A smart control system and method for blind spot monitoring when steering in automobiles

Abstract

This invention discloses an intelligent control system and method for blind spot in automotive steering. The system includes a domain controller module and a door control module. The input terminals of the domain controller module are connected to a steering angle sensor and a combination switch, respectively, to acquire steering angle signals and steering trigger signals. The output terminal of the domain controller module is connected to the door control module to execute control commands from the domain controller module to control the adjustment of the exterior rearview mirror angle. The advantages of this invention are: it solves the safety problem caused by blind spot at a low cost, reduces accidents caused by blind spot, and improves vehicle safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of blind spot monitoring in automobiles, and particularly to an intelligent control system and method for blind spot monitoring when a car is turning. Background Technology

[0002] In most cases, the turning lanes of motor vehicles intersect with the straight lanes of non-motorized vehicles. When vehicles traveling in the same direction intersect, vehicles coming from behind will also pass each other. The blind spot of a vehicle does not decrease as the vehicle moves, but it is time-varying. When a motor vehicle turns through an intersection with a non-motorized vehicle lane, the driver needs to pay close attention to vehicles coming from behind in the rearview mirror. In many cases, non-motorized vehicles are in the driver's field of vision and the blind spot of the rearview mirror. Non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians are unaware of this. When the motor vehicle driver slows down to turn, a non-motorized vehicle or pedestrian (electric bicycle) suddenly enters the driver's field of vision. The motor vehicle driver is startled and brakes suddenly to avoid it. Such driving puts the motor vehicle driver in a state of mental tension, which can easily lead to mental fatigue. If the driver is not careful, it can cause a traffic accident, resulting in loss of life and property.

[0003] Current technologies commonly use radar and cameras for blind spot monitoring, but this approach increases hardware costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an intelligent control system and method for blind spot when turning a car. This system is used to solve the problem that the blind spot is large when a car is turning, and other road users are unaware that they are in the blind spot of the vehicle, which can lead to misjudgment and endanger the safety of people and property. At the same time, it has the advantage of low cost.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A vehicle steering blind spot intelligent control system includes a domain controller module and a door control module; the input terminals of the domain controller module are respectively connected to a steering angle sensor and a combination switch to acquire steering angle signals and steering trigger signals respectively; the output terminal of the domain controller module is connected to the door control module to execute the control commands of the domain controller module to control the adjustment of the exterior rearview mirror angle.

[0007] The input terminal of the door control module is connected to a position sensor, and the output terminal of the door control module is connected to the exterior rearview mirror adjustment mechanism. The position sensor is used to collect the position information of the exterior rearview mirror, and the door control module adjusts the position of the exterior rearview mirror through the exterior rearview mirror adjustment mechanism according to the position information of the position sensor.

[0008] The output of the door control module is connected to the external welcome warning light, and the door control module drives the external welcome warning light to project warning light text or graphics onto the ground in the blind spot.

[0009] The adjustable position range of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors and the corresponding rearview mirror positions in the blind spot when turning are pre-stored in the domain controller. When turning, the domain controller obtains the corresponding rearview mirror position information according to the current steering angle and drives the door control module to adjust the rearview mirror position to the set position.

[0010] The domain controller calculates the current blind spot range of the vehicle based on the cornering signal and drives the external welcome warning lights to project warning light onto the ground in the blind spot.

[0011] A control method for an intelligent control system for blind spot during vehicle steering includes the following steps:

[0012] The system acquires the turning trigger signal of the current vehicle in real time and triggers the blind spot warning mode based on the turning trigger signal.

[0013] In blind spot warning mode, the position of the exterior rearview mirrors is adjusted according to the turning angle.

[0014] In blind spot warning mode, the turning angle is obtained. When the angle is less than the set threshold, the position of the exterior rearview mirror remains unchanged; otherwise, the position of the exterior rearview mirror is controlled according to the size of the angle.

[0015] When the angle reaches the set threshold, the exterior rearview mirror lens starts to adjust horizontally outward to the lane furthest from the vehicle in the preset reflective field of view. The domain controller module then illuminates the vehicle's exterior welcome warning lights, focusing the projection area to illuminate the warning message.

[0016] When the vehicle turns and moves, the dual side mirrors are triggered to adjust towards the vehicle from the far side. The visible angle of the mirrors changes position with the steering angle. When the steering angle decreases and is less than a set threshold, the mirror position is reset to the initial position. The initial position is the corresponding position of the left and right side mirrors when the vehicle is moving straight.

