Pivotable interior mirror for a motor vehicle
10144354 · 2018-12-04
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60R1/12
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60R1/087
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G06F3/017
PHYSICS
B60R2001/1223
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B60R1/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60R1/12
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A pivotable interior mirror for a vehicle includes a mirror surface, for example in the form of a first surface of a wedge mirror, a sensor device suitable for a light propagation-time measurement, for sensing at least one gesture of a driver of the vehicle and/or light incident on the first surface of the wedge mirror, and a pivoting device for pivoting the mirror surface from a normal position into at least one dimming position, in which blinding of the driver by light reflected at the mirror surface is reduced, wherein the pivoting device can be activated in dependence on at least one output signal of the sensor device. Further, a vehicle may include such an interior mirror and a method for using such an interior mirror is described.
Claims
1. A pivotable interior mirror for a motor vehicle, comprising: a mirror surface in the form of a first surface of a wedge mirror; a sensor device suitable for a light propagation time measurement for detecting at least one gesture by a driver of the motor vehicle or incidence of light on the first surface of the wedge mirror; and a pivoting device for pivoting the mirror surface from a normal position into at least one dimming position in which dazzling of the driver by light reflected in the mirror surface is reduced, wherein the pivoting device can be activated in dependence on at least one output signal from the sensor device, and wherein the sensor device is suitable for a light propagation time measurement and is part of a control unit for the pivoting device, and the control unit detects movement patterns within a first area of the interior mirror or provides at least one virtual button within a second area of the interior mirror.
2. The interior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one first sensor in the form of a Time Of Flight (TOF) sensor comprising a TOF camera, wherein the sensor device further comprises at least one second sensor to fulfil an ambient light sensor (ALS) function.
3. The interior mirror according to claim 2, wherein the first sensor is attached to the side of the interior mirror at the mirror surface, and attached to the mirror surface, or a first second sensor is attached to the side of the interior mirror at the mirror surface, and attached to the mirror surface, or a second second sensor is attached to the side of the interior mirror opposite the mirror surface, and attached to the side of the wedge mirror opposite the mirror surface, wherein the first sensor and the first second sensor are preferably designed rolled into one.
4. The interior mirror according to claim 2, wherein the pivoting device can be activated in dependence on a comparison of output signals from the first and at least one second sensor, through subtraction, or the pivoting device can be activated in dependence on a comparison of output signals from the first second and the second second sensor, through subtraction.
5. The interior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting device can be activated in dependence on signals from a device in the vehicle which is characteristic of lighting conditions in an environment of the motor vehicle, and comprising an illumination device for the motor vehicle in the form of any one or more of headlights, vehicle interior lighting, an internal clock, or a position determination device.
6. The interior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the control unit detects movement patterns within a first distance interval from the mirror surface or provides at least one virtual button within a second distance interval, wherein the first distance interval is provided in the first area of the control unit and the second distance interval is provided in the second area of the control unit.
7. The interior mirror according to claim 6, wherein the second distance interval is located closer to the mirror surface than the first distance interval.
8. The interior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting device comprises a shape memory actuator for pivoting the mirror surface, and the shape memory actuator comprises a shape memory wire which changes in length in response to a current flow through the shape memory wire.
9. The interior mirror according to claim 8, wherein the control unit supplies the shape memory wire with power from a power supply in the motor vehicle.
10. The interior mirror according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory wire is coiled on a first thread roll and causes a rotational movement of the first thread roll in response to the current flow, and the first thread roll forms a drive axle for the interior mirror and is designed to turn the mirror surface by at least a first angle of rotation.
11. The interior mirror according to claim 10, wherein the shape memory wire is coiled on a second thread roll which turns the mirror surface by at least a second angle of rotation, and wherein the diameter of the second thread roll is different from the diameter of the first thread roll.
12. The interior mirror according to claim 8, wherein the pivoting device comprises a further actuator which moves the mirror surface back into the normal position, wherein the further actuator comprises a second shape memory actuator or a spring element.
13. A motor vehicle comprising a pivotable interior mirror according to claim 1, the motor vehicle comprising: a control device in combination with the sensor device; the pivoting device; and the control unit; a device which is characteristic for the lighting conditions in the environment of the motor vehicle; an illumination device in the form of headlights or vehicle interior lighting; an internal clock; or a position determination device.
