EXTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH ACTUATOR
First Claim
1. :
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle;
a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at said mounting portion;
a reflective element at said mirror head portion;
an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted;
wherein said actuator comprises at least two motors and wherein said at least two motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a common drive gear of a gear system to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion;
wherein said common drive gear is interconnected with an attaching portion of said actuator that attaches at one of said mirror head portion and said mounting portion, and wherein rotation of said common drive gear imparts a rotation of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion;
wherein output speeds of said at least two motors are synchronized; and
wherein, during operation of said actuator, a shutoff circuit is operable to determine rotational movement of a motor output shaft of at least one of said motors and, responsive to a determination of the rotational movement being below a threshold speed, said shutoff circuit deactivates said at least one of said motors irrespective of current draw by said at least one of said motors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at the mounting portion, and a reflective element at the mirror head portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator comprises at least two motors and the motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a common gear of a gear system to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Responsive to a determination of the rotational movement being below a threshold speed, a shutoff circuit deactivates at least one of the motors irrespective of current draw by the motor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. :
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at said mounting portion; a reflective element at said mirror head portion; an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein said actuator comprises at least two motors and wherein said at least two motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a common drive gear of a gear system to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein said common drive gear is interconnected with an attaching portion of said actuator that attaches at one of said mirror head portion and said mounting portion, and wherein rotation of said common drive gear imparts a rotation of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein output speeds of said at least two motors are synchronized; and wherein, during operation of said actuator, a shutoff circuit is operable to determine rotational movement of a motor output shaft of at least one of said motors and, responsive to a determination of the rotational movement being below a threshold speed, said shutoff circuit deactivates said at least one of said motors irrespective of current draw by said at least one of said motors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
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10. :
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at said mounting portion; a reflective element at said mirror head portion; an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein said actuator comprises a first motor and a second motor and wherein said first and second motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a drive gear of a gear system to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein said drive gear is interconnected with an attaching portion of said actuator that attaches at one of said mirror head portion and said mounting portion, and wherein rotation of said drive gear imparts a rotation of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein output speeds of said first and second motors are synchronized; wherein, during operation of said actuator, a shutoff circuit is operable to determine rotational movement of a first motor output shaft of said first motor; wherein, responsive to a determination by said shutoff circuit that the rotational movement of said first motor output shaft of said first motor is below a threshold speed, said shutoff circuit deactivates said first motor irrespective of current draw by said first motor; and wherein, responsive to a determination by said shutoff circuit that the rotational movement of said first motor output shaft of said first motor is above a threshold speed, said shutoff circuit allows said first motor to continue to operate irrespective of current draw by said first motor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
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16. :
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at said mounting portion; a reflective element at said mirror head portion; an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein said actuator comprises at least one motor and wherein said at least one motor is operable to rotatably drive a drive gear of a gear system to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein said drive gear is interconnected with an attaching portion of said actuator that attaches at one of said mirror head portion and said mounting portion, and wherein rotation of said drive gear imparts a rotation of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein, during operation of said actuator, a shutoff circuit is operable to determine rotational movement of a motor output shaft of said at least one motor; wherein, responsive to a determination by said shutoff circuit that the rotational movement of said motor output shaft of said at least one motor is below a threshold speed, said shutoff circuit deactivates said at least one motor irrespective of current draw by said at least one motor; and wherein, responsive to a determination by said shutoff circuit that the rotational movement of said motor output shaft of said at least one motor is above a threshold speed, said shutoff circuit allows said at least one motor to continue to operate irrespective of current draw by said at least one motor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;
Specification