WO2009141721A1 - Système et procédé de réglage de rétroviseurs extérieurs d’un véhicule pour maintenir un angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité - Google Patents

Système et procédé de réglage de rétroviseurs extérieurs d’un véhicule pour maintenir un angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009141721A1
WO2009141721A1 PCT/IB2009/005692 IB2009005692W WO2009141721A1 WO 2009141721 A1 WO2009141721 A1 WO 2009141721A1 IB 2009005692 W IB2009005692 W IB 2009005692W WO 2009141721 A1 WO2009141721 A1 WO 2009141721A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
side mirror
initial
current
head position
desired rearview
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2009/005692
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bertil Brandin
Original Assignee
Bertil Brandin
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bertil Brandin filed Critical Bertil Brandin
Publication of WO2009141721A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009141721A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
    • B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
    • B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
    • B60R1/072—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/025—Rear-view mirror arrangements comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors

Definitions

  • TITLE System and Method for Adjusting the Side Mirrors of a Vehicle to Maintain a Desired Rearview Sightline
  • the present invention relates to systems and methods for adjusting the side mirrors of a vehicle.
  • Typical memory systems allow drivers to store side mirror positions.
  • a system for positioning the side mirrors of a vehicle to maintain a desired rearview sightline may comprise at least one side mirror disposed on an exterior side of a vehicle, the side mirror comprising a side mirror plate having a reflective surface, a side mirror actuator for positioning the side mirror plate in a side mirror position, and a side mirror sensor for sensing the side mirror position, a side mirror positioning mechanism operatively coupled to the side mirror actuators for enabling a driver to position the side mirror plate in an initial side mirror position that achieves a desired rearview sightline, a head position detecting mechanism for detecting an initial head position correlated with the desired rearview sightline and a current head position indicative of a current position of the driver's head, and a computer controller operatively coupled to the head position detecting mechanism, the side mirror actuator and the side mirror sensor.
  • the computer controller may be configured for computing and storing a desired rearview vector based on the initial side mirror position and the initial head position, determining a current side mirror position required to maintain the desired rearview sightline based upon the desired rearview vector and the current head position, and directing the side mirror actuator to position the side mirror plate in the current side mirror position so as to maintain the desired rearview sightline.
  • a method for adjusting side mirrors of a vehicle to maintain a desired rearview sightline comprising the steps of: a) adjusting a side mirror of a vehicle to achieve a desired rearview sightline, using a driver operable side mirror adjusting mechanism; b) determining an initial side mirror position correlated with the desired rearview sightline, and storing the initial side mirror position in a computer controller; c) determining an initial head position of a driver's head correlated with the initial side mirror position using a head position detecting mechanism, and storing the initial head position in the computer controller; d) determining a desired rearview vector based on the initial side mirror position and the initial head position and storing the desired rearview vector in the computer controller; e) determining a current head position of the driver's head using the head position detecting mechanism; f) determining a current side mirror position required to maintain the desired rearview sightline, based on the current head position and the stored desired rearview vector;
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic top view illustrating a system for adjusting the side mirrors of a vehicle to maintain a desired rearview sightline, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the subject system, in which the driver's initial head position is shown in solid lines and the driver's current head position is shown in dotted lines;
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the components of the computer controller of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method for adjusting side mirrors of a vehicle to maintain a desired rearview sightline, according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method for adjusting side mirrors of a vehicle to maintain a desired rearview sightline, according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrated therein is a system 10 for adjusting the side mirrors of a vehicle so as to maintain a desired rearview sightline, made in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • the system 10 comprises at least one side mirror 16 disposed on an external side of a vehicle, a side mirror positioning mechanism 13, a head position detecting mechanism 14 for detecting the position of a driver's head, and a computer controller 15.
  • the side mirror 16 may comprise a side mirror plate 22 having a reflective surface, a side mirror actuator 17 for adjusting rotation and elevation positions of the side mirror plate 22 so as to position the side mirror plate 22 in a side mirror position, and a side mirror sensor 24 for sensing the side mirror position.
  • the side mirror actuator 17 may comprise one or more conventional motors such servomotors operable to adjust the rotation and elevation positions of the side mirror plate 22, and the side mirror sensor 24 may comprise conventional sensors coupled to the motors, which generate position signals indicative of the elevation and rotation positions of the side mirror plate 22.
