GB2105847A

GB2105847A - Vehicle mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2105847A
Application number: GB08223009A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hidetoshi Ida
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-08-11
Filing date: 1982-08-10
Publication date: 1983-03-30
Also published as: KR840000402A; JPS5835559Y2; JPS5823747U; DE3229746A1

Abstract

A vehicle mirror combined with a measuring instrument comprises a mirror 3 mounted in a front opening of a case 1 provided with an integral mounting leg 2, and a digital display board 5 in the case 1 which displays the running speed of the vehicle, and is capable of being seen at the front surface of the mirror 3 which is light transmitting. Alternatively, a speed indicator in the form of a band of LED's may be provided at the top of mirror 3. Green, yellow and red sections of the band are illuminated to indicate the speed range. The vehicle driver can determine the vehicle speed without significantly averting his eyes from the direction of travel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle mirror This invention relates to a rear-view or fender mirror for a vehicle, which mirrors are generally mounted on the sides at the front of a vehicle body or on the door of a vehicle.

The speedometer or tachometer which indicates the running speed of a vehicle is usually disposed near the steering wheel in a vehicle. To check the running speed indicated on the speedometer, the driver has to divert his eyesight significantly from the running direction.

Doing so, however, is very dangerous when the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 100km/h.

The invention is intended in the light of the above, and its object is to provide a rear-view mirror which permits the driver to readily ascertain the running speed while driving the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mirror, which permits the driver to monitor the running speed without diverting his eyesight significantly from the running direction.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a mirror which has an aesthetically excellent appearance as a fitting for a vehicle.

According to the invention, there is provided a mirror for a vehicle, which comprises a mirror which is mounted in a front opening of a mirror case integral with a leg adapted to project from a vehicle body and is capable of reflecting light coming from the outside of the case and transmitting light coming from inside of the case, a digital display board within the case, for digitally displaying the running speed of the vehicle or the like and is capable of being seen at the front surface of the mirror, and a digital control unit for controlling the digital display on the digital display board, which digital control unit includes a sensor for detecting the rotational speed of a gear and generating a pulse output proportional to the detected rotational speed, a counter circuit for controlling the pulse output of the sensor in a predetermined period of time and a latch circuit for causing a digital display according to the output signal from the counter circuit.

The above and other features and advantages of the digital rear view mirror according to the invention will become more apparent from the following description. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in schematic section, showing an embodiment of a mirror according to the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electric circuit of one embodiment of the mirror according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment of a mirror according to the invention.

In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or equivalent parts.

Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 1 designates a wing mirror case. The wing mirror case 1 has a substantially rectangular front, and is integral with a leg 2 which projects from a vehicle body.

Reference numeral 3 designates a mirror. The mirror 3 is mounted in the front opening of the wing mirror case 1. The mirror 3 can reflect light coming from outside the case 1 and transmit light coming from inside the case 1.

The mirror 3 is mounted in the front opeing of the wing mirror case 1 by a mirror retainer 4. A digital display board 5, which is adapted to display digitally the running speed or like data, is provided in the case 1. The display board 5 is mounted on a base 6 which is in turn secured to the back side of the mirror retainer 4 The digital display is effected by a digital display unit. Figure 2 shows an example of a digital display unit.

Reference numeral 7 in Figure 2 designates a sensor 2. The sensor 7 is mounted on, for instance, a driven gear of the vehicle transmission. It can produce a plurality of pulses while the gear supporting it completes one rotation.

The pulse output of the sensor 7 is shaped in a shaping circuit 8 and then supplied to a gate circuit 9.

The gate circuit 9 passes the pulse output of the shaping circuit 8 only for a rising period of a gate pulse G which is supplied from a timing signal generating circuit 10. The pulse output, having been passed through the gate circuit 9 is counted in a counter circuit 11, the output of which is supplied to a latch circuit 12. The latch circuit 12 causes digital display of the running speed on the digital display board 5 according to the counted pulse data.

The timing signal generating circuit 10 provides a reset pulse R to the counter 11. In response to this reset pulse R the counter circuit 11 is cleared to 0 to start counting of pulses afresh.

Figure 3 shows a different embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a speed indicator 13 consisting of LEDs is provided on top of the mirror 3.

The indicator includes a green colour display section A, a yellow colour display section B and a red colour display section C.

In the indicator, the display is switched to the yellow display when the vehicle speed exceeds 60 km/h and is switched to the red display when the speed exceeds 100km/h. Thus, even in case when the driver cannot recognize the speed display on the digital board 5, the driver can know roughly the prevailing speed.

It is to be appreciated that according to the invention the following effects can be obtained.

(a) with the digital wing mirror according to the invention, the driver can recognize the prevailing speed while looking substantially in the running direction. Thus, it is possible to improve the driver's safety in traffic.

(b) It is possible to provide a novel automobile digital fender mirror which has excellently aesthetic appearance.

