Mirror actuator electrical connector

• US 20040012868A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert E., Willmore, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,755,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case. The connector has a cross-section width sufficiently small to pass through the internal passage of a pivot post.

Claims

1. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, comprising:

an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by said case and adapted to be connected with a reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires; and

with said connector joined with said actuator case, said connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of said at least two electric motors.

2. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 1 wherein said connector body is made up of two body portions joined in facing relationship.

3. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 2 wherein said two body portions are integrally molded defining a living hinge.

4. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 2 wherein said body portions are joined in facing relationship by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding and adhesive bonding.

5. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 2 wherein said connector terminals include base portions which are captured between said two body portions.

6. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 1 further including a member defining an internal passage having a cross-section dimension and wherein said electrical connector has a cross-section width dimension that is less than said cross-section dimension of said internal passage.

7. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 1 including complementary retention members on said connector and said actuator case that engage to retain said connector with said actuator case.

8. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 7 wherein said retention members are external of said actuator case.

9. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 7 wherein said retention members are positively engaged thereby requiring motion other than a separating force between said connector and said actuator case to disengage said retention members.

10. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 9 wherein said retention members include a pair of ears on one of said connector and said actuator case which engage features protruding from a surface of the other of said connector and said actuator case.

11. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 9 wherein said retention members are configured to be disengaged by a tool.

12. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 1 wherein said reflective element is an electrochromic mirror element.

13. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly is a memory mirror assembly and further includes a reflective element position transducer in said case for each said axis.

14. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, comprising:

an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by said case and adapted to be connected with a reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including a plurality of electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires and adapted to be joined with said actuator case; and

said connector includes a body defined by two facing body portions that capture portions of said connector terminals between said two facing portions.

15. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 wherein said two body portions are integrally molded and define a living hinge.

16. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 15 wherein said two facing body portions are joined in facing relationship by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding and adhesive bonding.

17. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 wherein said two facing body portions are joined by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding and adhesive bonding.

18. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 wherein said connector terminals include base portions which are captured between said two body portions.

19. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 further including a member defining an internal passage having a cross-section dimension and wherein said electrical connector has a cross-section width dimension that is less than said cross-section dimension of said internal passage.

20. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 including complementary retention members on said connector and said actuator case that engage to retain said connector with said actuator case.

21. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 20 wherein said retention members are external of said actuator case.

22. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 21 wherein said retention members are positively engaged thereby requiring motion other than a separating force between said connector and said actuator case to disengage said retention members.

23. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 22 wherein said retention members include a pair of ears on one of said connector and said actuator case which engage features protruding from a surface of the other of said connector and actuator case.

24. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 22 wherein said retention members are configured to be disengaged by a tool.

25. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 wherein said reflective element is an electrochromic mirror element.

26. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 14 wherein said mirror assembly is a memory mirror assembly and further includes a reflective element position transducer in said case for each said axis.

43. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 22 wherein said body is formed of two portions defining a living hinge.

27. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, comprising:

an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by said case and adapted to be connected with a reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including a plurality of electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires and adapted to be joined with said actuator case; and

complementary retention members on said connector and said actuator case that engage each other to retain said connector with said actuator case, wherein said retention members are positively engaged thereby requiring motion other than a separating motion between said connector and said actuator case to disengage said retention members.

28. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 27 wherein said retention members are external of said actuator case.

29. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 27 wherein said retention members include a pair of ears on one of said connector and said actuator case which engage features protruding from a surface of the other of said connector and said actuator case.

30. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 27 wherein said retention members are configured to be disengaged by a tool.

31. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 27 further including a mirror assembly pivot post defining an internal passage having a cross-section dimension therethrough and wherein said electrical connector has cross-section width dimensions which are less than the cross section of said internal passage of said mirror assembly pivot post.

32. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 27 wherein said reflective element is an electrochromic mirror element.

33. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 27 wherein said mirror assembly is a memory mirror assembly and further includes a reflective element position transducer in said case for each said axis.

34. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, comprising:

an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by said case and adapted to be connected with a reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including a plurality of electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires and adapted to be joined with said actuator case; and

an element defining an internal passage having a cross-section dimension and wherein said electrical connector has a cross-section width dimension that is less than a cross-section dimension of said internal passage.

35. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 34 wherein said internal passage is defined in a mirror assembly pivot post.

36. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 34 wherein said connector includes a body which is integrally molded.

37. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 36 wherein said body is formed of two portions defining a living hinge.

38. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 37 wherein said portions are joined in facing relationship by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding and adhesive bonding.

39. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 34 wherein said reflective element is an electrochromic mirror element.

40. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 34 wherein said mirror assembly is a memory mirror assembly and further includes a reflective element position transducer in said case for each said axis.

41. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, comprising:

an actuator having a case, at least two electric motors supported by said case and adapted to be connected with a reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires;

wherein said connector includes a body defined by two facing portions that capture portions of said connector terminals between said two facing portions;

complementary retention members on said connector and said actuator case that engage each other to retain said connector with said actuator case, wherein said retention members are positively engaged together thereby requiring motion other than a separation force between said connector and said actuator to disengage said retention members; and

wherein with said connector joined with said actuator case, said connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of said at least two electric motors.

42. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 41 wherein said connector includes a body which is integrally molded.

44. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 41 wherein said portions are joined in facing relationship by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding and adhesive bonding.

45. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 41 wherein said reflective element is an electrochromic mirror element.

46. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 41 wherein said mirror assembly is a memory mirror assembly and further includes a reflective element position transducer for each said axis.

47. The mirror actuator assembly in claim 41 wherein said internal passage is defined in a mirror assembly pivot post.