Abstract:
A magnetic boot module is described. The magnetic boot module has a pair of magnetic boots, a pair of moving devices, and a magnetic inductive path. Each of the moving devices couples to one of the magnetic boots to transversely push the magnetic boots moving on the magnetic inductive path step by step. The magnetic inductive path is formed on a magnetic inductive plate or a magnetic inductive rail. The magnetic boot module further utilizes a position detecting device to sense a current position thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The invention relates to a magnetic boot module and, in particular, to a magnetic boot side mirror. 
   2. Related Art 
   In the past century, the vehicle industry has made a great progress. As the production techniques and materials improve, the vehicles are becoming much better. The prosperity of the vehicle industry also induces the advances in related fields. However, high-end sedans and sports utility vehicles or ordinary cars always emphasize on the same issues, i.e., safety and comfort. Therefore, the development of the vehicle industry does not only rely on its own techniques, but also on the progress in the related fields. 
   The safety of vehicles is the most important factor considered by designers, manufacturers, and drivers. In a moving vehicle, the driver often has to use the side mirrors to check the back in addition to simply watching the front through the windshield. Thus, the side mirrors play an important role in the driving safety. 
   The conventional electric side mirrors are driven by devices such as motors and gears to rotate the mirrors to desired angles for the driver. Nonetheless, this mechanism becomes inappropriate for the digitalized vehicle industry nowadays. Therefore, how to provide an electric side mirror in order to efficiently and conveniently control the angles of the side mirrors is an issue of great consequence. They should increase the driving safety and speed up the vehicle industry digitalization. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing, the conventional electric side mirror structure is not suitable for the modem digitalized vehicle industry. It is highly desirable to provide a convenient and efficient device for controlling the side mirrors that enables the driver to easily adjust the side mirrors. In addition to the increased driving safety, the invention can further combine with the digitalized control technique for the side mirrors to reach the best working angles and positions. 
   An objective of the invention is to utilize a magnetic boot module to effectively control the angle and position of a side mirror, so that the driver can obtain a better field of vision to avoid accidents. 
   Another objective of the invention is to utilize an angle-adjusting magnetic boot module to reduce the required number of magnetic boots for adjusting the side mirrors. 
   A further objective of the invention is to utilize an inductive device and the positioning marks on the magnetic inductive path to confirm the angles of the side mirrors. This can increase the ability in the digital control of the side mirror. A fixing device is used to secure the side mirror and to prevent vibrations, thus increasing its stability. 
   Yet another objective of the invention is to utilize a magnetic boot module to accurately move a control device, increasing the precision of its motion. 
   According to the above objectives, the invention is a magnetic boot module that contains a first magnetic boot, a second magnetic boot, a first moving device, a second moving device, and a magnetic inductive path. The first magnetic boot and the second magnetic boot are installed in parallel. The first moving device couples to the first magnetic boot, and the second moving device to the second magnetic boot. Thus, the first magnetic boot and the second magnetic boot move on the magnetic inductive path step by step. 
   The first magnetic boot and the second magnetic boot are attracted to adhere onto the magnetic inductive path step by step. When the first magnetic boot is attracted to adhere onto the magnetic path, the first moving device pushes the first magnetic boot so that both the magnetic path and the first magnetic boot move a first predetermined distance. When the second magnetic boot is attracted to adhere onto the magnetic path, the second moving device pushes the second magnetic boot so that both the magnetic path and the first magnetic boot move a second predetermined distance. 
   Another embodiment of the invention is a magnetic boot side mirror. The magnetic boot side mirror contains a side mirror, a connection device, a magnetic inductive plate, and a magnetic boot module. The connection device couples to the back of the side mirror. The change in the relative positions of the magnetic boot module and the magnetic inductive plate brings the magnetic inductive plate and the connection device into motion to adjust the angle of the side mirror. The magnetic boot module contains at least two magnetic boots that move step by step to push the magnetic inductive plate. 
