FR2665674A1 - Method and devices for near-side observation from a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In that part (1) of the forward field of view (2) of the driver of a vehicle which is masked by the sun visor, reflecting surfaces (3), which are plane or have large radii of curvature are obliquely arranged, which, by virtue of the proximity to the eyes (4) of the said driver, allow him to see and locate any other vehicle, situated close by, which escapes the rear vision and the forward vision. The fastening of the surfaces to the sun visor (5), or directly to the bodywork (6) allows the driver to fold them back and to raise them depending on whether or not he desires to use them. The invention allows simultaneous observation of front and side obstacles in continuation of the rear observation using the rear-view mirrors, by virtue of small reduction in size of the images. It allows the driver better to concentrate his attention in front of him and to prevent him from being surprised by a close obstacle, by limiting his observations in the rear-view mirrors only to distant obstacles.

Description

LATERAL OBSERVATION PROCESS AND DEVICES
CLOSED FROM A VEHICLE.

The invention relates to a method and devices placed inside a vehicle enabling the driver to monitor close-up lateral obstacles, in general of other vehicles, and to ensure that a lane change maneuver circulation is possible.

The optical devices for eliminating the blind spot from the rear view mirror, usually arranged outside the passenger compartment, are multiple mirrors, as described in U.S. Patent ROBERTSON No. A - 3,628,851.

Other solutions have been provided by the temporary widening of the field of door mirrors: German patent BUCKER n A2 932 146, French patent GALLAND n 88 04918.

However, none of these solutions, for lack of complying with the regulations in force in most countries and alerting the driver clearly and infallibly, is currently used to systematically equip vehicles.

Given the large number and seriousness of accidents caused by untimely lane changes in heavy traffic and on motorways, the problem remains serious and deserves a better adapted solution than those currently proposed.

The invention intends to provide a solution in accordance with regulatory requirements, both foolproof and non-binding for the driver, without substantial modification of traditional equipment, without affecting aesthetics and which can be installed on vehicles in service by their users.

The method which is the subject of the invention consists in carrying out a close lateral observation from a vehicle in the horizontal strip part of the driver's direct field of vision obscured by the folding of the sun visor situated on the side of said observation, in that it is obtained on a scale close to that used in rear view mirrors, in that it is directed vertically towards the extreme limit of the traffic lane adjacent to the observed side and in that it covers , in the horizontal direction, a field such that any vehicle traveling below said limit begins to be seen as soon as it has left the field of said rear observation and is no longer seen once it has entered said field of direct vision.

One form of the method consists in allowing the driver to control lateral observation so that he can either reserve a part of his direct field of vision for him or cover the entire field.

A complementary form of the method allows the implementation and the interruption of said lateral observation without modification of its direction and of its previously fixed field.

A device for implementing the method is a reflecting plate whose characteristics are that it is placed inside the vehicle directly above the driver's sun visor near the driver's eyes, in that the directions of its axes are oblique to the vertical, in that it covers at least a said lateral observation field among those oriented on the driver and front passenger side, in that this coverage is carried out for the first to through the single window of the door of said driver and for the second through only the opposite side windows and in that said reflecting plate can, by a simple push, be folded down in the non-projecting position.

According to a particular form, the device is characterized in that it is fixed to the body of the vehicle above the sunshade which, when it is raised, completely conceals it and in that it can be put into action when said barrier -sun is in the folded position.

According to another particular form, the device is fixed to the axis of the sun visor, is raised and has its reflective face hidden in the rest phase and is put into action and at rest by rotation around said axis.

According to another particular form the device is characterized in that it is fixed on the internal face or on the external face or on the two faces of said sun visor so that it is at rest pressed against it and entirely concealed by it if it is fixed to said internal face and can then be put into action if said sun visor is folded down, or that it has, at rest, its reflecting face hidden and pressed against it if it is fixed to said external face and can then be activated with the sun visor raised.

According to a characteristic possibility of this particular form, the device is fixed to one face of the sun visor by an axis parallel to it and is made active and inactive by simple rotation around said axis.

According to a further characteristic possibility, the reflective plate is fixed to one face of said sun visor by at least one axis allowing adjustment by rotation, one perpendicular to said plate, the other perpendicular to said face.

A particular device is characterized in that it is made active by the displacement of the sun visor from its raised position to its folded position.

The description which follows, illustrated by drawings appended by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it possible to understand the scope of the process and the advantage of the devices which allow its implementation.

Figure 1 is a representation of the field of vision and the lens hood equipped with devices.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rear view mirror fields and side view fields.

FIG. 3 is a vertical view of the lateral observation fields.

FIG. 4 is a plan view defining the width of the lateral observation field.

Figure 5 shows a method of fixing a device on the sun visor.

