WO2014027147A1

WO2014027147A1 - Method and device for increasing, by indirect vision, the field of direct vision of the driver of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2014027147A1
Application number: PCT/FR2013/000213
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stéphane Marteau; Jean-Gabriel MARTEAU; Bruno Galland; Jean-Michel Galland; Hervé GALLAND
Original assignee: Galland, Jean-Claude
Priority date: 2012-08-14
Filing date: 2013-08-09
Publication date: 2014-02-20
Also published as: WO2014027147A8; FR2994551B1; FR2994551A1; WO2014027147A4; EP2948346A1

Abstract

A driver currently does not have reliable means for viewing his surroundings. The invention defines, from the vehicle (1), fields of indirect vision (2), (3) of (4) allowing, on the same scale as direct vision, within the angular limit (5) of the screen (6) at the distance (7) from the ocular points (8), the simultaneous detection of the presence of a vehicle (9) in the blind spot (10) and the monitoring of a vehicle (11) before cutting in ahead of it, or the observation of the vehicles (12) travelling on an oblique road (13) that the driver wishes to join or indeed rear obstacles such as the vehicle (14). At least one fixed or mobile lens (15) disposed laterally in front of said angular points, secured (16) to the rear of the vehicle, installed level with the headlamps, transmits, at the command of the driver via either the indicator lights or the reverse gear, digital images on the screen (6), the use of which can be shared with a GPS device and/or an onboard computer. The invention is intended to be fitted to vehicles that are new and in service.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INDIRECT VISION ENLARGEMENT OF THE DIRECT VISION FIELD OF THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE

AUTOMOBILE The invention deals with the safety of driving by giving drivers new means of detection, monitoring and observation enabling them to avoid collisions during their maneuvers of change of dislocation with a view to exceeding , folding in front of another vehicle they have just passed and entered a road at a crossroads.

The interior and exterior rear-view mirrors were originally intended for rear-view only; the exterior rear-view mirrors, intended to replace the rear-view mirror if the rear-view mirror can not be used, are located on the front fenders of the vehicles.

It has been sought to improve the quality of the images given by the wing mirrors by bringing them closer to the driver, at the top of the windshield at first, on the door then, but at the expense of the vision of the neighboring obstacles of the driver. creating the so-called blind spot, which, with the increase in traffic, has become a major concern.

So we wanted to give the door mirrors a side view of the rear field of view of wing mirrors: it is a mistake for several reasons.

The first is that the images given by the mirror mirrors are symmetrical objects, which is not acceptable in side vision where the direction of movement of vehicles is important and is thus reversed.

The second is that to extend the field of mirrors concave mirrors are used which reduce size and distance: even in compliance with current regulations the driver's vision is distorted and we even meet different visions between the rearview mirror and mirrors exteriors. Finally, the dimensions of the exterior mirrors and their multiplicity for the heavy vehicles make that we launched in a race to gigantism detrimental to aesthetics and especially to the consumption of fuel.

At the intersections, the driver has no means of observation, particularly of vehicles traveling on the oblique transversal road he wishes to use: he is obliged to turn his head and divert his attention from the frontal obstacles; he can try to see the obstacles in the other road thanks to his mirrors by starting to turn and engage on the other road with the risk of collision that it presents and exceeding regulatory stop lines.

S 0 At a time when traffic is becoming more intense, it is incomprehensible that the

Highway Code continues to advocate turning its head to ensure that no user, being overtaken, has entered the blind spot: it is the door open to frontal collisions.

Regarding the drawdown, the Highway Code advises to wait until the vehicle in front of which one wants to move away appears in the rearview mirror, but that is not satisfactory. First, because the ends of the rearview mirror field are often cluttered by the headrests or other obstacles on the rear shelf, and then because the observed vehicle is then at a greater distance than necessary because it is seen circulating in the opposite direction of its actual displacement, because in terms of safety it is recommended to condition an action at the disappearance of an obstacle rather than at its appearance and finally because the observation in the rear view mirror is not safe for the disengagement maneuver because it does not protect the driver from the presence of other vehicles preceding the vehicle in front of which he wants to move away.

Thus, no valid means is available to the driver to monitor the vehicles in front of which he wants to fall back.

The invention aims to overcome these shortcomings by providing the driver, day and night, an enlargement of the direct field of vision ^" by indirect vision of vehicles, whose presence may present a danger, in a field of origin 0 and orientation very specific and limited width but allowing the creation of images the same dimensions and the same meaning as the virtual images of direct vision and sufficient to obtain both the detection of nearby vehicles and their monitoring for a lane change maneuver. The same indirect vision allows the observation of distant vehicles traveling on another road, with also a fair estimate of their speed.

The invention also advantageously seeks to associate the driver's indirect vision and signaling with the other vehicles of his maneuver by providing for the possibility of detection or monitoring only by the use of the turn signal and turn signal indicator lever. before they are lit, which is an incentive to use them.

