Remotely adjustable, anti-glare vehicle mirror system with driver identification

• US 6,142,639 A
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anvik Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anvik Corporation
• Inventors: Kling, Carl C, Jain, Kanti
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/404,635
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 359/601, 359/602, 359/603, 359/604, 359/605, 359/606, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/603
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means

Abstract

This single-actuator-and-cam, remotely adjustable, exterior vehicle rear-view mirror provides the driver with glare-free viewing toward the rear of the vehicle, by switching between a high-reflectivity position and a low-reflectivity position at the same view adjustment. The exterior rear-view mirrors are repositioned with only a single motor working with a rotary cam to scan all possible mirror positions. The single-motor mechanism increases the reliability of the mirror system. The single motor accomplishes both the directional alignment and the day/night reflectivity adjustment of the mirror by use of a cam which has positions for all predicted view positions, with two reflectivity positions for each view. This invention works equally well with flat wedge mirrors and wide-angle convex wedge mirrors. Since each position is unique, each directional/reflectivity position can be assigned a set of digital coordinates which can be stored for each vehicle driver and each glare condition, for an initial setting which can be easily, or even automatically, adjusted for changes as the driver desires. Customizing features include manual and vehicle driver identification controlled override, start-up reset, and glare threshold setting.

Claims

1. A multi-function optical beam reflecting and steering system, for an exterior vehicle mirror for a vehicle having also an interior rear-view mirror, characterized by

(a) a wedge mirror (1);

(b) angular adjustment means, including a cam means operationally connected to said wedge mirror (1), controlled by a reflectivity setting on the vehicle'"'"'s interior rear-view mirror (30) through a central microcontroller means (33) which provides settings for related view positions at the selected reflectivity setting;

(c) mounting means (3) affixed to said wedge mirror (1) to provide a limited, variable, rotation to provide a complete range of view positions and reflectivity positions to said wedge mirror (1);

(d) a single motor operationally connected to said angular adjustment means to adjust said wedge mirror (1) through a complete range of view positions and at least two different reflectivity positions for each view position;

(e) loading means (4) to positively load said wedge mirror (1) such that said cam means remains in contact with a cam driver operationally connected to said motor; and

(f) control means (33) for control of said motor to cause movement for view adjustment and reflectivity adjustment.

2. A system of exterior vehicle rear-view mirrors according to claim 1 further characterized in that

the vehicle includes a driver recognition means (43) and said microcontroller means (33) stores information to control multiple mirror positions for each recognized driver.

3. A system of vehicle rear-view mirrors according to claim 1 further characterized in that

said control (33) means allows the vehicle driver to individually toggle any mirror from one reflectivity mode to another or to override said control to prevent a mirror from changing its reflectivity mode.

4. A system of vehicle rear-view mirrors according to claim 1 further characterized in that

said control means (33) acts to reset the mirrors to day mode when the vehicle is turned off and restarted.

5. A system of vehicle rear-view mirrors according to claim 1 further characterized in that

said vehicle has driver identification means operationally connectible to an assigned ignition key for a related driver, an adjustable driver'"'"'s seat (39);

and

control means (33) to adjust the mirrors (36,

     37) and the seat (39) as determined by said driver identification means responsive to said assigned ignition key (43).