Rearview mirror targeting and repositioning system

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a plane mirror pivotably mounted to a vehicle having a directional signal means. A solenoid is operatively connected to the plane mirror for automatically changing the position of the plane mirror in response to a signal from the directional signal means in order to render the blind spot viewable to a driver. A reference position corresponding to a properly focused mirror is established by visually aligning an indicium on the mirror with an indicium on the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to rearview mirrors for vehicles, and more 
particularly to a system for improved focusing of a rearview mirror 
including repositioning a rearview mirror automatically in response to a 
vehicle directional signal. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Rearview mirrors are commonly used on vehicles to expand the driver's field 
of vision. The driver can better observe traffic conditions behind the 
vehicle with a consequent improvement in traffic safety. A conventional 
rearview mirror system of the type used on passenger cars is shown in FIG. 
1 as used in a typical modern three-lane highway. The three lanes are 
identified with the numerals 1, 2, and 3. Each lane is defined by highway 
markers 5, 7, where solid lines 5 typically denote the path of travel in a 
single direction as shown by the arrow, and the spaced lines 7 separate 
the individual lanes within a given direction of travel. Six vehicles A, 
B, C, D, E, and F are shown in various positions in the respective lanes. 
A conventional rearview mirror system installed on vehicle A includes a 
mirror 10 on the left side of the vehicle, a mirror 12 on the right side 
of the vehicle, and a mirror 13 and mounted and generally centered within 
a front portion of the passenger compartment. The mirrors 10, 12 are 
typically focused to provide a view of objects in the traffic lanes 
immediately to the left and right, 1 and 3, respectively, and to the rear 
of vehicle A. Thus a field of view subtended by angle .alpha. may be seen 
in the left-hand mirror 10 from a typical driver's position within vehicle 
A, and a rear field of view subtended by angle .beta. may be seen in 
right-hand mirror 12. The mirror 13 is typically focused to provide a view 
of objects immediately behind the vehicle, with a field of view subtended 
by angle .GAMMA.. Thus, a driver sitting in vehicle A can readily observe 
the presence and movements of vehicles D, E, and F without shifting the 
eyes too far out of the line of travel of vehicle A. 
However, vehicles B and C are typically not within the driver's field of 
vision in any of the rearview mirrors 10, 12 or 13. Being slightly behind 
vehicle A in the direction of travel, vehicles B and C are similarly 
outside the peripheral vision of the driver in vehicle A. Thus, vehicles B 
and C are located in positions customarily referred to as the "blind 
spot", and cannot be seen by a driver in vehicle A unless the driver were 
to direct the line of vision away from the direction of travel to look 
either to the left or to the right. Thus, if a driver in vehicle A seeks 
to move vehicle A to either lanes 1 or 3, the driver must remove his eyes 
from the road and look to the right or left before changing direction. 
To overcome the problem of the "blind spot", it is known to use a variety 
of convex mirrors either in place of or in addition to rearview mirrors 
10, 12. Such mirrors are available with various radii of curvature ranging 
from about 8 inches to 24 inches which optically expand the field of 
vision subtended by angles .alpha. and .beta.. However, the images 
projected by convex mirrors are badly distorted, which make it difficult 
to identify objects and accurately determine the approximate distance to 
an object being observed. 
Further, drivers frequently do not adjust the mirrors 10, 12, and 13 to 
obtain the proper focus and thus maintain the optimum field of vision for 
safety. It is desirable therefore to provide a means whereby a driver can 
quickly and properly focus a rearview mirror to an optimum position. 
It is further desirable to provide a means whereby a driver, upon signaling 
a change in lane of the vehicle, can readily check the blind spot without 
distortion and without shifting the field of vision too far out of the 
line of travel of the vehicle in order to ensure a safe change of lane. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, a rearview mirror system is provided for 
a vehicle which includes a plane mirror and means for mounting the plane 
mirror to the vehicle. The plane mirror may be mounted within a housing 
which in turn is mounted to the vehicle. The vehicle typically has a 
directional signal means to indicate a change in direction of the vehicle. 
The invention is directed to an improvement in the rearview mirror system 
comprising actuating means adapted to receive a signal from the 
directional signal means and operatively connected to the plane mirror 
mounting means for automatically changing the position of the plane mirror 
with respect to the vehicle when the actuating means receives a signal 
indicating a change in direction of the vehicle. 
The directional signal means may typically comprise a first signal to 
indicate a left turn of the vehicle, and second signal to indicate a right 
turn of the vehicle, a third signal to indicate a left lane change of the 
vehicle, and a fourth signal to indicate a right lane change of the 
vehicle. The plane mirror mounting means itself may comprise a bracket 
pivotally connected to the housing. The actuating means may be mounted to 
the housing and operatively connected to the bracket so that the bracket 
pivots when the actuating means is actuated. The actuating means 
preferably includes a solenoid having a push rod pivotably connected to 
the bracket to cause the bracket to pivot from a normal position to an 
indexed position. In the indexed position, the plane mirror will provide a 
field of vision to observe the blind spot. Typically, the bracket is moved 
to the indexed position only in response to the third signal or the fourth 
signal, either of which indicate a lane change of the vehicle, and not to 
the first or second signals. 