Finally, also advantageously, to follow the current evolution of the automotive equipment and not to multiply the sources of distraction of the attention of the driver, the invention provides for the use in timeshare of the screen for satellite navigation or on-board computer.

The invention thus proposes a first method of widening by indirect vision the direct field of view of the driver of a motor vehicle in a road lane, these direct and indirect visions being defined from the ocular points of the driver, according to which, in addition to the enlargement obtained by interior and exterior mirrors:

a direction is defined as a common direction as simultaneously referred to at least one side of said vehicle in said common direction of other nearby vehicles, traveling in the neighboring track, said driver wants to detect the presence while their front is at the limit of its direct field of vision, and other distant vehicles, in front of which said driver wants to deport his vehicle, monitored until their fronts reach the distance from the rear of said vehicle from which the offset can be to make, this common direction being slightly inclined with respect to the rear direction of said vehicle,

at the height of the headlights of all the vehicles, a field of widening by indirect vision is defined from an origin of said indirect vision situated on the side of said vehicle in the advanced position with respect to said ocular points, this field having a angular width for producing, at the same distance from said ocular points as the instrument panel, according to the same angular width, real images of indirect vision seen by the driver on the same scale as the virtual images of direct vision of the objects, these images of indirect vision being oriented in the same direction as said direct vision images, whereby the estimation of the distance and speed of said remote vehicles by said driver is identical in said indirect vision and in direct vision, the production these images being momentary, implemented on command of the driver.

In a preferred manner:

- the position of the headlights is the advanced position of the origin of the indirect vision;

from the same origin of the indirect vision situated on the side of said vehicle at the front thereof, define another indirect field of vision in another direction, ahead of said common direction and able to reach in the field of said indirect vision, said limit of the direct field of view, said widening enabling said driver to observe the distant vehicles traveling on any oblique transversal road in which the driver wants to engage his vehicle, and said images of said indirect vision, scale and same meaning as said direct vision images, allowing the driver to estimate the distance and speed of said remote vehicles as if he observed them directly.

Also preferably, it implements said enlargement at the same time as the flashing lights are switched by the driver.

The invention proposes a second method of widening by indirect vision the direct field of view of the driver of a motor vehicle situated in front of an obstacle constraining his rearward movement, these direct and indirect visions being defined at? from the driver's ocular points, according to which, in addition to the widening achieved by interior or exterior mirrors:

a direction is defined in the vertical plane of the axis of the equipped vehicle as the lower part of a motor vehicle constituting said obstacle is aimed at,

at the height of the headlamps of the set of vehicles, a steering field having said direction from an origin situated at the base of the origin of the field of interior rear-view mirror equipped with a plane mirror, this field having an angular width, dimensioning the maximum length allowed by the indirect vision of the real objects situated at a distance from said origin, equal to that of the vision of their real images by the ocular points at the same distance as the dashboard,

from an origin located in the plane of the rear of the equipped vehicle at its intersection with said direction of the driving field, the indirect field of view of the same direction is defined which has an angular width such that its linear width at the distance from its origin to said obstacle covers the entire length of said real objects and with the consequence that said angular width varies with said distance, allowing the production of real images seen by the driver on the same scale as the virtual images of the indirect vision to from the interior rearview mirror equipped with a plane mirror and the direct vision of objects, allowing the driver to estimate the distance of said obstacles as if he was monitoring them in his rear view mirror or directly, the production of these images being momentary, put implemented on command of the driver.

In preferred ways:

the real images are rotated 180 ° with respect to their vertical axis, whereby their vision by said driver is in the same direction as that of the virtual images of indirect vision given by the mirrors.

the implementation of said indirect vision is linked to the engagement by the driver of the reverse gear.

Common to the various processes when the vehicle has at least one satellite navigation system and computer on board:

the production of images of at least said system is common to that of said enlargement field by indirect vision,

- its implementation is alternated with that of the said enlargement,

it is interrupted by the driver during the implementation by him of said widening,

and the sound part of said systems is not concerned with said alternation.

Also common to the various methods control said expansion is vocal and / or tactile. The invention also proposes a vehicle adapted to the implementation of the method according to the invention for the extension by indirect vision of the direct vision of the driver, comprising, at least one side of the vehicle in addition to an outside mirror , at least one objective arranged horizontally at the height of the headlights of said vehicle and in the advanced position relative to the ocular points of the driver, this objective generating digitized images transmitted to a screen placed at the same distance from said ocular points as the table edge, the angular width of the field captured by the lens being equal to the width under which said screen is seen by said angular points,

said objective being oriented horizontally in a direction slightly inclined with respect to the rear direction of the vehicle, common to the detection of nearby vehicles and to the surveillance of distant vehicles in front of which the driver wishes to move away.