  • the side mirror positioning mechanism 13 is operatively coupled to the side mirror actuator 17, and is operable by the driver to position the side mirror plate 22 in an initial side mirror position 23a that achieves a desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the side mirror positioning mechanism 13 may comprise a conventional joystick type mirror adjustment mechanism located on an interior portion of the vehicle such as a driver's armrest or door.
  • the side mirror positioning mechanism 13 may be electrically connected to the side mirror sensor 24 and the side mirror actuator 17 through the computer controller 15 as shown as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the side mirror positioning mechanism 13 may be directly connected to the side mirror sensor 24 and the side mirror actuator 17, bypassing the computer controller 15.
  • the head position detecting mechanism 14 is operable to detect the head position of the driver's head, the head position including an initial head position 12a correlated with the desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the head position detecting mechanism 14 may comprise proximity sensors, or other known head position detecting mechanisms such as that disclosed by Brandin in U.S. Patent No. 5,694,259.
  • the computer controller 15 is operatively coupled to the head position detecting mechanism 14, the side mirror actuator 17, and the side mirror sensor 24.
  • the computer controller 15 is configured for receiving and storing the initial head position 12a, and the initial mirror position 23a correlated with the desired rearview sightline 27 that is generated by the side mirror sensor 24, and for computing and storing a desired rearview vector 21 based on the initial side mirror position 23a and the initial head position 12a.
  • the computer controller 15 may also be configured to receive the current head position 12b and determine a current side mirror position 23b required to maintain the desired rearview sightline 27, based upon the desired rearview vector 21 and the current head position 12b, and to direct the side mirror actuator 17 to position the side mirror plate 22 in the current side mirror position 23b so as to maintain the desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the computer controller 15 may comprise a memory 150 for storing the desired rearview vector 21 and other information for calculating and retrieving the driver's desired rearview sightline 27 regardless of his head position.
  • the computer controller 15 may also comprise a central processing unit (CPU) 152, which is connected to the side mirror actuator 17 and the side mirror sensor 24, the head position detecting mechanism 14, and the side mirror adjustment mechanism 13, through an input/output interface (I/O Interface) 154.
  • the connections may be accomplished by using cables or other linking mechanisms including wireless linking mechanisms.
  • computer controller 15 may determine the desired rearview vector 21 as follows.
  • the driver 11 sits in the vehicle and operates the side mirror positioning mechanism 13 so as to position the side mirror plate 22 in an initial side mirror position 23a that achieves a desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the computer controller 15 may compute the desired rearview vector 21 as follows. Based on the initial mirror position 23a generated by the side mirror sensor 24, the mirror normal vector 19a can be computed.
  • the initial head position vector 20a indicating the initial head position 12a is known to reflect itself onto the side mirror plate 22 at the mirror center point 18 as reflected vector 26.
  • Reflected vector 26 is contained in the plane containing the initial head position vector 20a, the initial mirror normal vector 19a and the mirror center point 18.
  • the reflected vector 26 can be determined knowing that the incident angle "a" formed by the rearview vector 26 and mirror normal vector 19a is equal to the reflected angle "b" formed by the initial mirror normal vector 19a and the initial head position vector 20a.
  • Reflected vector 26 is in fact the desired rearview vector 21.
  • the desired rearview vector 21 is stored in the memory 150 of the computer controller 15, along with additional information including the initial head position vector 20a, the initial mirror normal vector 19a, the reflected angle "b” and the incident angle "a".
  • the system 10 can be used to adjust the side mirror plate 22 so as to maintain the desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the driver 11 is tired and is not sitting upright as usual, which causes his head position to change from the initial head position 12a shown in solid lines to the current head position 12b shown in dotted lines.
  • the head position detecting mechanism 14 locates the current head position 12b of the driver's head.
  • the computer controller 15 Based on the knowledge of the driver's current head position 12b, and the previously stored desired rearview vector 21 , it is possible for the computer controller 15 to compute a current side mirror position 23b required to allow the driver to see his desired rearview sightline 27, and to direct the side mirror actuator 17 to adjust the side mirror plate 22 so as to enable the driver to see his desired rearview sightline 27 once again.
  • the computer controller 15 can be configured to make this computation, as follows. It is known that the desired rearview vector 21 reflects itself on the side mirror plate 22 at the mirror center point 18 into the current head position vector 20b. It is also known that the desired rearview vector 21 , the mirror normal vector 19b and head position vector 20b with respect to the mirror center point 18 lie in the same plane. Similarly, the mirror normal vector 19b bisects the angle formed by the desired rearview vector 21 and the head position vector 20b in two equal angles.