[0017] The turning trigger signal is obtained by the turn signal lever in the combination switch. When the turn signal lever is turned to the turn signal position, the blind spot warning mode is triggered. When the turn signal lever is reset, the blind spot warning mode is turned off. At this time, the welcome light focuses on the blind spot warning light and delays its extinguishing.

[0018] The advantages of this invention are: it solves the safety problem caused by blind spots at a low cost, reduces accidents caused by blind spots, and improves vehicle safety; firstly, the domain controller module presets the optimal position of the exterior rearview mirror's field of vision in straight driving mode, and then uses the side welcome warning light to focus the visible width and project warning words onto the ground in area A on the side of the vehicle. When the steering gear reaches the turning angle threshold, the exterior rearview mirror is positioned at the optimal field of vision for the two lanes outside the vehicle, and the side welcome warning light focuses the visible width and projects warning words onto the ground in area B on the side of the vehicle; during driving, the turn signal control switch signal is used to maintain the exterior rearview mirror's viewing angle position, only illuminating area A. Based on the steering gear turning angle threshold, a trigger signal is sent to the gate module to control the adjustment of the exterior rearview mirror's visible position, and the projection area of ​​the exterior welcome warning light changes from area A to area B. This method of controlling the field of vision expansion of the exterior rearview mirror is an effective method without safety hazards and can meet the existing vehicle steering control requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The following is a brief explanation of the contents of each of the accompanying drawings and the markings in the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the control system for the intelligent compensation and light domain warning method for blind spots when turning in a car according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the control logic for the intelligent compensation and light domain warning method for blind spots after vehicle steering in this invention.

[0022] The markings in the above diagrams are as follows: 1. Domain controller module, 2. Door control module, 3. Combination switch, 4. Steering angle sensor, 5. External zoom warning light, 6. Exterior rearview mirror assembly, 7. Exterior rearview mirror lens adjustment mechanism, 8. Position sensor (rearview mirror lens). Detailed Implementation

[0023] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and the description of the preferred embodiments.

[0024] Existing technologies for lane change blind spot assistance use sensors such as cameras and radar to detect vehicles approaching from behind, and use corresponding control algorithms to warn the driver of vehicles approaching from behind via images or warning lights; the driver can also attach or affix small spherical mirrors near the exterior rearview mirrors to reduce blind spots.

[0025] The technologies involving blind spots have the following problems: 1. Solutions using cameras and radar sensors are costly and are typically found in high-end models, not standard equipment in economy vehicles; 2. With camera solutions, the driver needs to look at a distorted image on the screen, meaning the driver's gaze is not directly on the vehicle's surroundings, posing a safety hazard; 3. Radar solutions usually provide information to the driver in the form of warning lights, preventing the driver from directly assessing the surroundings. The driver needs to frequently move their gaze from directly in front of the vehicle to the vicinity of the side mirrors to wait for pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles to appear in their field of vision before deciding on subsequent actions, increasing safety risks during vehicle movement; 4. Adhesive spherical mirrors are too small, resulting in image distortion, and water droplets on the mirror cannot be clearly observed in rainy or snowy weather (since there is no heated mirror to evaporate the water droplets); 5. Externally mounted mirrors reduce the vehicle's overall wind resistance, and at high speeds, wind-blown mirrors can affect the safety of other vehicles and pedestrians, adding additional blind spots. Existing solutions do not consider these factors, leading to both parties relying solely on the vehicle with the poorer field of vision to avoid collisions, which is ineffective and prone to causing danger.

[0026] To address the problem in related technologies where large blind spots during vehicle turning, unaware that other road users are in these blind spots and prone to misjudgment leading to potential threats to life and property, this embodiment provides an intelligent control system for vehicle turning blind spots. This system includes a domain controller module and a door control module. The input terminals of the domain controller module are connected to a steering angle sensor and a combination switch to acquire steering angle signals and steering trigger signals, respectively. The output terminal of the domain controller module is connected to the door control module to execute control commands from the domain controller module to adjust the angle of the exterior rearview mirrors.

[0027] The input end of the door control module is connected to a position sensor, and the output end of the door control module is connected to the exterior rearview mirror adjustment mechanism. The position sensor is used to collect the position information of the exterior rearview mirror, and the door control module adjusts the position of the exterior rearview mirror through the exterior rearview mirror adjustment mechanism according to the position information of the position sensor.

