System and method for managing driver sensory communication devices in a transportation vehicle

• US 9,227,568 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spirited Eagle Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Spirited Eagle Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Lesesky, Alan C., Hubbell, Jerry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ingram, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/770,609
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 359/507, 359/841, 359/862, 359/864, 359/866
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• 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: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0614 equipped with visual aids for positioning implements or to control working condition optical signalling for vehicles in general B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/09 Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors , e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

A situation communication mirror is adapted for mounting to a transportation vehicle, such as a heavy duty tractor-trailer combination. The situation communication mirror comprises a rearward facing reflective member having at least three integrally-formed and arcuately distinct reflective surface areas. The first reflective surface area has a relatively slight curvature defining a relatively focused driver field of view. The second and third reflective surface areas each have an increased curvature as compared to the first surface area, and respectively define wider driver fields of view.

Claims

1. A situation communication mirror adapted for mounting to a transportation vehicle, said situation communication mirror comprising:

a rearward facing reflective member comprising at least three integrally-formed and arcuately distinct reflective surface areas;

the first reflective surface area having a relatively slight curvature defining a relatively focused driver field of view, and wherein the first reflective surface area extends from a top edge of said reflective member towards a bottom edge of said reflective member, and from an inside edge of said reflective member towards an outside edge of said reflective member;

the second and third reflective surface areas each having an increased curvature as compared to the first surface area, and respectively defining wider driver fields of view, wherein the second reflective surface area comprises a longitudinal outside margin of said reflective member opposite the first reflective surface area, and extends from the top edge of said reflective member towards the bottom edge of said reflective member, and wherein the third reflective surface area comprises a longitudinal bottom margin of said reflective member, and extends from an inside edge of said reflective member towards an outside edge of said reflective member; and

first, second, and third reflective elongated transition zones adjacent respective first, second, and third reflective surface areas, each transition zone having a degree of curvature intermediate the slight curvature of the first reflective surface area and the increased curvature of the second and third reflective surface areas, and said transition zones dividing the first, second, and third reflective surface areas and defining a visual transition between the relatively focused driver field of view provided by the first reflective surface area and the wider driver fields of view provided by the second and third reflective surface areas, and wherein the first transition zone extends longitudinally adjacent and between the first and second reflective surface areas, and has a width dimension greater than 20% of a width of said second reflective surface area, and wherein the second transition zone extends longitudinally adjacent and between the first and third reflective surface areas, and has a width dimension greater than 20% of a width of said third reflective surface area, and wherein the third transition zone extends diagonally adjacent and between the second and third reflective surface areas, and has a width dimension equal to the width dimension of said first and second transition zones.

2. A situation communication mirror according to claim 1, wherein said first reflective surface area is greater in dimension than said second and third reflective surface areas.

3. A situation communication mirror according to claim 1, wherein said first reflective surface area has a curvature radius in the range of 500 to 3000 mm.

4. A situation communication mirror according to claim 1, wherein said second reflective surface area has a curvature radius in the range of 300 to 600 mm.

5. A situation communication mirror according to claim 1, wherein said third reflective surface area has a curvature radius in the range of 200-400.

6. In combination with a transportation vehicle, a situation communication mirror mounted to the vehicle and comprising:

a rearward facing reflective member comprising at least three integrally-formed and arcuately distinct reflective surface areas;

the first reflective surface area having a relatively slight curvature defining a relatively focused driver field of view, and wherein the first reflective surface area extends from a top edge of said reflective member towards a bottom edge of said reflective member, and from an inside edge of said reflective member towards an outside edge of said reflective member;

the second and third reflective surface areas each having an increased curvature as compared to the first surface area, and respectively defining wider driver fields of view, wherein the second reflective surface area comprises a longitudinal outside margin of said reflective member opposite the first reflective surface area, and extends from the top edge of said reflective member towards the bottom edge of said reflective member, and wherein the third reflective surface area comprises a longitudinal bottom margin of said reflective member, and extends from an inside edge of said reflective member towards an outside edge of said reflective member; and

first, second, and third reflective elongated transition zones adjacent respective first, second, and third reflective surface areas, each transition zone having a degree of curvature intermediate the slight curvature of the first reflective surface area and the increased curvature of the second and third reflective surface areas, and said transition zones dividing the first, second, and third reflective surface areas and defining a visual transition between the relatively focused driver field of view provided by the first reflective surface area and the wider driver fields of view provided by the second and third reflective surface areas, and wherein the first transition zone extends longitudinally adjacent and between the first and second reflective surface areas, and has a width dimension greater than 20% of a width of said second reflective surface area, and wherein the second transition zone extends longitudinally adjacent and between the first and third reflective surface areas, and has a width dimension greater than 20% of a width of said third reflective surface area, and wherein the third transition zone extends diagonally adjacent and between the second and third reflective surface areas and has a width dimension equal to the width dimension of said first and second transition zones.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said first reflective surface area is greater in dimension than said second and third reflective surface areas.

8. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said first reflective surface area has a curvature radius in the range of 500 to 3000 mm.

9. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said second reflective surface area has a curvature radius in the range of 300 to 600 mm.

10. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said third reflective surface area has a curvature radius in the range of 200-400.

11. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said situation communication mirror is mounted to a body of the vehicle adjacent at least one of the driver and passenger side doors.

12. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said situation communication mirror is mounted to a body of the vehicle adjacent at least one of the driver and passenger side fenders.