JP2008001150A - Mirror angle adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mirror angle adjusting device capable of easily adjusting angle of a vehicular mirror at the angle easy to be seen by an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: When an inside rear view mirror 14 is selected by a mirror selecting button 26 and angle of the inside rear view mirror 14 is adjusted by an angle adjusting button 28, a control section 12 computes positions of eyes of a driver based on the angle of the inside rear view mirror 14. The control section 12 obtains the proper angle of a right door mirror 18 and a left door mirror 22 based on the computed positions of the eyes, and instructs a right door mirror driving section 20 and a left door mirror driving section 24 so as to set the door mirrors at the proper angle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mirror angle adjustment device, and more particularly to a mirror angle adjustment device that automatically adjusts the mirror angle of a mirror mounted on a vehicle.

  Conventionally, the mirror angle of the vehicle rearview mirror and the left and right door mirrors is usually adjusted to an angle that is easy for the driver to see before driving.

  For this reason, an apparatus that automatically adjusts the mirror angle of a vehicle door mirror or the like to an angle that is easy for the driver to see has been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a device that automatically sets an angle of a room mirror or the like when an operator selects, when power is input, or when an operator attribute is confirmed. Yes.

Further, in Patent Document 2, when the vehicle travels normally, that is, when the mission mechanism is set at a position other than the back position, the angle of the outer mirror is set for the normal mirror angle, and the mission mechanism is set at the back position. An apparatus for setting the angle of the outer mirror for the backward mirror angle is described.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-216530 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-941

  However, the conventional technology has a problem that the angle of each mirror must be readjusted when the visibility of the mirror is changed for the driver or when the driver is changed.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mirror angle adjustment device that can easily adjust the angle of a mirror of a vehicle to an angle that is easy for a passenger to see.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an eye position detecting means for detecting the position of an occupant's eye in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and a rear mounted on the vehicle based on the detected eye position. And control means for controlling the mirror angle, which is the angle of the reflecting surface of the confirmation mirror, to be an appropriate angle.

  According to this invention, the eye position detection means detects the position of the occupant's eyes in the vertical direction of the vehicle. For example, the angle of the reflection surface such as a rearview mirror or a door mirror used by the driver for backward confirmation mounted on the vehicle varies depending on the position of the driver in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

  Therefore, the control means controls the mirror angle, which is the angle of the reflection surface of the rear confirmation mirror mounted on the vehicle, to be an appropriate angle based on the eye position detected by the eye position detection means. Here, the appropriate angle is an angle within a range in which the occupant can visually recognize the rear of the vehicle.

  Thus, since the angle of the mirror is controlled to an appropriate angle based on the position of the eyes of the occupant, the angle of the mirror of the vehicle can be easily adjusted to an angle that is easy for the occupant to see, and convenience can be improved. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the eye position detecting means detects a mirror angle of at least one first mirror among a plurality of rear-viewing mirrors mounted on the vehicle. And eye position calculating means for calculating the position of the occupant's eyes in the vertical direction of the vehicle based on the detected mirror angle, the control means based on the calculated eye position You may make it control so that the mirror angle of at least 1 2nd mirror other than this mirror may become an appropriate angle.

  As a result, only by adjusting the mirror angle of the first mirror, the mirror angle of the other second mirror is adjusted to an appropriate angle, so that the occupant does not need to adjust the angles of all the mirrors. Can be improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the mirror angle detecting means includes a first angle of the first mirror with respect to a predetermined first reference line, and a second angle different from the first reference line. A second angle of the first mirror with respect to a reference line, and the eye position calculating means determines the position of the eyes of the occupant of the vehicle based on the first angle and the second angle. You may make it calculate. Here, the first reference line can be a line along the left-right direction of the vehicle, for example, and the second reference line can be a line along the vertical direction of the vehicle. Thus, by detecting the first angle and the second angle, the position of the occupant's eyes can be easily calculated.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus may further include a correcting unit that corrects the calculated position of the occupant's eye according to the type of the first mirror.

