Setting aid for a rear-view mirror in a motor vehicle

• US 10,166,915 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Niemoeller, Meinrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/766,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 340457
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/70 characterised by the purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• 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 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/062 with remote control for adjusting position B60R1/0607 takes precedence

Abstract

A setting aid for a rear-view mirror in a motor vehicle has one or more illumination means in spatial proximity to one or more edges of a rear window or at the rear of the motor vehicle. The one or more illumination means are arranged such that if the motor vehicle is in dark surroundings and the one or more illumination means are switched on, the edge of the rear window or a lateral contour of the motor vehicle stands out, when looking in the rear-view mirror, at least in certain regions from the surroundings behind the motor vehicle. A first means is provided which automatically switches on the one or more illumination means during the setting of the rear-view mirror if a setting of the rear-view mirror is required, which is assumed to be required if a change in the setting of the driver'"'"'s seat has been noticed.

Claims

1. An adjustment aid for a rearview mirror in a motor vehicle, wherein one or more lighting means are arranged in the spatial vicinity of one or more edges of a rear window or at the rear of the motor vehicle in such a way that, when the motor vehicle is situated in dark surroundings and the one or more lighting means are switched on, the edge of the rear window or a lateral contour of the motor vehicle stands out, at least in portions, from the surroundings behind the motor vehicle when the rearview mirror is looked at, characterized in that a first means is provided, said first means automatically switching on the one or more lighting means when an adjustment of the rearview mirror becomes necessary, wherein the adjustment of the rearview mirror is assumed to be necessary if a change in the driver seat setting was identified.

2. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that first means are provided for identifying a change in a driver seat setting.

3. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that second means are provided, said second means continuing to keep the one or more lighting means switched on during a fixed or adjustable time period after the rearview mirror was adjusted.

4. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a third means are provided for identifying loading of a driver seat with a certain minimum weight and in that the first means does not switch on the one or more lighting means if a driver seat is loaded with less than the minimum weight, independently of other signals that are provided to this end.

5. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first means only switches on the lighting means below a certain speed or when the motor of the vehicle is switched off.

6. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first means only switches on the lighting means below a certain speed or when the motor of the vehicle is switched off.

7. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first means only switches on the lighting means below a certain speed or when the motor of the vehicle is switched off.

8. The adjustment aid as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the first means only switches on the lighting means below a certain speed or when the motor of the vehicle is switched off.