Method for aligning at least one rear-view mirror of a motor vehicle

• US 9,527,446 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kuenzner, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, ABBY YEE
• Application Number:
  US14/678,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20150210218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris

Abstract

A method is provided for aligning at least one rear view mirror and/or another optical component of a motor vehicle. The current eye position of the driver is determined by an interior sensor system upon actuation of a control element. The at least one rear view mirror is automatically aligned as a function of the determined current eye position of the driver. An indication is output when the eye position of the driver cannot be determined.

Claims

1. A method for aligning at least one rear view mirror or other optical component of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

determining, via an interior sensor system, a current eye position of the driver upon actuation of a control element provided to initiate alignment of the at least one rear view mirror or other optical component;

when the current eye position of the driver is determined following the actuation of the control element to initiate the alignment, automatically aligning the at least one rear view mirror or other optical component as a function of the determined eye position of the driver; and

when the current eye position cannot be determined following the actuation of the control element to initiate the alignment, outputting to the driver an indication that the current eye position of the driver cannot be determined.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the outputting of the indication is carried out after a prescribed time interval following the actuation of the control element to initiate the alignment when the current eye position of the driver cannot be determined.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the indication that is output comprises a request to the driver to position the eyes of the driver toward a front of the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication that is output comprises a request to the driver to position the eyes of the driver toward a front of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

activating a positioning display in a head-up display of the vehicle no later than with the outputting of the indication.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the act of:

activating a positioning display in a head-up display of the vehicle no later than with the outputting of the indication.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

after outputting the indication, automatically again determining the current eye position of the driver and automatically aligning the at least one rear view mirror or other optical component if the current eye position is determined as a function of the determined current eye position.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the act of:

after outputting the indication, automatically again determining the current eye position of the driver and automatically aligning the at least one rear view mirror or other optical component if the current eye position is determined as a function of the determined current eye position.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

after outputting the indication, only again determining the current eye position and aligning the at least one rear view mirror or other optical component after receiving a control element actuation request.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the act of:

after outputting the indication, only again determining the current eye position and aligning the at least one rear view mirror or other optical component after receiving a control element actuation request.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two relative mirror positions are provided, and further wherein the act of automatically aligning is carried out in accordance with a selected one of the at least two mirror positions.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a selection of one of the at least two relative mirror positions is carried out as a function of prescribed operating parameters or setting parameters of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the selected one of the at least two relative mirror positions is selected as a function of a currently selected transmission gear of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selected one of the at least two relative mirror positions is selected as a function of a currently selected transmission gear of the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a selection of one of the at least two relative mirror positions is carried out as a function of prescribed operating parameters and setting parameters of the vehicle.