Patent ID: 9409518
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B60R

Claim Text:
1. A system for enabling a driver of a vehicle to visibly observe objects located in a blind spot, the system comprising: a mirror assembly mounted to the vehicle and configured to be electronically adjustable; a first sensor associated with the vehicle and configured to detect a location of an object with respect to the vehicle and to generate a first signal indicative of the location of the object; a second sensor associated with the mirror assembly and configured to detect an orientation of a reflective surface of the mirror assembly and to generate a second signal indicative of the orientation of the reflective surface; and a processor communicatively coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and operatively coupled with the mirror assembly, the processor configured to obtain the first signal from the first sensor, to obtain the second signal from the second sensor, to determine a field of view of the driver based on the orientation of the reflective surface, to determine whether the object falls within the field of view based on the location of the object, to command the mirror assembly to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface such that the object enters the field of view when the processor determines that the object falls outside of the field of view, and to command the mirror assembly to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface by an amount that varies in a manner that directly corresponds with the location of the object within the blind spot such that the reflective surface moves as minimally as necessary to cause a portion of the object to enter the field of view, the portion of the object being less than an entirety of the object.