Automatically adjustable passenger mirror assembly for a trailered vehicle having a mirror position feedback and position correction device

• US 6,302,547 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ceval, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Valentino
• Inventors: Valentino, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/309,509
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 359/843, 359/872, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/843
• 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

Abstract

An automatic mirror rotation assembly is provided for a vehicle having a tractor and semi-detached trailer. A control wheel is mounted in a structure connecting to a chassis of the tractor, and is raised into engagement with a lower surface of the trailer. As the vehicle turns, the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor is measured by counting rotations or partial rotations of the wheel against the underside surface of the trailer. A corresponding degree of passenger-side rear view mirror is calculated, and a motor automatically rotates the mirror. A mirror position feedback device measures the actual rotation of the mirror and feeds that information back to the assembly. A mirror position correction device automatically adjusts the mirror position when an actual mirror position differs from a desired mirror position.

Claims

1. A mirror position feedback and correction assembly for a vehicle having a tractor, a pivotally connected semi-detached trailer, and a rotatable powered mirror assembly mounted on the tractor, the mirror assembly having a mirror, a mirror face, a fixed shaft, a frame, and a housing attachable to the frame such that the fixed shaft projects through the housing, the mirror position feedback and correction assembly for use in combination with a counting means for determining a trailer rotation with respect to the tractor and a control means for calculating a desired mirror rotation corresponding to the trailer rotation and generating a calculated mirror position signal, the assembly comprising:

a mirror position feedback device for determining an actual mirror position and for generating an actual mirror position signal indicating the actual mirror position, the mirror position feedback device comprising;

a sensing means for sensing an actual rotation of the mirror, the sensing means including a first potentiometer rotatable in an amount proportional to the actual rotation of the mirror, the sensing means comprising a pair of pulleys supported in the housing, a first pulley being fixedly attachable to the fixed shaft, and a second pulley to be rotatable with a component of the mirror assembly and a timing belt extending between the pair of pulleys, wherein the first potentiometer is attached to and rotatable with the second pulley for measuring the actual rotation of the mirror and for generating the actual mirror position signal; and

transmitting means for transmitting the amount of actual mirror rotation to the control means for controlling the mirror; and

a mirror position correction device for comparing the actual mirror position signal from the mirror position feedback device to the calculated mirror position signal indicating a desired mirror position from the control means, and for correcting the mirror position when the actual mirror position signal differs from the calculated mirror position signal.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror position correction device comprises:

a controller for positioning the mirror; and

a second potentiometer connectable to the controller and the mirror, for generating the calculated mirror position signal and for driving the mirror to the desired mirror position;

wherein the controller compares the actual mirror position signal to the calculated mirror position signal, and generates a signal to drive the mirror to the desired mirror position when the actual mirror position signal differs from the calculated mirror position signal.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the mirror position correction device further comprises:

a third potentiometer connectable to the controller and the mirror, for presetting a mirror position, for generating a preset mirror position signal, and for driving the mirror to a preset mirror position;

wherein the controller compares the preset mirror position signal and the calculated mirror position signal to the actual mirror position signal, and generates the signal to drive the mirror to the desired mirror position.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a proportional-integral-differential controller having:

a summing junction for receiving the actual mirror position signal, the calculated mirror position signal, and the preset mirror position signal, and for generating an error signal at times when the calculated mirror position signal and the preset mirror position signal differ from the actual mirror position signal;

a proportional-integral-differential filter for amplifying the error signal; and

a motor driver for driving the mirror in a direction reducing the error signal to zero.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lane scan device for viewing an area of multilane roadway alongside the vehicle, the lane scan device comprising;

an activation switch operable to a first condition when in a second condition, and operable to the second condition when in the first condition; and

a controller responsive to the operation of the activation switch to the first condition for rotating the mirror in a first direction through a path starting from a home position to a scanning setpoint position, and responsive to the operation of the switch to the second condition following a manual operation to the first condition to rotate the mirror in a second condition from the scanning setpoint position to the home position.