[0028] The output of the door control module is connected to the external welcome warning light, which then projects warning light text or graphics onto the ground in the blind spot. The door control module typically integrates or is connected to an LED driver array controller. The module's microcontroller retrieves the corresponding graphic dot matrix data or text encoding from its built-in memory according to preset logic. For example, if it decides to project the text "Caution," the microcontroller converts this text into serial data and sends it to the subsequent LED driver chip via a serial peripheral interface or internal integrated circuit bus communication protocol. The LED driver chip then drives the projection LED to project a warning message displayed through light and shadow boundaries onto the ground or other locations. The external welcome warning light itself is a sophisticated optical module. It contains a high-brightness LED light source, a focusing lens, a mask containing graphic or text information (similar to a film), and a projection lens. When the LED is lit by a constant current drive, the light passes through the focusing lens and is evenly irradiated onto the mask, forming a predetermined graphic in the light-transmitting area of ​​the mask. This graphic is then magnified and focused by a projection lens, ultimately forming a clear and sharp image on the ground at a certain distance from the car door (usually 30-80 centimeters). Some high-end designs use digital micromirror devices or micromirror array technology, which can directly control the flipping of tiny mirrors through electrical signals to form dynamic graphics, eliminating the need for physical mask templates and thus projecting more varied warning content.

[0029] The steering angle sensor detects the angle of the steering wheel or steering gear to determine if a turn is needed, as blind spots often cause accidents during turns. The combination switch, including the steering lever, collects the trigger signal for the turn signal. The blind spot warning mode is only triggered when the turn signal is activated via the combination switch. The domain controller module uses the steering lever signal to determine whether the blind spot warning mode is triggered. When the lever is moved to the steering position, the blind spot warning mode is activated. In blind spot warning mode, the domain controller outputs corresponding control signals to the door control module based on the acquired angle signal. The door control module then adjusts and controls the angle of the exterior rearview mirrors, allowing the blind spot location to be observed during lane changes or transitions. Depending on the steering angle, the position of the exterior rearview mirrors varies. The domain controller calculates or obtains a target position signal for the exterior rearview mirror based on the acquired steering angle signal, and then sends this target position signal to the door control module for execution. A position sensor is connected to the input of the door control module to detect the position signal of the exterior rearview mirror in real time. By adjusting the position of the exterior rearview mirror in real time, the target position is achieved, thus enabling the viewing of blind spots through the exterior rearview mirrors. The exterior rearview mirrors facilitate the driver's view of vehicles, pedestrians, and other information in blind spots when turning, avoiding accidents caused by blind spots. This falls under driver-side blind spot protection. In this embodiment, it also includes external welcome warning lights that emit warning text or image information to pedestrians or vehicles in the blind spot, achieving a warning function for pedestrians or vehicles in the blind spot. The two methods work together to achieve blind spot warning. The solution used here is an external welcome warning light. When the blind spot warning mode is triggered, the external welcome warning light is turned on and a warning text or pattern is projected onto the turning blind spot. This serves as a reminder to pedestrians or vehicles approaching or near the blind spot. By providing two-way warnings to both the driver turning and pedestrians or vehicles in the blind spot, the safety accidents caused by blind spot problems are greatly reduced.

[0030] The adjustable position range of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors and the corresponding mirror positions for blind spots during turns are pre-stored in the domain controller. When turning, the domain controller obtains the corresponding mirror position information based on the current steering angle and drives the door control module to adjust the mirror positions to the set positions. The positions of the exterior rearview mirrors corresponding to the blind spot image seen through the mirrors at different turning angles are obtained through pre-calibration experiments. The calibrated turning angle-exterior mirror position information is stored in the domain controller as a lookup table or reference map. After the domain controller triggers the blind spot warning mode based on the steering lever, it obtains the target position information of the exterior rearview mirrors by looking up the lookup table or reference map using the obtained steering angle. Then, the domain controller sends the command corresponding to the target position information to the door control module, which adjusts the exterior rearview mirrors to the target positions in real time based on the current position. This allows the driver to see the blind spot image through the exterior rearview mirrors while turning, improving visibility and driving, and reducing safety hazards.

[0031] In this embodiment, the domain controller calculates the blind spot range of the current vehicle based on the turning angle signal and drives the external welcome warning lights to project warning light onto the ground in the blind spot. Since the angle of the warning light is adjustable, the location of the blind spot can be identified by the turning angle, and then the light is shone to better achieve the purpose of blind spot reminder.