  For example, when the driver looks at the rearview mirror while driving and when looking at the door mirror, the manner of swinging the head and the position of the line of sight are different. Correct eye position. Thereby, the angle of the mirror can be adjusted with high accuracy.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the eye position detecting means may include a photographing means for photographing the occupant and an extracting means for extracting the position of the occupant's eyes based on the photographed image. Good. As a result, the position of the occupant's eyes can be detected without detecting the angle of the mirror.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the angles of the plurality of mirrors of the vehicle can be easily adjusted to an angle that is easy for the occupant to see.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the mirror angles of the vehicle rearview mirror and the left and right door mirrors are adjusted.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the mirror angle adjusting device 10. As shown in the figure, the mirror angle adjusting device 10 includes a control unit 12, a room mirror 14, a room mirror driving unit 16, a right door mirror 18, a right door mirror driving unit 20, a left door mirror 22, a left door mirror driving unit 24, and mirror selection. A button 26, an angle adjustment button 28, and a memory 30 are included.

  The room mirror 14 is provided in the vehicle 40 as shown in FIG. 2, and is used by the driver 42 to confirm the rear side of the vehicle 40. The dotted line shown in the figure shows the line of sight of the driver 42. In addition, the upper side of the figure is the front side of the vehicle 40.

  The right door mirror 18 is attached to a door on the driver's seat side of the vehicle 40 so that the driver 42 can confirm the right rear side of the vehicle 40.

  The left door mirror 22 is attached to a door on the passenger seat side of the vehicle 40 so that the driver 42 can confirm the rear left side of the vehicle 40.

  The rearview mirror 14 is driven by a rearview mirror drive unit 16 including a motor (not shown), a detection unit that detects a mirror angle, and the like, and the angle can be adjusted.

  The right door mirror 18 is driven by a right door mirror driving unit 20 configured to include a motor (not shown), a detection unit that detects a mirror angle, and the like, and the angle can be adjusted.

  The left door mirror 22 is driven by a left door mirror driving unit 24 configured to include a motor (not shown), a detection unit for detecting a mirror angle, and the like, and the angle can be adjusted.

  The angle of each mirror can be detected from, for example, the driving amount of the motor, but the detection method is not limited to this, and the angle may be detected using a Hall IC or the like. The control unit 12 can acquire the angle of each mirror from each drive unit.

  The mirror selection button 26 is for selecting a mirror for adjusting the mirror angle. As shown in FIG. 3, the mirror selection button 26 is configured to be slidable in the direction of the arrow A at the same time. Can be set. In the figure, it is set at the position B4. When the mirror selection button 26 is set at the position B1, the left door mirror 22 is selected. When the mirror selection button 26 is set at the position B2, the right door mirror 18 is selected, and the mirror selection button 26 is When the mirror is set at the position B3, no mirror is selected, and when the mirror selection button 26 is set at the position B4, the room mirror 14 is selected.

The angle adjustment button 28 is for adjusting the angle of the mirror selected by the mirror selection button 26. As shown in FIG. 3, _{one of} the marks 28 _{1 to} 28 ₈ arranged in eight directions is pressed. By doing so, the mirror can be driven in any of the directions of arrows C1 to C8. For example, when the user presses the mark 28 _1, adjust the mirror in the arrow C1 direction, that can be adjusted upwards to mirror, when the user presses the mark 28 _3, adjust the mirror in the arrow C3 direction, i.e. mirror Can be adjusted to the right. In addition, it is good also as a structure which can adjust a mirror only to four directions of up and down, right and left of C1, C3, C5, C7.

  Thus, the mirror whose angle is to be adjusted can be selected with the mirror selection button 26, and the angle of the selected mirror can be adjusted to an arbitrary angle with the angle adjustment button 28.

  The driver needs to adjust the rear-view mirror 14, the right door mirror 18, and the left door mirror 22 to an angle at which the rear of the vehicle 40 can be seen well, but depending on the eye level of the driver, The appropriate angle is different. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the side of the vehicle 40, the angle of the rearview mirror 14 that allows the driver to visually recognize the rear of the vehicle when the eye level of the driver is H1 is E1. On the other hand, when the driver's eye height is H2, the angle of the rearview mirror 14 at which the rear of the vehicle can be seen well is E2. Similarly, when the driver's eye height is H1, the angle of the left door mirror 22 that allows the user to see the back of the vehicle well is F1, whereas the driver's eye height is H2. In addition, the angle of the left door mirror 22 that allows the rear of the vehicle to be viewed well is F2.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, although details will be described later, for example, the eye height is calculated when the angle of the room mirror 14 is adjusted, and the right door mirror 18 and the left door mirror 22 are calculated based on the calculated eye height. Adjust the angle.

