Rear view mirror positioning and alerting apparatus

• US 5,306,953 A
• Filed: 08/03/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert I. Weiner
• Original Assignee: Robert I. Weiner
• Inventors: Weiner, Robert I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnan, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US07/923,461
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 359/602-604, 359/843, 359/844, 359/854, 359/871, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 364/424.05, 340/901, 340/903
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

A system for automatically controlling the position of a tractor-trailer rearview mirror to maintain unobstructed vision in the mirror during turns employs a pair of ultrasonic transducers mounted on the external rear wall of the tractor on opposite sides of the centerline thereof so as to project ultrasonic sound beams onto the forward wall of the trailer. A control circuit determines the difference in the two path lengths, indicating the degree of turning of the vehicle, to generate control signals to a mirror rotating motor. A third transducer may be mounted for rotation with the mirror and directs an ultrasonic beam along the zone immediately beside the trailer for detecting persons or objects within the zone and actuating an alarm in the event of such detection.

Claims

1. Apparatus for adjusting the position of an external rearview mirror mounted on a tractor of the type used to pull a semi-trailer, the mirror being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, comprising:

a controllable drive mechanism connected to the mirror including an electric motor operable to rotate the mirror in either direction about the vertical axis thereof;

first and second ultrasonic transducers mounted on the exterior rear wall of the tractor on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the tractor so as to project ultrasonic sound beams rearwardly onto the front wall of the trailer and to detect the reflections of said ultrasonic sound beams from said trailer front wall; and

circuit means for determining the difference in path length detected by said first and said second transducers and for generating control signals to said drive mechanism in accordance with the difference to effect rotation of the mirror.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means further includes switch means permitting manual adjustment of the position of said mirror.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including

a third ultrasonic transducer mounted for rotation with said mirror and positioned to project an ultrasonic sound beam in substantially parallel relation to the driver'"'"'s line of sight in the zone along the side of the trailer and for detecting reflections of said lastmentioned ultrasonic sound beam;

an alarm; and

additional circuit means responsive to said third ultrasonic transducer and operative to actuate said alarm upon reception of a reflection indicative of the presence of a person or object within said zone.

4. Apparatus for adjusting the position of an external rearview mirror mounted on a tractor of the type used to pull a semi-trailer, the mirror being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, comprising:

a controllable drive mechanism connected to the mirror including an electric motor operable to rotate the mirror in either direction about the vertical axis thereof;

first and second acoustic transducers mounted on the exterior rear wall of the tractor on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the tractor so as to project acoustic sound beams rearwardly onto the front wall of the trailer and to detect the reflections of said acoustic sound beams from said trailer front wall; and

circuit means for determining the difference in path length detected by said first and said second transducers and for generating control signals to said drive mechanism in accordance with the difference to effect rotation of the mirror.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said circuit means further includes switch means permitting manual adjustment of the position of said mirror.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including

a third acoustic transducer mounted for rotation with said mirror and positioned to project an acoustic sound beam in substantially parallel relation to the driver'"'"'s line of sight in the zone along the side of the trailer and for detecting reflections of said lastmentioned acoustic sound beam;

an alarm; and

additional circuit means responsive to said third acoustic transducer and operative to actuate said alarm upon reception of a reflection indicative of the presence of a person or object within said zone.

7. Apparatus for controlling the position of an external rearview mirror mounted on a tractor of the type used to pull a semi-trailer so as to maintain a clear line of vision in said mirror during turning movements of the tractor and semi-trailer, said mirror being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, comprising:

a reversible electric motor connected to said mirror to effect rotation thereof about said vertical axis;

acoustic transducer sensing means mounted on the exterior rear wall of said tractor for determining the angular relationship between said tractor and said semi-trailer; and

control circuit means responsive to said sensing means and operative to control rotation of said motor in response thereto.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including an alarm, an additional acoustic transducer means connected to said mirror for rotation therewith and operative to detect the presence of a person or object in a zone along the side of said trailer, and additional control means response to said additional acoustic transducer means and operative to actuate said alarm upon detection of such presence.