Auto-adjusting side-view mirrors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919652-B2
Application number	US-201615146642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2016
Priority date	May 4, 2016
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle side-view mirror control system includes a pair of extendable side-view mirrors and a controller configured to receive and store one or more trailer identifying indicia and one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations. The controller is configured to control translation of at least one of the pair of side-view mirrors to a one of the one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations according to the one or more stored trailer identifying indicia. The one or more trailer identifying indicia define or identify a specific trailer having been previously towed by the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A vehicle side-view mirror control system, comprising:
a pair of extendable side-view mirrors; and
a controller configured to receive and store one or more trailer identifying indicia that each define a specific trailer having been previously towed by the vehicle and one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations that each include a side-view mirror extension length;
wherein the controller is configured to control translation of at least one of the pair of side-view mirrors to the side-view mirror extension length that corresponds to the one or more stored trailer identifying indicia.

2. The side-view mirror control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operatively linked to at least one motor which drives the translation of the at least one of the pair of extendable side-view mirrors to the one of the predetermined configurations.

3. The side-view mirror control system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations includes both the side-view mirror extension length and a side-view mirror reflective surface orientation.

4. The side-view mirror control system of claim 3 , wherein the side-view mirror reflective surface orientation is determined according to the side-view mirror extension length.

5. The side-view mirror control system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations are further keyed to a vehicle occupant identity.

6. The side-view mirror control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the one or more predetermined trailer identifying indicia by way of a communication between the trailer and the vehicle when the trailer is attached to the vehicle.

7. The side-view mirror control system of claim 6 , wherein the communication is by a wired connection or is a wireless communication.

8. A vehicle including the side-view mirror control system of claim 1 .

9. The side-view mirror control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control translation of the at least one of the pair of side-view mirrors to a second, different predetermined extension length that corresponds to the one or more trailer identifying indicia in response to detecting a different vehicle occupant operating the vehicle.

10. A method for controlling a vehicle extendable side-view mirror, comprising:
communicating one or more trailer identifying indicia to a controller associated with the vehicle, wherein each of the one or more trailer identifying indicia define a specific trailer having been previously towed by the vehicle; and
by the controller, translating at least one of a pair of extendable side-view mirrors to a predetermined extension length that corresponds to the one or more communicated trailer identifying indicia.

11. The method of claim 10 , including operatively linking the controller to at least one motor which drives the translation of the at least one of the pair of extendable side-view mirrors to the predetermined configuration.

12. The method of claim 10 , including translating the at least one of the pair of extendable side-view mirrors to the predetermined extension length and to a side-view mirror reflective surface orientation.

13. The method of claim 12 , including determining the side-view mirror reflective surface orientation according to the side-view mirror extension length.

14. The method of claim 10 , including further determining the predetermined configuration according to a vehicle occupant identity.

15. The method of claim 10 , including determining, by the controller, the one or more communicated trailer identifying indicia by way of a communication between the trailer and the vehicle when the trailer is attached to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 , including providing the communication between the trailer and the vehicle by a wired connection or as a wireless communication.

17. The method of claim 10 , comprising translating the at least one of the pair of extendable side-view mirrors to a second, different predetermined extension length that corresponds to the one or more trailer identifying indicia in response to detecting a different vehicle occupant operating the vehicle.

18. A vehicle side-view mirror control system, comprising:
a pair of extendable side-view mirrors;
a controller configured to receive and store one or more trailer identifying indicia that each define a specific trailer having been previously towed by the vehicle and one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations that each include a side-view mirror extension length; and
at least one motor operatively linked to the controller and to the pair of extendable side-view mirrors;
wherein the controller is configured to, by the at least one motor, control translation of the pair of side-view mirrors to the side-view mirror extension length that corresponds to the one or more stored trailer identifying indicia.

19. The side-view mirror control system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations includes the side-view mirror extension length and a side-view mirror reflective surface orientation.

20. The side-view mirror control system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations are further keyed to a vehicle occupant identity.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dupuis Michael
• Orris David Joseph
• Lorenzo Thomas

Classifications

• B60R1/002

  specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like (integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08) · CPC title

• B60R1/0612

  by electrically actuated means · CPC title

• B60R1/081 Primary

  avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors · CPC title

• B60R1/078 Primary

  easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing · CPC title

• B60R1/07 Primary

  by electrically powered actuators · CPC title