Automatic mirror positioning system for truck-trailers and the like
First Claim
1. A positioning system for controlling a position of at least one moveable rearview mirror of a vehicle in response to relative positioning of the vehicle with respect to a trailer unit pivotally mounted to the vehicle, comprisingdetection means for detecting rotation of the trailer unit relative to the vehicle, said detection means being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle so as to be located under the trailer unit when the latter is hitched to the vehicle, said detection means comprising at least one rotatable disc means for contacting the trailer unit without modification of the trailer unit and for rotating upon pivoting of the vehicle relative to the trailer unit;
- computer means for measuring a rotation of said disc means; and
mirror actuating means, responsive to said computer means, for rotating said mirror such that a driver of the vehicle has substantially always a same view of the trailer unit using the rearview mirror.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic mirror positioning system is intended for tractor-trailer vehicles such as a tractor provided with a semi-trailer. The tractor includes a fifth wheel used to couple the trailer to the tractor. The system includes an angle detection unit to measure a relative angular pivot between the tractor and the trailer, a computer for interpreting data received from the detection unit, and a mirror assembly which includes a rotatable mirror which is operated by the signals received from the computer, whereby the system modifies the positions of the exterior rearview mirrors of the tractor in view of the relative position of the tractor and the trailer in order that the driver can view the sides and the rear corners of the trailer for any angle defined between the tractor and the trailer. The detection unit which is installed adjacent the fifth wheel includes a pair of spring-biased vertical discs which contact the underside of the trailer so as to rotate whenever there is a relative angular pivot between the tractor and the trailer. As these discs are mounted on the shaft of a step motor, any rotation of the discs will cause the step motor to rotate and to transmit direction and displacement impulses to the computer which after processing the data on the basis of other known parameters will cause the step motor of each mirror assembly to rotate in an established direction and for a calculated angle the respective mirror thereof.
24 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A positioning system for controlling a position of at least one moveable rearview mirror of a vehicle in response to relative positioning of the vehicle with respect to a trailer unit pivotally mounted to the vehicle, comprising
detection means for detecting rotation of the trailer unit relative to the vehicle, said detection means being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle so as to be located under the trailer unit when the latter is hitched to the vehicle, said detection means comprising at least one rotatable disc means for contacting the trailer unit without modification of the trailer unit and for rotating upon pivoting of the vehicle relative to the trailer unit; -
computer means for measuring a rotation of said disc means; and mirror actuating means, responsive to said computer means, for rotating said mirror such that a driver of the vehicle has substantially always a same view of the trailer unit using the rearview mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A positioning system for controlling a position of at least one moveable rearview mirror of a vehicle in response to relative positioning of the vehicle with respect to a trailer unit pivotally mounted to the vehicle, comprising
detection means for detecting rotation of the trailer unit relative to the vehicle, said detection means being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle so as to be located under the trailer unit when the latter is hitched to the vehicle, said detection means comprising at least one rotatable disc means for contacting the trailer unit and for rotating in a vertical plane upon pivoting of the vehicle relative to the trailer unit; -
computer means for measuring a rotation of said disc means; and mirror actuating means, responsive to said computer means, for rotating said mirror such that a driver of the vehicle has substantially always a same view of the trailer unit using the rearview mirror. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification