Rearview mirror assembly with internally mounted compass sensor
US6140933A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2001/1215
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A rearview mirror assembly is disclosed for use in a vehicle that includes a mirror housing, a mounting structure for pivotally mounting the mirror housing to the vehicle such that the mirror housing may be both vertically and horizontally tilted, a compass sensor disposed in the mirror housing and coupled to a compass processing circuit, and a tilt detector for detecting when the mirror housing has been tilted from a prior position and for generating and transmitting a tilt detection signal to the compass processing circuit. The compass processing circuit may then respond to the reception of the tilt detecting signal by compensating the compass reading and/or display or by recalibrating the compass. The compass may be recalibrated using a variety of techniques, which may include, for example, comparing the sensor output values immediately prior and immediately after a tilt detection signal has been received and adjusting the calibration point by an amount corresponding to any difference between the sensor output levels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.