  • the current mirror normal vector 19b for the current side mirror position 23b can be determined, and the computer controller 15 may translate the current mirror normal vector 19b into current rotation and elevation positions necessary to position the side mirror plate 22 in the current side mirror position 23b, which maintains the desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the system 10 may comprise an activation switch 25 for activating the head position detecting mechanism 14, which allows the driver 11 to manually initiate the side mirror adjustment procedure after the driver is aware that he has changed his driving position.
  • the system 10 may be configured to periodically automatically activate the side mirror adjustment procedure after a driver-specific or other predetermined sampling interval.
  • the subject system allows the driver to store driver specific desired rearview vectors. Whenever the driver needs to adjust the side mirrors, the driver can have the position of his head located using the head detecting mechanism, and the side mirrors are adjusted according to the driver stored desired rearview vectors with respect to a reference point and his new current head position.
  • the system improves conventional memory systems that only allow mirror positions to be stored and not the driver specific desired rearview vector with respect to a reference point. Storing the desired rearview vectors with respect to a reference point in a mirror memory system can provide better comfort, in that it provides for personalization and consistency of the driver's preferred field of view of the side mirror for the driver, in the case where the driver changes his/her head position from time to time.
  • a method 50 for adjusting the side mirrors of a vehicle to maintain a desired rearview sightline in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • the driver's desired rearview sightline may be determined as follows.
  • the driver 11 sits in the vehicle and adjusts the side mirror 16 as needed, using the side mirror adjustment mechanism 13.
  • an initial side mirror position 23a correlated with the desired rearview sightline is determined, using the side mirror sensor 24.
  • the initial side mirror position 23a may comprise elevation and rotation positions determined by the side mirror sensor 24.
  • the initial side mirror position 23a is then stored in a memory location, which may be the memory 150 of computer controller 15.
  • step 56 an initial head position 12a correlated with the initial side mirror position 23a is determined, using the head position detecting mechanism 14.
  • the initial head position 12a is then stored in the memory 150 of the computer controller 15.
  • the CPU 152 of the computer controller 15 computes a desired rearview vector 21 based on the initial side mirror position 23a and the initial head position 12a. Once the desired rearview vector 21 is calculated, it is stored in a memory such as memory 150 of the computer controller 15.
  • step 60 the head position detecting mechanism 14 detects the driver's current head position 12b.
  • the driver may initiate step 60, by pressing the activation switch 25.
  • the method will automatically proceed to step 60 at predetermined sampling intervals.
  • step 62 current side mirror position 23b required to maintain the desired rearview sightline 27 is determined, based on the current head position 12b, and the previously stored desired rearview vector 21.
  • step 64 the CPU directs the side mirror actuator 17 to adjust the side mirror plate 22 in accordance with the current side mirror position calculated in step 62, so as to enable the driver to see the desired rearview sightline 27.
  • the head position detecting mechanism 14 is automatically activated at predetermined sampling intervals, no adjustments of the side mirror plate 22 will be necessary to maintain the desired rearview sightline 27, if the driver did not move his head during a given sampling interval.
  • the method 50 may then repeat steps 60, 62, and 64 periodically or from time to time at the request of the driver to detect the driver's head movement and adjust the mirror accordingly to maintain the desired rearview sightline 27.
  • Method 100 begins at step 102 wherein a desired rearview vector is provided.
  • the desired rearview vector may be determined by requiring the driver to adjust a side mirror of a vehicle to achieve an initial desired rearview sightline, and calculating desired rearview vector based on the initial desired rearview sightline as indicated by steps 52, 54, 56, and 58 of method 50.
  • the desired rearview vector may have been previously determined and stored. In this example, the desired rearview vector is retrieved from the memory and provided without necessitating further input by the driver.
  • a user may have associated with him, a unique identifier such as a unique ignition key.
  • a computer controller may have various types of information stored in a memory, including a desired rearview vector associated with the identifier. Once a user is identified, the computer controller will recall the desired rearview vector, instead of necessitating the user to adjust the side mirror to calculate the desired rearview vector. Once the desired rearview vector is provided, Method 100 proceeds to step 104.
  • step 104 the driver's current head position is determined using a head position detecting mechanism.
  • step 106 the current side mirror elevation and rotation positions required to maintain the desired rear view sightline are determined based on the current head position and the desired rearview vector. The method then proceeds to step 108 wherein the side mirror is adjusted in accordance with the current side mirror elevation and rotation positions determined in step 108.
  • the method 100 may then repeat steps 104, 106, and 108 periodically to detect the driver's head movement and adjust the mirror accordingly to maintain the desired rearview sightline. In some embodiments, steps 104, 106 and 108 may be repeated upon the driver's request.