In FIG. 1 the direct field of vision (3) from the ocular points (13) is represented in the vertical plane of the sun visor (4) and the part (2) of this field obscured by said sun visor in position folded down is hatched,
The position of the two reflecting plates (12) is noted at the angles of said part (2), in continuity with the interior mirror (5) and whose axes (14) are oriented obliquely.

According to the major axis of each plate we see the image of the line (6) which borders the neighboring traffic lanes outside, lines towards which the lateral observation is oriented.

The attachment methods shown are, for the left plate, attachment to the sun visor with implementation by rotation around the axis (25) parallel to its surface and adjustment by rotation around the perpendicular axis (26) to the said plate, and for the straight plate the attachment to the body (18) with implementation by rotation about the axis (28> and adjustment by ball joint. 29. Thanks to these fixing methods the plates can overflow at the top of the only part (2) of the field of vision obscured by the sun visor; a similar result could have been obtained by fixing on the axis (21) of the sun visor with a larger cut of the latter .

The two plates (12) are of a size comparable to that of a rear-view mirror, which makes it possible to give images which cannot escape the driver's attention, especially since they stand out on the generally dark surface of said barrier. Sun.

Due to their size and their privileged position, the devices according to the invention are seen as a priority by the driver, which has the effect of reversing the priorities and favorably modifying the reflexes.

In a vehicle equipped with only regulatory mirrors, the driver normally observes the rear distant obstacles located in his traffic lane and the neighboring traffic lanes using his interior rear view mirror, which only makes him look away.

On the other hand, if this mirror is not usable and, in all cases, if a lane change maneuver has to be undertaken, the driver looks at one of his door mirrors, which forces him to look away much more , or even, if he does not have a small complementary mirror, to turn his head and this in order to ensure the absence of a close lateral obstacle.

If a nearby obstacle is spotted, the maneuver is interrupted until it disappears and a new sequence of observations must be undertaken, with all the risks that this presents, since in the meantime a distant obstacle may have in turn become dangerous.

In short, each time, priority is given to obstacles whose risk of danger is low, and finally to those whose risk of danger is high, while the reverse would avoid unnecessary observations and limit the diversion of attention. .

This is what is obtained in a vehicle equipped with a device according to the invention, the driver of which turns his gaze towards only one of his mirrors, and preferably the interior mirror, only if no close lateral obstacle appears to him; and said sequence becomes simple and safe, the driver leaving the front and side observation only for a quick rear observation, quickly returning to the initial observation to undertake said lane change maneuver or wait for a distant rear obstacle considered dangerous enters the lateral field and moves forwards.

The quality of this sequence and the fact that no obstacle surprises the driver anymore makes him much more confident and greatly improves his handling in heavy traffic.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for drivers who use small complementary mirrors with small radii of curvature, generally placed in door mirrors.

Indeed, the lateral obstacle is seen there as if it were in fact a rear obstacle and it is difficult to differentiate from the obstacles seen in the other mirrors, given its small dimensions; we note above all a perception of distances completely distorted to such an extent that the driver has the visual impression of an obstacle located at 15 or 20 meters while the said obstacle vehicle is practically at his height, and he is surprised to find it immediately after in his direct field of vision.

For these devices to be effective and not dangerous, the driver must be aware that he must not take into account the image returned to him, but simply tell himself that if there is a visible obstacle it is dangerous, which is a reflex all the more difficult to acquire that the driver can see simultaneously in his mirrors of the vehicles which are not it and, on the contrary, the distinction, always because of the reduction of the images, is difficult between the dangerous obstacle which circulates near and that more distant which is not.

These drawbacks do not exist in the device that is the subject of the invention, for a major reason: images of constant size obtained by rear view, lateral observation and direct vision
This thanks to the large radii of curvature of the devices according to the invention, comparable to those imposed by the various regulations for mirrors.

Figure 2 illustrates the geometric data that allows the use of large radii of curvature.

The car (1) is equipped with two reflective plates (12) according to the invention directly above the sun visor (4? Whose orientations (11) and field widths (8) allow through the front window (15) driver's side and two windows (16) opposite side to ensure lateral observation.

We see that the eye points (13) are closer to the two said plates than the two mirrors (5), especially the door mirror; we also see that, given their respective dimensions and their distance from the ocular points, the lateral (8) and rear (10>) observation fields can be practically covered by flat reflectors, while a mirror placed on the door mirror (5) and whose dimensions are small can only cover a width of lateral field of view (8) if it has a small radius of curvature, far below the minimum regulation areas, which is the case of these small complementary mirrors.

