Device and method for adjusting view range of vehicular monitoring device

• US 6,900,739 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsiao, Shun-Hsiang, Chen, Kuei-Hung, Su, Wen-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/374,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/435, 340/466, 340/467, 340/436, 340/903, 340/463, 340/464, 340/470, 340/475, 340/478, 340/425.5, 340/904, 359/843, 359/849, 359/838, 359/844, 701/48
• US Class Current: 340/904
• 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: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device includes an overtaking pre-motion detector outputting an adjusting signal when an overtaking operation is predicted; and a controller in communication with the overtaking pre-motion detector and the vehicular monitoring device, controlling the vehicular monitoring device to move in response to the adjusting signal. The device may further output a warning signal to sound the horn or twinkle the vehicle lamp when the overtaking operation is predicted for safety consideration.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device of a vehicle, comprising:

an overtaking pre-motion detector outputting an adjusting signal when an overtaking operation is predicted by detecting a change in powertrain output of said vehicle; and

a controller in communication with said overtaking pre-motion detector and said vehicular monitoring device, controlling said vehicular monitoring device to move in response to said adjusting signal.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said overtaking pre-motion detector further outputs a warning signal to a video and/or audio warning device when said overtaking operation is predicted.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said warning device is a horn which sounds in a desired pattern in response to said warning signal.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said warning device is a vehicular lamp which twinkles in a desired pattern in response to said warning signal.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said overtaking pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal when the over-drive (OD) gear is shut off.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said overtaking pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal when the revolving speed of the engine exceeds a threshold value.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said overtaking pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal when the acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a rearview mirror.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a camera.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a display.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein a movement speed of said vehicular monitoring device between an initial position and a working position depends on a velocity of the vehicle.

12. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a vehicular digital bus for communicating said overtaking pre-motion detector with said controller.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein said vehicular digital bus is a controller area network (CAN) bus or a vehicle area network (VAN) bus.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein said controller asserts a recovering signal to said vehicular monitoring device to force said vehicular monitoring device to return to an initial position suitable for the normal driving mode when an emergency state is determined.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein said emergency state is determined when emergency brake is done.

16. The device according to claim 14 wherein said emergency state is determined when the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is enabled.

17. The device according to claim 14 wherein said emergency state is determined when the traction control system is enabled.

18. The device according to claim 1 wherein said controller asserts a recovering signal to have said vehicular monitoring device return to an initial position suitable for the normal driving mode when the OD gear is entered again, the revolving speed of the engine changes to a level below the threshold value, the acceleration of the vehicle is lowered, or the specific light signal is stopped for a predetermined period of time.

19. The device according to claim 1 wherein said controller asserts a recovering signal to have said vehicular monitoring device move toward an initial position suitable for the normal driving mode in a predetermined period of time after the vehicular monitoring device reaches a working position suitable for overtaking motion.

20. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device of a vehicle, comprising:

a pre-motion detector outputting an adjusting signal when a pre-motion that the driver is ready to get off said vehicle is predicted; and

a controller in communication with said pre-motion detector and said vehicular monitoring device, controlling a view range of said vehicular monitoring device to be changed for monitoring various regions in response to said adjusting signal whether a vehicle ignition is on or off.

21. The device according to claim 20 wherein said pre-motion detector further outputs a warning signal to a video and/or audio warning device when said pre-motion is predicted.

22. The device according to claim 21 wherein said warning device is a horn which sounds in a desired pattern in response to said warning signal.

23. The device according to claim 21 wherein said warning device is a vehicular lamp which twinkles in a desired pattern in response to said warning signal.

24. The device according to claim 20 wherein said pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal in response to the enabling of the emergency flasher switch.

25. The device according to claim 20 wherein said pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal in response to substantially zero velocity of the vehicle.

26. The device according to claim 20 wherein said pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal in response to the turning-off of the engine.

27. The device according to claim 20 wherein said pre-motion detector outputs said adjusting signal in response to the entering of the parking gear.

28. The device according to claim 20 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a rearview mirror, a camera and/or a display.

29. The device according to claim 20 wherein a movement speed of said vehicular monitoring device between an initial position and a working position depends on a velocity of the vehicle.

30. The device according to claim 20 further comprising a vehicular digital bus for communicating said pre-motion detector with said controller.

31. The device according to claim 30 wherein said vehicular digital bus is a controller area network (CAN) bus or a vehicle area network (VAN) bus.

32. The device according to claim 20 wherein said controller asserts a recovering signal to said vehicular monitoring device to force said vehicular monitoring device to return to an initial position suitable for the normal driving mode when an emergency state is determined.

33. The device according to claim 32 wherein said emergency state is determined when emergency brake is done, or the anti-lock brake system (ABS) or the traction control system is enabled.

34. The device according to claim 20 wherein said controller asserts a recovering signal to have said vehicular monitoring device return to an initial position suitable for the normal driving mode when the emergency flasher switch is disabled, the vehicle has a non-zero velocity, the engine is started, or the parking gear is disengaged.

35. The device according to claim 20 wherein said controller asserts a recovering signal to have said vehicular monitoring device move toward an initial position suitable for the normal driving mode in a predetermined period of time after the vehicular monitoring device reaches a working position suitable for overtaking motion.

36. A method for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device of a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a status of said vehicle;

determining whether a pre-motion operation that the driver is ready to get off said vehicle is performed according to said status of said vehicle;

outputting an adjusting signal to move said vehicular monitoring device between a first view range for monitoring a first region and a second view range for monitoring a second region when said pre-motion operation is performed; and

outputting a warning signal to enable a warning device when said pre-motion operation is performed.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein said pre-motion operation is to enable the emergency flasher switch, to zero the velocity of the vehicle, to turn off of the engine, or to enter the parking gear.

38. The method according to claim 36 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is moved by a single trip from an initial position to a working position when said pre-motion operation is performed.

39. The method according to claim 36 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is moved by a to-and-fro scanning mode between an initial position and a working position when said pre-motion operation is performed.

40. The method according to claim 36 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is moved in two dimensions.

41. The method according to claim 36 wherein said warning device is a vehicular horn which sounds in a desired pattern in response to said warning signal.

42. The device according to claim 36 wherein said warning device is a vehicular lamp which twinkles in a desired pattern in response to said warning signal.

43. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device of a vehicle, comprising:

an overtaking pre-motion detector outputting an adjusting signal when an overtaking operation is predicted by detecting a specific light signal to be outputted by the vehicular lamp or lamps; and

a controller in communication with said overtaking pre-motion detector and said vehicular monitoring device, controlling said vehicular monitoring device to move in response to said adjusting signal.