Automobile Side Mirror

• US 20090316272A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John M. Gibbs
• Original Assignee: John M. Gibbs
• Inventors: Gibbs, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/606
• 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: B60R 1/085 using a combination of interchangeable reflecting surfaces, e.g. reversible mirrors

Abstract

An automobile side mirror includes a reflective portion having a front mirror that is incompletely silvered and a rear mirror angularly offset from the front mirror, the rear mirror being fixed relative to the front mirror. The mirror includes a bracket hingedly coupled to the reflective portion and a solenoid hingedly coupled to the reflective portion to selectively move the reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration. The mirror includes a return element to return the reflective portion from the second configuration to the first configuration. A light sensor is positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward the reflective portion. A processor is in communication with the light sensor and in communication with the solenoid, the processor including programming to actuate the solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light directed at the light sensor.

Claims

1. An automobile side mirror, comprising:

a reflective portion having;

a front mirror incompletely silvered; and

a rear mirror angularly offset from said front mirror, said rear mirror being fixed relative to said front mirror;

a bracket hingedly coupled to said reflective portion;

a solenoid hingedly coupled to said reflective portion to selectively move said reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration;

a return element to return said reflective portion from said second configuration to said first configuration; and

means for actuating said solenoid to move said reflective portion from said first configuration to said second configuration.

2. The automobile side mirror of claim 1, further comprising:

means for rotating at least one of said bracket and said solenoid to selectively turn said reflective portion laterally; and

means for raising and lowering at least one of said bracket and said solenoid to selectively tilt said reflective portion.

3. The automobile side mirror of claim 2, wherein said means for actuating said solenoid includes:

a light sensor positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward said reflective portion; and

a processor in communication with said light sensor and in communication with said solenoid to actuate said solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light.

4. The automobile side mirror of claim 3, wherein said light sensor is inset into a conical depression.

5. The automobile side mirror of claim 4, further comprising an ambient light sensor in communication with said processor, and wherein said predetermined amount of light is a relative value that represents a difference between an amount of ambient light detected by said ambient light sensor and an amount of light detected by said light sensor.

6. The automobile side mirror of claim 5, further comprising a cabin switch in communication with said processor to selectively cause said processor to actuate said solenoid.

7. The automobile side mirror of claim 3, wherein said sensor includes at least one of a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a photoresistor.

8. The automobile side mirror of claim 1, wherein said means for actuating said solenoid includes:

a light sensor positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward said reflective portion; and

a processor in communication with said light sensor and in communication with said solenoid to actuate said solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light.

9. The automobile side mirror of claim 8, wherein said means for actuating said solenoid includes:

an ambient light sensor in communication with said processor; and

a cabin switch in communication with said processor to selectively cause said processor to actuate said solenoid;

wherein said predetermined amount of light is a relative value that represents a difference between an amount of ambient light detected by said ambient light sensor and an amount of light detected by said light sensor.

10. An automobile side mirror, comprising:

a reflective portion having;

a front mirror incompletely silvered; and

a rear mirror angularly offset from said front mirror, said rear mirror being fixed relative to said front mirror;

a bracket hingedly coupled to said reflective portion;

a solenoid hingedly coupled to said reflective portion to selectively move said reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration;

a return element to return said reflective portion from said second configuration to said first configuration;

a light sensor positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward said reflective portion;

a processor in communication with said light sensor and in communication with said solenoid;

programming in said processor to actuate said solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light; and

programming in said processor for deactivating said solenoid when said predetermined amount of light is no longer detected such that said return element returns said reflective portion from said second configuration to said first configuration.

11. The automobile side mirror of claim 10, further comprising an ambient light sensor in communication with said processor, and wherein said predetermined amount of light is a relative value that represents a difference between an amount of ambient light detected by said ambient light sensor and an amount of light detected by said light sensor.

12. The automobile side mirror of claim 11, wherein:

said light sensor is inset into a conical depression; and

said ambient light sensor is inset into a conical depression.

13. The automobile side mirror of claim 11, further comprising a cabin switch in communication with said processor to selectively cause said processor to actuate said solenoid.

14. The automobile side mirror of claim 13, further comprising:

a first motor in communication with a user input and being operatively coupled to said bracket to rotate said bracket upon actuation by said user input, whereby turning said reflective portion laterally; and

wherein either said first motor or a second motor is in communication with a user input and is operatively coupled to said solenoid to raise and lower said solenoid to tilt said reflective portion.

15. The automobile side mirror of claim 14, wherein a lead screw operatively couples said second motor to said solenoid, said solenoid being hingedly coupled to said lead screw.

16. The automobile side mirror of claim 10, further comprising a cabin switch in communication with said processor to selectively cause said processor to actuate said solenoid.

17. The automobile side mirror of claim 10, further comprising:

a first motor in communication with a user input and being operatively coupled to said bracket to rotate said bracket upon actuation by said user input, whereby turning said reflective portion laterally; and

wherein either said first motor or a second motor is in communication with a user input and is operatively coupled to said solenoid to raise and lower said solenoid to tilt said reflective portion.

18. The automobile side mirror of claim 10, further comprising a housing enclosing said reflective portion, said bracket, said solenoid, and said return element;

and wherein;

said housing defines a conical depression adjacent said reflective portion;

said light sensor is inset into said conical depression; and

said ambient light sensor is coupled to said housing and faces generally upwardly.

19. An automobile side mirror, comprising:

a reflective portion having;

a front mirror incompletely silvered; and

a rear mirror angularly offset from said front mirror, said rear mirror being fixed relative to said front mirror;

a bracket hingedly coupled to said reflective portion;

a solenoid hingedly coupled to said reflective portion to selectively move said reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration;

a return element to return said reflective portion from said second configuration to said first configuration;

a processor in communication with said solenoid; and

a cabin switch in communication with said processor to selectively cause said processor to actuate said solenoid.

20. The automobile side mirror of claim 19, further comprising:

means for rotating at least one of said bracket and said solenoid to selectively turn said reflective portion laterally; and

means for raising and lowering at least one of said bracket and said solenoid to selectively tilt said reflective portion.