   The magnetic boot module can also couple to a magnetic inductive rail. Motion of the magnetic boot module on the magnetic inductive rail pushes the connection device to adjust the angle of the side mirror. 
   The magnetic inductive plate is made of a soft magnetic material, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, permalloy, supermalloy, and their combinations. The magnetic boot module further contains a position detecting device in order to determine the angle of the side mirror. It can combine with several positioning marks for the convenience of determining the angle of the side mirror. 
   A fixing pad is inserted between the magnetic inductive plate and the magnetic boot module. Once the side mirror reaches the predetermined angle, the fixing pad is depressed to touch the magnetic inductive plate to effectively fix the side mirror. The magnetic boot is also simultaneously attracted to adhere onto the magnetic inductive plate to further fix the side mirror. 
   The magnetic inductive plate or the magnetic inductive rail can be made of non-magnetic conductive materials, but is embedded with several magnetic inductive regions. Each magnetic inductive region is made of a soft magnetic material, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, permalloy, supermalloy, and their combinations. Each magnetic boot contains a moving device to transversely push the magnetic boot. 
   Another embodiment of the invention is a magnetic boot two-dimensional (2D) barcode reading device. The magnetic boot 2D barcode reading device contains a control device, a monitoring lens, a scanning lens, and a magnetic boot module. The magnetic boot 2D barcode reading device uses the monitoring lens to read an optimal reading position on a 2D barcode, and uses the control device and the magnetic boot module to push the scanning lens to the optimal reading position. This can effectively enhance the successful reading probability of the 2D barcode, thereby increasing the yield. 
   The disclosed magnetic boot module move the magnetic boots step by step on the magnetic inductive plate or the magnetic inductive rail, thereby actuating the connection device to adjust the angle of the side mirror. This does not enable the driver to easily adjust the angle of the side mirror, the detecting device therein further helps determining the current angle of the side mirror. The attraction of the magnetic boots increases the stability of the side mirror. The fixing pad further absorbs vibrations of a moving vehicle, ensuring the driving safety. The disclosed magnetic boot module can increase the reading efficiency of the 2D barcode reading device and provide necessary motions required for precision position adjustments. It can also be used in toy track cars. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the disclosed magnetic boot module; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the magnetic inductive plate in the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the magnetic boot module and the magnetic inductive plate in  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a third preferred embodiment of the disclosed magnetic boot module. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Not only can the invention facilitate the angle and position adjustments of the side mirrors, it can enhance the digital control of the side mirrors to ensure the driving safety. It can further be applied to two-dimensional (2D) barcode reading devices or toy track cars. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , the disclosed magnetic boot module contains a first magnetic boot  112  and a second magnetic boot  114  coupled from the back to a first moving device  116  and a second moving device  118 , respectively. All of them are installed inside a case  110 . The first magnetic boot  112  and the second magnetic boot  114  are coupled to a magnetic inductive path  130  through electromagnetic forces. The control signal from a controller  120  enables the first magnetic boot  112  and the second magnetic boot  114  to move on the magnetic inductive path  130 . Relatively speaking, the change in the relative positions of the first magnetic boot  112  and the second magnetic boot  114  makes the magnetic inductive path  130  move in a predetermined direction. 
   When one wants to move the magnetic inductive path  130  to the left of the drawing, the controller  120  first sends out a signal for the first magnetic boot  112  to be attracted to adhere onto the magnetic inductive path  130 . The first moving device  116  simultaneously moves the first magnetic boot  112  and the magnetic inductive path  130  to the left by a predetermined distance. Afterwards, the second magnetic boot  114  is attracted to adhere onto the magnetic inductive path  130 . The first moving device  118  simultaneously moves the first magnetic boot  114  and the magnetic inductive path  130  to the left by the predetermined distance. At the same time the second magnetic boot  114  is attracted to the magnetic inductive path  130 , the controller  120  sends out a signal to remove the magnetism on the first magnetic boot  112 , departing it from the magnetic inductive path  130 . The first moving device  116  moves the first magnetic boot  112  to the right, back to its initial position. 
