Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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REARVIEW MIRROR TARGETING AND REPOSITIONING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates 'to rearview
mirrors for vehicles, and more particularly to a system
for improved focusing of a rearview mirror including
repositioning a rearview mirror automatically in response
to a vehicle directional signal.
Description of the Prior. Art
Rearview mirrors are commonly used on vehicles
to expand the driver°s field of vision. The driver can
better observe traffic conditions behind the vehicle with
a consequent improvement in traffic safety. A
conventional rearview mirror system of the type used on
passenger cars is shown in FTG. 1 as used in a typical
modern three-lane highway, The three lanes are
identified with the numerals l, 2, and 3. Each lane ~.z~
defined by highway marlcors 5, '7, whore solid lines 5
typically denote the path of travel in a single direction
as shown by the arrow, and the spaced lines 7 separate
the individual lanes within a given direction of travel.
Six vehicles A, B, C, D, E, and F are shown in various
positions in the respective lanes. A conventional
rearview mirror system installed on vehicle A includes a
mirror 10 on the left side of the vehicle, a mirror 12 on
the right side of the vehicle, and a mirror 13 and
mounted and generally centered within a front portion of
the passenger compartment. The mirrors 10, 12 are
typically focused to provide a view of objects in the
traffic lanes immediately to the left and right, 1 and 3,
respectively, and to the rear of vehicle A. Thus a field
of view subtended by angle a may be seen in the left-
hand mirror 10 from a typical driver's position within
vehicle A, and a rear field of view subtended by angle ~
may be seen in right-hand mirror 12. The mirror 13 is
typically focused to provide a view of objects
immediately behind the vehicle, with a field of view
subtended by angle ~'. Thus, a driver sitting in vehicle
A can readily observe the presence and movements of
vehicles D, E, and F without shifting the eyes too far
out of the line of travel of vehicle A.
However, vehicles B and C are typically not
within the driver's field of vision in any of the
rearview mirrors 10, 12 or 13. Being slightly behind
vehicle A in the direction of travel, vehicles B and C
are similarly outside the peripheral vision of the driver
in vehicle A. thus, vehicles B and C are located in
positions customarily referred to as the "blind spot°',
and cannot be seen by a driver in vehicle A unless the
driver were to direct the line of vision away from the
direction of travel to look either to the left or to the
right. Thus, if a driver in vehicle A seeks to move
vehicle A to either lanes 1 or 3, the driver must remove
his eyes from the road and look to 'the right or left
before changing direction.
To overcome the problem of the '°blind spot", it
is known to use a variety of convex mirrors either in
place of or in addition to rearview mirrors 10, 12. Such
mirrors are available with various radii of curvature
ranging from about 8 inches to 24 inches which optically
expand the field of vision subtended by angles a and ~.
However, the images projected by convex mirrors are badly
distorted, which make it difficult to identify objects
and~accurately determine the approximate distance to an
object being observed.
Further, drivers frequently do not adjust the
mirrors 10, 12, and 13 to obtain the proper focus and
thus maintain the optimum field of vision for safety. Tt
is desirable therefore to provide a means whereby a
driver can quickly and properly focus a rearview mirror
to an optimum position.
It is further desirable to provide a means
whereby a driver, upon signaling a change in lane of the
vehicle, can readily check the blind spot without
distortion and without shafting the field of vision toe
far out of the line of travel of the vehicle in order to
ensure a safe change of lane.
StJMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a rearview
mirror system is prauided for a vehicle which includes a
plane mirror and means for mounting the plane mirror to
the vehicle. The plane mirror may be mounted within a
housing which in turn is mounted to the vehicle. The
vehicle typically has a directional signal means to
indicate a change in direction of the vehicle. The
invention is directed to an improvement in the rearview
mirror system comprising. actuating means adapted to
receive a signal from the directional signal means and
operatively connected to the plane mirror mounting means
for automatically changing the position of the glane
mirror with respect to the vehicle when the actuating
means receives a signal indicating a change in direction
of the vehicl~.