14. A method for pivoting a pivotable interior mirror of claim 1, comprising: detecting movement by a driver of the motor vehicle and an arm movement by the driver towards the interior mirror or movement of a finger within a certain area of the interior mirror, or detecting incidence of light on the interior mirror; and triggering movement of the interior mirror from the normal position into at least one dimming position or from the dimming position into the normal position in dependence on the result of the detection.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein a vehicle function, and an adjustment of an illumination device or time information or a vehicle location is capable of being taken into account when changing from the normal position into the dimming position or from the dimming position into the normal position, or a driver of the vehicle is capable of choosing whether the change from the normal position into the dimming position or from the dimming position into the normal position occurs automatically, via gesture control, or through actuation of a virtual button, and wherein an automatic change is preferably initiated in response to specific, predefined lighting conditions being detected.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further design examples are explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings. They show:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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(16) The control unit 103 can be used by the driver to activate the pivoting device 102, in particular in response to a movement or gesture by the driver. The movement can be a movement of an arm or a hand towards the control unit 103. For example, the control unit 103 can react to a certain speed at which the driver's hand moves towards to control unit 103.
(17) In an embodiment according to the invention, the pivoting device 102 can comprise a first shape memory actuator with which the interior mirror 100 can be moved into the dimming position 112. Such a shape memory actuator can comprise a shape memory alloy SMA (German: Formgedchtnislegierung FGL). It can thereby be a metal alloy which can exist in two different crystalline structures so that the first shape memory actuator remembers a previous shape despite significant subsequent shaping and can shift back to its original shape. The original shape can be the normal position 110, and the deformed shape can ensure the dimming position 112.
(18) In a beneficial embodiment of the invention, the first shape memory actuator can comprise a shape memory wire, the length of which changes in response to a current flow through the shape memory wire. The current flow through the wire can cause a temperature increase in the wire so that it can extend. The control unit 103 can thus supply the shape memory wire with current in response to the driver's movement, for example through connection to the power supply in the motor vehicle. The shape memory wire can be coiled on a first thread roll and cause a rotational movement of the first thread roll in response to a current flow, for example as described below in
(19) The pivoting device 102 can include a further actuator which can move the interior mirror 100 from the dimming position 112 back into the normal position 110. The further actuator can thereby comprise a second shape memory actuator which can be constructed in the same manner as the first shape memory actuator described above.
(20) It is also possible for the two shape memory actuators to be controlled independently of one another. The second shape memory actuator can therefore move the interior mirror 100 back into the normal position 110 after a certain amount of time. Alternatively, the second shape memory actuator can move the interior mirror 100 back into the normal position 110 depending on a glare situation, detectable by a sensor device for example, wherein this movement can also be detected by the sensor device. It is also possible for the second shape memory actuator to move the interior mirror 100 back into the normal position 110 in response to a movement by the driver. In one embodiment, the second shape memory actuator can move the interior mirror 100 back into the normal position 110 depending on cooling of the shape memory wire.
(21) The further actuator can beneficially have a spring element. As a result, the spring element can move the interior mirror 100 back into the normal position 110 depending on cooling of the shape memory wire in the first shape memory actuator. The force of the spring element can in particular be judged against the force of the expansion of the shape memory wire in the first shape memory actuator in order to cause a slow return to the normal position 120 when the wire cools.
(22) According to the invention, it is preferred that the control unit 103 has at least one sensor in the sensor device in order to be able to detect a movement by the driver, in particular an arm movement by the driver towards the interior mirror. The control unit 103 can thereby activate the pivoting device 102 according to a threshold value for the driver movement detected. For example, the pivoting device 102 can be activated so that the interior mirror 100 can move into the dimming position 112 when a predefined threshold value is exceeded.
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(24) A possible interaction by the driver with the interior mirror 100 causing a movement of the interior mirror 100 is described below. When the driver makes a movement 1 in a specific manner in a first detection area of the control unit 103, also known as the gesture channel, the angle between a mirror mounting 105 and the wedge mirror 104 can change to the effect that a first surface of the wedge mirror 104 facing the driver shows a little more upwards to the roof of the motor vehicle so that the driver is no longer dazzled. The actuator for the pivoting device 102, which can be located behind the wedge mirror 104 in the interior mirror 100, can ensure this automatic movement. If the actuator is an SMA actuator in which the wire, which is located behind the wedge mirror 104, can be supplied with current when a gesture by the driver is detected by the sensor device in the control unit 103, the wire can heat up and shorten as a result, which is converted into a rotational movement at the pivot point 106 of the interior mirror 100. A further movement in the gesture channel for the sensor device can ensure that the interior mirror 100 turns back. Alternatively, rotating back can be compelled by the actuation of a virtual button in a second detection area of the control unit 107. The second detection area can thereby by located closer to the mirror surface of the wedge mirror 104 than the first detection area in order to better simulate a button.