[0032] This application addresses blind spots during turns, as blind spots exist and there is a risk of vehicles or pedestrians approaching from behind. Taking entering an underground parking garage as an example, when making a sharp right turn from the road into the garage, there will first be vehicles and pedestrians in the right-hand non-motorized vehicle lane. If an electric scooter in the non-motorized vehicle lane approaches from a distance, it will eventually intersect with the front of the vehicle, depending on its speed. However, if the right-hand side mirror remains unchanged while the vehicle is turning right, it will not be able to see the non-motorized vehicle lane due to the turn. Therefore, fine-tuning the position and angle of the side mirror allows for viewing the right-hand non-motorized vehicle blind spot, reducing the driver's blind spot. Of course, the visible range of the right-hand blind spot depends on the adjustment of the side mirror's angle and position. However, when calibrating the position, it is necessary to consider not only the blind spot reflected in the mirror but also the driver's view from inside the vehicle. Therefore, the calibration process comprehensively considers the turning angle and the driver's view from inside the vehicle to determine the corresponding side mirror position.

[0033] This embodiment also provides a control method based on an intelligent control system for blind spot after vehicle steering, including the following steps:

[0034] The system acquires the turning trigger signal of the current vehicle in real time and triggers the blind spot warning mode based on the turning trigger signal.

[0035] In blind spot warning mode, the position of the exterior rearview mirrors is adjusted according to the turning angle.

[0036] The turning trigger signal is obtained from the turn signal lever in the combination switch. When the turn signal lever is turned to the turn signal position, the blind spot warning mode is triggered; when the turn signal lever is reset, the blind spot warning mode is turned off.

[0037] In blind spot warning mode, the turning angle is obtained. When the angle is less than the set threshold, the position of the exterior rearview mirror remains unchanged and is kept in the default position, which is the position calibrated by the user. Otherwise, the position of the exterior rearview mirror is controlled according to the size of the turning angle, and the position of the exterior rearview mirror is adjusted from the default position to improve the mirror image of the blind spot.

[0038] Once the angle reaches the set threshold, the exterior rearview mirror lens automatically adjusts horizontally outward to the lane furthest from the vehicle within the preset reflective field of view. The domain controller module then illuminates the vehicle's exterior welcome warning lights, focusing the warning message onto the designated area. This dual protection mechanism, combining dynamic adjustment of the exterior rearview mirrors with blind spot warning lights, effectively reduces blind spot accidents.

[0039] When the vehicle is turning, the dual side mirrors adjust towards the vehicle's far side. The visible angle of the mirrors changes with the steering angle. When the steering angle decreases and falls below a set threshold, the mirrors return to their initial positions. The initial positions are the corresponding positions of the left and right side mirrors when the vehicle is traveling straight. This dynamic adjustment of the side mirrors during turning effectively reduces blind spots that cannot be seen by the mirrors when turning.

[0040] The adjustment of the exterior rearview mirror angle relies on an adjusting motor. The rotation of the motor achieves different angle adjustments. The core mechanism involves two independent micro-drive units that work together to change the spatial orientation of the mirror around the universal joint. This is achieved by adjusting the circuitry of two micro-permanent magnet DC motors inside the mirror: a horizontal motor and a vertical motor, corresponding to left-right and up-down adjustments respectively. These motors start rotating at a high speed of thousands of revolutions per minute. The generated torque is first transmitted to a key reduction mechanism, typically a combination of a worm gear and planetary gear set. The worm gear utilizes the difference in the number of teeth between the large and small gears to achieve significant speed reduction and torque amplification, converting the high-speed, low-speed rotation of the motor into the large torque, low-speed power required to drive the mirror. Simultaneously, the worm can easily drive the worm wheel, while the worm wheel cannot drive the worm in the opposite direction, forming a perfect reverse self-locking mechanism. This ensures that once adjusted, the mirror can resist driving vibrations and airflow disturbances, stably maintaining the set angle. When a single-direction adjustment is needed, only the corresponding motor operates; when an oblique adjustment is required, the control circuit coordinates both motors to simultaneously generate different displacements, synthesizing the desired angle. In advanced systems with memory functionality, Hall effect sensors or angle sensors are integrated into the transmission mechanism to monitor the displacement of the screw or the deflection angle of the lens in real time, and feed the position signal back to the control unit. The control unit drives the motor and continuously compares the real-time feedback until the rearview mirror is precisely reset to the set position, with an adjustment accuracy of up to 0.1°. The motor's start, stop, and speed are precisely controlled by PWM pulse width modulation signals. After multiple reduction stages in the gearbox, the motor's rotation ultimately produces a linear displacement of several millimeters at the end of the drive screw. This tiny pushing distance is amplified into an angular change of several to tens of degrees on the mirror surface through the mechanical fulcrum on the back of the lens, thereby changing the driver's field of vision from the driver's seat. Around a stable center of rotation, through dual-axis independent drive, precision reduction transmission, and closed-loop position feedback, the rearview mirror angle is precisely, stably, and repeatably adjusted, providing the driver with a clear and reliable rear view and ensuring driving safety.