The directional signal means may typically
aompr:L~se a first signal to indicate a left turn of the
vehicle, and sacond signal to indicate a right 'turn of
the vehicle, a third signal to indicate a left lane
change of the vehicle, and a fourth signal to indicate a
right lane change of the vehicle. The plane mirror
mounting means itself may comprise a bracket pivotally
connected to the housing. The actuating means may be
mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the
bracket so that the bracket pivots when the actuating
means is actuated. The actuating means preferably
includes a solenoid having a push rod pivotably connected
to the bracket to cause the bracket to pivot from a
normal position to an indexed position. In the indexed
position, the plane mirror will provide a field of vision
to observe the blind spot. Typically, the bracket is
moved to the indexed position only in response to the
third signal or the fourth signal, either of which
indicate a lane change of the vehicle, and not to the
first or second signals.
In a typical installation, the plane mirror is
pivotably connected to the plane mirror mounting means.
The vehicle includes a first visual indicium and the
plane mirror includes a second visual indicium which is
adapted to be aligned with the first visual indicium by
pivoting the plane mirror with respect to the plane
mirror mounting means in order to establish a reference
position for the plane mirror with respect to the
vehicle. Also, the invention provides far delaying the
directional signal means before it is received by the
actuating means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
20 The invention will now be described with
reference to the following drawings in which:
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the field of
vision provided by a conventional rearview mirror system;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rearview
25 mirror for a vehicle in accordance with the :invention;
FIG, 3 is a plan view of the rearview mirror of
FIG. 2 with a portion of the housing broken away;
FIG, a is a plan view similar to the view of
FIG. 3, but with the solenoid actuated and with the
20 bracket in an extended position;
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the
rearview mirror of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the
electrical circuitry of the directional signal means;
25 FIG. 7 is a plan view of a vehicle with the
rearview mirror system of the invention installed to
illustrate the visual indicia for targeting the .focus of
the mirror: and
FIG. 8 is a schematic view similar to FTG. 1,
30 illustrating the field of vision provided by a rearview
mirror system according to the invention, mounted on both
sides of a vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, a
35 rearview mirror repositioning system includes a rearview
mirror assembly 10 which includes a housing 22 and a base
24. The base 24 is contoured to provide a structure
adapted to blend with the styling of a portion of a
vehicle (not shown in FIG. 2). The rearview mirror
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assembly is typically secured to the front fender or the
door on the right or left side of 'the vehicle, or both.
In the embodiment shown, it is contemplated that the
mirror is mounted on the door. The base 14 is adapted to
be secured thereto by suitable fastening means (not
shown). The base 14 may be integral with the housing 12
to form one unitary piece. A plane mirror 16 is mounted
within the housing and is adapted to provide a field of
vision to a driver sitting in the vehicle toward the rear
thereof. A visual indicium 18 is located on the surface
of the plane mirror for a purpose to be described
hereinafter.
Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that
the plane mirror is adapted for movement within the
housing by an adjustable mounting means 20. Typically,
plane mirrors are adjustable either mechanically by means
of a 8owdan cable, or elQCtrically by means oP electric
meters. In the embodiment shown in FTG. 3, the
adjustable mounting means 20 comprises a housing 22
containing a pair of electric motors. The housing 22
mounts a socket 24 which supports a rotatable ball 26.
The ball 26 is also seated in a second socket 28 which is
secured to a backing plate 30 which holds the plane
mirror 16. The ball 26 thus forms a pivot point about
which the mirror 16 can rotate with respect to the
adjustable motor housing 22.
