Device and method for adjusting view range of vehicular monitoring device

• US 7,012,510 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Su, Wen-Wei, Hsiao, Shun-Hsiang, Chen, Kuei-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/372,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 340/436, 340/435, 340/903
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device includes a vehicle status detector mounted on a turning portion of a vehicle for detecting a turning degree of the turning portion, and outputting an adjusting signal associated with the turning degree; and a controller in communication with the vehicle status detector and the vehicular monitoring device, controlling the vehicular monitoring device to move from an initial position to a working position in response to the adjusting signal. The working position varies with the turning degree.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device, comprising:

a vehicle status detector mounted on a turning portion of a vehicle for detecting a turning degree of said turning portion, and outputting an adjusting signal associated with said turning degree; and

a controller in communication with said vehicle status detector and said vehicular monitoring device, controlling said vehicular monitoring device to move from an initial position to a working position in response to said adjusting signal,

wherein said working position varies with said turning degree, and a movement speed of said vehicular monitoring device between said initial position and said working position depends on a velocity of the vehicle.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said turning portion is a steering wheel of the vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said turning portion is a driving tire of the vehicle.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said working position continuously varies with said turning degree.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said working position varies with said turning degree in stages.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a rearview mirror.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a camera.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vehicular monitoring device is a display.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a vehicular digital bus for communicating said vehicle status detector with said controller.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein said vehicular digital bus is a controller area network (CAN) bus or a vehicle area network (VAN) bus.

11. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device, comprising:

a vehicle dynamics control system detecting a plurality of traveling parameters of a vehicle; and

a controller in communication with said vehicle dynamics automatic control system and said vehicular monitoring device, controlling said vehicular monitoring device to move from an initial position to a working position in response to a turning information included in said plurality of traveling parameters,

wherein said working position varies with said turning information.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein said vehicle dynamics automatic control system is a vehicle stability control (VSC) system.

13. The device according to claim 11 wherein said vehicle dynamics automatic control system is an electronic stability program (ESP).

14. The device according to claim 11 wherein said working position continuously varies with said turning information.

15. The device according to claim 11 wherein said working position varies with said turning information in stages.

16. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device, comprising:

a slope detector for detecting a tilting degree of a vehicle, and outputting an adjusting signal associated with said slope information; and

a controller in communication with said slope detector and said vehicular monitoring device, controlling said vehicular monitoring device to move from an initial position to a working position in response to said adjusting signal,

wherein said working position varies with said tilting degree.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein said slope detector is an attitude indicator.

18. The device according to claim 16 wherein said slope detector is an accelerating indicator.

19. The device according to claim 16 wherein said slope detector is a mercury switch.

20. The device according to claim 16 wherein said working position continuously varies with said tilting degree.

21. The device according to claim 16 wherein said working position varies with said tilting degree in stages.

22. A device for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device, comprising:

a backing-up sensor for determining whether a backing-up operation is to be performed, and detecting a clearance of a vehicle from a rear object when said backing-up operation is determined; and

a controller in communication with said backing-up detector said vehicular monitoring device,controlling said vehicular monitoring device to move from an initial position working position according to said clearance,

wherein said working position varies with said clearance.

23. The device according to claim 22 wherein said backing-up detector is a back-warning radar.

24. The device according to claim 22 wherein said backing-up detector is a digital camera.

25. The device according to claim 22 wherein said back-up detector is a radio wave distance meter.

26. The device according to claim 22 wherein said working position continuosly varies with said clearance.

27. The device according to claim 22 wherein said working position varies with said clearance in stages.

28. A method for adjusting a view range of a vehicular monitoring device, comprising:

receiving an output of a vehicular status detector;

triggering said vehicular monitoring device to move between an initial position and a working position according to said output of said vehicular status indicator; and

forcibly moving said vehicular monitoring device back to said initial position when an emergency state is determined.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said vehicular status detector is selected from a group consisting of an electronic compass, a global positioning system (GPS), a steering-wheel turning detector, a tire-angle switch, a vehicle stability control (VSC) system, an electronic stability program (ESP), a yaw sensor, an attitude indicator, an accelerating indicator, a mercury switch, a reverse gear sensor and a back-warning radar.

30. The method according to claim 28 wherein said working position continuously varies with said output of said vehicular monitoring device.

31. The method according to claim 28 wherein said working position varies with said vehicular monitoring device in stages.

32. The method according to claim 28 wherein said emergency state is determined when emergency brake is done.

33. The method according to claim 28 wherein said emergency state is determined when the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is enabled.

34. The method according to claim 28 wherein said emergency state is determined when the traction control system is enabled.