EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20180257571A1
• Filed: 05/14/2018
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Wind, Darryl P., Deuel, Eric S., Sobecki, Justin E., Mambourg, Joseph R., Foote, Keith D., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,913,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/062 with remote control for adjusting position B60R1/0607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at the vehicle, a mirror head disposed at an end of the mounting arm and movable relative to the mounting arm, and an electrically operated actuator operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element that, when the actuator is electrically operated, moves in tandem with the mirror head. The actuator, with the mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the vehicle, and when the actuator is electrically operated, moves the mirror head relative to the mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle who is viewing the mirror reflective element.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said mounting arm is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a mirror head disposed at said second end of said mounting arm and movable relative to said mounting arm;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;

an electrically-operable actuator, wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm;

wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing both move in tandem with movement of said mirror head relative to said mounting arm; and

wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.

2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror head comprises a base, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said base moves in tandem with said mirror head.

3. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said actuator attaches at said base.

4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said base attaches at said second end of said mounting arm.

5. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said first end of said mounting arm attaches at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle via a breakaway joint whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is manually adjustable between (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly, whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is electrically adjustable between (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

7. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator is at least partially accommodated by said mirror head.

8. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said mirror casing at least partially hides said actuator from view by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

9. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises first and second electrically operated motors.

10. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said first and second motors are independently electrically operable to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm.

11. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second motors, when said actuator is electrically operated, are electrically operated at different rotational speeds to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.

12. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said first motor, when electrically operated, rotatably drives a first output shaft having a first axis, and wherein said second motor, when electrically operated, rotatably drives a second output shaft having a second axis, and wherein said first and second axes are angled relative to one another.

13. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said first and second axes are at an angle, relative to one another, in a range of 15 degrees to 90 degrees.

14. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror head comprises an attachment element and wherein said mirror reflective element is attached at said attachment element, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated, said attachment element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head.

15. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein a portion of said mirror head that is remote from said attachment element attaches at said second end of said mounting arm.

16. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said attachment element comprises an attachment plate.

17. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said attachment element to move said mirror head.

18. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said attachment element comprises structure having a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said front portion comprises structure for attachment of said mirror reflective element thereat, and wherein said rear portion comprises structure for attaching a mirror cover thereat, and wherein said rear portion is configured for attachment at said actuator.

19. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said mirror casing comprises said mirror cover attached at said rear portion of said attachment element.

20. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror head houses at least one accessory that is disposed behind said mirror reflective element and that is accommodated within said mirror casing of said mirror head.

21. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein said at least one accessory comprises a camera.

22. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, with a perimeter edge spanning between said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said perimeter edge comprises a rounded perimeter glass surface that curves to said front surface and that has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm, and wherein, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said rounded perimeter glass surface is exposed to and is contactable by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

23. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein said mirror casing does not overlap said rounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge spanning between said front and rear surfaces of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element.

24. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said rounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element has a water-clear finish.

25. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates and bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said glass substrate having said rounded perimeter glass surface comprises said front glass substrate of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

26. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle comprises an exterior portion of a side door of the equipped vehicle.

27. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein the side door comprises a passenger side door of the equipped vehicle.

28. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein the side door comprises a driver side door of the equipped vehicle.

29. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said mounting arm is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a mirror head disposed at said second end of said mounting arm and movable relative to said mounting arm;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, with a perimeter edge spanning between said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said perimeter edge comprises a rounded perimeter glass surface that curves to said front surface and that has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm;

wherein, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said rounded perimeter glass surface is exposed to and is contactable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

an electrically-operable actuator disposed at said mounting arm;

wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm;

wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head relative to said mounting arm; and

wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.

30. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirror head comprises a base, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said base moves in tandem with said mirror head.

31. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 30, wherein said actuator attaches at said base.

32. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said first end of said mounting arm attaches at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle via a breakaway joint whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is manually adjustable between (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

33. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly, whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is electrically adjustable between (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

34. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said actuator is at least partially accommodated by said mirror head.

35. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said actuator comprises first and second electrically operated motors.

36. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said first and second motors are independently electrically operable to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm.

37. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said first and second motors, when said actuator is electrically operated, are electrically operated at different rotational speeds to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.

38. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirror head comprises an attachment element and wherein said mirror reflective element is attached at said attachment element, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated, said attachment element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head.

39. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 38, wherein said attachment element comprises an attachment plate.

40. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 38, wherein said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said attachment element to move said mirror head.

41. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 38, wherein said attachment element comprises structure having a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said front portion comprises structure for attachment of said mirror reflective element thereat, and wherein said rear portion is configured for attachment at said actuator.

42. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 41, wherein said rear portion comprises structure for attaching a mirror cover thereat.

43. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 42, wherein the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle comprises an exterior portion of a side door of the equipped vehicle.

44. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein the side door comprises a passenger side door of the equipped vehicle.

45. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein the side door comprises a driver side door of the equipped vehicle.

46. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates and bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said glass substrate having said rounded perimeter glass surface comprises said front glass substrate of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

47. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said rounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element has a water-clear finish.

48. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said mirror casing and said mirror reflective element both move in tandem with said mirror head.

49. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 48, wherein said mirror casing does not overlap said rounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge spanning between said front and rear surfaces of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element.

50. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 49, wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said mirror casing at least partially hides said actuator from view by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

51. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said mounting arm is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a mirror head disposed at said second end of said mounting arm and movable relative to said mounting arm;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, with a perimeter edge spanning between said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said perimeter edge comprises a rounded perimeter glass surface that curves to said front surface and that has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm;

wherein said mirror casing does not overlap said rounded perimeter glass surface so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said rounded perimeter glass surface is exposed to and is contactable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

an electrically-operable actuator, wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm;

wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing both move in tandem with movement of said mirror head relative to said mounting arm; and

wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.

52. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said mirror head comprises a base, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm, said base moves in tandem with said mirror head.

53. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 52, wherein said actuator attaches at said base.

54. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 52, wherein said base attaches at said second end of said mounting arm.

55. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said actuator attaches said mirror head at said second end of said mounting arm.

56. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said first end of said mounting arm attaches at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle via a breakaway joint whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is manually adjustable between (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

57. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly, whereby, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly is electrically adjustable between (i) a use position where said mounting arm extends outwardly from the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle for providing, by said mirror reflective element of said mirror head, the rearward field of view to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element, and (ii) a folded position where said mounting arm is folded at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

58. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said actuator is at least partially accommodated by said mirror head.

59. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 58, wherein, with said first end of said mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle, said mirror casing at least partially hides said actuator from view by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

60. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said actuator comprises first and second electrically operated motors.

61. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 60, wherein said first and second motors, when said actuator is electrically operated, are electrically operated at different rotational speeds to move said mirror head relative to said mounting arm to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element.

62. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 60, wherein said first motor, when electrically operated, rotatably drives a first output shaft having a first axis, and wherein said second motor, when electrically operated, rotatably drives a second output shaft having a second axis, and wherein said first and second axes are angled relative to one another.

63. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 62, wherein said first and second axes are at an angle, relative to one another, in a range of 15 degrees to 90 degrees.

64. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said mirror head comprises an attachment element and wherein said mirror reflective element is attached at said attachment element, and wherein, when said actuator is electrically operated, said attachment element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head.

65. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 64, wherein said attachment element comprises an attachment plate.

66. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 64, wherein said actuator, when electrically operated, moves said attachment element to move said mirror head.

67. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 64, wherein said attachment element comprises structure having a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said front portion comprises structure for attachment of said mirror reflective element thereat, and wherein said rear portion comprises structure for attaching a mirror cover thereat, and wherein said rear portion is configured for attachment at said actuator.

68. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 67, wherein said mirror casing comprises said mirror cover attached at said rear portion of said attachment element.

69. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle comprises an exterior portion of a side door of the equipped vehicle.

70. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 69, wherein the side door comprises a passenger side door of the equipped vehicle.

71. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 69, wherein the side door comprises a driver side door of the equipped vehicle.

72. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates and bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said glass substrate having said rounded perimeter glass surface comprises said front glass substrate of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

73. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein said rounded perimeter glass surface of said perimeter edge of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element has a water-clear finish.