Method and apparatus for controlling vehicle exterior mirrors
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorJames F. Quinn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling retractable exterior mirrors of a vehicle including an on-vehicle spatial monitoring system includes retracting one of the exterior mirrors when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system indicates a likelihood of collision between the one of the retractable exterior mirrors and a remote object and extending the retracted exterior mirror when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system indicates no likelihood of collision. One of the exterior mirrors retracts in response to opening an extra-vehicle door and extends in response to closing said extra-vehicle door.
Claims19
A method for controlling retractable exterior mirrors of a vehicle including an on-vehicle spatial monitoring system, comprising:
- retracting, by a controller, one of the exterior mirrors when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system indicates a likelihood of collision between the one of the exterior mirrors and a remote object;
- extending the one of the exterior mirrors when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system indicates no likelihood of collision between the retracted exterior mirror and the remote object;
- retracting one of the exterior mirrors in response to opening an extra-vehicle door;
- and
- extending the retracted exterior mirror in response to closing said extra-vehicle door.
A method for controlling retractable exterior mirrors on a vehicle including an on-vehicle spatial monitoring system, comprising:
- indicating, by the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system, an imminent collision between one of the exterior mirrors and a remote object during low-speed vehicle operation and retracting the one of the exterior mirrors in response to said indicating;
- and
- extending the retracted one of the exterior mirrors when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system discontinues indicating a likelihood of collision between the exterior mirrors in the extended state and the remote object.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- retractable exterior mirrors;
- an on-vehicle spatial monitoring system;
- and
- a controller operative to:
- retract one of the exterior mirrors when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system indicates a likelihood of collision between the one of the exterior mirrors and a remote object;
- extend the one of the exterior mirrors when the on-vehicle spatial monitoring system indicates no likelihood of collision between the retracted exterior mirror and the remote object;
- retract one of the exterior mirrors responsive to opening an extra-vehicle door;
- and
- extend the retracted exterior mirror responsive to closing said extra-vehicle door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.