Automobile mirror control system

• US 9,381,861 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eleanor Setnor
• Original Assignee: Seymour Setnor
• Inventors: Setnor, Seymour
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choudhury, Mustak
• Application Number:
  US14/691,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20150353015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 359841-843, 359872-877, 359/881
• 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 1/025 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: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

A control system for mirror in a vehicle as well as a method for controlling the side mirrors of a vehicle are disclosed. The control system may include a processor module and a memory module as well as a control console. The control console may include a mirror toggle switch, a mirror control switch, and two sets of memory recall switches. The first set of memory recall switches may be associated with set side mirror positions in a first operation state of the vehicle, which could for instance occur when the vehicle is operating in a drive gear. The second set of memory recall switches may be associated with set side mirror positions in a second operation state of the vehicle, which could for instance occur when the vehicle is operating in a reverse gear.

Claims

1. A control system for mirrors in a vehicle, the control system comprising:

a control unit including a processor module and a memory module; and

a control console including

a mirror toggle switch,

a mirror control switch,

a first set of memory recall switches including a first memory recall switch and a second memory recall switch, and

a second set of memory recall switches including a first alternate memory recall switch and a second alternate memory recall switch,

wherein the first set of memory recall switches are associated with set side mirror positions in a first operation state of the vehicle, and the second set of memory recall switches are associated with set side mirror positions in a second operation state of the vehicle, and

wherein the first and second memory recall switches of the first set of memory recall switches are each independently programmable from the first and second alternate memory recall switches of the second set of memory recall switches.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first set of memory recall switches share a common first shape, and the second set of memory recall switches share a common second shape.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first operation state of the vehicle occurs when the vehicle is operating in a drive gear, and the second operation state of the vehicle occurs when the vehicle is operating in a reverse gear.

4. The control system of claim 1, the control console further including a memory set switch, wherein actuation of the memory set switch in conjunction with one of either the first or second set of memory recall switches operates to associate the instant mirror orientation with the respective memory recall switch.

5. The control system of claim 4, the control console further including an additional memory set switch, wherein the memory set switch is actuatable in association with the first set of memory recall switches, and the additional memory set switch is actuatable in association with the second set of memory recall switches.

6. A method for controlling the side mirrors of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting an operational state of the vehicle;

identifying the associated memory state;

adjusting the side mirrors of the vehicle to an orientation associated with the identified memory state; and

providing a continuous loop feedback to determine changes in either the operational state or the memory state,

wherein the operational state of the vehicle is determined by whether the vehicle is in a drive gear or a reverse gear, and

wherein the memory state is changeable by actuating either a first drive memory recall switch or a second drive memory recall switch if the operational state of the vehicle is that the vehicle is in a drive gear, or by actuating either a first reverse memory recall switch or a second reverse memory recall switch if the operational state of the vehicle is that the vehicle in a reverse gear.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the associated memory state and the orientation of the side mirrors may be adjusted by a control console, the control console including a mirror toggle switch, a mirror control switch, the drive memory recall switch, and the reverse memory recall switch.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control console further includes

at least one additional drive memory recall switch provided to change the memory state from a first driving state to a second driving state, and

at least one additional reverse memory recall switch provided to change the memory state from a first reverse state to a second reverse state.