Preferably, an implementation of these methods for extending the direct vision of the driver, at least one side of the equipped vehicle, involves one or two objectives, digitized images transmitted to a screen placed within distance from the dashboard points, directed horizontally in the direction common to the detection of nearby vehicles and the surveillance of the vehicles in front of which it wishes to move away and that, intermediate between the previous and the limit of the field of direct vision, allowing the observation of distant vehicles, traveling on a transverse oblique road in which the driver wants to engage his vehicle, and vertically up to the headlights of all vehicles has the following features: in the absence of a second lens the first can be rotatable horizontally and directed in an intermediate direction between the common direction and the limit of the direct field of view,

and in the presence of a second objective they are respectively directed in the common and intermediate directions.

A feature of this first device is that:

the objectives have a weak opening, of the order of 10 °,

and the angle between the common direction and that of the axis facing the rear of the equipped vehicle is also low, of the order of 15 °. Another feature of this first device is that at least one lens has driver controlled opening adjustment means by which said driver modifies said indirect vision width as a function of the distance of the eye points to the dashboard.

A general characteristic of this first device consists in locating at least one objective in the advanced position at the headlights of the equipped vehicle.

A feature of the device with or without the preceding features is distinguished by the fact that:

a lens is connected to one of the flashing light contacts,

- And a rotational stop contact of the control lever of the direction change flashing lights implements a switch allowing, when at rest, to activate the indirect vision in said common direction of the lens and of cut off the power of the flashing lights and, when it is actuated, to activate said lights and to supply the objective in said common direction if it is stationary, or by varying its orientation if it is mobile in making a rotation motor active.

Another feature of the device with or without the above characteristics is distinguished by the fact that:

two lenses are powered alternately by one of the flashing light contacts, and a rotational stop contact of the control lever flashing lights of change of direction-implements-an -interiTuptor-allowing, when it is rest, to implement the indirect vision in the common direction of the first objective and to cut off the power of the flashing lights and, when it is activated, to activate the flashing lights and to feed the second objective instead. of the first and to direct the indirect vision in the intermediate direction.

A last feature of the device with or without the preceding features is distinguished by the fact that:

at least one lens is connected to one of the flashing light contacts,

a rotation stop contact of the control lever of the direction change flashing lights implements a switch allowing, when at rest, to implement the indirect vision in the common orientation of the first objective and of switch off the power of the flashing lights and, when it is activated, or, in the absence of a second objective, supply the first one and either make it active in the common direction when it is stationary, or, when it is mobile, to make it active in an intermediate direction between the previous and the limit of the direct field of view by also making active a rotation motor, or to feed the second objective in place of the first and thus guide the vision indirect in the intermediate direction,

and another contact is arranged on the lever of the flashing lights controlling another switch that interrupts and restarts the operation of flashing lights.

The invention also proposes a vehicle adapted to the implementation of the method according to the invention for the extension by indirect vision of the direct vision of the driver having on its rear side, in addition to the mirrors, a lens arranged horizontally at the height of the headlights of said equipped vehicle,

the focal length of said objective being variable and determined by a computer, as a function of the distance between the rear of the equipped vehicle and said obstacle,

this last distance being measured by a range finder,

this objective generating digitized images, the width of a screen placed at the same distance from the ocular points of the driver as the dashboard, of real objects located on the lower front part of a vehicle constituting said obstacle, in the linear width of the leading field at a given distance from its origin,

the dimension of the digitized images being equal to the dimension of the virtual images of a direct vision through the screen from the ocular points.

Preferably, an example of implementation of this method according to the invention provides that said computer records the distance measured by said rangefinder and makes it appear superimposed digitized images transmitted to the screen.

A variant of the previous example of implementation of the method consists in equipping said rear portion with at least two range finders, arranged on each side of said rangefinder associated with said objective and at the same height as this one,

- which rangefinders measure the distances separating them from the said rear obstacle,

i - transmit these measurements to the calculator, which computer selects the smallest of these measurements and the distance measured by said rangefinder associated with the objective,

- and makes it appear superimposed digitized images transmitted on the screen.

Sixteen figures give an illustration of the methods and devices according to the invention.

The following description is given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of vehicles, roads and their routes;

Figure 2 is a top view of the equipped vehicle;

Figure 3 is a partial front view of the equipped vehicle;

Figure 4 is a front side view of the equipped vehicle;

Figure 5 reproduces in full size the images on the screen;

Figure 6 shows the direct view of a nearby vehicle;

Figure 7 shows the single-line diagram of a dual lens device;

Figure 8 shows the single-line diagram of a device with a rotating lens;

Figure 9 is an optical and electrical diagram of a lens and the screen;

Figure 10 is an optical schematic of an objective;

Figure 11 is a top view of two vehicles, one behind the other;

Figure 12 is an optical and electrical diagram of the rear lens;

Figure 13 is a side view of two vehicles, one behind the other;

Figure 14 is a partial full-size view of the interior mirror;

Fig. 15 is a full-size view of an image on the screen;

Figure 16 shows the direct view of a rear vehicle.

In FIG. 1, the equipped vehicle 4 is represented in the path taken 5 by superimposing two traffic cases: in the first circulate in the next lane 8 a near vehicle 7 and a vehicle 11 at a distance allowing a change of lane and in the second is stopped at the intersection with an oblique transversal road 23, in which it wants to engage and where a distant vehicle 22 circulates.

Various fields are represented:

- that of an outside rear-view mirror, of origin 41, whose angle 37 is equal to that of the field of vision of a class III rear-view mirror fixed by Directive 70/156 / EEC and does not allow the detection of said vehicle 7 at the limit 10 of the direct field of view 2 of the driver represented by its two ocular points 3;

- that of the rear view mirror, of origin 42 and whose angle 38 is represented substantially greater than that of the field of view of a mirror of class I of the Directive to be able, in accordance with the Highway Code, to allow the driver to see the assembly of said vehicle 11 located at a normal distance 13 between its front 12 and the rear 14 of said vehicle 4 allowing a folding maneuver;

that of indirect vision 1, of origin 15, of width 16, oriented in the so-called common direction 6 inclined by the angle 46 on the rear direction of the axis 27 of said equipped vehicle 4, which encompasses both the rear of said vehicle 7, the front 9 has not crossed said limit 10 of said direct vision 2, and said front 12 of said vehicle 11 in limit position of folding, and makes it very clear that any vehicle, located in these two extreme positions and in intermediate positions between them, can not escape the widening of the direct vision of the driver, main object of the patent;

- one for indirect vision 1, of the same origin 15 and of the same width 16 and direction 21 intermediate said common direction 6 and said boundary 10 of the direct vision field 2 complementary to the previous one, but no less important ^for a driving automobile, which allows to observe at any distance said vehicles 22 traveling on said oblique transverse road 23 in which said equipped vehicle 4 wants to engage and which, escaping said direct field of view 2, would require, in the absence of device the invention, the driver to turn his head or rotate his vehicle to try to see in his rear view mirrors vehicles traveling in said track 23, which implies exceeding the stop lines or even overflow on the right of way of the road, all dangerous maneuvers and which are avoided safely thanks to the invention. In this same figure we see the advantage of choosing, in an advantageous way, the origin

15 from the field of enlargement of the direct vision and the position of the objectives as far forward as possible. Indeed, if the origin was always in front of the ocular points 3 of the driver but only at the rear view mirror 39, the angle 40, necessary to cover the same field, would be greater than the angle 16 which allows the indirect vision to the same scale as the direct vision, which is essential. On the other hand, the origins 41 and 42 of the fields of the exterior and interior mirrors being located in front of them, if said origin of said enlargement field 1 is also in front, the proximity of the three origins allows a great similarity images of indirect vision, both virtual and real.

We can think that it pushes a little far the search for ergonomics; in fact, the ideal for the driver would be to have mirrors that return to him scale-scale images, so using flat mirrors, associated with images according to the invention always in full size and at the same distance .

A major reason for locating said origin of said enlargement field 1 in front of said equipped vehicle 4 is as follows: the observation of all said vehicles 22, even very far apart, is obtained when the rear boundary of said field 1 in said intermediate direction 21 and the line 43 bordering said oblique road 23, side of said path taken, coincide as shown in the figure; this implies that said origin 15 is positioned on the extension of said line 43 and, for said equipped vehicle 4 does not impinge on the roadway of said oblique road 23, it is imperative that said origin 15 is located at the front said vehicle 4.

It should be noted that, given the current evolution of the improvement of the driver's vision which is to have headlights on permanently, the integration of the objectives according to the invention within front optics, more and more important vehicles, does not pose any problem of implantation.

Finally we see that the solution of the problem of the widening of the direct vision can be largely found with objectives of small aperture to cover said fields 16, of the order of 15 °, and in said orientation 6 very inclined rearwardly, at about 15 to 20 degrees from said axis 47 of said equipped vehicle 4 but that it can not simultaneously carry over the entire intermediate field between said field 8 common to the detection and monitoring of said vehicles 7, 1 1 and those in position intermediate between these extreme positions and the direct field of view 2, which extends over nearly 70 °.

In this zone the driver's needs being essentially the observation of said remote vehicles 22, traveling on said oblique transversal roads 23 in

which the driver wants to engage his vehicle, there is no need to try to cover the entire field: with a said intermediate orientation 21 and a slight rotation of said equipped vehicle can simply solve the problem, but the invention proposes a flawless solution with an objective, always of small opening of the order of 15 ° but being able to turn about 55 ° to orient itself in the direction of any so-called

10 oblique transverse road 23.

Finally, note the simplicity and economy of the two-lens device compared to the one with a mobile lens: the first objective aimed primarily at close-range vehicles and the second for distant vehicles, their autofocusing is greatly simplified and useless. given their small opening.