[0041] In this embodiment, when the blind spot warning mode is triggered, the positions of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors are adjusted according to the angle signal. Simultaneously, the welcome warning lights are illuminated to project text and image warnings onto the blind spot for alert purposes. When the angle is less than a set angle threshold, the left and right exterior rearview mirrors are restored to their default positions, and a delay timer begins. When the delay reaches the set time threshold, the welcome warning lights are turned off; that is, the welcome warning lights focus on the blind spot warning light and then extinguish after a delay. The main purpose of the delayed extinguishing of the welcome warning lights is to continuously alert the blind spot. When the angle is small, the exterior rearview mirrors can achieve mirror observation at their default positions without needing to adjust their positions. If the adjusted exterior rearview mirror positions are maintained at this time... As the steering angle decreases, the vehicle gradually straightens, resulting in the image seen in the rearview mirror not being an image of the vehicle's blind spot. However, if both the hazard lights and rearview mirrors are adjusted to their default positions (external rearview mirrors returned to their default positions, hazard lights off), they cannot warn people or vehicles in or about to enter the blind spot. Therefore, to improve safety, the driver's field of vision is restored to its default position (the position of the external rearview mirrors initially calibrated when the vehicle is moving straight or stationary, a position that allows the driver to observe the conditions of adjacent lanes) to improve the driver's field of vision and blind spot perception. Meanwhile, the delayed-off hazard lights can warn people or vehicles about to enter the blind spot. The combination of these two measures can effectively remind both parties involved in the turn, thereby reducing the occurrence of accidents.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of this application, after entering blind spot warning mode, the domain controller determines whether to adjust the position of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors based on the steering angle of the steering wheel or steering gear. When the angle exceeds a set angle threshold, a target position is calculated using the current real-time angle information. This target position is then sent to the door control module for execution. The door control module drives the exterior rearview mirror adjustment motor to adjust the position and angle of the exterior rearview mirrors to meet the driver's visibility requirements at the current turning angle, thereby reducing blind spot accidents. In this embodiment, the target position of the exterior rearview mirror is a range value, determined by the maximum and minimum target angles. After receiving the range value composed of the maximum and minimum angles of the exterior rearview mirrors from the domain controller, the door control module controls the adjustment motor to adjust the exterior rearview mirrors. During the turning process, the position and angle of the exterior rearview mirrors are cyclically adjusted from the minimum to the maximum value. This cyclic adjustment between the minimum and maximum values ​​during the movement allows the driver to dynamically view the mirror image information related to the blind spot during the turning process. By dynamically moving the rearview mirrors, different positions can be seen in the mirrors, thus achieving better observation of the blind spot image during the turning process. The position and angle of the exterior rearview mirror are adjusted at a preset rate between the minimum and maximum values ​​to ensure stable observation of the image in the rearview mirror. If the adjustment rate fluctuates, it will affect the driver's observation. Therefore, in this scheme, the adjustment rate of the exterior rearview mirror is kept constant.

[0043] This embodiment of a control system and method for intelligent compensation of blind spots and light domain warning after a vehicle turns includes:

[0044] a. Determine the visible range of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors based on the current static position of the vehicle using the exterior rearview mirror adjustment switch, and record the mirror lens position in the domain controller module.

[0045] b. When the turn signal lever is turned to the steering gear and the steering gear is turned to the preset threshold, the dual exterior rearview mirrors are automatically adjusted horizontally outward to the lane furthest from the vehicle in the preset reflective field of view. The domain controller module then illuminates the vehicle's exterior welcome warning lights, focusing the projection area to illuminate the warning text. The projected lights on both sides are simultaneously turned on and off.

[0046] c. During the vehicle's steering process, after the dual-sided mirrors are adjusted towards the vehicle's far side, the visible angle of the mirrors follows the steering angle. When the steering angle decreases, the mirror position returns to its original position.

