Automatic side view mirror tracking system
First Claim
1. An automatic mirror position tracking system for use on an articulated vehicle having a first portion and a second portion, the system comprising:
- a mirror movably mounted on the first portion of the articulated vehicle;
a drive mechanism coupled to the mirror for moving the mirror in response to a control signal;
a first ultrasonic transducer arranged on a centerline of the first portion of the articulated vehicle and oriented to sense ultrasonic signals reflected off an opposing surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle;
a second ultrasonic transducer arranged on the first portion of the articulated vehicle at a predetermined distance to one side the first ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second ultrasonic transducer is oriented to sense ultrasonic signals reflected off an opposing surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle;
a third ultrasonic transducer arranged on the first portion of the articulated vehicle at a predetermined distance to the other side of the first ultrasonic transducer, wherein the third ultrasonic transducer is oriented to sense ultrasonic signals reflected off an opposing surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle; and
a control circuit for generating the control signal in response to sensory output signals of the first, second and third ultrasonic transducers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic side view mirror tracking and control system enables drivers of articulated vehicles such as tractor trailers to keep visual contact with the side and rear of the trailer throughout a turn while backing the vehicle. This is accomplished without driver intervention through the use of a microprocessor receiving the outputs of either a plurality of ultrasonic transducers or a pair of fluxgate compasses. The microprocessor uses the aforementioned outputs to determine the rotational angle between the trailer and the tractor. Based upon these determinations, the mirror is moved to a position commensurate with the subject angle so that the driver of the vehicle is able to view the side and rear corner of the vehicle. A software filter prevents the mirror from being moved unless a predetermined change in the vehicle angle is detected.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An automatic mirror position tracking system for use on an articulated vehicle having a first portion and a second portion, the system comprising:
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a mirror movably mounted on the first portion of the articulated vehicle; a drive mechanism coupled to the mirror for moving the mirror in response to a control signal; a first ultrasonic transducer arranged on a centerline of the first portion of the articulated vehicle and oriented to sense ultrasonic signals reflected off an opposing surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle; a second ultrasonic transducer arranged on the first portion of the articulated vehicle at a predetermined distance to one side the first ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second ultrasonic transducer is oriented to sense ultrasonic signals reflected off an opposing surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle; a third ultrasonic transducer arranged on the first portion of the articulated vehicle at a predetermined distance to the other side of the first ultrasonic transducer, wherein the third ultrasonic transducer is oriented to sense ultrasonic signals reflected off an opposing surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle; and a control circuit for generating the control signal in response to sensory output signals of the first, second and third ultrasonic transducers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic mirror position tracking system for use on an articulated vehicle having a first portion and a second portion, the system comprising:
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a mirror movably mounted on the first portion of the articulated vehicle; a drive mechanism coupled to the mirror for moving the mirror in response to a control signal; a plurality of transducers, each respective transducer producing a signal representative of distance between the respective transducer and a surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle as a function of a signal reflected from a surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle; a memory storing; (a) measured baseline signal values for the respective transducers when the articulated vehicle is in a straight line, and (b) at least one look-up table containing distance-difference information for the respective transducers for a plurality of turn-angles of the articulated vehicle; and a controller using the measured baseline signal values and the look-up table to generate the control signal in response to the signals from the transducers during operation of the articulated vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An automatic mirror position tracking system for use on an articulated vehicle having a first portion and a second portion, the system comprising:
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a mirror movably mounted on the first portion of the articulated vehicle; a drive mechanism coupled to the mirror for moving the mirror in response to a control signal; a plurality of transducers, each respective transducer producing a signal representative of distance between the respective transducer and a surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle as a function of a signal reflected from a surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle; a memory storing a plurality of look-up tables correlating transducer output information to vehicle angle under a plurality of conditions; and a controller using a selected one of the look-up tables, corresponding to a current condition, to generate the control signal in response to the signals from the transducers. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An automatic mirror position tracking system for use on an articulated vehicle having a first portion and a second portion, the system comprising:
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a mirror movably mounted on the first portion of the articulated vehicle; a drive mechanism coupled to the mirror for moving the mirror in response to a control signal; a plurality of transducers arranged on the first portion of the articulated vehicle radiating ultrasonic beams toward a surface of the second portion of the articulated vehicle and sensing ultrasonic signal reflections, wherein the radiated ultrasonic beams have an asymmetrical cross section perpendicular to the direction of radiation; and a controller generating the control signal responsive to the sensed ultrasonic signal reflections. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification