Touchpad for mirror posture adjustment

A vehicle mirror control system includes a touchpad including a sensing surface operative to produce signals indicative of a desired movement of a vehicle mirror responsive to a gesture detected by the sensing surface. A vehicle mirror assembly and a method are also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a control system for adjusting mirrors of a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle side mirrors are adjustable to correspond with the physical stature of the vehicle operator. Adjustment of the side mirrors can be by way of a mechanical link between the mirror and a knob within the vehicle. It is also known to include a switch to actuate motors that move the mirror as desired. The switch is provided within the interior of the vehicle interior and is accessible by a vehicle operator. All features within a vehicle interior include aesthetic features that correspond with a layout of the motor vehicle. Automotive manufactures are continually seeking different aesthetic features to differentiate between competing vehicles.

SUMMARY

A vehicle mirror control system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a touchpad including a sensing surface operative to produce signals indicative of a desired movement of a vehicle mirror responsive to a gesture detected by the sensing surface.

In a further embodiment of the foregoing system, the touchpad includes a capacitive touchpad.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the touchpad includes a rectangular surface mountable within a vehicle cabin proximate a vehicle operator.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the touchpad is mountable within a door of the vehicle.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, a selector for choosing one of several vehicle mirrors for control and adjustment is included.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the touchpad generates signals indicative of desired direction for the mirror to move responsive sensed movement over the sensing surface.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, locations on the sensing surface is defined by an X coordinate and a Y coordinate and the touch pad generates signals to move the mirror toward a position corresponding with the coordinates of the location that the sensing surface senses a touch.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the sensing surface includes a center portion and a speed of movement of the mirror corresponds with one of a distance from the center portion sensed by the sensing surface, a duration of the sensed touch, and a speed of repetition of the sensed touch.

A vehicle mirror assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes at least one mirror adjustable to a desired position. An actuator moves mirror to the desired position. A touchpad operative to produce signals indicative of the desired position of the vehicle mirror responsive to a gesture detected by a sensing surface. A controller receives signals from the touchpad and generates commands to cause the actuator to move the mirror toward the desired position.

In a further embodiment of the foregoing assembly, the touchpad includes a capacitive touchpad.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the touchpad includes a rectangular surface mountable within a vehicle cabin proximate a vehicle operator.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the touchpad generates signals indicative of desired direction for the mirror to move responsive sensed movement over the sensing surface.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, locations on the sensing surface are defined by an X coordinate and a Y coordinate and the touch pad generates signals to move the mirror toward a position corresponding with the coordinates of the location that a touch is sensed by the sensing surface.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the sensing surface includes a center portion and a speed of movement of the mirror corresponds with one of a distance of the touch from the center portion sensed by the sensing surface, a duration of the sensed touch, and a speed of repetition of the sensed touch.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, a selector chooses one of several vehicle mirrors for control and adjustment.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the selector corresponds to a predefined X coordinates and a Y coordinates on the touch pad.

A method of assembling an adjustable vehicle mirror according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes positioning a touchpad including a sensing surface within a vehicle cabin proximate a position of a vehicle operator. A controller is connected to the touchpad to receive signals from the touchpad corresponding with a desired position of a vehicle mirror.

In a further embodiment of the foregoing method, the touchpad is configured to generate a signal indicative of a direction of movement of the vehicle mirror.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the touchpad is configured to include a sensing surface defining an X coordinate and a Y coordinate for each location on the sensing surface that corresponds with a desired position of the vehicle mirror and generating signals to move the mirror toward the position corresponding with the location sensed by the sensing surface.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the sensing surface includes a center portion and generating signals includes determining a speed of movement of the mirror corresponding with one of a distance of the touch from the center portion sensed by the sensing surface, a duration of the sensed touch, and a speed of repetition of the sensed touch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a vehicle10is schematically illustrated and includes a side mirror14that is adjustable through controls provided in a vehicle cabin. In the disclosed embodiment, the vehicle10includes a position for a vehicle operator and a door sill34. Within the door sill34is a touchpad22that is in communication with a controller18to drive an actuator for adjusting a side view mirrors14. In the illustrated example, only one side view mirror14is shown, however, other side view mirrors are also controllable and within the contemplation of this disclosure.

The example touchpad includes a sensing surface24that is configured to translate motions from an operator into movement and adjustment of the side mirrors14. A selector switch is schematically shown at20and selected to indicate which of the side mirrors14are being adjusted. Alternatively, the selector switch may be incorporated into the touchpad by sensing touch of an operator's finger at a pre-defined area on the touch pad, e.g. a left or right corner corresponding to the side of the vehicle for respective side mirror adjustment.

The touchpad22generates signals26that are communicated to a controller18. The controller18converts the signals26into corresponding commands28that are provided to an actuator of the side mirror14. The actuator then moves the side mirror responsive to the demands generated by the controller18.

In this example, the touchpad22is rectangular shaped and includes a Y-axis32and an X-axis30. The touchpad22includes a sensing surface24that senses a touch of an operator's finger or other digit within the X and Y coordinates defined on the sensing surface24. Movement such as swiping or placing of an operator's finger on the sensing surface24generates signals26that the controller18interprets and converts into instructions to an actuator for adjusting the side mirror14. Further, the touchpad22may display prompts for the operator to provide guidance on where to touch the screen to provide the various desired adjustments that are described in further detail below. For example, the touch pad may display an arrow in the vicinity corresponding to the X and Y and pointing in a direction where a touch by the operator in that area would result in a corresponding signal for adjusting the side mirror14.

In this example, the touchpad22is disposed within a sill34of a door12. The touchpad22may be located in other areas of the vehicle10that are accessible to a vehicle operator.

Referring toFIG. 2, in another disclosed example embodiment, a touchpad52is provided as part of a center stack console50. The touchpad52is placed in a location easily accessible to a vehicle operator. The example touchpad52is similar to that disclosed inFIG. 1and generates signals responsive to a touch to command adjustment and movement of the selected vehicle mirror. A selector32can be provided to select which of the vehicle mirrors is currently being adjusted by touching of the touchpad52. In this example the touchpad52is separate from other touch control system, however it is within the contemplation of this disclosure that the touchpad52could be part of a multipurpose touch screen that controls other vehicle systems in addition to the position of the vehicle mirrors.

Alternatively, whether or not the touchpad52is part of a multipurpose touch screen the selector32may be incorporated into the touchpad by sensing touch of an operator's finger at a pre-defined location on the touch pad, e.g. a left or right corner corresponding to the side of the vehicle for respective side mirror adjustment. Further, the touchpad52may display prompts for the operator to provide guidance on where to touch the screen to provide the various desired adjustments that are described in further detail below. For example, the touch pad may display an arrow in the vicinity corresponding to the X and Y and pointing in a direction where a touch by the operator in that area would result in a corresponding signal for adjusting the side mirror14

Referring toFIG. 3with continued reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, an example motion on the touchpad22is illustrated. In the schematic illustration a touch indicated at48A is provided in a swiping manner in a direction indicated at46A. The vehicle side view mirror14includes a mirror38that is moved by an actuator16. The actuator16can be of any configuration required to facilitate movement of the mirror as desired to provide a view along a side of the vehicle. The swiping motion is translated into movement of the vehicle mirror by the actuator16. In this example, movement is along the X-axis and translates into tilting of the vehicle mirror38horizontally to the left.

Referring toFIG. 4with continued reference toFIG. 1, another swipe motion is schematically indicated and shown at46B where the touch48B is swiping to the right as indicated by the arrow. The swiping to the right indicated inFIG. 3is translated by the controller18into angled movement of the mirror38such that the mirror38provides a more outward view of objects around the vehicle.

Referring toFIG. 5, another swiping motion is schematically indicated at46C and includes a swiping upward motion and touch48C. The swiping upward motion provides for the mirror38to be angled such that the view of objects behind the vehicle10will be elevated.

Referring toFIG. 6with continued reference toFIG. 1, another swiping motion46D and touch48D is schematically illustrated and includes an angled motion towards an upper left corner of the touchpad22. This motion will provide a compound movement of the mirror38such that the mirror38will move to provide a view angled upward and inward towards the vehicle.