[0047] d. As the vehicle completes the turn, the steering gear returns to center, the steering lever resets, the exterior rearview mirrors return to their original positions, and the welcome lights focus on the blind spot warning lights and then turn off after a 2-3 second delay. The driver's field of vision is improved by returning to the default position (the position of the exterior rearview mirrors when the vehicle is moving straight or stationary, a position that allows the driver to observe adjacent lane conditions). The delayed-closing warning lights also alert people or vehicles approaching the blind spot. The combination of these two features effectively alerts both parties involved in the turn, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

[0048] The welcome warning light has adjustable brightness, adjusting the brightness of the projected light emitted based on the ambient light intensity. This automatic adjustment of the projection brightness is a typical example of a "perception-decision-execution" closed-loop control system. Its core principle lies in using an ambient light sensor to collect real-time ambient brightness data. This data is then processed by the control unit's logic and ultimately converted into pulse-width modulation (PWM) control of the LED light source's driving current. This ensures that the projected light maintains optimal visual performance under any lighting conditions, being sufficiently visible during the day while avoiding glare at night. The control process includes the following three stages:

[0049] 1. Sensing Layer: Acquisition and Digitization of Ambient Light Signals

[0050] The starting point of the entire automatic dimming process is the accurate perception of the ambient light intensity around the vehicle. This task is handled by the ambient light sensor (ALS) installed on the vehicle body.

[0051] Photoelectric conversion mechanism: The core of an ambient light sensor is a photodiode or phototransistor, which utilizes the photoelectric effect of semiconductors to convert visible light (wavelengths typically between 380nm and 780nm) into analog electrical signals (current or voltage). To accurately mimic the human eye's sensitivity to different wavelengths of light, the sensor surface is usually covered with specially designed optical filters to effectively filter out interfering components such as infrared and ultraviolet rays, ensuring that only visible light participates in signal processing. In automotive applications, these sensors need to have a wide dynamic range, typically capable of detecting environments from extremely dark conditions (0.015 lux) to direct sunlight (64,000 lux).

[0052] Signal Quantization: The analog current signals generated by photodiodes are extremely weak and must be amplified and processed immediately. Subsequently, a built-in or external analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts these analog signals into digital signals. For example, the high-performance automotive-grade light sensor ISL76682 can provide digital output with up to 16-bit resolution, mapping light intensity to a precise numerical code. This digital code, representing the current ambient light intensity, is sent to the control unit responsible for decision-making via an in-vehicle network (such as an I2C bus).

[0053] 2. Processing Layer: Decision-making and computation of control logic.

[0054] Upon receiving the digitized ambient light signal, the domain controller or door control module begins to execute the core decision-making algorithm.

[0055] Algorithm Mapping and Threshold Judgment: The control unit internally pre-sets a brightness mapping function or threshold table based on ergonomics and regulatory requirements. This function establishes a correspondence between the input ambient light intensity (e.g., 10,000 lux during the day, 500 lux at dusk, and 10 lux at night) and the ideal welcome light projection brightness. For example, the algorithm might set the target brightness to 100% when the ambient light is strong to achieve a clear warning effect; as the environment darkens, the target brightness smoothly decreases along a non-linear curve, potentially dropping to 10%-20% at night to avoid glare for pedestrians or drivers in the dark.

[0056] Generating Control Signals: After calculating the required target brightness using algorithms, the control unit needs to translate this brightness requirement into specific hardware control instructions. The most mainstream and efficient method is to generate a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. A PWM signal is a digital square wave that transmits information by changing its duty cycle (i.e., the proportion of high-level time within a cycle). The timer or microcontroller inside the control unit precisely generates this signal. For example, when the ambient light sensor detects that the vehicle is entering a dimly lit tunnel, the control unit quickly calculates and outputs a PWM signal with a duty cycle of only 10% to the subsequent LED driver.

[0057] 3. Execution layer: Precision dimming control of LEDs

[0058] The PWM signal ultimately needs to be converted into precise brightness changes of the LED light source, a process accomplished by the LED driver chip and its peripheral circuitry.

[0059] Advantages of PWM dimming: In automotive lighting, PWM dimming is the preferred solution because it offers significant advantages over simple analog dimming (which dims by changing the LED current). Analog dimming causes the LED's color temperature to shift when the current changes, affecting the consistency of the light color. PWM dimming, on the other hand, allows the LED to switch between full on and full off rapidly at frequencies imperceptible to the human eye (typically exceeding 100Hz, even reaching thousands of Hz). By controlling the ratio of on and off times, the persistence of vision in the human eye averages out this flicker, thus perceiving continuously changing brightness. During this process, the current of the LED at the moment of on remains at its rated optimal value, therefore the color temperature remains constant, and the projected graphics or text colors do not distort with changes in brightness.