  The memory 30 includes a control routine program to be described later, mirror angle table data representing the correspondence between the driver's eye position and the appropriate angle of each mirror, parameters necessary for calculating the driver's eye position, and the like. Is stored in advance.

  Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, control executed by the control unit 12 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This control is executed, for example, when a vehicle accessory switch is turned on. That is, it is executed when power is supplied and each mirror can be driven.

  In step 100, it is determined whether or not an operation for adjusting the angle of any one of the rear mirror 14, the right door mirror 18, and the left door mirror 22 has been performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the angle adjustment button 28 is operated in a state where any mirror is selected by the mirror selection button 26.

  When the angle adjustment button 28 is operated in a state where any mirror is selected by the mirror selection button 26, the process proceeds to step 102.

In step 102, the mirror selected by the mirror selection button 26 is driven in accordance with the position where the angle adjustment button 28 is pressed and the pressed time. For example a mirror selection buttons 26 to adjust the angle of the room mirror 14 is operated, when the mark 28 ₅ of the angle adjusting button 28 is pressed, the room mirror so as to drive the room mirror 14 so as to face the lower The drive unit 16 is instructed. As a result, the room mirror drive unit 16 drives the room mirror 14 so that the room mirror 14 faces downward. While the mark on the angle adjustment button 28 is pressed, the room mirror 14 can be continuously driven by continuously instructing the room mirror drive unit 16 to drive. Below, the case where the angle of the room mirror 14 is adjusted is demonstrated.

  In step 104, the angle of the room mirror 14 is acquired. Here, the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 are acquired. As shown in FIG. 6, the first angle θ <b> 1 is an angle in a state in which the rearview mirror 14 is adjusted so that the driver 42 can visually recognize the rear, and when the driver 42 is viewed from directly above, It is an angle of the rearview mirror 14 with respect to a reference line G1 (first reference line) extending in the left-right direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In addition, the up-down direction of FIG. 6 is the front-back direction of a vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the second angle θ2 is an angle of the room mirror 14 with respect to a reference line G2 (second reference line) extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Note that the vertical direction in FIG. 7 is the vertical direction of the vehicle, and FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. That is, FIG. 7 represents a surface obtained by cutting FIG. 6 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface with a line of sight 44 from the driver 42 toward the room mirror 14 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in a state in which the rearview mirror 14 is adjusted so that the driver 42 can see the rear side well, a line 48 orthogonal to the rearview mirror 14 is a line of sight 44 from the driver 42 to the rearview mirror 14. And the angle formed by the line of sight 46 turned back by the room mirror 14 is divided into two, and the divided angles are respectively the first angle θ1. For this reason, the angle formed between the line of sight 44 and the line of sight 46 is twice the first angle θ1.

  In FIG. 6, X is the center 42 </ b> A of the driver 42 from the center 14 </ b> A of the rearview mirror 14 (the center of rotation of the rearview mirror 14) in the left-right direction of the vehicle (direction parallel to the reference line G <b> 1). It is the distance to (the center of rotation of the driver's 42 head). Since the position of the driver's seat in the left-right direction of the vehicle is usually fixed, X is a value unique to the vehicle. X is a parameter required for calculating the position of the eyes of the driver 42 and is stored in the memory 30 in advance.

  In FIG. 6, Y is a distance from the center 14 </ b> A of the rearview mirror 14 to the center 42 </ b> A of the driver 42 in the vehicle front-rear direction (direction orthogonal to the reference line G <b> 1). Since the driver's seat can usually be moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, Y varies depending on the position of the driver's seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As a result, the first angle θ1 also changes. Y can be obtained from the following equation using X and the first angle θ1.

  Y = X / tan (2 × θ1) (1)

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in a state in which the rearview mirror 14 is adjusted so that the driver 42 can visually recognize the rear side, the line 50 orthogonal to the rearview mirror 14 extends from the driver 42 to the rearview mirror 14. The angle formed by the line of sight 44 and the line of sight 46 turned back by the room mirror 14 is divided into two, and the divided angles are respectively the second angle θ2. For this reason, the angle formed between the line of sight 44 and the line of sight 46 is twice the second angle θ2.

  In FIG. 7, D is the distance from the center 14A of the rearview mirror 14 to the center 42A of the driver 42 in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the vehicle. Therefore, D can be obtained by the following equation from X and Y shown in FIG.

