Rearview correcting/controlling system for vehicle

Japanese priority application No. 2005-143802, upon which the present application is based, is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rearview correcting/controlling system for a vehicle, comprising: rearview obtaining means for providing a rearview to an occupant on a driver's seat; drive means for driving the rearview obtaining means to change a view angle of the rearview provided by the rearview obtaining means; and control means for controlling the operation of the drive means.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-291729 discloses a rearview correcting/controlling system which is designed to provide a rearview at an appropriate view angle corresponding to the traveling state of a vehicle, by changing the angle of a rearview mirror in response to left-turning, right-turning, traveling lane change and the like.

Even if a vehicle is in a straight traveling state, the vehicle can be inclined forward/rearward with respect to a horizontal plane, when traveling on an uphill road or downhill road, or depending on the weight of passengers and load carried on the vehicle. In a state in which the rearview has been set at an appropriate view angle for traveling on a horizontal road surface, when the forward/rearward inclination of the vehicle as described above occurs, an occupant on a driver's seat cannot obtain an optimal rearview.

The present invention has been achieved with the above circumstances in view, and has an object to provide a rearview correcting/controlling system for a vehicle, the system providing a rearview at an optimal view angle even when a forward/rearward inclination of the vehicle occurs.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a rearview correcting/controlling system for a vehicle, comprising: rearview obtaining means for providing a rearview to an occupant on a driver's seat; drive means for driving the rearview obtaining means to change a view angle of the rearview provided by the rearview obtaining means; and control means for controlling the operation of the drive means, wherein the system further includes forward/rearward inclination detecting means for detecting a forward/rearward inclination of the vehicle, and the control means controls the operation of the drive means so as to vertically change the view angle of the rearview obtaining means based on a value detected by the forward/rearward inclination detecting means.

With the above arrangement of the present invention, when the forward/rearward inclination detecting means detects that the vehicle has been inclined forward/rearward, the control means controls the drive means so that the rearview obtaining means is driven to vertically change the view angle of the rearview.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a door mirror assembly for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along a line 1 - 1 in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line 2 - 2 in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a control system.

FIGS. 4A , 4 B and 4 C are illustrations each showing a view angle depending on the inclination of the vehicle in the case of a small amount of load carried on the vehicle.

FIGS. 5A , 5 B and 5 C are illustrations each showing a view angle depending on the inclination of the vehicle in the case of a large amount of load carried on the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 3 , but according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a base 15 of a right door mirror assembly 14 R is mounted to a side door disposed on a right side of a driver's seat in a right-hand drive vehicle, and a housing 16 made of a synthetic resin is carried on the base 15 so as to turn in forward and rearward directions of the vehicle.

A bracket 17 made of a synthetic resin is turnably carried on the base 15 . The housing 16 covering the bracket 17 is attached to the bracket 17 by a plurality of screw members 18 . A peripheral edge of a visor 19 extending into the housing 16 and attached to the housing 16 is coupled to an edge of an opening of the housing 16 . A mirror 23 R which is a rearview obtaining means capable of obtaining a view behind the vehicle is retained on a mirror holder 20 and disposed within the visor 19 .

The mirror holder 20 comprises: a main holder portion 21 to an outer surface of which the mirror 23 R is attached; and an inner holder portion 22 fixed to an inner surface of the main holder portion 21 . The mirror holder 20 is carried by an actuator case 24 fixed to the bracket 17 so that the mirror holder 20 can swing forward and rearward as well as leftward and rightward.

The mirror holder 20 is swingably carried on the actuator case 24 at an intersection P between a first straight line LA extending vertically and a second straight line LB extending horizontally. First and second drive shafts 25 A and 25 B projects out of the actuator case 24 so as to move in their axial directions. First and second operating shafts 26 A and 26 B are connected to the mirror holder 20 .

The first drive shaft 25 A has an axis crossing at right angles the first straight line LA, is disposed below the intersection P, and connected at one end thereof to the mirror holder 20 so as to oscillate within a plane including the first straight line LA. The second drive shaft 25 B has an axis crossing at right angles the second straight line LB, is disposed outside the intersection P, and connected at one end thereof to the mirror holder 20 so as to oscillate within a plane including the second straight line LB. The first operating shaft 26 A is disposed on the first straight line LA on a side opposite from the first drive shaft 25 A with respect to the intersection P, and connected at one end thereof to the mirror holder 20 so as to oscillate within a plane including the first straight line LA. The second operating shaft 26 B is disposed on the second straight line LB on a side opposite from the second drive shaft 25 B with respect to the intersection P, and connected at one end thereof to the mirror holder 20 so as to oscillate within a plane including the second straight line LB.

A distance between a connection of the first drive shaft 25 A to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P, and a distance between a connection of the second drive shaft 25 B to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P are set to be the same. Further, a distance between a connection of the first operating shaft 26 A to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P, and a distance between a connection of the second operating shaft 26 B to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P are set to be the same. Furthermore, all the distances between the connection of the first drive shaft 25 A to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P, between connection of the second drive shaft 25 B to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P, between the connection of the first operating shaft 26 A to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P, and between a connection of the second operating shaft 26 B to the mirror holder 20 and the intersection P are set to be the same, whereby the inner holder portion 22 of the mirror holder 20 can be commonly used on left and right sides.

The following members are built in the actuator case 24 : a first drive means 27 AR which includes a first electric motor 29 A and which drives the first drive shaft 25 A in an axial direction in response to the operation of the first electric motor 29 A, thereby tilting the mirror 23 R forward and rearward; a second drive means 27 BR which includes a second electric motor 29 B and which drives the second drive shaft 25 B in an axial direction in response to the operation of the second electric motor 29 B, thereby tilting the mirror 23 R leftward and rightward; a first sensor 28 AR for detecting an angle of forward/rearward tilting of the mirror 23 R within the plane including the first straight line LA in accordance with an axial position of the first operating shaft 26 A; and a second sensor 28 BR for detecting an angle of leftward/rightward tilting of the mirror 23 R in accordance with an axial position of the second operating shaft 26 B. Thus, the first and second drive shafts 25 A and 25 B and the first and second operating shafts 26 A and 26 B are operative associated with the drive means 27 AR and 27 BR.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the operations of the first and second drive means 27 AR and 27 BR of the right door mirror assembly 24 R are controlled by a control means C, and angles of tilting of the mirror 23 R obtained by the first and second sensors 28 AR and 28 BR of the right door mirror assembly 24 R are input into the control means C.

As does the right door mirror assembly 24 R, a left door mirror assembly 24 L includes: a first drive means 27 AL for driving and tilting the mirror 23 L forward and rearward; a second drive means 27 BL for driving and tilting the mirror 23 L leftward and rightward; a first sensor 28 AL for detecting an angle of forward/rearward tilting of the mirror 23 L; and a second sensor 28 BL for detecting an angle of leftward/rightward tilting of the mirror 23 L. The operations of the first and second drive means 27 AL and 27 BL of the left door mirror assembly 24 L are controlled by the control means C, and angles of tilting of the mirror 23 L obtained by the first and second sensors 28 AL and 28 BL of the left door mirror assembly 24 L are input into the control means C.

The control means C includes: a mode determining section 30 ; a forward/rearward inclination determining section 31 ; an initial mirror surface angle storing section 32 ; a mirror driving angle determining section 33 ; and a mirror driving output section 34 . The mode determining section 30 determines whether or not the mode is one for storing initial tilting angles of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L by the operation of a system switch 35 for switching the system on and off. A mirror surface adjusting switch 36 is manually operated to switch the forward/rearward and leftward/rightward tilting angles of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L respectively on left and right sides. A drive signal for an angle determined by the mirror driving angle determining section 33 in response to the manual operation of the mirror surface adjusting switch 36 in such a manner to switch the forward/rearward and leftward/rightward tilting angles of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L respectively on the left and right sides, is output from the mirror driving output section 34 . The first and second drive means 27 AR and 27 AL; 27 BR and 27 BL are operated by means of the drive signal output from the mirror driving output section 34 , until the right and left door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L reach positions with arbitrary initial angles. Further, the initial mirror surface angle storing section 32 stores the initial angles of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L determined by the mirror surface adjusting switch 36 by operating an initial mirror surface angle storing switch 37 .