In FIG. 2 are detailed, on each side of the equipped vehicle 4, three of the four fields of indirect vision available to the driver represented in FIG.

the statutory width width 38 of outside rearview mirror 39 whose origin is at 44 in the case of use of flat mirrors;

^ - the regulatory width field 40 of interior rearview mirror 41 whose origin is at 45 for a plane mirror;

the indirect field of view 1 of widening of the direct vision of the same width 16, both in its outer direction part 6 from its origin 15, and in its interior part between the ocular points 3 and the screen 28 to the same distance 17 Ί. that the scoreboard 18.

We note the proximity of the origins 15, 44 and 45 which allows the driver to have a good impression of continuity when moving from one equipment to another.

Note however that to cover the entire regulatory field with flat mirrors, the only ones that allow images viewed on the same scale as the objects, 30 the exterior mirrors have abnormal dimensions: it may still be necessary to bring the eyepieces closer to the left exterior mirror and reduce the field for the right mirror, which should be remembered as not required.

FIG. 3 shows, from the front, the position of the objective 15 of axis 6 at the height 22 of all the headlights and close to that 69 of the vehicle 4.

FIG. 4 completes this view on the side with a vertical width 68 in full size of the field of the lens 15, which width is in the same proportion with its horizontal width as the respective dimensions of the image-receiving screen. Laterally the lens has been positioned at the edge of the headlight block 69 which is now very enveloping and often has laterally the flashing light that the objective should not hide. This forces the lens to move slightly towards the rear of the vehicle, without losing interest in being in the forward position.

Figure 5 is a full-size representation of the screen 28, whether it is specific to the invention or shared with the GPS or the onboard computer.

The real image 19 of the two vehicles 7 and 11 is seen in full scale at the distance from the dashboard, in the right direction, and the headlights of the one and the other vehicle are seen at the same height. mid-height of the screen, enlargement taking place at their height.

FIG. 6 shows in real size the virtual image 20, in direct vision of the driver, of the same vehicle once entered into the direct field of vision and traveling in the same direction 21.

We can see the continuity that is obtained with the invention and which fully satisfies the driver's need for peace of mind, whereas today, with the attempts to pass directly from the rearview to the frontal vision, we have images which worry that they are not superimposed either in size, distance, or sense.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, very simplified single-line diagrams have been drawn, for which, for a better understanding, electric sources and converters, monitors, calculators which image the screen from the lenses have not been represented. , GPS and trip computer.

FIG. 7 corresponds to a device with two objectives 26 and 27, respectively oriented in the common direction 6 and the intermediate direction 23, the first 26 of which is implemented when the contact 29 of the lever 33 of the control of the direction change flashing lights 30, in its rotation 32 and before reaching the stop contact 31, by the inverter 34 which, in its rest position, cuts off the supply of said flashing lights 30,

and whose second 27 is implemented when said lever 33 comes into abutment and connects said abutment contact 31 which actuates said inverter 34 which connects both said second lens 27 and said flashing lights 30.

This device according to the invention is interesting for two reasons: firstly the implementation of the detection and monitoring in said common direction 6 of nearby vehicles is effected without implementation of said flashing lights 30, therefore without embarrassment for the 0 drivers of these vehicles as the said control lever 33 is not abutted, while the implementation of the remote vehicle observation in said intermediate direction 23 causes the operation of flashing lights but it is not a hindrance for the drivers of these vehicles, and secondly the installation of the device according to the invention requires no additional equipment visible, the abutment contacts 31 being concealed under the steering wheel.

FIG. 8 illustrates a device according to the invention with an objective 26 rotatable from the common direction 6 and taking an intermediate direction 23 by the action of the motor 35 which is implemented in one direction to direct or maintain said objective 26 in said direction 6 by the contact 29 actuated by rotation 32 of the lever 33 of 0 order ^~ change flashing lights towards 30 when-the-inverter 34 in the rest position, implemented in the opposite direction to orient said objective 26 in a said intermediate direction 23 when the inverter 34 is implemented by the stop contact 31 of said lever 33 and locked in said intermediate direction 23 when said lever 33 is returned to the rest position and said contact 29 deactivated, said flashing lights 30 25 being actuated by said lever 33 only if the contact 36 which it has is actuated and closes the contact 37.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown the objective 15 covering the maximum width of the field 16 in the direction 6 composed of a convergent lens 70, which gives an image 71 of the object 72, contiguous to a divergent lens 73 which gives this intermediate image 71 a final image 74 always inverted, which impresses the plate photovoltaic 75 associated with a digital zoom 76 to reduce the opening of the objective at the request of the driver.

FIG. 10 represents, in the lens 15, its field of maximum angular width 16 and of direction 6 and the real object 72 which simulates the bodies of the close vehicles observed in the neighboring queue from the rear end point 77 to the final point before 78. This object is distant for the objective 15 and intermediate focusing makes it possible to obtain a satisfactory digital image from one extreme to the other of the object.

