WO2006043293A1 - System for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles - Google Patents

System for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006043293A1
WO2006043293A1 PCT/IT2005/000065 IT2005000065W WO2006043293A1 WO 2006043293 A1 WO2006043293 A1 WO 2006043293A1 IT 2005000065 W IT2005000065 W IT 2005000065W WO 2006043293 A1 WO2006043293 A1 WO 2006043293A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
rotation means
mirror
vehicle
view mirror
view
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2005/000065
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gioacchino Belli
Original Assignee
Gioacchino Belli
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 Gioacchino Belli filed Critical Gioacchino Belli
Publication of WO2006043293A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006043293A1/en

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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
    • B60R1/025—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

  • the present invention relates to a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles.
  • the invention relates to a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles, to allow a convenient observation also within the blind zone, said zone being comprised of that part of the space behind the same vehicles wherein visibility is null, by using traditional systems or devices.
  • Solutions suggested are all characterised by drawbacks and disadvantages concerning the incompleteness, imprecision and deformation of images obtained from the blind zone, as well as complexity and costs of means employed (particularly for video- sensing systems).
  • Object of the invention is that of providing a system able to overcome the drawbacks and disadvantages described in the above.
  • It is object of the present invention a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles said vehicles being provided with one or more mirrors, at least on the driver side of the vehicle, the system comprising rotation means suitable to move at least a rear-view mirror, said system being characterised in that, by the activation of the direction indicators provided on the side of a rear-view mirror movable by said rotation means, the same rotation means rotates said at least one mirror in a direction opposite to the curve direction indicated by said direction indicators, of an angle ⁇ sufficient to view the blind zone of the vehicle, said rotation means bringing automatically back said rear-view mirror in the starting position when the direction indicators have been deactivated.
  • said vehicles can be provided with one or more mirrors on the driver side and on the passenger side.
  • rotation of said at least one rear- view mirror can be realised when activating the direction indicators.
  • rotation of said at least one rear- view mirror can be realised with a time retard AT>0 with respect to the activation of the direction indicators.
  • said time retard AT>0 corresponds to the retard of activation of rotation means of said at least one rear-view mirror, said rotation means being operable only after having actuated the direction indicators.
  • said rotation means can be actuated on the basis of a signal emitted by a proximity sensor of a motor vehicle.
  • the system comprises a lever controlling the direction indicator suitable to have two successive positions, the first position corresponding to the activation of the direction indicators, the first position corresponding to the activation of said rotation means, control lever automatically returning to the starting position when said vehicle has completed the direction change.
  • the system comprises means for excluding said rotation means from the operation of the system.
  • said angle ⁇ is between 1 ° and 45 °, still more preferably between 5° and 30° .
  • the system further comprises adjustment means for said angle ⁇ , said means being operable by the vehicle driver.
  • each mirror of said vehicle can be controlled by dedicated rotation means.
  • said at least one rear-view mirror can be the driver side mirror or the passenger side mirror.
  • said rotation means comprise one or more electromagnets.
  • said rotation means comprise one or more electric motors.
  • Figure 1 shows the field of view of a traditional rear-view mirror
  • Figure 2 shows the field of view of the rear-view mirror provided with the system according to the invention
  • Figure 3 shows the field of view of the rear-view mirror provided with the system according to the invention, when the vehicle enters in a new road;
  • Figure 4 shows an electric scheme of the control apparatus according to the invention.
  • the system comprises electro-mechanical means, particularly electromagnets or electric ⁇ engines that, actuating by the control of the direction indicators, determining rotations of limited amplitude of the mirrors, in the direction opposite to the curve that the driver wishes effect, thus moving the visibility field so as to include the blind zone.
  • the suggested system is also useful for vehicles about to of entering in a new road.
  • figure 2 The operation of the system in an overtaking situation is schematically shown in figure 2, wherein the standard field of view C of the rear-view mirror and the field CD deviated by the system according to the invention are indicated.
  • mirror SR of motor vehicle A about to of changing its direction is rotated of an angle ⁇ sufficient to displace the field of view from the standard field C to the field CD, so as to cover the blind zone where the overtaking vehicle B can be.
  • driver of vehicle A sees the vehicle B approaching and can decide to abort the manoeuvre to avoid the collision.
  • figure 3 shows the movement of the visibility field in case of entering of the motor vehicle in a new road.
  • Figure 4 represents an example of electric scheme of the system according to the invention, comprising a clockwise rotation electromagnet 2 and an anticlockwise rotation electromagnet 3 for the rear-view mirrors SR, an intermittence relay 1 for lights, a control lever L for direction indicators (F on the left side and F' on the right side). Return of mirrors in the neutral position is controlled by springs or equivalent means.
  • Said electric scheme can be easily provided in the already existing electric scheme in some vehicles for adjusting the position of the rear-view mirrors. To this end parts have been indicated by hatching in figure 4, said portions representing the modification to be introduced in the standard controls of the direction indicators.
  • electromagnets 2, 3 can be also replaced by electric motors (already fitted in the vehicle, or not).
  • the system is provided only on the driver side.
  • the invention provides the presence of a switch for temporarily excluding the operation of the system according to the invention, according to the needing and choice of the driver.
  • the second release of the direction indicator lever can be replaced by a control given by a different device, e.g. a button placed in a different position.
  • System further has a high functionality, deriving from the fact that the driver has on the mirror, under all the conditions, a not deformed reflected image, allowing moreover the correct evaluation of the distance of vehicles appearing within the field of view.

