System for controlling the adjustment of a side rearview device

• US 9,403,484 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trailertrack APS
• Original Assignee: Trailertrack APS
• Inventors: Brandt, Tajs, Hatt, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): NESLEY, TIMOTHY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/358,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20140330487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for controlling the adjustment of a side rearview mirror mounted on a vehicle, where the system comprises at least one side rearview mirror operated by a motor controlled by a control unit, wherein the system comprises at least one direction guide, where the direction guide comprises at least one gyro, where sensing devices in contact with the gyro determines a change in direction of the vehicle and provides corresponding output data, where the control unit comprises a data processor provided for determining the adjustment of the rearview mirror, where the processor is adapted for reading output data from the sensing device and based on at least the sensing device output provide a control signal for the motor operating the mirror and where the motor is adapted for adjusting the mirror accordingly.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the adjustment of a side rearview device mounted on a vehicle pivotally connected to a trailer, the system comprising at least one side rearview device, configured to change view area, wherein the system comprises a control unit comprising at least two direction guides selected from the group consisting of gyros and accelerometers, wherein the direction guides comprise at least one kinetic sensing device registering change of movement direction of the vehicle, and providing corresponding output signal, wherein the control unit comprises a data processor provided for determining the adjustment of the rearview device, wherein the processor is configured for reading output signals from the sensing device, the output signals comprising:

a location of a driver of the vehicle compared to the pivotal connection,

a location of the side rearview device compared to the pivotal connection, and

a location of a rear corner of the trailer compared to the pivotal connection,

wherein at least the sensing device output provides a control signal for adjusting the rearview area and the rearview device is configured for adjusting the rear view area accordingly,

wherein one of the at least two direction guides is mounted on the vehicle and one of the at least two direction guides is mounted on the trailer.

2. The system according to claim 1 which comprises a rearview mirror or a rearview camera operated by a motor controlled by the control unit.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit will operate the motor to change the view in the side rearview device in horizontal and vertical direction.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system comprises a camera and a display in the vehicle changes view area of a larger picture frame in response to a change in direction of the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises two gyros or two accelerometers.

6. The system according to claim 1, which comprises two side rearview devices.

7. A method for determining a correction for a rearview device in a system according to claim 1, the method comprising:

determining in a coordinate system with a center at the pivotal connection and the vehicle and trailer aligned in the same direction, a location of three main positions,

driver position compared to the pivotal connection,

mirror position compared to the pivotal connection,

trailer rear end position compared to the pivotal connection,

determining an angular change between the vehicle and the trailer when the vehicle changes direction in respect of the trailer or vice versa;

based on the angular change, determining a new position of the trailer rear end; and

determining a change in rearview area for the rearview device to maintain a rearview.

8. A vehicle comprising the system according to claim 1.

9. The vehicle pivotally connected to a trailer according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

trucks or tractors transporting heavy weight freight containers, buses, vans, and cars.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the direction guides will be calibrated.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the direction guides will be calibrated while the vehicle is moving.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the direction guides are detachably mounted on the trailer.

13. A system for controlling adjustment of a side rearview device mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising at least one side rearview device, configured to change view area, wherein the system comprises:

a) at least one direction guide, wherein the direction guide comprises at least one kinetic sensing device registering change of movement direction of the vehicle, and providing corresponding output signal,

b) a control unit comprising a data processor for determining the adjustment of the rearview device, wherein the processor is configured for reading output signals from the sensing device and, based on at least the sensing device output, providing a control signal for adjusting a rearview area,

wherein the rearview device is configured for adjusting the rear view area according to the control signal provided by the processor, and

wherein the system comprises a camera and a display in the vehicle which changes view area of a larger picture frame in response to a change in direction of the vehicle.