System for automatic adjustment of external mirrors for motor vehicles when driving in curves

• US 6,390,631 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Renner, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, Craig
• Application Number:
  US09/307,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 359/214, 359/841, 359/843, 359/846, 359/871, 359/872, 359/838, 307/10.1
• 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

Described is a system for the automatic adjustment of external mirrors when driving in curves by vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles with a tow, tractor-trailers, articulated buses and the like. This system possesses a sensor for the detection of turning of the vehicle about a vertical axis, a control apparatus which is connected to said sensor and one electromotive mirror adjustment apparatus connected with the control apparatus for the tracking of the external mirror above a zero point corresponding to the turning of the vehicle about its vertical axis. The sensor for the detection of the turning movement of the vehicle about its vertical axis is, in this application, a turn-rate sensor based on gyroscopic principles.

Claims

1. A system for automatically adjusting an external rearview mirror mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a gyroscopic turn-rate sensor mounted to the vehicle for generating a vehicle turn-rate signal responsive to a turn made by the vehicle;

a control apparatus mounted to the vehicle, in communication with said turn-rate sensor, said control apparatus generating a mirror pivoting signal responsive to said vehicle turn-rate signal; and

an electromotively activated mirror adjustment apparatus mounted to the vehicle and in communication with said control apparatus, said adjustment apparatus pivoting the external mirror between a zero position and a turn position responsive to said mirror pivoting signal.

2. A system in accord with claim 1, wherein said control apparatus generates said mirror pivoting signal so as to pivot said mirror continuously during a vehicle turn.

3. A system in accord with claim 1, wherein said control apparatus generates said mirror pivoting signal so as to pivot said mirror in discrete steps during a vehicle turn.

4. A system in accord with claim 1, wherein said control apparatus generates said vehicle pivoting signal regardless of whether the vehicle is traveling forward or backward.

5. A system in accord with claim 1, further including a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed signal responsive to the speed of the vehicle, said control apparatus generating said mirror pivoting signal responsive to said vehicle speed signal.

6. A system in accord with claim 1, further including a temperature sensor for generating a temperature signal, said control apparatus generating said mirror pivoting signal responsive to said temperature signal.

7. A system in accord with claim 1, wherein said mirror pivoting signal causes said mirror to be reset to said zero position after a specified duration of time.

8. A system in accord with claim 1, wherein said system includes a control for manually switching the system on or off.

9. A system in accord with claim 1, wherein said turn-rate sensor is mounted in a mirror housing.

10. A system for automatically adjusting an external rearview mirror mounted on a vehicle, the system including:

means for gyroscopically generating a vehicle turn-rate signal responsive to a turn made by the vehicle;

means for generating a mirror pivoting signal responsive to said vehicle turn-rate signal; and

means for pivoting the external mirror between a zero position and a turn position responsive to the mirror pivoting signal.

11. A system in accord with claim 10, wherein said control apparatus generates said mirror pivoting signal so as to pivot said mirror continuously during a vehicle turn.

12. A system in accord with claim 10, wherein said control apparatus generates said mirror pivoting signal so as to pivot said mirror in discrete steps during a vehicle turn.

13. A system in accord with claim 10, wherein said control apparatus generates said vehicle pivoting signal regardless of whether the vehicle is traveling forward or backward.

14. A system in accord with claim 10, further including a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed signal responsive to the speed of the vehicle, said control apparatus generating said mirror pivoting signal responsive to said vehicle speed signal.

15. A system in accord with claim 10, further including a temperature sensor for generating a temperature signal, said control apparatus generating said mirror pivoting signal responsive to said temperature signal.

16. A system in accord with claim 10, wherein said mirror pivoting signal causes said mirror to be reset to said zero position after a specified duration of time.

17. A system for automatically adjusting an external rearview mirror, said system comprising:

a mirror housing;

a gyroscopic turn-rate sensor for generating a vehicle turn-rate signal responsive to a turn made by the vehicle, said turn-rate sensor being disposed in said mirror housing;

a control apparatus in communication with said turn-rate sensor, said control apparatus generating a mirror pivoting signal responsive to said vehicle turn-rate signal, said control apparatus being disposed in said mirror housing; and

an electromotively activated mirror adjustment apparatus mounted to said mirror housing and in communication with said control apparatus, said adjustment apparatus pivoting the external mirror between a zero position and a turn position responsive to said mirror pivoting signal.

18. A system in accord with claim 17, further including a mirror pane mounted to said adjustment apparatus.