In parallel there is shown the same direction field 6 and width 16 observed by the ocular points 3 which target the screen 28 at a distance 17, that between the driver and the dashboard on which is positioned the screen.

The actual digital image, of a number of pixels, given by the objective 15 is transformed by the converter 79 into digital data transmitted, when the contact 29 is closed, on the screen 28 to give a digital real image of the same number of picsels but of dimension such that it covers the width of the screen and that the driver, materialized by its ocular points 3, can imagine, through the screen 28, the virtual image 80 identical to the real object 72.

Thus the driver has the impression of looking directly at the objects from the point at the front of the vehicle where the lens 15 is located, but between the lens 15 and the screen 28 the actual image must be not only enlarged but also overturned so that the driver gets on his screen the true and true image sought.

When the position of the conductor is such that the distance of its angular points on the screen has a value 81 substantially greater than the distance 17 corresponding to the maximum angular field width 16, this is reduced to the value 82 of where a truncated vision of the said image 80.

In order for the driver at the ocular points farther from the screen to be able to see on the screen these images truncated at the same scale as the objects, he must act on the digital zoom 76 which, by decreasing the angular width of the field of the objective , increases the size of its virtual images.

In the top view of the vehicles 4 and 53, the origins 45 and 58 of the fields 40 of the interior rearview mirror 41 and the driving field of the vehicle are superimposed. direction 47 in the vertical plane 55 and of angular width 16 equal to that of the field of view of the screen 28 from the ocular points 3.

The indirect field of vision 48 of the lens 61 has a variable angular width 62 with the distance 63 between the rear 14 of the vehicle 4 and the lower front 56 of the vehicle 53 because it has, at this distance, the same linear width 59 as the control field 57 at the distance 60 from its origin.

This angular width is 180 ° when the two vehicles are in contact; it tends to merge with that of the steering field when said distance increases.

It is given by the computer using a simple equation obtained by equalizing the half dimension of the obstacle (56) in the guiding fields and indirect vision:

angle (48) = 2 x arctg [(length (60) / length (63)) x tg (angle (16) / 2)]

FIG. 12 represents the objective 61, the opening of which is regulated by the optical zoom schematically at 64, actuated by the servomotor 83 itself controlled by the computer 65 which receives the distance data from the obstacle 53 of the rangefinders 66 and 67.

When the driver passes the reverse 84 it feeds the circuit, allowing the screen to receive the images of the lens 61 processed by the converter 79 with or without overprinting the minimum distance of the obstacle determined by the computer.

FIG. 13 shows on the side of a vehicle 4, the original 40-de-xtroye field 41, which covers only the upper part of the vehicle 53 in front of which it parks, its original driving field 57, in line with the preceding one, with axis 54 at height 22 of the headlights and with vertical angular width 68 in the same ratio with its horizontal width 16 as that of the width and height of the screen 28 and its field of view. rear indirect vision 48 obtained through the lens 61, placed on the rear 14 of the vehicle 4 at its intersection with the axis 54 and whose angular width 62 can cover the same length at the front 56 of the vehicle 53 that the managerial field 57.

Figure 14 is a full-size portion of an interior mirror 41 in which it is seen in full size, the upper part of the vehicle 53, not allowing the driver to see the lower part which is an obstacle for him. FIG. 15, on the contrary, is that of a full-size screen 28 giving a faithful image of the same vehicle 53 whose lower part 56 is perfectly visible, allowing the driver to locate the obstacle and, moreover, having a small window indicating the distance of the part closest to its rear 14 of the vehicle 53 in front of which it parks.

Thanks to the steering field defined by the invention the driver can observe the rear obstacles using a lens located at the rear of the vehicle as if it was at the front of the vehicle at the same point as the one to from which he observes in his rear view mirror.

FIG. 16 is a full-size view of the vehicle 53 from the common origin of the fields of the interior rearview mirror 41 of the vehicle 4 and of its driving field 57, reproduced partially, but faithfully, in the interior rearview mirror (FIG. 14) and FIG. edge screen (figure 15).

All these figures highlight the simplicity of the installation adaptable to existing equipment. The invention can be applied both to new vehicles and vehicles already in use.

For new vehicles the technology is proven with the reversing radars that already equip high-end vehicles: there is no doubt that the interest in driving comfort and safety augurs an important development on new vehicles. all price categories.

With regard to the vehicles in use on which we add today more and more GPS screens, there is no doubt also that the invention will be easy to implement.

It is quite obvious that the present invention has been described purely for explanatory purposes and is in no way limiting and that any modification may be made to it, particularly with regard to technical equivalents, without departing from its scope.

