Rear under view mirror system for vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides a rear under view mirror system for vehicles. The rear under view mirror system includes a rear under view mirror unit having a semitransparent glass and a smart glass. When a vehicle moves forwards, the rear under view mirror unit does not protrude rearwards relative to a vehicle body and overlaps a rear windshield glass, thus providing a good appearance and preventing resistance to airflow, without hindering a driver from seeing the area behind the vehicle through the rear windshield glass. The rear under view mirror unit has a large area corresponding to that of the rear windshield glass, thus providing a sufficient view of the low area to the rear of the vehicle.

1 . A rear under view mirror system for vehicles, comprising: 
 rear under view mirror means mounted to an outer portion of a rear windshield glass in such a way as to be converted between a state where the rear under view mirror means overlaps the rear windshield glass, and a state where the rear under view mirror means is rotated upwards relative to the rear windshield glass, the rear under view mirror means passing light from an area behind a vehicle to an occupant when overlapping the rear windshield glass, and reflecting a view of a low area to the rear of the vehicle to the occupant when rotated upwards;    rotation means to rotate the rear under view mirror means; and    a controller to control the rotation means.    
   
   
       2 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said rear under view mirror means comprises a semitransparent glass passing or reflecting light, depending on an incident angle of light.  
   
   
       3 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said semitransparent glass has the same size as the rear windshield glass.  
   
   
       4 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said rear under view mirror means comprises a rear under view mirror unit including: 
 a semitransparent glass passing or reflecting light depending on an incident angle of light; and    a smart glass integrally overlapping an outer portion of the semitransparent glass, and converted between a transparent state and an opaque state, depending on whether electricity is supplied by the controller.    
   
   
       5 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the rear under view mirror unit has the same size as the rear windshield glass.  
   
   
       6 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said rotation means comprises: 
 a rotating shaft to secure an upper end of the rear under view mirror unit to the vehicle body;    a rack rod rotatably connected to the rear under view mirror unit; and    a motor having a pinion that engages with the rack rod.    
   
   
       7 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a stopper provided at a predetermined position on the rack rod, and limiting a range of movement of the rack rod relative to the pinion.    
   
   
       8 . The rear under view mirror system as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a rear sensor mounted to a rear portion of the vehicle body, and providing data to the controller;    a damage preventing sensor installed at a position adjacent to a lower end of the rear under view mirror unit on the rear portion of the vehicle body, and providing data to the controller; and    alarm means connected to the controller.    
   
   
       9 . A rear under view mirror system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 rear under view mirror apparatus configured with a windshield in such a way as to be converted between a state where the rear under view mirror apparatus overlaps the rear windshield glass, and a state where the rear under view mirror apparatus is rotated upwards relative to the windshield, the rear under view mirror apparatus passing light from an area behind a vehicle to an occupant when overlapping the windshield, and reflecting a view of a low area to the rear of the vehicle to the occupant when rotated upwards.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising rotation apparatus to rotate the rear under view mirror apparatus.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a controller to control the rotation apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the rear under view mirror apparatus comprises a semitransparent glass passing or reflecting light, depending on an incident angle of light.  
   
   
       13 . A motor vehicle comprising the rear under view mirror system of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       14 . A motor vehicle comprising the rear under view mirror system of  claim 9.