Passenger side side mirror control device

Abstract

To provide a front passenger seat side side-view mirror control device which can suppress impairment of a front passenger side side-view mirror.SOLUTION: A front passenger side side-view mirror control device 1 comprises: a support mechanism 10 which supports a front passenger side side-view mirror M1 of a vehicle C; a motor 20 which is capable of turning the support mechanism 10 toward a vehicle body side of the vehicle C; a motor control part 30a which is capable of controlling the motor 20; a direction indicator 50 which is capable of detecting a course change schedule of the vehicle C and sending the detected schedule to the motor control part 30a; and a speed detection part 60 which is capable of detecting a travel speed of the vehicle C sending the detected speed to the motor control part 30a. The motor control part 30a controls the motor 20 so as to: when receiving the course changer schedule toward a driver seat side of the vehicle C and the travel speed indicating a stop of the vehicle C, turn the support mechanism 10 toward a vehicle body side of the vehicle C; and, when no longer receiving at least any of the schedule and the stop indication, control the motor 20 to turn the support mechanism 10 to return into an original state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger side mirror control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with side mirrors for checking the conditions behind the vehicle on the left and right. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the position of the outside mirror is adjusted by rotating the outside mirror using a stay drive motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-72748 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when a large vehicle with a large width, such as a truck or bus, is waiting to turn right on a narrow road and another large vehicle is overtaking from the left lane, the distance between the left side mirror (passenger side mirror) of the vehicle and the right side mirror of the other vehicle becomes narrow. As a result, the side mirrors of the two vehicles may come into contact with each other, potentially damaging the passenger side mirror of the vehicle.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a passenger side mirror control device that can prevent damage to the passenger side mirror. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples.

[0007] The passenger-side side mirror control device according to this application example includes a support mechanism that supports the passenger-side side mirror of a vehicle, a motor capable of rotating the support mechanism toward the body of the vehicle, a motor control unit capable of controlling the motor, a turn signal that detects planned lane changes of the vehicle and transmits the detected turn signal to the motor control unit, and a speed detection unit that detects the vehicle's traveling speed and transmits the detected turn signal to the motor control unit, wherein the motor control unit controls the motor to rotate the support mechanism toward the body of the vehicle when it receives a plan to change lane to the driver's side of the vehicle and a plan to stop the vehicle, and controls the motor to rotate the support mechanism back to its original state when it no longer receives at least one of the plan to change lane to the driver's side of the vehicle and a plan to stop the vehicle.

[0008] According to this application example, when the motor control unit receives a signal that the vehicle will change lanes toward the driver's seat and that the vehicle will stop, the motor control unit can rotate the passenger side mirror together with the support mechanism toward the vehicle body. As a result, for example, when a vehicle is stopped in the right lane of a two-lane road with the intention of turning right at a traffic light, it is possible to avoid contact with the passenger side mirror of the vehicle from another vehicle traveling from behind in the left lane of the two-lane road.

[0009] Furthermore, according to this application example, when at least one of a planned lane change toward the driver's seat side of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle is no longer received, the passenger side mirror can be rotated together with the support mechanism to return to its original state, thereby making the passenger side mirror usable again.

[0010] Furthermore, according to this application example, the motor control unit can automatically control the passenger side mirror, so that an increase in the driving burden on the driver can be avoided.

[0011] Therefore, according to the present invention, the passenger side mirror can be used as needed, while preventing damage to the passenger side mirror without increasing the driving burden on the driver. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the passenger seat side mirror control device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a passenger-side side mirror control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] (Configuration of passenger side mirror control device according to the present invention) The configuration of a first embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the first embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention. The passenger-side side mirror control device 1 is provided, for example, in a vehicle C (specifically, a large vehicle such as a bus or truck) having a vehicle body B, a passenger-side side mirror M1, and a driver-side side mirror M2. The passenger-side side mirror control device 1 includes a support mechanism 10, a motor 20, a VCU 30 (control unit), an automatic control switch 40, a direction indicator 50, and a speed sensor 60 (speed detection unit).

[0014] The support mechanism 10 supports the passenger-side side mirror M1 at one end, and is connected to the vehicle body B at the other end. The support mechanism 10 is provided with a rotatable support stay 10a at the other end. When the support stay 10a rotates, the entire support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1 rotate between the vehicle exterior (the passenger-side side in the vehicle width direction) and the vehicle body side (the driver's side and forward in the vehicle width direction). A well-known support mechanism can be used as the support mechanism 10. The passenger-side side mirror M1 is rotated to the vehicle exterior when in use (for example, when the vehicle C is traveling), and is rotated to the vehicle body side when not in use (for example, when the vehicle C is stopped or parked).

