Patent ID: 6422706
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B60R,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for orienting an optical device mounted on a vehicle to provide a critical field of view to a vehicle driver, said optical device having an obverse surface with a viewing surface viewed by the vehicle driver, and a reverse surface with respect to the vehicle driver, the method comprising the steps of:identifying a target point located outside of the vehicle and on a surface proximate the vehicle such that an image of said target point is viewed at the center of said viewing surface to provide said critical field of view; identifying a central line between said target point and said target point image at the center of the viewing surface during viewing of said critical field of view such that said central line does not change with a change in driver position; providing an alignment assembly in fixed relation with said viewing surface, such that reorientation of said alignment assembly results in a corresponding reorientation of said viewing surface; determining, in accordance with the vehicle shape, vehicle geometry, and location of the optical device on the vehicle, the critical locations of two objects situated on the reverse side of said optical device and having reference points at their centers, such that orientation of said alignment assembly to provide visual alignment of said two reference points viewed by the driver by means of said alignment assembly effects orientation of said optical device whereby said target point is visible to said driver in the center of said viewing surface and along said central line.