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(26) Using the sensor 208, gesture control is possible on the one hand, namely for movements at a distance of more than 10 mm away from the wedge mirror 204. Within the range of 10 mm to the wedge mirror, a button function is performed with which, for example, gesture control of the pivoting device can be switched to fully automated control. For a fully automated solution, the first sensor 208 detects whether there is a glare situation and the wedge mirror 204 should be turned to its dimming position. Consideration of the output data from the second sensor 209 also allows the ambient light, so the light which is perceived through the windscreen of the motor vehicle, not shown, by the driver, to be taken into account. The output signals from the two sensor 208 and 209 can be evaluated together, for example using a differential circuit, in order to thus take special driving situations such as those which occur when driving into a tunnel and leaving a tunnel into account. Differentiation between day and night is therefore possibly through the second sensor 209. This differentiation can be taken into account when the wedge mirror 204 is turned, namely in connection with a threshold which needs to be exceeded to trigger turning and/or for a turning angle.
(27) It is also possible according to the invention for the pivoting device to be operated not only depending on the output signals from the sensor device 207 but also taking into account additional signals such as information about a headlights and/or time signals using which it is also possible to determine whether it is day or night.
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(29) The interior mirror 300 has a drive 301 with which a ball joint 302 (shown in
(30) The drive 301 in the pivoting device can perform a rotation of at least 90 and replaces a manual lever in a conventional dimming device. In the embodiment in
(31) In the embodiment in
(32) The SMA wires 303 are coiled on the rolls 306, 307 which are arranged towards the two axles 304, 305 and can be heated by current pulses and thus shorten in order to perform a rotation of 90.
(33) The drive 301 comprises a support plate 308 which is used for fixing the wires 303 to the rolls 306, 307. The wires 303 are guided from the support plate 308 over the second roll 307 and then over the first roll 306 and are also fixed there. In one embodiment, a control unit can have its power connections on the support plate 308. The control system can then perform an exact measurement of the internal resistance in order to heat the wires 303 precisely and measure out the force.
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(35) In the embodiment in
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(38) In the embodiment in
(39) With the three-axle mini yo 600, a greater angle of rotation can be generated than with a two-axle mini yo. In an embodiment which is not shown in
(40) The embodiments shown in
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(42) In the embodiment in
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(44) For the LED technology shown in
(45) The sensor 801 can detect intuitive movement patterns and control an actuator so that rotation of an interior mirror both from its normal position into its dimming position and back is possible.
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(48) The process step 901 can be performed by a computer program product which can be loaded directly into the internal memory in the motor vehicle's on-board computer and comprises software code segments.
(49) It is self-evident that the features of the various embodiments described in this document can be combined with one another unless specifically stated otherwise. As shown in the description and the drawings, individual elements which have been shown in contact do not have to be in direct contact with one another; intermediate elements can be designed between the connected elements. Furthermore, it is self-evident that the embodiments of the invention can be implemented in individual circuits, partially integrated circuits or fully integrated circuits, or means of programming. The term for example is intended simply as an example and not as the best or optimal design. Certain embodiments have been illustrated and described here, but it is obvious to an expert in the field that a multitude of alternatives and/or similar implementations can be realised instead of the embodiments shown and described without departing from the concept of this invention.
REFERENCE LIST
(50) 1 Driver movement
(51) 100 Interior mirror
(52) 101 Frame
(53) 102 Pivoting device
(54) 103 Control unit
(55) 104 Wedge mirror
(56) 105 Mirror mounting
(57) 106 Pivot point
(58) 107 Control unit
(59) 110 Normal position
(60) 112 Dimming position
(61) 200 Interior mirror
(62) 204 Wedge mirror
(63) 207 Sensor device
(64) 208 Sensor
(65) 209 Sensor
(66) 300 Interior mirror
(67) 302 Drive
(68) 302 Ball joint
(69) 303 SMA wire
(70) 304 Axle
(71) 305 Axle
(72) 306 Roll
(73) 307 Roll
(74) 308 Support plate
(75) 309 Base plate
(76) 400 Mini yo
(77) 403 Wire
(78) 406 Thread roll
(79) 407 Thread roll
(80) 408 Fixation point
(81) 409 Power supply
(82) 600 Mini yo
(83) 603 Wire
(84) 606 Roll
(85) 607 Roll
(86) 608 Fixation point
(87) 609 Roll
(88) 700 Drive
(89) 703 Wire
(90) 706 Roll
(91) 707 Roll
(92) 708 Fixation point
(93) 710 Spring element
(94) 711 Angle of rotation
(95) 801 Sensor device
(96) 802 Sensor device
(97) 810 TOF camera
(98) 811 Light-emitting diode
(99) 812 Light-emitting diode
(100) 813 Light-emitting diode
(101) 814 Light-emitting diode
(102) 820 Finger
(103) 821 TOF sensor
(104) 822 TOF sensor
(105) 823 TOF sensor
(106) 824 TOF sensor
(107) 900 Method
(108) 901 Movement