1. A mirror for a vehicle comprising: a mirror mounted in a front opening of a mirror

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle mirror This invention relates to a rear-view or fender mirror for a vehicle, which mirrors are generally mounted on the sides at the front of a vehicle body or on the door of a vehicle. The speedometer or tachometer which indicates the running speed of a vehicle is usually disposed near the steering wheel in a vehicle. To check the running speed indicated on the speedometer, the driver has to divert his eyesight significantly from the running direction. Doing so, however, is very dangerous when the vehicle is running at a speed higher than 100km/h. The invention is intended in the light of the above, and its object is to provide a rear-view mirror which permits the driver to readily ascertain the running speed while driving the vehicle. Another object of the invention is to provide a mirror, which permits the driver to monitor the running speed without diverting his eyesight significantly from the running direction. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a mirror which has an aesthetically excellent appearance as a fitting for a vehicle. According to the invention, there is provided a mirror for a vehicle, which comprises a mirror which is mounted in a front opening of a mirror case integral with a leg adapted to project from a vehicle body and is capable of reflecting light coming from the outside of the case and transmitting light coming from inside of the case, a digital display board within the case, for digitally displaying the running speed of the vehicle or the like and is capable of being seen at the front surface of the mirror, and a digital control unit for controlling the digital display on the digital display board, which digital control unit includes a sensor for detecting the rotational speed of a gear and generating a pulse output proportional to the detected rotational speed, a counter circuit for controlling the pulse output of the sensor in a predetermined period of time and a latch circuit for causing a digital display according to the output signal from the counter circuit. The above and other features and advantages of the digital rear view mirror according to the invention will become more apparent from the following description. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in schematic section, showing an embodiment of a mirror according to the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electric circuit of one embodiment of the mirror according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment of a mirror according to the invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or equivalent parts. Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 1 designates a wing mirror case. The wing mirror case 1 has a substantially rectangular front, and is integral with a leg 2 which projects from a vehicle body. Reference numeral 3 designates a mirror. The mirror 3 is mounted in the front opening of the wing mirror case 1. The mirror 3 can reflect light coming from outside the case 1 and transmit light coming from inside the case 1. The mirror 3 is mounted in the front opeing of the wing mirror case 1 by a mirror retainer 4. A digital display board 5, which is adapted to display digitally the running speed or like data, is provided in the case 1. The display board 5 is mounted on a base 6 which is in turn secured to the back side of the mirror retainer 4 The digital display is effected by a digital display unit. Figure 2 shows an example of a digital display unit. Reference numeral 7 in Figure 2 designates a sensor 2. The sensor 7 is mounted on, for instance, a driven gear of the vehicle transmission. It can produce a plurality of pulses while the gear supporting it completes one rotation. The pulse output of the sensor 7 is shaped in a shaping circuit 8 and then supplied to a gate circuit 9. The gate circuit 9 passes the pulse output of the shaping circuit 8 only for a rising period of a gate pulse G which is supplied from a timing signal generating circuit 10. The pulse output, having been passed through the gate circuit 9 is counted in a counter circuit 11, the output of which is supplied to a latch circuit 12. The latch circuit 12 causes digital display of the running speed on the digital display board 5 according to the counted pulse data. The timing signal generating circuit 10 provides a reset pulse R to the counter 11. In response to this reset pulse R the counter circuit 11 is cleared to 0 to start counting of pulses afresh. Figure 3 shows a different embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a speed indicator 13 consisting of LEDs is provided on top of the mirror 3. The indicator includes a green colour display section A, a yellow colour display section B and a red colour display section C. In the indicator, the display is switched to the yellow display when the vehicle speed exceeds 60 km/h and is switched to the red display when the speed exceeds 100km/h. Thus, even in case when the driver cannot recognize the speed display on the digital board 5, the driver can know roughly the prevailing speed. It is to be appreciated that according to the invention the following effects can be obtained. (a) with the digital wing mirror according to the invention, the driver can recognize the prevailing speed while looking substantially in the running direction. Thus, it is possible to improve the driver's safety in traffic. (b) It is possible to provide a novel automobile digital fender mirror which has excellently aesthetic appearance. CLAIMS

1. A mirror for a vehicle comprising: a mirror mounted in a front opening of a mirror case integral with a leg adapted to project from a vehicle body, said mirror being capable of reflecting light coming from the outside of the case and transmitting light coming from the inside of the case; a digital display board within the case, for digitally displaying the running speed of the vehicle or other information said display being capable of being seen at the front surface of said mirror; and a digital display control unit for controlling the digital display on said digital display board, said digital display control unit including a sensor for detecting the rotational speed of a gear and generating a pulse output proportional to the detected rotational speed, a counter circuit for counting the pulse output of said sensor in a predetermined period of time, and a latch circuit for causing a digital display according to the output signal from said counter circuit.

2. A vehicle mirror comprising a mirror and display means mounted behind the mirror, the mirror being adapted to reflect and transmit light such that information displayed by said display means together with a reflected rear view can be seen by the driver when looking in the mirror.

3. A mirror as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a general speed indicator adjacent the mirror, the general speed indicator being adapted to display a range of speed within which the vehicle is travelling.

4. Avehicle mirror, comprising a mirror to reflect a rear view for the vehicle driver and a general vehicle speed indicator adjacent the mirror, said general speed indicator comprising means for indicating by colour coding a range of speed within which the vehicle is travelling.

5. A mirror as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, adapted to be mounted on a front wing of a vehicle.

6. A mirror for a vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. The features hereinbefore disclosed or their equivalents in any novel combination.