Abstract

L’invention concerne un système (10) et un procédé de positionnement des rétroviseurs extérieurs d’un véhicule pour maintenir un angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité (21). Le système comprend au moins un rétroviseur extérieur (16), un système de positionnement du rétroviseur extérieur (13), un mécanisme de détection de la position de la tête (14) et un dispositif de commande informatisé (15). Le rétroviseur extérieur comprend un actionneur du rétroviseur externe (17) pour positionner une plaque du rétroviseur extérieur (22) dans une position du rétroviseur extérieur et un capteur du rétroviseur extérieur (24) pour capter la position du rétroviseur extérieur. Le mécanisme de positionnement du rétroviseur extérieur permet à un conducteur (11) de positionner la plaque du rétroviseur extérieur dans une position du rétroviseur extérieur initiale qui permet d’obtenir un angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité. Le mécanisme de détection de la position de la tête détecte une position de la tête initiale correspondant à l’angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité et une position de la tête actuelle indiquant une position actuelle de la tête du conducteur. Le dispositif de commande informatisé calcule et stocke un vecteur à l’arrière souhaité en fonction de la position du rétroviseur extérieur initiale et de la position de la tête initiale, puis détermine une position du rétroviseur extérieur actuelle nécessaire au maintien de l’angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité en fonction du vecteur à l’arrière souhaité et de la position de la tête actuelle, et dirige l’actionneur du rétroviseur extérieur afin de positionner la plaque du rétroviseur extérieur dans la position du rétroviseur extérieur actuelle de façon à maintenir l’angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité.
PCT/IB2009/005692 2008-05-23 2009-05-22 Système et procédé de réglage de rétroviseurs extérieurs d’un véhicule pour maintenir un angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité WO2009141721A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US7191208P 2008-05-23 2008-05-23
US61/071,912 2008-05-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009141721A1 true WO2009141721A1 (fr) 2009-11-26

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PCT/IB2009/005692 WO2009141721A1 (fr) 2008-05-23 2009-05-22 Système et procédé de réglage de rétroviseurs extérieurs d’un véhicule pour maintenir un angle de vision à l’arrière souhaité

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107150631A (zh) * 2017-06-02 2017-09-12 奇瑞汽车股份有限公司 控制后视镜的方法和装置
US10703279B2 (en) 2017-08-28 2020-07-07 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Automatic trailer detection and vehicle configuration

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1574393A2 (fr) * 2004-03-10 2005-09-14 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. Méthode d'alignement d'un rétroviseur de véhicule
US20060092534A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-04 Yuri Ivanov Automatic mirror stabilization

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1574393A2 (fr) * 2004-03-10 2005-09-14 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. Méthode d'alignement d'un rétroviseur de véhicule
US20060092534A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-04 Yuri Ivanov Automatic mirror stabilization

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107150631A (zh) * 2017-06-02 2017-09-12 奇瑞汽车股份有限公司 控制后视镜的方法和装置
US10703279B2 (en) 2017-08-28 2020-07-07 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Automatic trailer detection and vehicle configuration

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