Claims

1. Method for widening by indirect vision (1) the field of direct vision (2) of the driver of a motor vehicle (4) in a road lane (5), these direct and indirect visions being defined from of the driver's eye points, according to which, in addition to the widening obtained by interior or exterior mirrors:

a direction called common direction (6) is defined such that other nearby vehicles (7) traveling in the neighboring lane are simultaneously aimed at at least one side of said vehicle (4) in said common direction (6). (8), whose presence said driver wants to detect while their front (9) is at the limit (10) of his said direct field of vision (2), and other distant vehicles (11), in front of which said driver wants to shift its vehicle, monitored until their fronts (12) reach the distance (13) from the rear (14) of said vehicle (4) from which the shift can be carried out, this common direction 15 ( 6) being slightly inclined relative to the rear direction of said vehicle (4): we define, at the height (22) of the headlights of all the vehicles, a field of enlargement by indirect vision of common direction (6) from an origin (15) of said indirect vision (1) located on the side of said vehicle (4) in an advanced position relative to said eye points (3), this field having an angular width (16) allowing the production, at the same distance (17) from said eye points (3) as the dashboard, according to the same angular width (16), of real images (19) of said indirect vision (1) seen by the driver at the same scale as the visual images (20) of direct vision of the objects, these images (19) of indirect vision (1) being oriented in the same direction (21) as said images (20) of direct vision, whereby the estimation of the distance and the speed of said distant vehicles (11) by said driver is identical in said indirect vision (1) and in direct vision, the production of these images being momentary, implemented on command from the driver.

2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the advanced position of the origin of indirect vision is located at the level of the headlights of said vehicle.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that:

- we define, from said origin (15) of the indirect vision (1) located on the side of said vehicle (4) at the front of it, another field of indirect vision in another direction (23) , in front of said common direction (6) and capable of causing the field of said indirect vision (1) to reach said limit (10) of the direct field of vision (2), said enlargement allowing said driver to observe distant vehicles (24 ) traveling on any oblique transverse road (25) in which the driver wants to engage his vehicle, and said images (19) of said indirect vision (1), on the same scale and same direction (21) as said images (20) of direct vision, allowing the driver to estimate the distance and speed of said distant vehicles (24) as if observing them directly.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the implementation of said widening is linked to that of the direction change flashing lights by the driver.

5. Method for widening by indirect vision (48) the field of direct vision (2) of the driver of a motor vehicle (4) located in front of an obstacle (53) constraining his movement towards the rear, these direct and indirect visions being defined from the driver's eye points, according to which, in addition to the widening obtained by interior or exterior mirrors:

a direction (54) is defined in the vertical plane (55) of the axis (47) of said vehicle (4) such that the lower part (56) of said obstacle (53) consisting of a motor vehicle is aimed,

we define, at the height (22) of the headlights of all the vehicles, a directing field (57) of said direction (54) from an origin (58) located directly above the origin (45) of the field (40) of the interior rearview mirror (41) equipped with a plane mirror, this field having an angular width (16), dimensioning the maximum length (59) authorized by the indirect vision (48) of real objects located at the distance (60) of said origin (58), equal to that of the vision of their real images (19) by the eye points (3) at the same distance (17) as the dashboard,

we define, from an origin (61), located in the plane of the rear (14) of the vehicle (4) at its intersection with said direction (54) of the director field, the field of indirect vision (48) of direction (54) of angular width (62) such that its linear width at the distance (63) from its origin (61) of said obstacle (53) covers the entire length of said real objects (59) and with as a result of which said angular width (62) varies with said distance (63), allowing the production of said real images (19) seen by the driver at the same scale as the virtual images () of indirect vision (40) from of the interior rearview mirror with a plane mirror and (20) the direct vision of objects, allowing the driver to estimate the distance of said obstacles (53) as if he were observing them in his interior rearview mirror or directly, the production of these images being momentary , implemented on command from the driver.

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6. Method according to claim 5 characterized in that said real images (19) undergo a rotation of 180° relative to their vertical axis whereby their vision by said conductor takes place in the same direction as that of the virtual images of indirect vision given by the mirrors.

7. Method according to any one of claims 5 and 6 characterized in that the implementation 1 of said indirect vision (48) is linked to the engagement by the driver of reverse gear.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 according to which, the vehicle having at least one satellite navigation and on-board computer system:

the production of images of at least said system is common to that of said field 20 of enlargement by indirect vision,

its implementation alternates with that of said enlargement,

it is interrupted by the driver when he implements said widening,

and the phonic part of said systems is not affected by said alternation.

25 9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the command for implementing said widening is vocal and/or tactile.

10. Vehicle adapted to the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 8 to 9 aimed at widening by indirect vision (1) of the direct vision of the driver, comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle (4), in addition to an exterior mirror, at least one lens (26, 27) arranged horizontally at the height of the headlights of said equipped vehicle (4) in an advanced position relative to said eye points (3), this objective generating digitized images transmitted to a screen (28) placed at the same distance from the eye points (3) of the driver as the table edge (18), the width of the field captured by the lens being equal to the angular width under which said screen is seen by the eye points,

-said objective (26) being oriented horizontally in a direction (6) slightly inclined relative to the rear direction of the vehicle, common to the detection of nearby vehicles (7) and the monitoring of distant vehicles (1 1) in front of which the driver wants to deviate.