The example touchpad22can be a capacitive sensing device or other touch sensitive devices as are known. Although the example touchpad22includes a sensing surface24that is the capacitive touch device that is responsive to and senses a location of an operator's finger upon touching, other devices that convert a touch on a physical surface to a location and movement of the mirror would also be within the contemplation of this disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7with continued reference toFIG. 1, another example touchpad22is schematically illustrated. The touchpad22is rectangular in shape and includes X axis32and Y axis30. In this example, movement of the mirror38is communicated by touching the sensing surface24relative to a central portion40. The central portion40is indicative of a default position of the side view mirror14. Touching the sensing surface24in a location spaced apart from the central portion40automatically generates commands without swiping for moving the mirror38towards touch location.

In this example, a touch location indicated at42ais spaced a distance44afrom the central portion40. The distance44afrom the central portion40is indicative of a speed that the mirror will move to the desired location that corresponds with the position42a. The shorter the distance44a, the slower the mirror will move. The longer the distance between the touch position and the central portion40the faster the mirror will move.

In another example, a touch location42bis spaced a distance44bwhich is at an extreme edge of the sensing24and thereby indicates that the operator wishes the mirror to move quickly in the desired adjustment direction.

Another touch location42cis indicated and a relatively small distance44cfrom the central portion40and thereby indicates that very slow or fine adjustments are desired of the side mirror14. Another location42dis spaced a distance44dfrom the central portion40. The distance44dprovides an indication to the controller18of the speed at which the operator wishes the mirror38to move to a position corresponding with the touch position42d. In this example, the location42dprovides for tilting of the mirror inward such that rear view will be more towards the vehicle.

Each of the touch locations42a-dare dynamic in that as the operator moves the location of the touch on the sensing surface24so will the controller18change the commands28to the actuator16and provide a corresponding response for movement of the vehicle mirror14.

Alternatively, touching the sensing surface24in a location spaced apart from the central portion40automatically generates commands for moving the mirror38towards the corresponding touch location42A-C. In this embodiment, adjustment speed may be independent of the distance44A-D from the central portion40. The operator may, therefore, control speed of adjustment by varying either the length of the touch or the frequency of repetition of the touch. That is, a short duration of touch or a slow repetition of touch indicates that the operator wishes the mirror to move slowly in the desired adjustment direction and a long duration of touch or a quick repetition of touch indicates that the operator wishes the mirror to move quickly in the desired adjustment direction

FIG. 8illustrates a schematic representation of a method of assembling an example adjustable vehicle mirror, at800. The method may also include, positioning a touchpad including a sensing surface within a vehicle cabin proximate a position of a vehicle operator, at802. In some embodiment the method may also including, connecting a controller to the touchpad to receive signals from the touchpad corresponding with a desired position of a vehicle mirror, at804. In some embodiment the method may also including, configuring the touchpad to generate a signal indicative of a direction of movement of the vehicle mirror, at806. In some embodiment the method may also including, configuring the touchpad to include a sensing surface defining an X coordinate and a Y coordinate for each location on the sensing surface that corresponds with a desired position of the vehicle mirror and generating signals to move the mirror toward the position corresponding with the location sensed by the sensing surface, at808. In some embodiment the method may also including, generate signals includes determining a speed of movement of the mirror corresponding with one of a distance of the touch from a center portion of the sensing surface sensed by the sensing surface, a duration of the sensed touch, and a speed of repetition of the sensed touch, at810.

It should be understood that the controller18may be processor including hardware for executing software, particularly software stored in memory. The processor can be a custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the computing device, a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set) or generally any device for executing software instructions. The controller18may be part of the overall vehicle controller or separate controller used for the disclosed vehicle mirror adjustment system.

The memory can include any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, VRAM, etc.)) and/or nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CD-ROM, etc.). Moreover, the memory may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Note that the memory can also have a distributed architecture, where various components are situated remotely from one another, but can be accessed by the processor.

The software in the memory may include one or more separate programs, each of which includes an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. A system component embodied as software may also be construed as a source program, executable program (object code), script, or any other entity comprising a set of instructions to be performed. When constructed as a source program, the program is translated via a compiler, assembler, interpreter, or the like, which may or may not be included within the memory.

When the computing device is in operation, the processor can be configured to execute software stored within the memory, to communicate data to and from the memory, and to generally control operations of the computing device pursuant to the software. Software in memory, in whole or in part, is read by the processor, perhaps buffered within the processor, and then executed.

The example vehicle mirror adjusting system provides a simple, intuitive adjusting process for an operator without that provides desired aesthetic appearance within the vehicle and limits the number of moving parts and operable switches.