Vehicular mirror system

• US 20070002477A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Whitehead, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/504,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks

Abstract

A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes a housing, a mounting member configured to mount to a vehicle windshield, an electrical actuator, which is supported by the mounting member with the weight of the electrical actuator being transferred to the windshield by way of the mounting member, and a reflective element. The reflective element is mounted to the electrical actuator and has a rearward field of view when mounted to the electrical actuator, which provides adjustment of the rearward field of view of the reflective element.

Claims

1. A vehicular interior rearview mirror system, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a housing;

a mounting member, said mounting member configured to mount to a vehicle windshield;

an electrical actuator, said electrical actuator supported by said mounting member with the weight of said electrical actuator being transferred to the windshield by way of said mounting member;

a reflective element mounted to said electrical actuator; and

said reflective element having a rearward field of view when mounted to said electrical actuator, said electrical actuator providing adjustment of said rearward field of view of said reflective element.

2. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member includes at least one electronic device.

3. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a rain sensor.

4. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a device chosen from (i) a garage door opener, (ii) a compass, (iii) an antenna, (iv) a microphone, and (v) a transmitter.

5. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises a passageway.

6. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 5, wherein said mounting member includes at least one electronic device located in said passageway.

7. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises a break-away mounting.

8. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises a portion for attaching to a mirror mounting button that is attached to the inner surface of the windshield.

9. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises a tubular member.

10. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first portion and a second portion, said actuator located in said first portion, and said second portion including said mounting member.

11. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a generally cup-shaped portion, and wherein said actuator is located in said cup-shaped portion.

12. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 11, wherein said cup-shaped portion includes an opening facing rearward of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to the windshield, said reflective element having said rearward field of view through said opening when mounted to said electrical actuator.

13. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a tubular portion, said tubular portion encompassing said mounting member.

14. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises a variable reflectance element.

15. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a wall, said actuator mounted to said wall.

16. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical actuator is operable as a part of a mirror memory system.

17. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 16, including a mirror-based control module, said mirror-based control module positioned in said housing.

18. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed from a polymeric material.

19. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 18, wherein said housing comprises a cup-shaped portion and a tubular portion that is integral with said cup-shaped portion, and said tubular portion encompassing said mounting member.

20. A vehicular interior rearview mirror system, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a generally cup-shaped portion;

a mounting member, said mounting member configured to mount to a vehicle windshield said cup-shaped portion including an opening facing rearward of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to the windshield;

an electrical actuator, said electrical actuator supported by said mounting member with the weight of said electrical actuator being transferred to the windshield by way of said mounting member, and said electrical actuator being at least partially located in said cup-shaped portion;

a reflective element mounted to said electrical actuator; and

said reflective element having a rearward field of view through said opening when mounted to said electrical actuator, said electrical actuator providing adjustment of said rearward field of view of said reflective element.

21. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said mounting member includes at least one electronic device.

22. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a rain sensor.

23. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a device chosen from (i) a garage door opener, (ii) a compass, (iii) an antenna, (iv) a microphone, and (v) a transmitter.

24. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said mounting member comprises a passageway.

25. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 24, wherein said mounting member includes at least one electronic device located in said passageway.

26. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said mounting member comprises a break-away mounting.

27. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said mounting member comprises a portion for attaching to a mirror mounting button that is attached to the inner surface of the windshield.

28. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said mounting member comprises a tubular member.

29. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said housing includes a tubular portion, said tubular portion encompassing said mounting member.

30. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said reflective element comprises a variable reflectance element.

31. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said housing includes a wall, said actuator mounted to said wall.

32. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said electrical actuator is operable as a part of a mirror memory system.

33. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 32, including a mirror-based control module, said mirror-based control module positioned in said housing.

34. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said housing is formed from a polymeric material.

35. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 34, wherein said housing comprises a tubular portion that is integral with said cup-shaped portion, and said tubular portion encompassing said mounting member.

36. A vehicular interior rearview mirror system, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a housing;

a mounting member, said mounting member configured to mount to a vehicle windshield;

an electrical actuator, said electrical actuator supported by said mounting member with the weight of said electrical actuator being transferred to the windshield by way of said mounting member;

at least one electronic device chosen from (i) a garage door opener, (ii) a compass, (iii) an antenna, (iv) a microphone, (v) a transmitter, and (vi) a rain sensor;

a reflective element mounted to said electrical actuator; and

said reflective element having a rearward field of view when mounted to said

electrical actuator, said electrical actuator providing adjustment of said rearward field of view of said reflective element.

37. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said mounting member includes said at least one electronic device.

38. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 37, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a rain sensor.

39. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said mounting member comprises a passageway.

40. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 39, wherein said mounting member includes said at least one electronic device located in said passageway.

41. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said mounting member comprises a break-away mounting.

42. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said mounting member comprises a portion for attaching to a mirror mounting button that is attached to the inner surface of the windshield.

43. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said mounting member comprises a tubular member.

44. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said housing includes a first portion and a second portion, said actuator located in said first portion, and said second portion including said mounting member.

45. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said housing comprises a generally cup-shaped portion, and wherein said actuator is located in said cup-shaped portion.

46. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 45, wherein said cup-shaped portion includes an opening facing rearward of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to the windshield, said reflective element having said rearward field of view through said opening when mounted to said electrical actuator.

47. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said housing includes a tubular portion, said tubular portion encompassing said mounting member.

48. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said reflective element comprises a variable reflectance element.

49. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said housing includes a wall, said actuator mounted to said wall.

50. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said electrical actuator is operable as a part of a mirror memory system.

51. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 50, including a mirror-based control module, said mirror-based control module positioned in said housing.

52. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 36, wherein said housing is formed from a polymeric material.

53. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 52, wherein said housing comprises a cup-shaped portion and a tubular portion that is integral with said cup-shaped portion, and said tubular portion encompassing said mounting member.