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicle, said vehicles being provided with one or more mirrors, at least on the driver side of the vehicle, the system comprising rotation means suitable to move at least a rear-view mirror, said system being characterised in that, by the activation of the direction indicators provided on the side of a rear-view mirror (SR) movable by said rotation means, the same rotation means rotates said at least one mirror (SR) in a direction opposite to the curve direction indicated by said direction indicators, of an angle α sufficient to view the blind zone (ZC) of the vehicle, said rotation means bringing automatically back said rear-view mirror (SR) in the starting position when the direction indicators have been deactivated.

Description

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF THE VISIBILITY FIELD OF REAR-VIEW MIRRORS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
The present invention relates to a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles.
More particularly, the invention relates to a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles, to allow a convenient observation also within the blind zone, said zone being comprised of that part of the space behind the same vehicles wherein visibility is null, by using traditional systems or devices.
Making reference to figure 1 , showing the prior art situation, it is known that, if for example blind zone ZC is occupied by a vehicle that is going to make a overtaking, and driver of vehicle A preceding the same, ignoring the presence of the other vehicle within the blind zone, moves toward the surpassing vehicle trajectory, a high collision risk occurs.
In order to reduce said risk different solutions have been suggested, both employing supplementary mirrors, and installing convex mirrors, or using special video-sensing systems, outputting danger signals.
Solutions suggested are all characterised by drawbacks and disadvantages concerning the incompleteness, imprecision and deformation of images obtained from the blind zone, as well as complexity and costs of means employed (particularly for video- sensing systems).
Suggested solutions have different drawbacks that prevented their general and diffused use.
Object of the invention is that of providing a system able to overcome the drawbacks and disadvantages described in the above.
It is object of the present invention a system for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles, said vehicles being provided with one or more mirrors, at least on the driver side of the vehicle, the system comprising rotation means suitable to move at least a rear-view mirror, said system being characterised in that, by the activation of the direction indicators provided on the side of a rear-view mirror movable by said rotation means, the same rotation means rotates said at least one mirror in a direction opposite to the curve direction indicated by said direction indicators, of an angle α sufficient to view the blind zone of the vehicle, said rotation means bringing automatically back said rear-view mirror in the starting position when the direction indicators have been deactivated. According to the invention, said vehicles can be provided with one or more mirrors on the driver side and on the passenger side.
According to the invention, rotation of said at least one rear- view mirror can be realised when activating the direction indicators.
According to the invention, rotation of said at least one rear- view mirror can be realised with a time retard AT>0 with respect to the activation of the direction indicators.
Preferably, according to the invention, said time retard AT>0 corresponds to the retard of activation of rotation means of said at least one rear-view mirror, said rotation means being operable only after having actuated the direction indicators.
According to the invention, said rotation means can be actuated on the basis of a signal emitted by a proximity sensor of a motor vehicle.
Preferably, according to the invention, the system comprises a lever controlling the direction indicator suitable to have two successive positions, the first position corresponding to the activation of the direction indicators, the first position corresponding to the activation of said rotation means, control lever automatically returning to the starting position when said vehicle has completed the direction change.
Preferably, according to the invention, the system comprises means for excluding said rotation means from the operation of the system.
Preferably, according to the invention, said angle α is between 1 ° and 45 °, still more preferably between 5° and 30° .
Preferably, according to the invention, the system further comprises adjustment means for said angle α, said means being operable by the vehicle driver.
According to the invention, each mirror of said vehicle can be controlled by dedicated rotation means.
According to the invention, said at least one rear-view mirror can be the driver side mirror or the passenger side mirror. Preferably, according to the invention, said rotation means comprise one or more electromagnets.
Preferably, according to the invention, said rotation means comprise one or more electric motors. The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 shows the field of view of a traditional rear-view mirror,
Figure 2 shows the field of view of the rear-view mirror provided with the system according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows the field of view of the rear-view mirror provided with the system according to the invention, when the vehicle enters in a new road; and
Figure 4 shows an electric scheme of the control apparatus according to the invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system comprises electro-mechanical means, particularly electromagnets or electric ■ engines that, actuating by the control of the direction indicators, determining rotations of limited amplitude of the mirrors, in the direction opposite to the curve that the driver wishes effect, thus moving the visibility field so as to include the blind zone.
The suggested system is also useful for vehicles about to of entering in a new road.
The operation of the system in an overtaking situation is schematically shown in figure 2, wherein the standard field of view C of the rear-view mirror and the field CD deviated by the system according to the invention are indicated. By the operation of the direction indicators, mirror SR of motor vehicle A about to of changing its direction is rotated of an angle α sufficient to displace the field of view from the standard field C to the field CD, so as to cover the blind zone where the overtaking vehicle B can be. In this way, driver of vehicle A sees the vehicle B approaching and can decide to abort the manoeuvre to avoid the collision. In the same way, figure 3 shows the movement of the visibility field in case of entering of the motor vehicle in a new road.
