WO2012172492A1

WO2012172492A1 - System to adjust a vehicle's mirrors automatically

Info

Publication number: WO2012172492A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/052977
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aharon Krishevsky
Original assignee: Aharon Krishevsky
Priority date: 2011-06-13
Filing date: 2012-06-13
Publication date: 2012-12-20
Also published as: IL213504A0

Abstract

A system for adjusting a vehicle's mirrors to the eyes of a specific driver, the system comprising: at least two cameras located at a fixed distance from each other and at known positions within the vehicle's three dimensional space; an image processing system, for identifying the position of the driver's eyes through each of the cameras! a processor for determining: the position of the driver's eyes within the vehicle's three dimensional space relative to the cameras and previous knowledge of the precise location of the cameras within the vehicle's three dimensional space; a processor for calculating the adjustment angles for each mirror in the vehicle's three dimensional space and thereby ensure that in the position determined for the driver's eyes, the driver shall be able to see in a predetermined direction through the mirror; and a system of motors for each of the mirrors for the purposes of their adjustment.

Description

SYSTEM TO ADJUST A VEHICLE'S MIRRORS

AUTOMATICALLY

Field of the Invention

This invention refers to a system used to adjust a vehicle's mirrors automatically. Specifically, this invention refers to a system used to adjust a vehicle's mirrors automatically, without any manual input.

Background of the Invention

When a driver enters a vehicle before setting out on a journey and someone else has driven the vehicle beforehand, or when a driver first gets into a hired vehicle he or she will usually need to adjust all three rear view mirrors in the vehicle and set them to a position suitable for the location of the new driver's eyes within the vehicle's internal space. Each driver has a different, preferred distance and height setting relative to the position of the steering wheel. Given that the re positioning of the internal rear view mirror and the two external wing mirrors takes time and requires spatial and line views during the adjustment process, to ensure that the driver's field of vision will be efficient and at an optimal level, the efficient and accurate adjustment of the mirrors will have a direct effect on overall road safety. The purpose of this invention is to provide automatic adjustment of the vehicle's mirrors for each individual driver, including any driver who has not previously driven the specific vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention For the purposes of this document, the "vehicle's three dimensional space" shall be a system of axes (for instance^' An orthogonal system) projected onto the vehicle. For example, the center of a system of axes can be a point at the center of the internal rear view mirror. The X axis can be the width axis; the Y axis can be the length axis and the Z axis can be the vertical axis.

This invention refers to a system capable of adjusting the vehicle's mirrors automatically and comprises at least two cameras (for example: CCD cameras) located at a predetermined distance from each other and linked to a picture processing system, with the ability to identify the position of the driver's eyes within the vehicle's three dimensional space. Assuming that each of the vehicle's mirrors in that three dimensional space is known; from the moment that the position of the driver's eyes in that three dimensional space is also known, it shall be possible to adjust each of the vehicle's three mirrors to the position customarily used for each of those mirrors. For example, that position shall be the imaginary point at infinity on the straight line parallel to the direction in which the vehicle is travelling.

The mirror adjustment motors can be electrically powered servo motors. Each mirror must be fitted with its own motor, which will be able to control the adjustment of the mirror within a range of angles. Therefore, they will be able to adjust the mirrors for users with a range of personal data. To calibrate the system, or in other words, to determine the position of the mirrors within the vehicle's three dimensional space and the line of sight taken by the driver's eyes when looking into any specific mirror, etc, it shall be possible to use, for instance, specific points within the vehicle's three dimensional space. For example: It shall be possible to locate such a specific point at the center of the rear window and that point shall be used to calculate the angle adjustment for the wing mirror, relative to the eyes of the driver, located a another fixed point within the vehicle's three dimeneional space. The adjustment process can be performed entirely automatically.

To perform the calculations, it shall be possible to use a miniature processing unit, because the actual calculating power required is minimal. Identification of the position of the driver's eyes within the vehicle's three clunensional space can be carried out by actually identifying the driver's eyes using a picture processing tool or alternatively, by identifying the driver's face and using that information to determine the position of the driver's eyes. Human, face recognition is a well known process and is in common use with cameras.

In accordance with one preferred configuration for this invention, the mirror adjustment process shall be in accordance with the following series of stepa^

The process shall begin by zeroing the position of the internal rear view mirror to infinity on the line parallel to the direction in which the vehicle travels. To expedite that purpose it shall be possible to use a known point fixed to the vehicle's rear window.

A similar process shall be used to zero all the vehicle's mirrors.

After zeroing the position of the internal rear view mirror, the positions for the two cameras on the mirror within the vehicle's three dimensional space will also be known. The cameras will then be used to find the precise location of the driver's eyes. In accordance with the angle between the driver's eyes and the cameras, it shall be possible to calculate the exact location of the driver's eyes within the vehicle's three dimensional space. Of course, it shall be possible to position the cameras elsewhere and not only on the vehicle's internal rear view mirror.

