Automatic mirror rotating system

• US 4,679,158 A
• Filed: 03/21/1985
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tate, William J.
• Original Assignee: Tate, William J.
• Inventors: Tate, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US06/714,710
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 350/605, 350/606, 350/559, 250/215, 250/224, 250/578, 250/234
• US Class Current: 700/302
• 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

Abstract

A mirror positioning system (230) for a towed and a towing vehicle (102, 32) has a mirror (34) pivotally mounted on a support (36) for movement about a vertical axis. Stepping motor (60) pivots the mirror (34) in response to control signals from microprocessor (240). The microprocessor (240) is configured to oscillate the mirror (34) in a pivoting scanning motion. A control panel (246) is connected to enter user commands and information in the microprocessor (240). Steering wheel position sensor (232) and wheel motion sensor (234) supply input signals to the microprocessor (240) to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles (102, 32). This angle determines the proper position of mirror (34) for rear vision.

Claims

1. A mirror positioning system for a towed and a towing vehicle, which comprises a mirror pivotally mounted on a support for movement about a vertical axis, a motor operatively connected to pivot said mirror about the vertical axis, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commands and information in said microprocessor, at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles, said at least one sensor comprising a retractable cable in a housing, said housing being fixedly attached to the towing vehicle, means for attaching an end of said retractable cable to the towed vehicle and means for generating electrical signals representing a distance the cable end in extended from the housing.

2. A mirror positioning system for a towed and a towing vehicle, which comprises a mirror pivotally mounted on a support for movement about a vertical axis, a motor operatively connected to pivot said mirror about the vertical axis, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commands and information in said microprocessor, and at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles, said at least one sensor comprising a wireless wave transmitter and receiver, said receiver being responsive to signals from said transmitter to generate electrical signals used to determine the angle between the towed and the towing vehicle and being connected to supply the electrical signals to said microprocessor.

14. The mirror positioning system of claim 2 in which one of said transmitter and receiver is mounted on the towing vehicle and another of the transmitter and receiver is mounted on the towed vehicle, said receiver being responsive to a change of position of said transmitter relative to said receiver to generate the electrical signals used to determine the angle between the towed and the towing vehicle.

3. A mirror positioning system for a towed and a towing vehicle, which comprises a mirror pivotally mounted on a support for movement about a vertical axis, a motor operatively connected to pivot said mirror about the vertical axis, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commands and information in said microprocessor, and at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles, said control panel including a display connected to receive display signals from said microprocessor and configured to show the angle between the towed and the towing vehicles as determined by said microprocessor.

4. A mirror positioning system for a towed and a towing vehicle, which comprises a mirror pivotally mounted on a support for movement about a vertical axis, a motor operatively connected to pivot said mirror about the vertical axis, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commands and information in said microprocessor, and at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles, said microprocessor is configured to oscillate said mirror in a pivoting scanning motion.

5. Apparatus for determining angular position between a towing and a towed vehicle, which comprises a housing, means for pivotally attaching said housing to the towing vehicle, a drum rotatably mounted in said housing, a flexible cable wound on said drum, said housing having an opening positioned proximate to said drum, an end of said flexible cable extending through the opening, means connected to the end of said cable for attaching the cable end to the towed vehicle, means for biasing said drum to exert retracting force on said cable, and a rotation sensor including a sensor plate connected to rotate with said drum and being positioned in said housing above said drum when said housing is attached to the towing vehicle, said sensor plate having first and second surfaces and a plurality of equally spaced openings passing between the first and second surfaces, a rotation sensing circuit including at least one light source mounted on the first surface, and at least one light sensitive counter element positioned on the second surface side of said sensor plate to be struck by light passing through the plurality of openings as said sensor plate rotates.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 additionally comprising a stop member movable along said cable to limit retraction of said cable into said housing to provide sufficient slack in said cable for accommodating road motion between the towing and towed vehicles when the cable end is attached to said towed vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising a switch connected to activate said rotation sensing circuit and positioned proximate to the opening in said housing to be closed when said cable is pulled taut as the towing and towed vehicles begin to turn relative to each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 in which one of said light sensitive counter elements is provided for each direction of rotation of said drum, and a means for sensing rotation direction is connected to activate said counter element corresponding to the sensed direction of rotation.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said cable is wound on a plurality of equal diameter grooves on said drum.

10. A mirror positioning system for a towed and a towing vehicle, which comprises a mirror pivotally mounted on a support for movement about a vertical axis, a motor operatively connected to pivot said mirror about the vertical axis, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commmands and information is said microprocessor, and at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles, said at least one sensor comprising a wireless wave transmitter and receiver, one of said transmitter and receiver being mounted on the towing vehicle and another of the transmitter and receiver being mounted on the towed vehicle, said receiver being responsive to a change of position of said transmitter relative to said receiver to generate electrical signals used to determine an angle between the towed and the towing vehicle and being connected to supply the electrical signals to said microprocessor.

11. A mirror positioning system for a towed and a towing vehicle, which comprises a mirror pivotally mounted on a support for movement about a vertical axis, a motor operatively connected to pivot said mirror about the vertical axis, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commands and information in said microprocessor, and at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles, said at least one sensor comprising a first pickup responsive to positioning of a steering wheel in said towing vehicle and a second pickup responsive to rotational travel of a wheel on said towing vehicle, both said first pickup and said second pickup being connected to supply input electrical signals to said microprocessor.

12. A mirror positioning mechanism, comprising a housing with said mirror comprising a surface of said housing, said housing being pivotally mounted on a support, a first bracket fixedly attached inside said housing, a shaft fixedly attached to said support and extending into said housing, a second bracket pivotally attached to said first bracket, a motor mounted on said second bracket to apply driving force to said shaft for pivoting said housing, a biasing means connected between said first bracket and said second bracket for applying force to urge said housing to a predetermined orientation, and means for pivoting said second bracket out of engagement with said biasing means.

13. A mirror positioning system comprising the mirror positioning mechanism of claim 12, a microprocessor connected to control operation of said motor, a control panel connected to enter user commands and information in said microprocessor, and at least one sensor connected to supply input signals to said microprocessor providing information to determine an angle between the towed and towing vehicles.