An actuator shaft 32 extends from the housing
22 and is pivotally connected to the backing plate 3o by
conventional means such as a bracket 34. The actuator
shaft 32 is typically driven by a worm gear on the shaft
of the motor mounted within the adjustable motor housing
22. Typically, two motors, each adapted to drive a
separate actuator shaft are mounted within the adjustable
motor housing 22 so that two actuator shafts extend
toward the mirror backing plate 30. Thus, two
perpendicular axes of rotation are defined about the
adjustable mirror pivot 26.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the electric motors
are electrically connected by means of the cable 36 to a
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switcl-a 37 which controls the actuation of the motors
within the adjustable motor housing 22. The mirror
structure and adjustmewt means just described are
conventional and many adaptations and variations are
provided depending upon the particular application
required by a given vehicle. This adjustment mechanism,
however, is completely independent of the repositioning
system according to the invention.
A typical vehicle also has a directional signal
means to indicate a change in direction of the vehicle.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the directional signal means 38
is customarily provided on the steering column 40 on the
driver's side of the vehicle. A lever 42 controls the
directional signal means 38 at the discretion of the
driver, and is mounted to the steering column 40 adjacent
the steering wheel 44.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the directional signal
means typ~.cally campx~.sea a f ~va~-position switch 46
mounted in the stoering column 40, with ~aah position
selectively operated by the lever 42. The switch 46
provides a first position 48 to signal a left turn of the
vehicle and a second position 50 to signal a right turn
of the vehicle. Intermediate the left turn position 48
and the right turn position 50 is the neutral position 52
which generates no signal. The three positions 48, 50,
and~52 are typically toggle positions where the switch 46
can be left in any one of the three positions until
moved, manually or otherwise. Intermediate the left turn
position 48 and the neutral position 52 is a fourth
position 54 which generates a signal to indicate a left
lane change of the vehicle. Similarly, intermediate the
right turn position 50 and the neutral position 52 is a
fifth position 56 which generates a signal to indicate a
right lane change of the vehicle. The lane change
signals 54, 56 are typically not toggled. In other
words, the lever 42 is biased away from the lane change
positions 54, 56 such that it must be manually held in
either position when a lane change is to be indicated.
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The directional signal means just described is
conventional and is customarily provided in most
vehicles. When the left turn position 48 of the
directional switch 46 is engaged, an electrical signal is
typically sent to the taillights of a vehicle through a
flasher (not shown) to cause the light to intermittently
glow. Similarly, when the switch 46 is :in either the
right lane change position 56 or the right turn position
50, a right taillight (not shown) intermittently glows.
Thus, a visual signal is sent to other vehicles regarding
the driver's intentions to change the direction of the
vehicle.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the plane mirror
mounting means 20 also comprises a bracket 58 which is
rigidly secured to the back 60 of the adjustable motor
housing 22. The bracket 58, in turn, is mounted by means
of a pedestal, 62 to 'the housing 12. The padestal 62 is
preferably intagral with 'the housing and may be molded
therewith. The bracket 58 is mounted to the pedestal 62
by any suitable conventional pivot means 64 such as a
ball and socket. The pivot 64 may be a universal pivot
such as a ball and socket, or a hinge for rotation about
a single axis. A mounting bracket 66 extending toward
the iwterior of the housing 12 mounts an actuating means
68 for moving the bracket 58 with respect to the housing
12.~ The actuating means 68 comprises an electric
solenoid 70 which may be conventional. The solenoid 70
is rigidly secured to the bracket 66. A reciprocating
push rod 72 extends from a cylindrical portion 73 of the
solenoid 70 and is pivotably connected to the outer end
74 of the bracket 58. Thus, when the solenoid is
electrically energized, the push rod 76 pushes against
the end 74 of the bracket 58 causing the bracket 58 to
pivot about the pivot point 64 to an indexed position.
When the solenoid is de-energized, the push rod 76 is
retracted within the cylinder 73, thus causing the
bracket 58 to pivot back to its original position. A
separate biasing means, such as a coil spring, may be
used to cause 'the bracket 58 to return.