[0015] The motor 20 is provided so as to rotate the support stay 10a, thereby rotating the entire support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1.

[0016] The VCU 30 (control unit) is used to control the entire vehicle C. The motor control unit 30a of the VCU 30 is capable of controlling the rotation (e.g., the rotation direction and rotation angle) of the motor 20 with a control signal S4 based on a signal S1 from an automatic control switch 40 (described later), a signal S2 from a direction indicator 50, and a signal S3 from a speed sensor 60. By controlling the rotation of the motor 20, the VCU 30 can adjust the rotation positions of the support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1.

[0017] The automatic control switch 40 is capable of transmitting a signal S1 to the VCU 30 regarding whether or not to implement the automatic control mode for the passenger side mirror M1 based on information I1 input by the driver of the vehicle C. The automatic control switch 40 is provided, for example, on the instrument panel of the vehicle C, and is set to OFF when the engine of the vehicle C is started.

[0018] The direction indicator 50 is capable of detecting the planned lane change of vehicle C based on information I2 input by the driver of vehicle C, and transmitting the detected planned lane change (i.e., the planned direction of travel) to VCU30 as a signal S2.

[0019] The speed sensor 60 detects information I3 relating to the traveling speed of the vehicle C and is capable of transmitting the detected information I3 relating to the traveling speed as a signal S3 to the VCU 30. As the speed sensor 60, for example, a sensor that detects the rotation speed of a drive shaft connected to the drive wheels of the vehicle C can be used.

[0020] Next, the operation of a first embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the first embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention. In step S1, the motor control unit 30a determines whether the control of the passenger-side side mirror M1 is in automatic control mode, that is, whether a signal S1 indicating that the automatic control switch 40 is turned ON has been received. If step S1 is Yes, that is, if the control of the passenger-side side mirror M1 is in automatic control mode, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, if step S1 is No, that is, if the control of the passenger-side side mirror M1 is not in automatic control mode, the motor control unit 30a ends the flow.

[0021] In step S2, the motor control unit 30a determines whether a lane change to the driver's seat side is planned, that is, whether a signal S2 indicating that a lane change to the driver's seat side of the vehicle C is planned is received from the turn signal 50. If step S2 is Yes, that is, if a lane change to the driver's seat side is planned, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, if step S2 is No, that is, if a lane change to the driver's seat side is not planned, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S6.

[0022] In step S3, the motor control unit 30a determines whether the vehicle C is stopped, that is, whether a signal S3 indicating that the traveling speed of the vehicle C is 0 [m / s] has been received from the speed sensor 60. If step S3 is Yes, that is, if the vehicle C is stopped, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if step S3 is No, that is, if the vehicle C is not stopped, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S6.

[0023] In step S4, the motor control unit 30a determines whether the support mechanism 10 is rotated toward the outside of the vehicle, that is, whether a signal S4 to position the support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1 toward the outside of the vehicle is being sent to the motor 20. If step S4 is Yes, that is, if the support mechanism 10 is rotated toward the outside of the vehicle, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if step S4 is No, that is, if the support mechanism 10 is not rotated toward the outside of the vehicle, the motor control unit 30a ends the flow.

[0024] In step S5, the motor control unit 30a rotates the motor 20 in one direction, thereby rotating the support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1 attached thereto toward the vehicle body.

[0025] In step S6, the motor control unit 30a determines whether the support mechanism 10 is rotated toward the vehicle body, that is, whether a signal S4 for positioning the support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1 toward the vehicle body is being sent to the motor 20. If step S6 is Yes, that is, if the support mechanism 10 is rotated toward the vehicle body, the motor control unit 30a proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if step S6 is No, that is, if the support mechanism 10 is not rotated toward the vehicle body, the motor control unit 30a ends the flow.

[0026] In step S7, the motor control unit 30a rotates the motor 20 in the opposite direction to that in step S5, thereby rotating the support mechanism 10 and the passenger-side side mirror M1 attached thereto toward the outside of the vehicle.

[0027] (Effect of passenger side mirror control device) According to the passenger-side side mirror control device 1, when the motor control unit 30a receives information that the vehicle C plans to change course toward the driver's seat and that the vehicle C will be stopped, the motor control unit 30a can rotate the passenger-side side mirror M1 toward the body of the vehicle C together with the support mechanism 10. This makes it possible to avoid contact (particularly contact between the side mirrors) between the passenger-side side mirror M1 of the vehicle C and another vehicle traveling from behind the vehicle C in the left lane of the two-lane road, for example, when the vehicle C is stopped in the right lane of a two-lane road with the intention of turning right at a traffic light.