A value detected by an inclination sensor 38 which is a forward/rearward inclination detecting means for detecting a forward/rearward inclination of the vehicle is input into the forward/rearward inclination determining section 31 of the control means C. The forward/rearward inclination determining section 31 determines that the vehicle has been inclined forward/rearward when the forward/rearward inclination of the vehicle detected by the inclination sensor 38 reaches a predetermined value or more. Corresponding to the degree of such an inclination, the first drive means 27 AR and 27 AL for driving and tilting the mirrors 23 R and 23 L in the forward/rearward direction in accordance with the result of the determination of angles for tilting the right and left door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L is operated by a signal output from the mirror driving output section 34 , until the tilting angles determined by the mirror driving angle determining section 33 coincide with the angles detected by the first sensors 27 AR and 27 AL. Namely, the control means C operates the first drive means 27 AR and 27 AL of the door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L so that an angle of rearview obtained by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L is changed vertically, when the vehicle has been inclined forward/rearward.

A value detected by a vehicle speed detector 39 for detecting a travel speed of the vehicle is also input to the forward/rearward inclination determining section 31 . During traveling of the vehicle, the height of the vehicle is varied little by little, and hence when it has been confirmed by a value detected by the vehicle speed detector 39 that the vehicle is traveling, the forward/rearward inclination determining section 31 ignores a variation of the value in a short time detected by the inclination sensor 38 , and determines that the vehicle has been inclined forward/rearward based on a variation of the value in a relatively long time detected by the inclination sensor 38 . In other words, the system functions to delay operation of the drive means dependent on a value detected by the forward and rearward inclination detection means.

When the weight of passengers and load carried on the vehicle is small, the mirrors 23 R and 23 L of the right and left door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L cannot be tilted during traveling of the vehicle on a horizontal road surface as shown in FIG. 4A . However, during traveling of the vehicle on a downhill road as shown in FIG. 4B , a view angle of a rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L is offset upwards with respect to an appropriate view angle as shown by a two-dot dashed line by variations in heights of front and rear portions of the vehicle due to a variation in center of gravity of the vehicle, and hence the mirrors 23 R and 23 L are driven and tilted so as to displace the view angle downwards. Further, during traveling of the vehicle on an uphill road as shown in FIG. 4C , a view angle of a rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L is offset downwards with respect to an appropriate view angle as shown by a two-dot dashed line, and hence the mirrors 23 R and 23 L are driven and tilted so as to displace the view angle upwards.

When the weight of passengers and load carried on the vehicle is large, even during traveling of the vehicle on a horizontal road surface as shown in FIG. 5A , a view angle of a rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L is offset downwards with respect to an appropriate view angle as shown by a two-dot dashed line, and hence the mirrors 23 R and 23 L are driven and tilted so as to displace the view angle upwards. During traveling of the vehicle on a downhill road as shown in FIG. 5B , a view angle of a rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L is offset upwards with respect to an appropriate view angle as shown by a two-dot dashed line, and hence the mirrors 23 R and 23 L are driven and tilted so as to displace the view angle downwards. Further, during traveling of the vehicle on an uphill road as shown in FIG. 5C , a view angle of a rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L is offset downwards with respect to an appropriate view angle as shown by a two-dot dashed line, and hence the mirrors 23 R and 23 L are driven and tilted so as to displace the view angle upwards.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below. The control means C controls the operations of the first drive means 27 AR and 27 AL so as to vertically change the view angle of the rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L of the right and left door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L, based on the value detected by the inclination sensor 38 for detecting the forward/rearward inclination of the vehicle. Therefore, even when the vehicle has been inclined forward/rearward due to the passengers and load carried on the vehicle and/or due to the traveling of the vehicle on a sloping road, the view angle of the rearview provided by each of the mirrors 23 R and 23 L of the right and left door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L can be controlled optimally.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, forward/rearward inclination detecting means 40 for detecting a forward/rearward inclination of a vehicle may comprise a front portion height detector 41 F for detecting a height of a front portion of the vehicle from a stroke of a suspension in the front portion of the vehicle, and a rear portion height detector 41 R for detecting a height of a rear portion of the vehicle from a stroke of a suspension in the rear portion of the vehicle.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications in design may be made without departing from the subject matter of the invention defined in the claims.

For example, although the above embodiments have been described as using the mirrors 23 R and 23 L of the door mirror assemblies 24 R and 24 L as the rearview obtaining means for obtaining the rearview, the present invention is also applicable to a case where a rearview camera capturing a sight behind a vehicle is used as the rearview obtaining means.