D = (X ² + Y ² ) ^1/2 (2)

  In FIG. 7, Z is the distance from the center 14 </ b> A of the rearview mirror 14 to the center 42 </ b> A of the driver 42 in the vertical direction of the vehicle (the direction parallel to the reference line G <b> 2) as shown in FIG. 7. That is, Z represents the position of the driver's eyes and changes according to the driver's sitting height. Z can be obtained from D and the second angle θ2 by the following equation.

  Z = Dtan (2 × θ2) (3)

  That is, the eye position Z can be obtained from the first angle θ 1 and the second angle θ 2, X of the room mirror 14.

  In step 106, the position Z of the eye, that is, the distance Z from the center 14A of the rearview mirror 14 to the center 42A of the driver 42 in the vertical direction of the vehicle is calculated by the above equations (1) to (3).

  In step 108, the appropriate angles of the right door mirror 18 and the left door mirror 22 are obtained based on the calculated eye position Z. Specifically, the angle of the right door mirror 18 and the angle of the left door mirror 22 corresponding to the position Z of the driver's eyes are obtained from the mirror angle table data stored in the memory 30 in advance.

  In step 110, the right door mirror driving unit 20 and the left door mirror driving unit 24 are instructed so that the angles of the right door mirror 18 and the left door mirror 22 are the angles obtained in step 108. Thereby, the angle of the right door mirror 18 and the left door mirror 22 is adjusted to an appropriate angle.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, when the angle of the rearview mirror 14 is adjusted, the position of the driver's eyes is detected based on the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 of the rearview mirror 14 and detected. The angles of the right door mirror 18 and the left door mirror 22 are automatically adjusted based on the position of the eyes. Thus, the driver does not need to adjust the angles of all the mirrors, and can easily adjust all of the mirrors to an easy-to-view angle, thereby greatly improving convenience.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the angles of the right door mirror 18 and the left door mirror 22 are adjusted when the angle of the room mirror 14 is adjusted has been described. However, when the angle of the right door mirror 18 is adjusted, the room mirror is adjusted. Needless to say, the angles of the rear-view mirror 14 and the left door mirror 22 can be automatically adjusted, and the angles of the rear-view mirror 14 and the right-door mirror 18 can be automatically adjusted when the left-door mirror 22 is adjusted.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the position of the driver's eyes is calculated based on the angle formed by the line of sight from the rotation center of the driver's head to the rotation center of the room mirror 14 and the line of sight folded back by the room mirror 14. However, when the driver looks at the room mirror 14 during actual driving, it is usual to move only the line of sight toward the room mirror 14 without shaking his head toward the room mirror 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, the center 42A of the rotation of the head of the driver 42 is the eye position 42B when the driver 42 looks directly at the rearview mirror 14 with the head facing the rearview mirror 14. From the center of rotation 42A of the driver 42 to the rearview mirror 14, and from the eye position 42C when viewing the rearview mirror 14 during the actual driving of the driver 42 to the rearview mirror 14. Since it is different from the line of sight 52, it is preferable to correct the error.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the distance between the center 42A of the driver 42 and the eye position 42C when viewing the rearview mirror 14 during the actual driving of the driver 42 is taken as a correction value a, and Y ′ = Y−a And Y ′ may be used in place of Y when calculating the eye position Z. Thereby, the eye position Z can be calculated with high accuracy. The correction value a may be a predetermined value, or may be a predetermined value at first, and the correction value a may be calculated and used every time the driver adjusts the angle of the rearview mirror 14. Good. That is, every time the driver adjusts the angle of the room mirror 14, the correction value a may be corrected based on the difference between the previously obtained Y and the currently obtained Y.

  Also, when the driver looks at the door mirror during actual driving, instead of swaying his head toward the door mirror and looking directly at the door mirror, the head should be directed slightly toward the door mirror and his eyes moved toward the door mirror. Is normal. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B, the center of rotation 42A of the driver 42's head corresponds to the eye position 42D when the driver 42 looks directly at the door mirror with the head facing the door mirror. In other words, the line of sight 54 from the center 42A of the driver's 42 head toward the door mirror is different from the line of sight 56 from the eye position 42E when viewing the room mirror 14 when the driver 42 is actually driving to the room mirror 14. Therefore, it is preferable to correct the error.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the distance between the center 42A of the driver 42 and the position 42F corresponding to the eye position 42E when the door mirror is viewed during the actual driving of the driver 42 is set as a correction value b, and Y ′ = Yb may be calculated, and Y ′ may be used in place of Y when calculating the eye position Z. Thereby, the eye position Z can be calculated with high accuracy. The correction value b may be a predetermined value, or may be a predetermined value at first, and the correction value b may be calculated and used every time the driver adjusts the angle of the door mirror. That is, every time the driver adjusts the angle of the door mirror, the correction value b may be corrected based on the difference between Y obtained last time and Y obtained this time.