[0028] Furthermore, when at least one of the planned course change to the driver's seat side of vehicle C and the stopping of vehicle C is no longer received, the passenger side mirror M1 can be rotated together with the support mechanism 10 to return to its original state, thereby making the passenger side mirror M1 usable again.

[0029] Furthermore, since the motor control unit 30a can automatically control the passenger seat side mirror M1, it is possible to avoid increasing the driving burden on the driver of the vehicle C.

[0030] Therefore, the passenger side mirror M1 can be used as needed, and damage to the passenger side mirror M1 can be suppressed without increasing the driving burden on the driver of the vehicle C.

[0031] (others) It is preferable that the vehicle C is equipped with a camera, an electronic mirror, or the like that allows the driver to see behind the passenger side when the passenger side side mirror M1 is not in use.

[0032] Second Embodiment The configuration of a second embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the second embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention. Regarding the second embodiment, only configurations and operations that are different from those of the first embodiment will be described, and descriptions of configurations and operations that are common to the first embodiment will be omitted. Furthermore, the effects of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0033] The passenger-side side mirror control device 1-2 has a support mechanism 10-2 instead of the support mechanism 10 shown in Fig. 1, but otherwise has the same configuration as the passenger-side side mirror control device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The support mechanism 10-2 has a power transmission mechanism 10b connected to the motor 20, a support stay 10a connected to the power transmission mechanism 10b, and a support portion 10c connected to the support stay 10a and supporting the passenger-side side mirror M1. The rotation of the motor 20 operates the power transmission mechanism 10b, which rotates the support stay 10a, thereby rotating the support portion 10c and the passenger-side side mirror M1.

[0034] (Third embodiment) The configuration of a third embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the third embodiment of a passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention. Regarding the third embodiment, only configurations and operations that are different from those of the first embodiment will be described, and descriptions of configurations and operations that are common to the first embodiment will be omitted. Furthermore, since the effects of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0035] The passenger-side side mirror control device 1-3 has a support mechanism 10-3 instead of the support mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 1, but otherwise has the same configuration as the passenger-side side mirror control device 1 shown in FIG. 1. The support mechanism 10-3 has a connecting portion 10d connected to the vehicle body B, a support stay 10a connected to the connecting portion 10d, and a support portion 10c connected to the support stay 10a and supporting the passenger-side side mirror M1. A motor 20 is provided inside the support mechanism 10-3 so as to be able to rotate the support stay 10a. When the support stay 10a rotates due to rotation of the motor 20, the support portion 10c and the passenger-side side mirror M1 rotate.

[0036] Although the description of the passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention has been completed above, the aspects of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments. In the vehicle C of each of the above embodiments, the driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle and the passenger seat is on the left side of the vehicle, but the passenger-side side mirror control device according to the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle in which the driver's seat is on the left side of the vehicle and the passenger seat is on the right side of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1, 1-2, 1-3 Passenger side side mirror control device 10 Support mechanism 10a Support stay 10b Power transmission mechanism 10c Support part 10d Connecting part 20 Motor 30 VCU (control unit) 30a Motor control unit 40 Automatic control switch 50 Turn signal 60 Speed ​​sensor (speed detection part) B body C vehicle I1~I3 Information M1 passenger side mirror M2 driver's side mirror S1~S4 signal

Claims

1. a support mechanism for supporting a passenger side side mirror of the vehicle; a motor capable of rotating the support mechanism toward the vehicle body; a motor control unit capable of controlling the motor; a turn indicator capable of detecting a course change plan of the vehicle and transmitting the detected course change plan to the motor control unit; a speed detection unit capable of detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle and transmitting the detected speed to the motor control unit; The motor control unit When a course change plan to the driver's seat side of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle are received, the motor is controlled to rotate the support mechanism toward the body of the vehicle. Passenger side side mirror control unit.

2. The motor control unit When at least one of a course change plan to the driver's seat side of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle is no longer received, the motor is controlled to rotate the support mechanism and return it to its original state.

2. The passenger side mirror control device according to claim 1.

3. Further comprising an automatic control switch, The motor control unit When the automatic control switch is turned on, When a course change plan to the driver's seat side of the vehicle and a stop of the vehicle are received, the motor is controlled to rotate the support mechanism toward the body of the vehicle.

2. The passenger side mirror control device according to claim 1.

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