Active mirror assemblies

• US 20050200984A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Aase, Jan H., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Namuduri, Chandra S., Keefe, Andrew C., O'Kane, James C.
• Application Number:
  US11/078,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/846
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/204 using bending displacement, e.g. unimorph, bimorph or multimorph cantilever or membrane benders

Abstract

A mirror assembly includes a reflective surface disposed on a substrate; an actuator in operative communication with at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the actuator comprises an active material; and a controller in operative communication with the active material, wherein the controller is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a change in a property of the active material, wherein the change in the property results in movement of the at least the portion of the substrate from a first position to a second position.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly, comprising:

a reflective surface disposed on a substrate;

an actuator in operative communication with at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the actuator comprises an active material; and

a controller in operative communication with the active material, wherein the controller is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a change in a property of the active material, wherein the change in the property results in movement of the at least the portion of the substrate from a first position to a second position.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a non-active, flexible material configured to undergo a shape change from a first shape to a second shape upon application of the activation signal to the active material.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, magnetorheological fluid, magnetorheological elastomer, electrorheological fluid, electrorheological elastomer, electroactive polymer, a piezoelectric material, a composite comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials with a non-active material, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, an electrical activation signal, a mechanical activation signal, a pneumatic activation signal, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in operative communication with the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to provide information to the controller for selectively applying the activation signal to the active material.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror assembly is a motor vehicle rear view mirror assembly or side view mirror assembly.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror assembly is a motor vehicle rear view mirror assembly or side view mirror assembly.

7. A mirror assembly, comprising:

a reflective surface disposed on a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises an active material; and

a controller in operative communication with the active material, wherein the controller is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a change in a property of the active material, wherein the change in the property results in a shape change of the substrate from a first shape to a second shape.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, magnetorheological elastomer, electrorheological elastomer, electroactive polymer, a piezoelectric material, a composite comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials with a non-active material, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, an electrical activation signal, a mechanical activation signal, a pneumatic activation signal, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 7, further comprising a sensor in operative communication with the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to provide information to the controller for selectively applying the activation signal to the active material.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 7, further comprising an actuator in operative communication with at least a portion of the substrate and the controller, wherein the actuator comprises an active material.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a reflective surface in a first position and/or a first shape;

applying an activation signal to an active material and causing a change in a property of the active material, wherein the active material is in operative communication with at least a portion of a substrate onto which the reflective surface is disposed; and

changing a position and/or shape of the reflective surface by the change in the property of the active material effective to move the reflective surface from the first position and/or first shape to a selected second position and/or second shape.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising returning the position and/or shape of the reflective surface to the first position and/or first shape by discontinuing the activation signal to the active material.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, magnetorheological fluid, magnetorheological elastomer, electrorheological fluid, electrorheological elastomer, electroactive polymer, a piezoelectric material, a composite comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials with a non-active material, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, an electrical activation signal, a mechanical activation signal, a pneumatic activation signal, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.