After the calculation of the position of the driver's eyes in the vehicle's three dimensional space, using previous knowledge of the precise position of the vehicle's wing mirrors, all the mirrors shall be adjusted to the position to which they should be adjusted, relative to the point (x,y,z) in the vehicle's three dimensional space. The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings^

Figure 1 is an isometric drawing illustrating the automatic adjustment system for a vehicle's mirrors according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention.

Figure 2 is an isometric drawing illustrating the dismantled parts of the automatic mirror adjustment system according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention.

Figure 3 is a two dimensional drawing illustrating a view of the first stage in the calculation that will enable the adjustment of a mirror according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention.

Figure 4 is a two dimensional drawing illustrating the adjustment of the vehicle's internal rear view mirror according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention.

Figure 5 is a two dimensional drawing illustrating the adjustment of the vehicle's external wing mirrors according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Detailed Description of refer ed JSmbodiments

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. igure 1 is an isometric drawing: illustrating the automatic adjustment system for a vehicle's mirrors according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention. A system for the automatic adjustment of the vehicle's mirrors has been installed in the vehicle (10). The system adjusts the vehicle's internal rear view mirror (12) and the vehicle's external wing mirrors (18 and 20). The system is assisted by the two cameras (14 and 16) attached to the housing for the internal rear view mirror (12). The cameras are positioned one on each side of the mirror. Camera (16) is positioned to the right and camera (14) is positioned to the left.

The housing for the vehicle's internal rear view mirror holds the right camera (16) and the left camera (14) and also contains an internal electronic circuit, a micro processor component (28), which performs the angle and distance calculations, wiring to provide electrical power input and wiring to send adjustment instructions to the external mirrors.

All the components of this system are covered by the mirror (12) serving as the vehicle's internal rear view mirror.

Figure 3 is a two dimensional drawing illustrating a view of the first stage in the calculation that enables the adjustment of a mirror according to a preferred embodiment for the present invention.

The first step taken when the driver (32) sits in the vehicle (10): The right vehicle camera (16) and the left vehicle camera (14) photograph the center of the driver's (32) eye (34). That photograph creates an imaginary triangle between camera (14), camera (16), and the driver's eye (34). The triangle is used as the basis for the calculation of the angle and the distance between the center of the mirror (12) and the driver's (32) eye (34). Measuring the distance between the driver's eye (34) and the center of the mirror (12) enables the system to know the driver's exact position relative to the mirrors (12, 18, and 20), for the purposes of calculating the angle to which the mirrors must be adjusted.

To adjust the central mirror (12) the cameras (14 and 16) photograph a sticker (38) attached to the center of the vehicle's rear window. The sticker (38) serves as a reference point on which the cameras (14 and 16) can focus. When the cameras are focused on the reference point, another imaginary triangle (40) is created, which in turn is used to calculate the angle for the internal rear view mirror (12) relative to the center of the rear window. When the system knows the angle between the center of the rear window (38) and the rear view mirror (12) and the angle between the driver's eye (34) and the rear view mirror (12), the system can then calculate an average of those two angles, which will create a line of sight (36) between the driver's eye (34) and the center of the rear window (38).

To facilitate the adjustment of the external, mirrors, the system uses a mathematical calculation to create another imaginary triangle, employing the known distance (30) between the driver's eye and the center of the rear view mirror (12). Another known fact is the distance between the rear view mirror (12) and the external mirrors (42). The distance (44) between the driver's eye and the external mirror is not known and will be calculated by the system, after it has identified the length of the side of the triangle (44), following which the system will use that information to calculate the angle of adjustment for the external wing mirror, which will create the appropriate line of sight (46). The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above descriptio in any form. Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used, for facilitating- the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.

Claims

What is claimed is- CLAIMS

1. A method for the automatic adjustment of the vehicle's mirrors to the eyes of any specific driver, the method comprises the steps o£

a. determining the precise location of the driver's eyes within the vehicle's three dimensional space.

b. based on the known position of the driver's eyes in the vehicle's three dimensional apace, adjusting each of the mirrors to ensure that the view visible h a mirror from the position of the driver's eyes will be in the predetermined direction set for that mirror.

2. A system for the adjustment of a vehicle's mirrors to the eyes of a specific driver, the system comprising-

- at least two cameras located at a fixed distance from each other and at known positions within the vehicle's three dimensional space;

- n image processing system, for identifying the position of the driver's eyes through each of the cameras;

- a processor for determining the position o£ the driver's eyes within the vehicle's three dimensional space relative to the cameras and previous knowledge of the precise location of the cameras within the vehicle's three dimensional space!

a proceesor for calculating the adjustment angles for each mirror in the vehicle's three dimensional space and thereby ensure that in the position determined for the driver's eyes, the driver shall be able to see in a predetermined direction through the mirrori and

a system of motors for each of the mirrors for the purposes of their adjustment.