Figure 3 shows the same car (1) in rear view with the sun visor (4), the two reflective plates (12V, the two mirrors (5) and the directions (11) and fields (8) of lateral observation a single limit line (6) of neighboring traffic queue (7) is shown and it is noted that the car (9) traveling below said limit is in the very center of said lateral field.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the vehicle (1) and the fields of interest to the driver side; the direct field of vision (3), the lateral observation field (8) of direction (11) through the window (15) of the driver and the field (10) of the door mirror (5); the vehicle (9) which travels in the neighboring traffic queue (7) below the limit line (6) enters the field (8) of lateral observation when leaving the field (10) of rear view and does not leave said field side (8) after entering the direct field of vision (3).

Thus the driver perceives a continuity of observation of the vehicle which he sees at the moment when he disappears from his rear view mirror to find it immediately (and in the same magnitude> in the reflective plate according to the invention and, before he has completely disappeared from said plate, see it in front of you.

FIG. 5 represents the two positions of a sun visor (4): raised (19) under the body (18) and folded (20) against the windshield (30), the passage from one position to the another is performed by rotation about the axis (21). The external face (24) of the sun visor is not equipped; the internal face (23) is and the plate (12) with reflecting surface (22) is put in active position by rotation around the axis (25) and can be put in non-projecting position (27) by continuation of rotation against said internal face (23); said active position is adjusted from the two axes (26) perpendicular to said plate and (27) perpendicular to said face (23); a clamp (31) makes it possible to fix the device to the sun visor; a spring (32) and an adjustable stop (33) allow automatic activation when the sun visor is folded down.

Figures 1 to 5 are given as an indication but suggest the great interest of the solutions that the invention allows in particular by allowing any motorist to equip his vehicle with observation means which are made necessary by the new driving conditions. . It is obvious that the present invention has been described for explanatory purposes and is in no way limitative and that any modification may be made thereto, in particular at the level of technical equivalents, without going beyond its ambit.

Claims (10)

1. A method of close side observation from a vehicle (1) characterized in that it is carried out in the part <2) of horizontal band of direct field of vision <3) of the driver obscured by the folding of the sun visor (4) and located on the side of said observation, in that it is obtained on a scale close to that used by the mirrors (5> for rear observation, in that it is directed vertically towards the extreme limit (6) of the traffic lane adjacent to the observed side (7) and and in that it covers a field <8) of horizontal width such that any vehicle (9) traveling below said coiled limit n- to be seen as soon as it has left the field (10) of said rear observation and is no longer seen once it has entered said direct field of vision. 2. A method of close side observation from a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that it is implemented by said driver, in that it is interrupted by him and in that said direct field of vision (3) is fully restored. 3. A method of close side observation from a vehicle according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that said implementation and said interruption are obtained by simple action of the driver and in that the direction <11) and the field (8) of said observation are not changed. 4. Device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 consisting of at least one reflexing plate (12) characterized in that the latter is placed inside the vehicle (1) perpendicular to the sun visor <4) of said conductor near the eyes <13) thereof, in that the directions of its axes (14) are oblique to the vertical, in that it covers at least one said lateral observation field (8) from those oriented on the driver side and on the front passenger side in that this coverage is carried out for the first through the single window (15) of the door of said driver and for the second at through only opposite side windows (16) and in that said reflecting plate can, by a simple push, be folded down in the non-projecting position (17). 5. Device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 2 or 3 and 4 characterized in that it is fixed to the body (18) of said vehicle above said sun visor, that its reflecting plate ( 12) is entirely concealed by it when it is in the raised position <19) and can be made active when said sun visor is in the folded position C20). 6. Device for carrying out the method according to claims 3 and 4 characterized in that it is fixed to the axis (21) of said sun visor, in that in the inactive phase it is raised with the reflective face (22) hidden and in that it is made active and inactive by sisr full rotation around said axis. 7. Device for implementing the method according to claims 3 and 4 characterized in that it is fixed to at least one of the internal (23) and external (24) faces of said sun visor, in that in the inactive phase it is pressed against the face to which it is fixed and that that fixed to the internal face (23) has, in the inactive phase, its reflective plate (12) entirely concealed above said sun visor, that it can be made active when that -this is folded down while the one fixed to the external face (24) has, in the inactive phase, its reflecting face (22) hidden and pressed against said external face and that said raised sun visor can be made active. 8. Device for implementing the method according to claim 7 characterized in that it is fixed to said sun visor by means of an axis <25) parallel to the plane of at least one of its faces ( 23) and (24) to which it is fixed and that it is made active and inactive by simple rotation around said axis. 9. Device for implementing the method according to claim 8 characterized in that said reflective plate (12) is fixed to said sun visor by means of at least one of two perpendicular axes respectively one (26) at said plate and the other (27) in the plane of at least one of the faces (23) and (24) of said sun visor and that the orientation of said plate C12) is adjustable by simple rotation around at minus one of said axes. 10. Device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 characterized in that it is made active by the simple movement of said sun visor from its raised position (19) to its folded position (20).