Figure 4 represents an example of electric scheme of the system according to the invention, comprising a clockwise rotation electromagnet 2 and an anticlockwise rotation electromagnet 3 for the rear-view mirrors SR, an intermittence relay 1 for lights, a control lever L for direction indicators (F on the left side and F' on the right side). Return of mirrors in the neutral position is controlled by springs or equivalent means. Said electric scheme can be easily provided in the already existing electric scheme in some vehicles for adjusting the position of the rear-view mirrors. To this end parts have been indicated by hatching in figure 4, said portions representing the modification to be introduced in the standard controls of the direction indicators. It is to be noted that electromagnets 2, 3 can be also replaced by electric motors (already fitted in the vehicle, or not).
In a further exemplified embodiment, the system is provided only on the driver side.
Finally, the invention provides the presence of a switch for temporarily excluding the operation of the system according to the invention, according to the needing and choice of the driver.
It is also possible modifying the actuation of the direction indicators in such a way that a time retard AT>0 exists between the activation of the direction indicators and the rotation of the mirror, for example by a first release of the control lever L for the direction indicators the latter are activated, and by a second release the rotation of the mirror(s) is activated. In this way, it is always possible choosing if using or not the system according to the invention.
It is well clear that, in the preceding embodiment, the second release of the direction indicator lever can be replaced by a control given by a different device, e.g. a button placed in a different position.
Return of the mirror at the starting position can in any case be automatically obtained as a consequence of deactivation of direction indicators. Among the advantages of the invention, it can first mentioned simplicity of construction and its economic, not possible with the traditional systems.
System according to the invention further has a high functionality, deriving from the fact that the driver has on the mirror, under all the conditions, a not deformed reflected image, allowing moreover the correct evaluation of the distance of vehicles appearing within the field of view.
The above implies a high safety for the driver, having the possibility, when advancing along its lane, of taking no interest of vehicles that are about to of overrunning and that will be temporarily within the blind zone, without being distracted by danger signals or being disturbed by deformed images reflected from prior art mirrors
(only if he should decide making a direction change and properly actuates the direction indicators control he would see appearing in mirrors vehicles occupying the blind zone that are a real danger for a potential collision).
Same safety is obtained in case of entering in a new road, when, after the actuation of the direction indicators, driver would see moving automatically and suitably his field of view, in such a way that it comprises the zone from which other vehicles can arrive.
The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1 . System for automatic control of the visibility field of rear- view mirrors of motor vehicles, said vehicles being provided with one or more mirrors, at least on the driver side of the vehicle, the system comprising rotation means suitable to move at least a rear-view mirror, said system being characterised in that, by the activation of the direction indicators provided on the side of a rear-view mirror (SR) movable by said rotation means, the same rotation means rotates said at least one mirror (SR) in a direction opposite to the curve direction indicated by said direction indicators, of an angle α sufficient to view the blind zone (ZC) of the vehicle, said rotation means bringing automatically back said rear-view mirror (SR) in the starting position when the direction indicators have been deactivated.
2. System according to claim 1 , characterised in that said vehicles are provided with one or more mirrors on the driver side and on the passenger side.
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that rotation of said at least one rear-view mirror (SR) is realised when activating the direction indicators.
4. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that rotation of said at least one rear-view mirror is realised with a time retard AT>0 with respect to the activation of the direction indicators.
5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that said time retard ΔT>0 corresponds to the retard of activation of rotation means of said at least one rear-view mirror (SR), said rotation means being operable only after having actuated the direction indicators.
6. System according to claim 5, characterised in that said rotation means are actuated on the basis of a signal emitted by a proximity sensor of a motor vehicle.
7. System according to claim 5, characterised in that the system comprises a lever (L) controlling the direction indicator suitable to have two successive positions, the first position corresponding to the activation of the direction indicators, the first position corresponding to the activation of said rotation means, control lever (L) automatically returning to the starting position when said vehicle has completed the direction change.
8. System according to one of claims 1 -7, characterised in that it comprises means for excluding said rotation means from the operation of the system.
9. System according to one of claims 1 -8, characterised in that said angle α is between 1 ° and 45 ° .
10. System according to claim 9, characterised in that said angle α is between 5° and 30° .
1 1 . System according to one of claims 1 -10, characterised in that it further comprises adjustment means for said angle α, said means being operable by the vehicle driver.
12. System according to one of claims 1 -1 1 , characterised in that each mirror of said vehicle is controlled by dedicated rotation means.
13. System according to one of claims 1 -12, characterised in that said at least one rear-view mirror is the driver side mirror (SR).
14. System according to one of claims 1 -13, when depending on claim 2, characterised in that said at least one rear-view mirror is the passenger side mirror.
15. System according to one of claims 1 -14, characterised in that said rotation means comprise one or more electromagnets.
16. System according to one of claims 1 -14, characterised in that said rotation means comprise one or more electric motors.
PCT/IT2005/000065 2004-10-19 2005-02-11 System for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles WO2006043293A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITRM20040510 ITRM20040510A1 (en) 2004-10-19 2004-10-19 AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR THE VISIBILITY FIELD OF REAR VIEW MIRRORS.
ITRM2004A000510 2004-10-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006043293A1 true WO2006043293A1 (en) 2006-04-27