  In this way, according to the type of the adjusted mirror, that is, according to the amount by which the driver shakes his / her head, the angle of the other mirror is adjusted more accurately by correcting Y by the correction value a or the correction value b. can do.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the eye position is calculated based on the angle of the mirror has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and at least one camera 60 that captures the driver's face is provided as shown in FIG. The position of the eyes may be detected based on the photographed driver's face image. In this case, the eyes of the driver on the image are extracted by extraction means using a known method such as feature extraction processing, and the actual position of the eyes of the driver is obtained from the position. Then, an appropriate angle of each mirror corresponding to the obtained eye position is obtained from the angle table data, and each mirror is driven to that angle. Further, since it is necessary to detect the position of the eyes when the driver is looking in front, for example, when the extracted eyes are present in the vicinity of the center line of the driver's seat for a predetermined time or more, that is, the driver It is preferable to detect the state of looking at the front in the state of sitting in the driver's seat, and obtain the angle of each mirror based on the eye position at that time.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the angle of the room mirror 14 can be adjusted by the angle adjustment button 28 has been described. However, the angle of the room mirror 14 may be adjusted only manually. In this case, it is only necessary to provide a detection unit that detects the angle of the room mirror 14 such as a Hall IC instead of the room mirror drive unit 16. Thereby, an apparatus can be comprised simply and cheaply.

  Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated the case where the angle of a room mirror and a door mirror was adjusted, the kind of mirror is not restricted to this, If it is a mirror for confirming the back of a vehicle, the front of a vehicle Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a side mirror or the like provided in the apparatus.

It is a schematic block diagram of a mirror angle adjusting device. It is a top view of a vehicle. It is a top view of a mirror selection button and an angle adjustment button. It is a side view of a vehicle. It is a flowchart performed by a control part. It is a figure for demonstrating calculation of a driver | operator's eye position. It is a figure for demonstrating calculation of a driver | operator's eye position. It is a figure for demonstrating a driver | operator's eyes | visual_axis. It is a figure for demonstrating correction | amendment of a driver | operator's eye position. It is a figure for demonstrating correction | amendment of a driver | operator's eye position. It is a schematic block diagram of the mirror angle adjustment apparatus which concerns on a modification.

Explanation of symbols

10 mirror angle adjustment device 12 control unit (eye position calculation means, control means, correction means)
14 room mirror 16 room mirror drive unit (mirror angle detection means)
18 Right door mirror 20 Right door mirror drive unit (mirror angle detection means)
22 Left door mirror 24 Left door mirror drive unit (mirror angle detection means)
26 Mirror selection button 28 Angle adjustment button 30 Memory

Claims (5)

Eye position detection means for detecting the position of the occupant's eyes in the vertical direction of the vehicle;
Based on the detected eye position, control means for controlling the mirror angle, which is the angle of the reflection surface of the rear confirmation mirror mounted on the vehicle, to be an appropriate angle;
Mirror angle adjustment device with The eye position detection means is based on a mirror angle detection means for detecting a mirror angle of at least one first mirror among a plurality of rear confirmation mirrors mounted on the vehicle, and based on the detected mirror angle, Eye position calculation means for calculating the position of the occupant's eyes in the vertical direction of the vehicle,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the mirror angle of at least one second mirror other than the first mirror to be an appropriate angle based on the calculated eye position. Mirror angle adjustment device. The mirror angle detection means includes a first angle of the first mirror with respect to a predetermined first reference line, and a second angle of the first mirror with respect to a second reference line different from the first reference line. Detecting the angle and
3. The mirror angle adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the eye position calculating unit calculates an eye position of an occupant of the vehicle based on the first angle and the second angle.   4. The mirror angle adjusting device according to claim 2, further comprising a correction unit that corrects the calculated position of the occupant's eye according to the type of the first mirror.   2. The mirror angle adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the eye position detecting means includes a photographing means for photographing the occupant and an extracting means for extracting a position of the occupant's eyes based on a photographed image. .

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