10 11. Vehicle according to claim 10 in which said objective (26) is movable in rotation horizontally from said common direction (6) to reach in front of said slightly inclined direction (6) an intermediate direction (23) between this slightly inclined direction (6) and the limit of the driver's direct field of vision (2), or is supplemented by a complementary lens (27) oriented horizontally in said direction

15 intermediate (23), arranged horizontally at the height of the headlights of said equipped vehicle (4) in an advanced position relative to said eye points (3), this objective generating digitized images transmitted to a screen (28) placed at the same distance from the driver's eye points (3) as the dashboard (18), the angular width of the field captured by the lens being equal to the angular width under which said screen is seen by the

20 eye points.

12. Vehicle according to claim 10 or claim 1 1 characterized in that:

said objectives have a small aperture, of the order of 10°,

and the angle (26) between said common direction (6) and that (27) of the axis oriented towards the rear of said equipped vehicle (4) is also small, of the order of 15°.

13. Vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 15 in which at least one lens (26, 27) is equipped with an aperture adjustment device (64) controlled by the driver by means of which said driver modifies said angular width (16) of indirect vision as a function of the distance of the eye points (3) from the dashboard. .

14. Vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which at least

30 a lens (26, 27) is located in an advanced position at the level of the front headlights of the vehicle (4).

15. Vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 14 characterized in that:

- said at least one objective (26) is connected to one of the contacts (29) of flashing lights (30),

- and a rotation stop contact (31) (32) of the lever (33) for controlling the direction change flashing lights (30) implements a switch (34) allowing, when it is at rest, to make activates said indirect vision (1) in said common direction (6) of the lens (26) and to cut off the power to the flashing lights (30) and, when activated, to activate said lights (30) and to power the objective (26) either in î () said common direction (6), if it is fixed, or by varying its orientation, if it is mobile, by activating the rotation motor (35) .

16. Vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 14 characterized in that:

- two said objectives (26) and (27) are powered alternately by one of the contacts (30) of flashing lights (31),

1 5 - and a rotation stop contact (32) (33) of the lever (34) for controlling the direction change flashing lights (31) implements a switch (35) allowing, when at rest, to implement said indirect vision (1) in said common direction (6) of the objective (26) and to cut off the power supply to said flashing lights (31) and, when activated, to activate said lights ( 31) and to power said objective (27), instead of

27) place the Objective (26), and orient said indirect vision (X) in said intermediate direction (23).

17. Vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 14 characterized in that:

- at least one said objective (26) and (27) is connected to one of the contacts (29) of flashing lights (30),

25 - a rotation stop contact (31) (32) of the lever (33) for controlling the direction change flashing lights (30) implements a switch (34) allowing, when it is at rest, to activate implements the indirect vision (1) in the said common direction (6) of the objective (26) and, when it is activated, or, in the absence of a second objective (27), to power the objective (26) and either make it active in said common direction (6), when it is fixed, or, when it is mobile, make it active in one direction (23) intermediate between the previous one and the limit (10) of the direct field of vision (2) by also making the rotation motor (35) active, or powering said second objective (27), in place of the objective ( 26), and thus orienting said indirect vision (1) in said intermediate direction (23),

- and another contact (36) is arranged on said lever (32) controlling another switch (37) which makes it possible to interrupt and restart the operation of said flashing lights (31).

18. Vehicle adapted to the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 aimed at widening by indirect vision (48) the direct vision of the driver, comprising, in the plane of the rear (14) of the vehicle (4), in addition to the mirrors, a lens (61) arranged horizontally at the height of the headlights of said equipped vehicle (4) whose opening is variable and determined by the computer (65), depending on the distance (63), between said rear (14) of the equipped vehicle (4) and the lower front (56) of a vehicle forming an obstacle (53) to movement towards the rear of the equipped vehicle, measured by the telemeter ( 66), this objective generating digitized images, of the width of a screen (28) placed at the same distance from the eye points (3) of the driver as the dashboard (18), of real objects (59) located on said lower front part (56) of said vehicle forming an obstacle, in the linear width of the director field (57) at the distance (63) from its origin (61), the dimension of the real images of the real objects given by

the screen from the eye points.

19. Vehicle according to claim 18 wherein the computer (65) records said distance (63) measured by the telemeter (66) and displays it superimposed on the digitized images transmitted to the screen.

25 20. Vehicle according to claim 19 in which said rear part (14) is equipped with at least two telemeters (67), arranged on each side of said telemeter (66) and at the same height (22) as the latter, which measure the distances which separate them from the rear obstacle (53) and transmit them to said computer (65), which selects the smallest of these said distances and the said distance (63) and makes it appear superimposed on the images

30 scans transmitted to the screen.