   The controller  120  repeats the above steps to achieve the required moving distance for the magnetic inductive path  130 . The first magnetic boot  112  and the second magnetic boot  114  move step by step so that the magnetic inductive path  130  can move transversely to the right to the required position. The first moving device  116  and the second moving device  118  can be electromagnetic moving devices or mechanical moving devices without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     FIG. 2  shows a preferred embodiment of the disclosed magnetic inductive plate. 
   As shown in the drawing, the magnetic inductive plate  230  is formed from a base plate  232 . The base plate  232  can be made of a soft magnetic conductive material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, permalloy, supermalloy, or any temporary magnetic material. The magnetic inductive plate thus made is used for the magnetic boots in  FIG. 1  to adhere onto. 
   The base plate  232  can also be made of a non-magnetic conductive material, such as plastic or aluminum, in order to reduce the weight of the base plate  232 . For the adhesion of the magnetic boots, the base plate  232  is embedded with several magnetic inductive regions  234  made of a magnetic conductive material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, permalloy, supermalloy, or any temporary magnetic material. The magnetic conductive base plate  232  or magnetic inductive regions  234  form the magnetic conductive path of the magnetic boots. 
   The base plate  232  can be further provided with positioning marks  236  for positioning the angle of the side mirror. Its implementation will be described in subsequent embodiments. 
   In the first preferred embodiment of the magnetic boot side mirror, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the side mirror  300  contains a mirror  310 , a first magnetic inductive track  320 , a second magnetic inductive track  330 , a first connection device  340 , a second connection device  350 , a first magnetic boot  360 , and a second magnetic boot  370 . 
   When rotating the mirror  310  of the side mirror  300 , the first magnetic boot  360 , the first connection device  340 , and the first magnetic inductive track  320  enable the mirror  310  to rotate in the vertical direction. The second magnetic inductive track  330 , the second connection device  350 , and the second magnetic boot  370  enables the mirror  310  to rotate horizontally. Therefore, the side mirror of the first preferred embodiment allows the driver to adjust the angle of the side mirror  310 . The first magnetic inductive track  320  and the second magnetic inductive track  330  provide the magnetic inductive paths for the first magnetic boot  360  and the second magnetic boot  370 , respectively. The magnetic inductive paths of the first magnetic inductive track  320  and the second magnetic inductive track  330  also contain positioning marks for determining the angle of the side mirror  310 . The first magnetic inductive track  320  and the second magnetic inductive track  330  can be made of a soft magnetic conductive material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, permalloy, supermalloy, and any temporary magnetic material. They can also be made of a non-magnetic conductive material, such as plastic and aluminum, to reduce the weight of the tracks. In order for the magnetic boot to adhere, the tracks are embedded with several magnetic inductive regions made of a magnetic conductive material. 
     FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment magnetic boot side mirror using the disclosed magnetic boot module. As shown in the drawing, the side mirror  400  contains a mirror  410 , a magnetic inductive plate  420 , a connection device  440 , a rotating device  450 , a magnetic boot module  460 , and a fixing base  470 . 
   The magnetic boot module  460  moves the magnetic inductive plate  420  both vertically and horizontally. One end of the connection device  440  is coupled to the magnetic inductive plate  420 . The other end is coupled to the mirror  410 . Through the motion of the magnetic inductive plate  420 , the connection device  440  transmits the corresponding displacement to the mirror  410  to change its angle. One end of the rotating device  450  is coupled to the fixing base  470  to provide the rotation required by the connection device  440 . Once the magnetic boot module  460  moves the magnetic inductive plate  420 , the mirror  410  can be rotated to the angle required by the driver. 
     FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the second preferred embodiment magnetic boot module and magnetic inductive plate in  FIG. 4 . The magnetic boot module  540  contains a magnetic boot  542  and a rotating axis  544 . The rotating axis provides both the fixing and rotating functions. When adjusting the angle of the side mirror in the direction  550 , the magnetic boot  542  rotates by the rotating axis  544  until it is parallel to the direction  550 . Using the magnetic boot  542 , the magnetic inductive plate  530  moves along the direction  550 . When adjusting the angle of the side mirror in the direction  560 , the magnetic boot  542  rotates by the rotating axis  544  until it is parallel to the direction  560 . Using the magnetic boot  542 , the magnetic inductive plate  530  moves along the direction  560 . Therefore, the magnetic boot module  540  only needs a set of magnetic boot  542  to achieve the goal of rotating the magnetic inductive plate  530 , thereby rotating the side mirror to the desired angle. 
   The rotating axis  544  further contains a position detecting device therein for reading the positioning marks  536  on the base plate  532  of the magnetic inductive plate  530 . The positioning marks  536  help clearly determining the current angle of the side mirror and adjusting the side mirror to the required angle. The magnetic inductive regions  534  can effectively reduce the weight of the whole magnetic inductive plate  530 . 
   The magnetic boot module  540  can make the magnetic boot adhere onto the magnetic inductive plate  530  to further fix the side mirror after it is rotated to the required angle. A fixing pad is provided under the magnetic boot module  540  where it is in touch with the magnetic inductive plate  530 . Once the side mirror is rotated to the required angle, the fixing axis  544  rotates to press down, bringing the fixing pad and the magnetic inductive plate  530  in touch with each other. It can effectively absorb the vibrations of the vehicle in motion to secure the side mirror. 
   The disclosed magnetic boot module can combine with a device that automatically adjusts the angle of the side mirror to increase the driving safety. From the adjustment record of the driver, the disclosed magnetic boot module can automatically the preferred side mirror angles for individual drivers. 
   The disclosed magnetic boot module does not only facilitate the angle adjustment of the side mirror to increase the driving safety, it further provides a digitalized adjustment method to enhance the vehicle digital controls. Moreover, the driving safety and convenience will be greatly improved if the angle of the side mirror can be automatically adjusted as the vehicle makes turns or according to the driver&#39;s needs. 
   In  FIG. 6 , we show a third preferred embodiment of the 2D barcode reading device using the disclosed magnetic boot module. As shown in the drawing, the magnetic boot module  640  is installed between a control device  650  and a scanning lens  630 . This embodiment uses a monitoring lens  620  to read the relative positions of the 2D barcode  612  of a substrate  610 . The control device  650  adjusts the reading position of the scanning lens  630  in order to accurately read the 2D barcode  612  on the substrate  610 . In the manufacturing process, the 2D barcode  612  has a very small dimension, generally between 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm. Therefore, when reading the data on the 2D barcode, the scan range  632  of the scanning lens  630  can effectively cover the 2D barcode  612 . Since the 2D barcode has a very small area and one often adopts a run-scan means to increase the efficiency of a production line, the probability of reading failure thus increases. This kind of reading errors is often due to the errors associated with the transmission mechanism that result in imprecise barcode positions. 
   In order to effectively avoid such barcode reading failure and low production yields, this embodiment uses a monitoring lens  620  to monitor the substrate  610 . It has a large monitoring range  622  in order to provide precise positioning of the scanning lens  640 . The reading success rate of the scanning lens  630  can thus be increased. 
   We only show preferred embodiments of the disclosed magnetic boot module in the above descriptions. However, the invention is not limited to the described side mirrors or 2D barcode reading devices. The disclosed magnetic boot module can be further used in any mechanism that requires precision position adjustments or calibrations. It can also be used in toy track cars. One only needs to adjust he duration and number of times to magnetize the magnetic boots in the disclosed magnetic boot module for controlling the moving distance and precision of the magnetic boots. As the magnetization duration shortens, the magnetic boots can make more precise moves. Moreover, the moving distance of the magnetic boots can increase with the number of magnetization times. 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.