[0060] Drive execution: After receiving the PWM signal from the control unit, the LED driver (such as LM3423, LT3922, etc.) will have its internal power MOSFET switch rapidly turned on and off according to the rhythm of the PWM, thereby precisely controlling the average current flowing through the LED string. For example, drivers like the LT3922 not only support external PWM signal control, but can also set the internal PWM frequency through pin resistors to achieve a dimming ratio as high as 128:1 or even 5000:1, ensuring that the brightness can smoothly transition from 100% to an almost invisible extremely dark state.

[0061] The system works as follows:

[0062] 1. The driver presets the straight-ahead rearview mirror angle (small-angle lane change) and light projection area A, as well as the turning rearview mirror angle (large-angle turn) and light projection area B, according to the current sitting posture and the driver's preferred driving position, and sends them to the domain controller module.

[0063] II. Vehicle operating conditions when the above intelligent modes are activated:

[0064] 1. When the vehicle makes a small lane change, the combination switch triggers the system. The domain control module collects the steering angle signal. If the angle is less than the set threshold, the door control module issues a light domain warning A zone command (synchronous on both sides) and an external rearview mirror lens inaction command (synchronous on both sides). After the vehicle completes the movement, the combination switch resets, and the domain controller issues a delayed extinguishing light domain warning light through the door control module. The current round of commands ends and the vehicle returns to standby state.

[0065] 2. When the vehicle makes a sharp turn, the combination switch triggers the system. The domain control module collects the steering angle signal. If the angle exceeds the set threshold, the door control module issues a light domain warning in area A (synchronous on both sides). The exterior rearview mirrors move to the turning rearview angle command (synchronous on both sides), and the position sensor feedback signal stops. After the vehicle completes the movement, the combination switch resets, and the domain controller issues a delayed extinguishing light domain warning light through the door control module. This round of commands ends and the vehicle returns to standby state.

[0066] 3. When the vehicle turns from a small angle to a larger angle, the combination switch triggers the system. The domain control module collects the steering angle signal. If the angle is less than a set threshold, the door control module issues a light domain warning in area A (synchronous on both sides), and the exterior rearview mirrors do not move (synchronous on both sides). As the angle gradually exceeds the set threshold, the domain controller, through the door control module, issues a light domain warning in area A focusing on area B (synchronous on both sides), and the exterior rearview mirrors move to the turning rearview angle (synchronous on both sides). The position sensor feedback signal stops. If the steering angle decreases and is greater than or equal to the threshold, the light domain warning refocuses from area B back to area A, and the exterior rearview mirrors move to the straight-ahead rearview angle (synchronous on both sides). The position sensor feedback signal stops. If the angle sensor signal decreases and is greater than or equal to the threshold again, and the angle increases again, the domain controller module determines the angle and issues a reverse command. The door control module collects the position sensor signal; if the angle is within range, it executes the action; otherwise, it does not. Once the vehicle's movement is complete, the combination switch resets, and the domain controller, through the door control module, issues a delayed extinguishing light domain warning light. This round of commands ends, and the vehicle returns to standby mode.

[0067] First, the optimal viewing position of the exterior rearview mirrors in straight-ahead driving mode is preset via the domain controller module. Then, the side welcome warning lights focus on the visible width to project warning messages onto the ground in area A on the side of the vehicle. When the steering gear reaches the turning angle threshold, the exterior rearview mirrors achieve the optimal viewing position for the two outer lanes of the vehicle, and the side welcome warning lights focus on the visible width to project warning messages onto the ground in area B on the side of the vehicle. During driving, the turn signal control signal is used to maintain the exterior rearview mirror's viewing angle position, only illuminating area A. Based on the steering gear turning angle threshold, a trigger signal is sent to the gate module to control the adjustment of the exterior rearview mirror's visible position, shifting the projection area of ​​the side welcome warning lights from area A to area B. This method of controlling the field of view expansion of the exterior rearview mirrors is effective, poses no safety hazards, and meets the current vehicle steering control requirements.