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2005/000065 WO2006043293A1 (en) 2004-10-19 2005-02-11 System for automatic control of the visibility field of rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles

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WO (1) WO2006043293A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016139006A1 (en) * 2015-03-03 2016-09-09 Hans Sönnewald Rear view mirror device for a motor vehicle

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1986005148A1 (en) * 1985-03-08 1986-09-12 Miroslaw Janowicz Motor vehicle with changeable exterior mirror
US5097362A (en) * 1989-07-19 1992-03-17 Lynas Robert M Rearview mirror targeting and repositioning system
US5126885A (en) * 1990-06-18 1992-06-30 Westech Innovations Inc. Control device for electrically controlled rearview mirror
US6193380B1 (en) * 1999-04-20 2001-02-27 Raymond A. Jacobs Vehicle blind spot mirror

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1986005148A1 (en) * 1985-03-08 1986-09-12 Miroslaw Janowicz Motor vehicle with changeable exterior mirror
US5097362A (en) * 1989-07-19 1992-03-17 Lynas Robert M Rearview mirror targeting and repositioning system
US5126885A (en) * 1990-06-18 1992-06-30 Westech Innovations Inc. Control device for electrically controlled rearview mirror
US6193380B1 (en) * 1999-04-20 2001-02-27 Raymond A. Jacobs Vehicle blind spot mirror

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016139006A1 (en) * 2015-03-03 2016-09-09 Hans Sönnewald Rear view mirror device for a motor vehicle

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Publication number Publication date
ITRM20040510A1 (en) 2005-01-19

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