In a typical installation, the plane mirror is pivotably connected to the 
plane mirror mounting means. The vehicle includes a first visual indicium 
and the plane mirror includes a second visual indicium which is adapted to 
be aligned with the first visual indicium by pivoting the plane mirror 
with respect to the plane mirror mounting means in order to establish a 
reference position for the plane mirror with respect to the vehicle. Also, 
the invention provides for delaying the directional signal means before it 
is received by the actuating means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, a rearview mirror repositioning 
system includes a rearview mirror assembly 10 which includes a housing 12 
and a base 14. The base 14 is contoured to provide a structure adapted to 
blend with the styling of a portion of a vehicle (not shown in FIG. 2). 
The rearview mirror assembly is typically secured to the front fender or 
the door on the right or left side of the vehicle, or both. In the 
embodiment shown, it is contemplated that the mirror is mounted on the 
door. The base 14 is adapted to be secured thereto by suitable fastening 
means (not shown). The base 14 may be integral with the housing 12 to form 
one unitary piece. A plane mirror 16 is mounted within the housing and is 
adapted to provide a field of vision to a driver sitting in the vehicle 
toward the rear thereof. A visual indicium 18 is located on the surface of 
the plane mirror for a purpose to be described hereinafter. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the plane mirror is adapted 
for movement within the housing by an adjustable mounting means 20. 
Typically, plane mirrors are adjustable either mechanically by means of a 
Bowden cable, or electrically by means of electric motors. In the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the adjustable mounting means 20 comprises a 
housing 22 containing a pair of electric motors. The housing 22 mounts a 
socket 24 which supports a rotatable ball 26. The ball 26 is also seated 
in a second socket 28 which is secured to a backing plate 30 which holds 
the plane mirror 16. The ball 26 thus forms a pivot point about which the 
mirror 16 can rotate with respect to the adjustable motor housing 22. 
An actuator shaft 32 extends from the housing 22 and is pivotally connected 
to the backing plate 30 by conventional means such as a bracket 34. The 
actuator shaft 32 is typically driven by a worm gear on the shaft of the 
motor mounted within the adjustable motor housing 22. Typically, two 
motors, each adapted to drive a separate actuator shaft are mounted within 
the adjustable motor housing 22 so that two actuator shafts extend toward 
the mirror backing plate 30. Thus, two perpendicular axes of rotation are 
defined about the adjustable mirror pivot 26. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, the electric motors are electrically connected 
by means of the cable 36 to a switch 38 which controls the actuation of 
the motors within the adjustable motor housing 22. The mirror structure 
and adjustment means just described are conventional and many adaptations 
and variations are provided depending upon the particular application 
required by a given vehicle. This adjustment mechanism, however, is 
completely independent of the repositioning system according to the 
invention. 
A typical vehicle also has a directional signal means to indicate a change 
in direction of the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the directional 
signal means 38 is customarily provided on the steering column 40 on the 
driver's side of the vehicle. A lever 42 controls the directional signal 
means 38 at the discretion of the driver, and is mounted to the steering 
column 40 adjacent the steering wheel 44. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, the directional signal means typically comprises a 
five-position switch 46 mounted in the steering column 40, with each 
position selectively operated by the lever 42. The switch 46 provides a 
first position 48 to signal a left turn of the vehicle and a second 
position 50 to signal a right turn of the vehicle. Intermediate the left 
turn position 48 and the right turn position 50 is the neutral position 52 
which generates no signal. The three positions 48, 50, and 52 are 
typically toggle positions where the switch 46 can be left in any one of 
the three positions until moved, manually or otherwise. Intermediate the 
left turn position 48 and the neutral position 52 is a fourth position 54 
which generates a signal to indicate a left lane change of the vehicle. 
Similarly, intermediate the right turn position 50 and the neutral 
position 52 is a fifth position 56 which generates a signal to indicate a 
right lane change of the vehicle. The lane change signals 54, 56 are 
typically not toggled. In other words, the lever 42 is biased away from 
the lane change positions 54, 56 such that it must be manually held in 
either position when a lane change is to be indicated. 
The directional signal means just described is conventional and is 
customarily provided in most vehicles. When the left turn position 48 of 
the directional switch 46 is engaged, an electrical signal is typically 
sent to the taillights of a vehicle through a flasher (not shown) to cause 
the light to intermittently glow. Similarly, when the switch 46 is in 
either the right lane change position 56 or the right turn position 50, a 
right taillight (not shown) intermittently glows. Thus, a visual signal is 
sent to other vehicles regarding the driver's intentions to change the 
direction of the vehicle. 
