Vehicle blind spot monitoring system

• US 6,880,941 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tony R. Suggs
• Original Assignee: Tony R. Suggs
• Inventors: Suggs, Tony R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US10/458,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 359/843, 359/877, 359/838, 359/872, 359/873, 359/874, 359/876, 701/49
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vehicle blind spot monitoring system includes an adjustable side view mirror(s), a mirror controller configured to control an angular orientation of the adjustable side view mirror(s), side view mirror adjustment actuator(s) configured to enable a vehicle occupant to remotely adjust, in a normal operating condition, angular orientations of the adjustable side view mirror(s) in a normal orientation range, and side view blind spot adjustment actuator(s) configured to enable a vehicle occupant to remotely adjust, in a blind spot operating condition, angular orientations of the adjustable side view mirror(s) in blind spot orientation ranges. The adjustable side view mirror(s), the side view mirror adjustment actuator(s), and the side view blind spot adjustment actuator(s) are each communicatively interconnected with the mirror controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle blind spot monitoring system comprising:

at least one adjustable side view mirror;

a mirror controller with a processor and memory, said mirror controller being configured to control an angular orientation of said at least one adjustable side view mirror;

at least one mirror adjustment actuator configured to enable a vehicle occupant to remotely adjust, in a normal operating condition, an angular orientation of said at least one adjustable side view mirror in a normal orientation range; and

at least one blind spot adjustment actuator configured to enable a vehicle occupant to remotely adjust, in a blind spot operating condition, an angular orientation of said at least one adjustable side view mirror in a blind spot orientation range;

wherein said at least one adjustable side view mirror, said at least one mirror adjustment actuator, and said at least one blind spot adjustment actuator are each communicatively interconnected with said mirror controller, and

wherein said mirror controller memory carries thereon blindview software which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out steps comprising;

saving data regarding a desired orientation position of said at least one side view mirror when said at least one side view mirror is adjusted and upon disengagement of at least one of said at least one mirror adjustment actuator and said at least one blind spot adjustment actuator by a user.

2. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle adjustable side view mirror comprises:

an adjustable left view mirror; and

an adjustable right view mirror.

3. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said blindview software, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting one of said at least one side view mirror when an associated mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user for a period of time; and

adjusting one of said at least one side view mirror when an associated blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user for a period of time.

4. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the step of adjusting one of said at least one side view mirror when an associated mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting an orientation position of a left view mirror when a left view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user; and

adjusting an orientation position of a right view mirror when a right view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user.

5. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the step of adjusting an orientation position of a left view mirror when a left view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting the left view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the left view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time.

6. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the step of adjusting the left view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the left view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the normal orientation position of the left view mirror when the left view mirror is adjusted and upon disengagement of the left view mirror adjustment actuator by the user.

7. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the step of adjusting the left view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the left view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

overriding movement activity of the left view mirror associated with the engaged left view mirror adjustment actuator when a left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user for a period of time;

adjusting the left view mirror to a blind spot orientation position when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time;

activating an audible indicator to emit a blind spot engagement audible sound when the left view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating all left turn visual indicators when the left view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating the audible indicator to emit a blind spot disengagement audible sound when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time, and the left view mirror is adjusted and returns to the normal orientation position; and

deactivating all left turn visual indicators when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and is subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time.

8. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the step of adjusting an orientation position of a left view mirror when a left hand mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the blind spot orientation position of the left view mirror when the left view mirror is adjusted using the left view blind spot adjustment actuator and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position.

9. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the step of adjusting an orientation position of a right view mirror when a right mirror adjustment actuator is engaged by a user, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting the right view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the right view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time.

10. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting the right view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the right view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the normal orientation position of the right view mirror when the right view mirror is adjusted and upon disengagement of the right view mirror adjustment actuator by the user.

11. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting the right view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the right view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

overriding movement activity of the right view mirror associated with the engaged right view mirror adjustment actuator when a right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user for a period of time;

adjusting the right view mirror to a blind spot orientation position when the right vie blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time;

activating an audible indicator to emit a blind spot engagement audible sound when the right view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating all right to turn visual indicators when the right view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating the audible indicator to emit a blind spot disengagement audible sound when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and subsequently engaged by a use for a period of time, and the right view mirror is adjusted and returns to the normal orientation position; and

deactivating all right turn visual indicators when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and is subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time.

12. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the step of adjusting the right view mirror to a normal orientation position within a normal orientation range when the right view mirror adjustment actuator is engaged for a period of time, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the blind spot orientation position of the right view mirror when the right view mirror is adjusted using the right view blind spot adjustment actuator and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position.

13. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the step of adjusting one of said at least one side view mirror when an associated adjustment actuator is engaged by a user for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting an orientation position of a left view mirror when a left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user; and

adjusting an orientation position of a right view mirror when a right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user.

14. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein the step of adjusting an orientation position of a left view mirror when a left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting the left view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time.

15. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the step of adjusting the left view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the blind spot orientation position of the left view mirror when the left view minor is adjusted and upon disengagement of the left view mirror adjustment actuator by the user.

16. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the step of adjusting the left view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

activating an audible indicator to emit a blind spot engagement audible sound when the left view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating all left turn visual indicators when the left view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating the audible indicator to emit a blind spot disengagement audible sound when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time, and the left view mirror is adjusted and returns to the normal orientation position; and

deactivating all left turn visual indicators when the left view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and is subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time.

17. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein the step of adjusting an orientation position of a right view mirror when a right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by a user, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

adjusting the right view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time.

18. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein the step of adjusting the right view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the blind spot orientation position of the right view mirror when the right view mirror is adjusted and upon disengagement of the right view mirror adjustment actuator by the user.

19. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein the step of adjusting the right view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

activating an audible indicator to emit a blind spot engagement audible sound when the right view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating all right turn visual indicators when the right view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position;

activating the audible indicator when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator to emit a blind spot disengagement audible sound when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time, and the right view mirror is adjusted and returns to the normal orientation position; and

deactivating all right turn visual indicators when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is disengaged and is subsequently engaged by a user for a period of time.

20. The vehicle blind spot monitoring system according to 19, wherein the step of adjusting the right view mirror from a normal orientation position to a blind spot orientation position when the right view blind spot adjustment actuator is engaged by the user for a period of time, further causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:

saving data regarding the blind spot orientation position of the right view mirror when the right view mirror is adjusted and initially reaches the blind spot orientation position.