Exterior mirror assembly with actuator
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted;
wherein, upon operation of said actuator, said mirror head portion pivotally moves about a pivot axis;
wherein said actuator comprises a first motor and a second motor;
wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a gear to cause said mirror head portion to pivot relative to said mounting portion;
wherein operation of said first motor is synchronized with operation of said second motor; and
wherein said gear has an axis of rotation that is coaxial with said pivot axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. The mirror assembly includes an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor that are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a gear to cause the mirror head portion to pivot relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first motor is synchronized with operation of the second motor.
87 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein, upon operation of said actuator, said mirror head portion pivotally moves about a pivot axis; wherein said actuator comprises a first motor and a second motor; wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a gear to cause said mirror head portion to pivot relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first motor is synchronized with operation of said second motor; and wherein said gear has an axis of rotation that is coaxial with said pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein, upon operation of said actuator, said mirror head portion pivotally moves about a pivot axis; wherein said actuator comprises a first motor and a second motor; wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a gear to cause said mirror head portion to pivot relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first motor is synchronized with operation of said second motor; wherein, responsive to operation of said first and second motors, said mirror head portion pivots relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion between (i) a rearward viewing position or orientation where said reflective element at said mirror head portion is positioned so as to provide a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle and (ii) a folded or stowed position where said mirror head portion is oriented along the side of the vehicle; and wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a clutch assembly that allows for manual adjustment of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein, upon operation of said actuator, said mirror head portion pivotally moves about a pivot axis; wherein said actuator comprises a first motor and a second motor; wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a gear to cause said mirror head portion to pivot relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first motor is synchronized with operation of said second motor; wherein, responsive to operation of said first and second motors, said mirror head portion pivots relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion between (i) a rearward viewing position or orientation where said reflective element at said mirror head portion is positioned so as to provide a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle and (ii) a folded or stowed position where said mirror head portion is oriented along the side of the vehicle; and wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a plurality of travel stops configured to limit pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification