and a display in the vehicle which changes view area of a larger picture frame in response to a change in direction of the vehicle.