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Outside mirror apparatus for coupled vehicle

  • US 5,835,291 A
  • Filed: 05/30/1997
  • Issued: 11/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An outside mirror apparatus for a coupled vehicle having a tractor removably connected to a trailer via a pivotable coupling, comprising:

  • an outside mirror mounted to said tractor, said outside mirror having a mirror body, a mirror surface provided at a front surface of said mirror body, and a mirror angle detection means for detection of a plane angle of said mirror surface, said mirror angle detection means comprising a detector rod having its distal end abutted upon a rear surface of said mirror body, and a potentiometer for detection of a position of said detector rod;

    a mirror rotating means for rotating said outside mirror around a vertical axis thereof;

    a tractor angle detector comprising a plurality of proximity sensors provided in said tractor for detecting an angle of bend between said tractor and said trailer, said plurality of sensors disposed at preset angular intervals in said tractor adjacent said pivotable coupling, said sensors capable of detecting a rotation of said trailer around said pivotable coupling;

    an object to be detected by said proximity sensors, said object situated in said trailer adjacent said pivotable coupling; and

    a mirror angle controller means for controlling an angle of said mirror based on the angle of bend detected by said tractor angle detector so that a proper rear view can be obtained, said mirror angle controller means rotating said surface of said outside mirror by stages by means of detection signals from said plurality of proximity sensors.

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