US20020141086A1 - Rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle with monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

A rearview mirror has been made available, for which an optical imaging apparatus in the form of a monitor has been installed. The monitor is connected to a camera, which captures a vision field, before, beside and/or behind the vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION
• The invention concerns a rearview mirror for vehicles, in particular, for commercial vehicles wherein said mirror possesses an optical imaging apparatus in accord with the generic concept of claim 1.[0001]
• US-PS-4,882-565 has disclosed a rearview mirror for vehicles, wherein in the reflecting surface an indicator device is integrated, which is provided with light from an illumination means located behind the mirror surface. With this device, simple warning signals or stylized presentations of various functional units can be presented and brought to the rearview mirror for attention. The images produced by a camera are not presented here.[0002]
• Upon making a turn with a vehicle from a subordinate street into a main thoroughfare, normally, the driver makes use of the rear vision mirror, before he turns. In the case of a right turn, in doing this, he has not only the right side mirror with the visible rearward area, but also the view to the right-front over the mirror in his field of sight. To be aware of risks or traffic on the left side, he must turn his head and if necessary, use the left rearview mirror. In heavy traffic, therefore, he is obliged to change both his direction of vision and the position of his head, wherein respectively, while he is looking to one side, the other side is not being tended to. This can lead to dangerous situations.[0003]
• It is the purpose of the present invention, to develop a rearview mirror with an optical imaging device, of such a nature, that the most different areas surrounding the vehicle will come to the attention of the driver.[0004]
• The achievement of this purpose is accomplished by the features of claim 1.[0005]
• By means of the provision of a monitor, which is placed in the rearview mirror, an image produced by a camera can be transmitted to the said monitor. The camera can be directed to a field of vision, which is not in the view angle of the driver when he looks into the mirror. With the advantage of the invention, the driver, with one glance, can not only discern the area directly in the reflected angle of the mirror, as well as the area in front of the mirror, but he can also see another area on the monitor in the mirror without needing to change his direction of view nor to turn his head. In the case of the monitor, advantageously an LCD image is employed and the camera would, advantageously, also be a CCD-camera.[0006]
• In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the monitor is placed in the edge area of the mirror, that is, the mirror pane, in order not to interfere with the fundamental purpose of the mirror. This opens up the possibility, that the monitor need not be integrated into the mirror pane, but rather be placed in a position under, beside or above the mirror pane. The placement of the monitor would be effected by an appropriate recess in the mirror housing.[0007]
• In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, following[0008]claim3, the camera is likewise installed within the mirror housing, whereby the incident light on the camera is made possible by a corresponding opening in the mirror housing.
• In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, enabled by[0009]claim4, the camera is designed to be pivoted, so that different areas about the vehicle can be brought into view and depicted in the monitor. When backing up is a necessity, then the zone behind the vehicle can be seen in the monitor.
• In accord with another advantageous embodiment of the invention, claim 7 allows for a plurality of cameras. With this multi-camera arrangement, switching among the individual cameras again allows various areas around the vehicle to be presented in the monitor.[0010]
• If this latter plan is followed, then the pivoting of the camera becomes redundant. The respective camera can be placed in an optimal position to scan the current area to be overseen. The camera for the backing up operation is logically to be installed on the back side of the vehicle.[0011]
• If, additionally, a plurality of monitors are available (see claim[0012]8) then, under certain circumstances, selective switching from camera to camera becomes unnecessary, since one camera each can be apportioned to one monitor. Additionally, the possibility also exists that on various monitors and particularly in different areas of presentation, in one monitor additional data can be shown, such as temperature, speed, assured clear distance behind, to the front, or to the side can be imaged in. The different presentation areas of a monitor should be understood in the sense, that on the monitor different items can be shown by means of an image within an image format.
• In accord with a further advantageous embodiment, as presented in claim 9, the rearview mirror can encompass a first and a second monitor. The first monitor is connected with a camera in one rearview mirror, and the second monitor is connected to a camera in the other side rearview mirror of a vehicle. Thus, this arrangement allows a -greater area around the vehicle to be scanned at one glance.[0013]
• By means of an image and data memory apparatus, as taught by[0014]claims 11 and 12, what is essentially a “black-box” function can be brought about. For this purpose, the continuous images of the last five minutes, from one or more cameras can be retained in memory. Additionally, relevant data such as temperature, weather, time, and speed can also be saved. By this means, an accident can be more easily reconstructed.
• In accord with[0015]claim 12, the image surface of the monitor(s) is angled differently than that of the mirror surface. This is to prevent showing the same image in the monitor as is normally reflected in the mirror.
• By means of a digital zoom, that is, by the digital selection of an image component, as stated in claim 13, a function can be realized similar to that obtained by the pivoting of a camera.[0016]
• Further details, features and advantages of the invention can be inferred from the following description of preferred embodiments with the help of the drawing.[0017]
• There is shown in:[0018]
• FIG. 1 a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention,[0019]
• FIG. 2 a front view of a mirror in accord with the first embodiment,[0020]
• FIG. 3 a schematic presentation of a second embodiment of the invention.[0021]
• FIG. 4 a side view of a third embodiment of the invention[0022]
• FIG. 5 a front view of the mirror in accord with the third embodiment, and[0023]
• FIG. 6 a schematic presentation of a fourth embodiment of the invention.[0024]
• In FIGS. 1 and 2, is shown a first embodiment of an invented rearview mirror. The rearview mirror comprises a[0025]mirror housing2, amirror pane4 which is adjustably placed in saidmirror housing2, and an optical imaging apparatus, which is integrated into the mirror surface in the form of amonitor6. Likewise, included in themirror housing2 is a camera, especially a CCD-Camera8, which opens through anaperture10 looking forward in the direction of travel. Themonitor6 is connected to the camera8 by means of acable12. In this way, a camera8 in themirror housing2 of a left rearview mirror, advantageously is adjusted at an angle forward and to the right, because an area is thus brought into view, which otherwise would not be in the visible sector, when the driver looks in the said left rearview mirror.
• In a schematic manner, FIG. 3 depicts a second embodiment of the invention, which includes a first camera[0026]8-1 and a second camera8-2 as well as amonitor6 that has a left view sector6-1 and a right view sector6-2. As is indicated by the presence of cable12-1 and12-2, the first camera8-1 images on the left presentation zone6-1 and the second camera8-2 images on the right presentation zone6-2. Contrary to the first embodiment, the monitor is not integrated into themirror side4, but rather placed thereunder in themirror housing2.
• This first camera[0027]8-1 governs a view to the left of the vehicle, as seen in the traveling direction, and brings the image to the left presentation area6-1. The second camera8-2 scans an area to the right of the vehicle and this image is brought to the right presentation area6-2.
• FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention, in which a variant of the second embodiment is presented. The rearview mirror, in accord with the third embodiment, includes a[0028]main mirror14 with amirror pane4 and anauxiliary mirror16 superimposed on themain mirror14, for whichauxiliary mirror16 anindividual housing17 andpane18 is provided. A first camera8 is placed within theauxiliary mirror housing17 of the left-side rearview mirror and, through an opening, the view thereof is pointed in the direction of travel. A second camera, not further described, is placed in the right-side rearview mirror. In the lower area of themirror pane4 of themain mirror14 is provided amonitor6 with a left and a right image presentation zone. By means of acable12 the first camera is connected with the left presentation zone6-1 and the second camera (not shown) is connected to the right presentation zone6-2 in the rearview mirror to the left of the driver.
• FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, with a forward facing, pivoting[0029]camera20 which is located on the top side of the roof of a tractor and acamera22 facing to the rear on the trailer of said tractor. In a left side,rearview mirror26, amonitor6 is placed, which allows, optionally by means of an operative device, connection to either theforward pivoting camera20 or therear camera22. The pivotingcamera20 can be rotated by means of theoperative apparatus24, whereby the field of view of thecamera20 can widely varied.
• When backing up is required, by means of corresponding switching by the operating[0030]apparatus24, the image of theback viewing camera22 is switched to themonitor6, so that in the leftrearview mirror26, the view ofcamera22 is presented. Upon need, the driver can then, again with the saidoperating apparatus24, restore the viewing field of theforward camera20 onto themonitor6.
• The fourth embodiment, in accord with FIG. 6, allows itself to be so modified, that, as in the case of the second and the third embodiments, two presentation zones or two monitors for the two cameras are provided.[0031]

  Reference List ofComponents

  	2	Mirror housing
  	4	Mirror pane
  	6	Monitor
  	6-1	Left image presentation
  	6-2	Right image presentation
  	8	Camera
  	8-1	First camera
  	8-2	Second camera
  	10	Opening inmirror housing
  	12	Cable
  	12-1	Left cable
  	12-2	Right cable
  	14	Main mirror
  	16	Auxiliary mirror
  	17	Auxiliary mirror housing
  	18	Auxiliary mirror pane
  	20	Forward, pivotingcamera
  	22	Camera, with back viewing
  	24	Operating apparatus
  	26	Left side rearview mirror

Claims (13)

Claimed is:

1. A rearview mirror for vehicles, especially for commercial vehicles, having a mirror housing (2), a mirror pane (4) and an optical imaging apparatus (6) within the field of view of the driver, therein characterized, in that the optical imager is a monitor (6), which is connected to a camera (8;20,22) which captures a field before, laterally, and/or behind the vehicle.

2. A rearview mirror in accord withclaim 1, therein characterized, in that the monitor (6) is placed in the area of the mirror pane (4), especially being placed in the edge zone of the mirror pane, (4).

3. A rearview mirror, in accord withclaim 1 or2, therein characterized, in that the camera (8) is located in the mirror housing.

4. A rearview mirror, in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the camera (22) can be pivoted.

5. A rearview mirror, in accord withclaim 4, characterized by an operative apparatus (24) in proximity to the driver for the pivoting and changing of the field of view of the camera (20).

6. [There is noclaim 6]

7. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that a plurality of cameras (8-1,8-2,20,22) is provided.

8. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that a plurality of monitors (6) are provided or that the monitor (6) possesses different presentation zones (6-1,6-2).

9. A rearview mirror in accord withclaim 7 or8, therein characterized, in that a first camera (8-1) views the field in front of the rearview mirror and exhibits the image in a first presentation area (6-1) or on a first monitor, and in that a second camera (8-2) views the field in front of a rear view mirror on the other side of the vehicle and exhibits the image in a second presentation area (6-2) on a second monitor.

10. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that an image and data storage device is provided for the preservation of images and data from at least one of the cameras.

11. A rearview mirror in accord withclaim 10, therein characterized, in that in the image and data storage device, to the images and data, additional information such as such as vehicle speed, temperature, date, etc. can also be recorded.

12. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the mirror plane has been slanted, when compared to the image plane of at least one monitor.

13. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, characterized by an apparatus for digital zoom, i.e. for the digital choosing of an image section for presentation on at least one of the monitors.

Images