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The actuating means 68 is electrically
connected by means of a cable 78, as shown in FIG. 2 and
6, to the directional signal switch 46. Referring again
to FIG. 6, there is preferably a delay timer 80
interposed in the electrical circuit between the switch
46 and the solenoid 70. When the solenoid is energized,
the plane mirror can be made to assume the position
illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 illustrates the position of the solenoid
1.0 70 with respect to the_plane mirror 1E>. Tt will be seen
that the solenoid is mounted so to cause the plane mirror
mounting means and thus the plane mirror to pivot about a
single axis from a normal position to an indexed
position. The indexed position of the plane mirror is
preferably that position where a driver can readily view
the front end including the bumper of a vehicle located
in the ~~blind spot~~ as illustrated in positions B and ~C
of Fig. 1. The position of the solenoid 70 is thus
preconfigured and not ad;Justable once mounted in ttxe
housing 12,
In operation, a driver desiring to make a left
lane change, for example, will depress the lever 42 to
cause the switch 46 to engage the left lane change
position 54. Thus engaged, the directional signal means
simultaneously sends a flashing signal to the left
taillight of the vehicle, and sends an electrical signal
to the delay timer 80. When the switch 46 maintains the
left lane change position 54 for more than the time
allotted in the delay timer 80 (preferably one second),
the solenoid 70 mounted in the left mirror assembly 10 is
actuated. The push rod 76 causes the bracket 58 to pivot
about the pivot point 64 and thus rotate the entire
mirror mounting means 20 and thus the plane mirror 16 to
the extended position as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus
repositioned, the plane mirror 16 will provide a field of
vision to the driver which encompasses the blind spot to
the left rear of the vehicle. Because of the speed at
which modern vehicles travel, it is important that the
movement of the plane mirror l6 between the normal
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position and the indexed position be very quick. The
driver can thus quickly visually determine the existence
of a clear field in the blind spot in order to complete
the change in direction of the vehicle, and it will be
seen that such determination can be made without
significantly removing the driver's eyes from the line of
direction of the vehicle.
Thus, fihe mirror can be changed to the blind-
spot position as illustrated in FIG. 4 when the °'lane
change'° section of the directional signal system is used.
Further, this repositioning of the mirror is solely at
the discretion of the driver. The position can be
maintained by the driver as long as the driver wishes by
simply manually holding the lever 42 in the lane-change
position for as long as needed. Tt will be seen that
when the lever 42 is manually placed in the turn-signal
position, no signal is sent to the solenoid 70, and the
mirror 16 remains in the normal position. As shown in
FIG. 8, the invention provides a total available i.'ield of
vision to the rear of a vehicle subtended by angla 6
which ~.;~ greater than that provided by conventional
mirror systems (the sum of angles 6, ~B, and i' as shown in
FIG. 1) .
It will readily became apparent that it is
important to target each mirror in order to render the
blind spot observable when the directional signal is
engaged. The targeting means is best illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 7. As seen in FIG. 2, a visual indicium 18
is provided on the surface of the plane mirror 16. A
second visual indicium 84 is provided on the vehicle
preferably near the rear window where it can be seen in
the rearview mirror 10 by the driver. When the driver
aligns the first visual indicium 18 with the second
visual indicium 84 in the line of sight provided in the
mirror 16, a reference position is established for the
plane mirror l6 with respect to the vehicle. Thus, each
driver with varying heights and varying positions within
the vehicle can independently adjust the mirror by means
of the adjusting means to a reference position. The
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position of the solenoid 20 with respect to the plane
mirror 16 is fixed for each vehicle. When properly
targeted, the plane mirror 16 will automatically be
indexed to show the blind spot with respect to that
vehicle when the rearview mirror repositioning system is
engaged. The location of the indicia lid, 84 will
preferably be established to obtain the optimum field of
vision for each vehicle.
Zt will thus be seen that a rearview mirror
1o repositioning system in accordance with the invention may
be used on demand, provides no image distortion in the
wider field of vision, and can be used on manual mirrors
and sophisticated electrically operated mirrors an any
vehicle.
Reasonable variation and modification are
possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure and
drawings without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
