System and method of operating a side mirror of a vehicle

Abstract

A system of a side mirror of a vehicle includes: a driving motor which is driven by input electric power and supplies a driving force for rotating the side mirror from a folding position to an unfolding position or rotating the side mirror from the unfolding position to the folding position; a switch selecting unfolding or folding of the side mirror; an electric power source supplying electric power to the driving motor; and a mirror driving unit supplying electric power to the driving motor from the electric power source according to a signal of the switch, and performing a blocking cancellation operation of reversing a rotation direction of the side mirror.

1 . A driving system of a side mirror of a vehicle, comprising:
 a driving motor which is driven by input electric power and supplies a driving force for rotating the side mirror from a folding position to an unfolding position or rotating the side mirror from the unfolding position to the folding position;   a switch which selects unfolding or folding of the side mirror;   an electric power source supplying electric power to the driving motor; and   a mirror driving unit supplying electric power to the driving motor from the electric power source according to a signal of the switch, and performing a blocking cancellation operation.   
   
   
       2 . The driving system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the driving motor is a bidirectional motor which can rotate in forward and reverse directions depending on a direction of an electric power input,   the mirror driving unit determines a direction of an electric power input to the driving motor from the electric power source according to a signal of the switch, and   the blocking cancellation operation is performed by reversing a direction of an electric power input to the driving motor and again returning to an original electric power direction.   
   
   
       3 . The driving system of  claim 2 , wherein the blocking cancellation operation is be able to be repeated at least several times. 
   
   
       4 . The driving system of  claim 3 , wherein when the blocking cancellation operation is repeatedly performed, a reverse time of an electric power input in the blocking cancellation operation is set to be shorter than a previous reverse time. 
   
   
       5 . The driving system of  claim 1 , wherein the mirror driving unit comprises:
 a controller receiving a selected signal of the switch and generating a signal according to the input signal;   a relay driving circuit receiving the signal of the controller and supplying a relay driving signal;   a relay which is switched according to the signal applied to the relay driving circuit so as to apply electric power of the electric power source to an electric power passage in a forward direction or in a reverse direction; and   a current detector detecting current to the driving motor and supplying a corresponding signal to the controller.   
   
   
       6 . The driving system of  claim 1 , wherein the mirror driving unit is installed in a side door of a driver seat. 
   
   
       7 . The driving system of  claim 5 , wherein the mirror driving unit is installed in a side door of a driver seat. 
   
   
       8 . The driving system of  claim 1 , further comprising a detector for detecting the completion of the folding operation and the unfolding operation of the side mirror. 
   
   
       9 . The driving system of  claim 2 , further comprising a detector for detecting the completion of the folding operation and the unfolding operation of the side mirror. 
   
   
       10 . A driving method of operating a side mirror of a vehicle, the driving method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a switching signal of a switch regarding folding or unfolding of the side mirror;   applying electric power to a driving motor in a current direction corresponding to the switching signal;   determining whether a blocking in the side mirror occurs;   reversing the driving motor for an electric power reverse time by reversing a direction of an electric power input to the driving motor, if it is determined that the blocking in the side mirror occurs; and   returning a rotation direction of the driving motor to an original direction thereof after the reversing the driving motor.   
   
   
       11 . The driving method of  claim 10 , wherein the blocking comprises:
 detecting an initial starting current of the driving motor;   detecting whether a restraint current is generated in the driving motor; and   determining whether the restraint current is generated by a completion of an operation of the driving motor or by a blocking of the side mirror, if it is determined that the restraint current is generated in the driving motor.   
   
   
       12 . The driving method of  claim 11 , further comprising detecting whether a regular current of the driving motor occurs, after the detection the initial starting current of the driving motor. 
   
   
       13 . The driving method of  claim 11 , wherein the restraint current is greater than or equal to the initial starting current. 
   
   
       14 . The driving method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the restraint current is generated by a completion of an operation of the driving motor or by a blocking of the side mirror determines a duration time of a regular current with a predetermined operation completion time, and further determines that the restraint current is generated by the blocking of the side mirror if the duration time of the regular current is shorter than or equal to the operation completion time. 
   
   
       15 . The driving method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the restraint current is generated by a completion of an operation of the driving motor or by a blocking of the side mirror determines whether the operation completion signal has been input after the restraint current is generated, and further determines that the blocking occurs if it is determined the operation completion signal is not input. 
   
   
       16 . The driving method of  claim 15 , wherein the operation completion signal is information on a rotation angle of the driving motor. 
   
   
       17 . The driving method of  claim 15 , wherein the operation completion signal is a signal input from a sensor installed at a folding completion position and an unfolding completion position of the side mirror. 
   
   
       18 . The driving method of  claim 10 , wherein the determination step is performed again after the reversing step. 
   
   
       19 . The driving method of  claim 18 , wherein the electric power direction reverse time is shorter than a predetermined time in the previous reversing of the electric power direction when the reversing the electric power direction is repeated. 
   
   
       20 . The driving method of  claim 18 , wherein if the repeat number of the reversing the electric power direction is greater than a predetermined number, an electric power input to the driving motor is cut off, and malfunction of the side mirror is observed.