Exterior rearview mirror with automatically adjusted view angle

• US 6,672,728 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Kuei-Hung, Hsiao, Shun-Hsiang, Su, Wen-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, EUNCHA P
• Application Number:
  US09/946,094
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 359/843, 359/844
• 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

A control device of for automatically adjusting a view angle of a rearview mirror of a vehicle is disclosed. The control device includes a turning detector mounted on the vehicle for generating a triggering signal in response to a turning operation of a user; and a drive circuit electrically connected to the turning detector for moving the rearview mirror along a certain direction from an initial position toward a predetermined position in response to the triggering signal. The turning detector, for example, can be an indicator-light switch or a tire-angle switch.

Claims

1. A control device for automatically adjusting a view angle of a rearview mirror of a vehicle, comprising:

a turning detector mounted on said vehicle for generating a first triggering signal in response to a first turning operation of a user;

a first variable voltage-divider for being adjusted to divide a first constant voltage into a first reference value;

a second variable voltage-divider outputting a variable voltage value in response to a first movement degree of said rearview mirror;

a first comparing unit optionally generating a first drive signal in response to a comparing result of said variable voltage value with said first reference value;

a first controlled switch electrically connected to said first comparing unit and said turning detector, and conducted to output said first drive signal in response to said first triggering signal; and

a first drive circuit electrically connected to said turning detector and said first controller switch, and moving said rearview mirror along a first direction from an initial position toward a predetermined position in response to said first drive signal.

2. The control device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a third variable voltage-divider for being adjusted to divide a second constant voltage into a second reference value;

a second comparing unit for optionally generating a second drive signal in response to a comparing result of said variable voltage value with said second reference value;

a second controlled switch electrically connected to said second comparing unit and said turning detector, and conducted to output said second drive signal in response to a second triggering signal generated by said turning detector in response to a second turning operation of a user, wherein said first and said second controlled switches are not conducted at the same time; and

a second drive circuit electrically connected to said second controlled switch for moving said rearview mirror along a second direction toward said initial position in response to said second drive signal.

3. The control device according to claim 2 wherein said turning detector includes an indicator-light switch, said first turning operation is to switch on an indicator light, and said second turning operation is to switch off said indicator light.

4. The control device according to claim 2 wherein said turning detector includes a tire-angle switch, said first turning operation is to turn a tire to exceed a threshold angle, and said second turning operation is to return said tire within said threshold angle.

5. The control device according to claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror is moved as a whole in response to said first triggering signal.

6. The control device according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said rearview mirror is moved in response to said first triggering signal, and another portion of the said rearview mirror remains unmoved.

7. The control device according to claim 2 wherein said first, second and third variable voltage-dividers are variable resistors.

8. A control device for automatically adjusting a view angle of a rearview mirror of a vehicle, comprising:

a tire-angle switch mounted on said vehicle for generating a first triggering signal in response to a first turning operation of a tire exceeding a threshold angle;

a control circuit electrically connected to said tire-angle switch for generating a first drive signal in response to a variable voltage value varying with a first movement degree of said rearview mirror and a first reference value representing a first boundary position of said rearview mirror; and

a first drive circuit electrically connected to said tire-angle switch for moving said rearview mirror along a first direction from an initial position toward said boundary position in response to said first triggering signal and said first drive signal.

9. The control device according to claim 8 wherein said control circuit includes:

a first comparing unit for optionally generating said first drive signal in response to a comparing result of said variable voltage value with said first reference value; and

a first controlled switch electrically connected to said first comparing unit, said tire-angle switch and said first drive circuit, and conducted to output said first drive signal in response to said first triggering signal.

10. The control device according to claim 9 wherein said control circuit further includes an outward boundary adjuster electrically connected to said first comparing unit for determining said boundary position of said rearview mirror and thus pre-setting said first reference value.

11. The control device according to claim 9 wherein said control circuit further includes:

a second comparing unit for optionally generating a second drive signal in response to a comparing result of said variable voltage value with a second reference value;

a second controlled switch electrically connected to said second comparing unit and said tire-angle switch, and conducted to output said second drive signal in response to a second triggering signal generated by said tire-angle switch in response to a second turning operation of said tire returning within said threshold angle, wherein said first and said second controlled switches are not conducted at the same time; and

a second drive circuit electrically connected to said second controlled switch for moving said rearview mirror along a second direction toward said initial position in response to said second drive signal.

12. The control device according to claim 11 wherein said control circuit further includes an inward boundary adjuster electrically connected to said second comparing unit for determining said initial position of said rearview mirror and thus pre-setting said second reference value.