[0068] After entering blind spot warning mode, the domain controller determines whether to adjust the position of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors based on the steering wheel or steering gear angle. When the angle exceeds a set angle threshold, a target position is calculated using the current real-time angle information. This target position is then sent to the door control module for execution. The door control module drives the exterior rearview mirror adjustment motor to adjust the position and angle of the exterior rearview mirrors to meet the driver's visibility requirements at the current turning angle, thereby reducing blind spot accidents. In this embodiment, the target position of the exterior rearview mirror is a range value, determined by the maximum and minimum target angles. After receiving the range value composed of the maximum and minimum angles of the exterior rearview mirrors from the domain controller, the door control module controls the adjustment motor to adjust the exterior rearview mirrors. During the turning process, the position and angle of the exterior rearview mirrors are cyclically adjusted from the minimum to the maximum value. This cyclic adjustment between the minimum and maximum values ​​during the movement allows the driver to dynamically view the mirror image information related to the blind spot while turning. The dynamic movement of the rearview mirrors allows for better observation of the blind spot image during turning. The position and angle of the exterior rearview mirror are adjusted at a preset rate between the minimum and maximum values ​​to ensure stable observation of the image in the rearview mirror. If the adjustment rate fluctuates, it will affect the driver's observation. Therefore, in this scheme, the adjustment rate of the exterior rearview mirror is kept constant.

[0069] Obviously, the specific implementation of this invention is not limited to the above-described methods. Any non-substantial improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution of this invention are within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent control system for blind spot monitoring in automotive steering, characterized in that: It includes a domain controller module and a door control module; the input terminals of the domain controller module are respectively connected to a steering angle sensor and a combination switch to acquire steering angle signals and steering trigger signals respectively; the output terminal of the domain controller module is connected to the door control module to execute the control commands of the domain controller module to control the adjustment of the exterior rearview mirror angle.

2. The intelligent control system for blind spot monitoring of a vehicle's rearview mirror as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The input terminal of the door control module is connected to a position sensor, and the output terminal of the door control module is connected to the exterior rearview mirror adjustment mechanism. The position sensor is used to collect the position information of the exterior rearview mirror, and the door control module adjusts the position of the exterior rearview mirror through the exterior rearview mirror adjustment mechanism according to the position information of the position sensor.

3. The intelligent control system for blind spot monitoring of a vehicle's rearview mirror as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The output of the door control module is connected to the external welcome warning light, and the door control module drives the external welcome warning light to project warning light text or graphics onto the ground in the blind spot.

4. A vehicle steering rear blind spot intelligent control system as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The adjustable position range of the left and right exterior rearview mirrors and the corresponding rearview mirror positions in the blind spot when turning are pre-stored in the domain controller. When turning, the domain controller obtains the corresponding rearview mirror position information according to the current steering angle and drives the door control module to adjust the rearview mirror position to the set position.

5. A vehicle steering rear blind spot intelligent control system as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The domain controller calculates the current blind spot range of the vehicle based on the cornering signal and drives the external welcome warning lights to project warning light onto the ground in the blind spot.

6. A control method for an intelligent control system for blind spot monitoring of a vehicle as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: The system acquires the turning trigger signal of the current vehicle in real time and triggers the blind spot warning mode based on the turning trigger signal. In blind spot warning mode, the position of the exterior rearview mirrors is adjusted according to the turning angle.

7. The control method of the intelligent control system for blind spot of automobile steering as described in claim 6, characterized in that: In blind spot warning mode, the turning angle is obtained. When the angle is less than the set threshold, the position of the exterior rearview mirror remains unchanged; otherwise, the position of the exterior rearview mirror is controlled according to the size of the angle.

8. The control method of the intelligent control system for blind spot of automobile steering as described in claim 7, characterized in that: When the angle reaches the set threshold, the exterior rearview mirror lens starts to adjust horizontally outward to the lane furthest from the vehicle in the preset reflective field of view. The domain controller module then illuminates the vehicle's exterior welcome warning lights, focusing the projection area to illuminate the warning message.

9. The control method of the intelligent control system for blind spot of automobile steering as described in any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that: When the vehicle turns and moves, the dual side mirrors are triggered to adjust towards the vehicle from the far side. The visible angle of the mirrors changes position with the steering angle. When the steering angle decreases and is less than a set threshold, the mirror position is reset to the initial position. The initial position is the corresponding position of the left and right side mirrors when the vehicle is moving straight.

10. The control method of the intelligent control system for blind spot of automobile steering as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The turning trigger signal is obtained by the turn signal lever in the combination switch. When the turn signal lever is turned to the turn signal position, the blind spot warning mode is triggered. When the turn signal lever is reset, the blind spot warning mode is turned off. At this time, the welcome light focuses on the blind spot warning light and delays its extinguishing.

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