Referring again to FIG. 3, the plane mirror mounting means 20 also 
comprises a bracket 58 which is rigidly secured to the back 60 of the 
adjustable motor housing 22. The bracket 58, in turn, is mounted by means 
of a pedestal 62 to the housing 12. The pedestal 62 is preferably integral 
with the housing and may be molded therewith. The bracket 58 is mounted to 
the pedestal 62 by any suitable conventional pivot means 64 such as a ball 
and socket. The pivot 64 may be a universal pivot such as a ball and 
socket, or a hinge for rotation about a single axis. A mounting bracket 66 
extending toward the interior of the housing 12 mounts an actuating means 
68 for moving the bracket 58 with respect to the housing 12. The actuating 
means 68 comprises an electric solenoid 70 which may be conventional. The 
solenoid 70 is rigidly secured to the bracket 66. A reciprocating push rod 
72 extends from a cylindrical portion 73 of the solenoid 70 and is 
pivotably connected to the outer end 74 of the bracket 58. Thus, when the 
solenoid is electrically energized, the push rod 76 pushes against the end 
74 of the bracket 58 causing the bracket 58 to pivot about the pivot point 
64 to an indexed position. When the solenoid is de-energized, the push rod 
76 is retracted within the cylinder 73, thus causing the bracket 58 to 
pivot back to its original position. A separate biasing means, such as a 
coil spring, may be used to cause the bracket 58 to return. 
The actuating means 68 is electrically connected by means of a cable 78, as 
shown in FIG. 2 and 6, to the directional signal switch 46. Referring 
again to FIG. 6, there is preferably a delay timer 80 interposed in the 
electrical circuit between the switch 46 and the solenoid 70. When the 
solenoid is energized, the plane mirror can be made to assume the position 
illustrated in FIG. 4. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the position of the solenoid 70 with respect to the 
plane mirror 16. It will be seen that the solenoid is mounted so to cause 
the plane mirror mounting means and thus the plane mirror to pivot about a 
single axis from a normal position to an indexed position. The indexed 
position of the plane mirror is preferably that position where a driver 
can readily view the front end including the bumper of a vehicle located 
in the "blind spot" as illustrated in positions B and C of FIG. 1. The 
position of the solenoid 70 is thus preconfigured and not adjustable once 
mounted in the housing 12. 
In operation, a driver desiring to make a left lane change, for example, 
will depress the lever 42 to cause the switch 46 to engage the left lane 
change position 54. Thus engaged, the directional signal means 
simultaneously sends a flashing signal to the left taillight of the 
vehicle, and sends an electrical signal to the delay timer 80. When the 
switch 46 maintains the left lane change position 54 for more than the 
time allotted in the delay timer 80 (preferably one second), the solenoid 
70 mounted in the left mirror assembly 10 is actuated. The push rod 76 
causes the bracket 58 to pivot about the pivot point 64 and thus rotate 
the entire mirror mounting means 20 and thus the plane mirror 16 to the 
extended position as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus repositioned, the plane 
mirror 16 will provide a field of vision to the driver which encompasses 
the blind spot to the left rear of the vehicle. Because of the speed at 
which modern vehicles travel, it is important that the movement of the 
plane mirror 16 between the normal position and the indexed position be 
very quick. The driver can thus quickly visually determine the existence 
of a clear field in the blind spot in order to complete the change in 
direction of the vehicle, and it will be seen that such determination can 
be made without significantly removing the driver's eyes from the line of 
direction of the vehicle. 
Thus, the mirror can be changed to the blind-spot position as illustrated 
in FIG. 4 when the "lane change" section of the directional signal system 
is used. Further, this repositioning of the mirror is solely at the 
discretion of the driver. The position can be maintained by the driver as 
long as the driver wishes by simply manually holding the lever 42 in the 
lane-change position for as long as needed. It will be seen that when the 
lever 42 is manually placed in the turn-signal position, no signal is sent 
to the solenoid 70, and the mirror 16 remains in the normal position. As 
shown in FIG. 8, the invention provides a total available field of vision 
to the rear of a vehicle subtended by angle .delta. which is greater than 
that provided by conventional mirror systems (the sum of angles .delta., 
.beta., and .GAMMA. as shown in FIG. 1). 
It will readily become apparent that it is important to target each mirror 
in order to render the blind spot observable when the directional signal 
is engaged. The targeting means is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. As 
seen in FIG. 2, a visual indicium 18 is provided on the surface of the 
plane mirror 16. A second visual indicium 84 is provided on the vehicle 
preferably near the rear window where it can be seen in the rearview 
mirror 10 by the driver. When the driver aligns the first visual indicium 
18 with the second visual indicium 84 in the line of sight provided in the 
mirror 16, a reference position is established for the plane mirror 16 
with respect to the vehicle. Thus, each driver with varying heights and 
varying positions within the vehicle can independently adjust the mirror 
by means of the adjusting means to a reference position. The position of 
the solenoid 20 with respect to the plane mirror 16 is fixed for each 
vehicle. When properly targeted, the plane mirror 16 will automatically be 
indexed to show the blind spot with respect to that vehicle when the 
rearview mirror repositioning system is engaged. The location of the 
indicia 18, 84 will preferably be established to obtain the optimum field 
of vision for each vehicle. 
It will thus be seen that a rearview mirror repositioning system in 
accordance with the invention may be used on demand, provides no image 
distortion in the wider field of vision, and can be used on manual mirrors 
and sophisticated electrically operated mirrors on any vehicle. 
Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the 
foregoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the scope of the 
invention as defined by the appended claims.