Rear view mirror tilt control

• US 6,580,992 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hargett, Mathew, Whitten, Scott, Suda, Hirohide
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/973,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 307/10.1, 359/877, 318/466
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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

A control system for a vehicle passenger side view mirror for tilting the mirror to permit the driver to see the curb upon shifting of the automobile into reverse. When the passenger side mirror is at an extreme inboard or extreme outboard position, and the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the mirror is tilted horizontally to be within predetermined limits, and then is tilted vertically to permit visualization of the ground adjacent the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a rear view mirror on a vehicle to facilitate parking of said vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting when the vehicle is shifted into reverse;

determining an original tilt position of the rear view mirror;

determining whether said original tilt position is outside of predetermined limits and, if said rear view mirror original tilt position is outside said predetermined limits, performing the following steps;

horizontally tilting said mirror to a position within said predetermined limits; and

,

vertically tilting said mirror to permit a driver to view a ground surface adjacent the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during said step of horizontally tilting said mirror, the mirror is moved to a predetermined position.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after said vertically tilting step, comprising the further steps of:

detecting when said vehicle is shifted out of reverse;

vertically tilting said mirror back to said position; and

, horizontally tilting said mirror back to said original tilt position.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, during said step of horizontally tilting said mirror, the mirror is moved to a predetermined position.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein, after said vertically tilting step, comprising the further steps of:

detecting when said vehicle is shifted out of reverse;

monitoring said vehicle and waiting a predetermined time period and, if said vehicle remains out of reverse gear for said predetermined time period, performing the steps of;

vertically tilting said mirror back to said position; and

,

horizontally tilting said mirror back to said original tilt position.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, during said step of horizontally tilting said mirror, the mirror is moved to a predetermined position.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.

13. A method for controlling a rear view mirror on a vehicle to facilitate parking of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting when the vehicle is shifted into reverse;

determining an original tilt position of the rear view mirror;

determining whether said original tilt position is outside of predetermined limits;

if said original tilt position is within said predetermined limits, vertically downwardly tilting said mirror a predetermined amount to permit the driver to view a ground surface adjacent the vehicle; and

,

if said rear view mirror original tilt position is outside said predetermined limits, performing the following steps;

horizontally tilting said mirror to an intermediate position within said predetermined limits; and

,

vertically downwardly tilting said mirror to permit the driver to view a ground surface adjacent the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein when said original tilt position is outside said predetermined limits and after said vertically downwardly tilting step, comprising the further steps of:

detecting when said vehicle is shifted out of reverse;

vertically tilting said mirror back to said intermediate position; and

,

horizontally tilting said mirror back to said original tilt position.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, during said step of horizontally tilting said mirror, the mirror is moved to a predetermined position.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting steps.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said original tilt position was outside said predetermined limits and wherein the mirror is moved a predetermined amount during said vertical tilting step.