REMOTELY CONTROLLED MIRROR

• US 3,575,496 A
• Filed: 05/28/1968
• Issued: 04/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur J. Carpenter, Samuel C. Pollock
• Original Assignee: Arthur J. Carpenter, Samuel C. Pollock
• Inventors: Pollock, Samuel C., Carpenter, Arthur J.
• Application Number:
  US04/732,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• US Class Current: 359/214.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors

Abstract

A remotely controlled rearview mirror for a motor vehicle characterized by having a mirror element that automatically scans a rearward field of vision. In a preferred form, the mirror element is universally connected to a post member that is rotatable about a vertical axis. The post member is operatively connected to an electric motor and a drive mechanism that imparts a harmonic oscillation to the mirror element when the motor is energized. The motor is controlled by an actuator switch located interior of the vehicle, and a control switch is operatively associated with the actuator switch and the drive mechanism for automatically deenergizing the motor a predetermined oscillatory period.

Claims

1. An exterior remotely controlled rearview mirror for automatically scanning a field of view rearward of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing adapted to be fixedly connected to the motor vehicle and having an Open ended cavity formed therein;

a support member secured within the cavity to the housing by a single fastener; and

a postmember rotatably supported by the support member for oscillatory movement about a vertical axis;

a mirror assembly including a mirror element having a reflective surface universally connected to the postmember;

sealing means for preventing fluid leakage into the cavity, said sealing means retained within a circumferential groove formed in the housing and sealingly engaging an outwardly facing surface of the mirror assembly;

a drive mechanism including cam means formed on a rotatable portion thereof;

an electric motor and a gear reduction unit mounted on the support member and operatively connected to the postmember through said drive mechanism, said cam means on the drive mechanism providing harmonic oscillatory movement of the postmember and the mirror assembly when said motor is energized;

actuator means remotely located interior of the vehicle for selectively energizing the motor; and

normally closed switch means electrically connected in parallel with the actuator means and engageable with the cam means to deenergize the motor when the reflective surface is at a predetermined viewing position whereby the mirror element rotates for a predetermined oscillatory period after the motor is energized by the actuator means and thereafter automatically returns to said predetermined viewing position.

2. A remotely controlled rearview mirror for automatically scanning a field of view rearward of a motor vehicle and selectively presenting a fixed field of view at a predetermined intermediate position, comprising:

a housing attached to the vehicle;

a mirror element supported by said housing for oscillation about the vertical axis between a normal viewing position and an extreme angularly displaced viewing position so as to provide a scanning view to the rear of the vehicle;

an electric motor;

actuator means remotely located interior of the vehicle for selectively energizing the motor;

drive mechanism including cam means formed on a rotatable portion thereof;

linkage and crank means connected between said cam means and said mirror element for imparting, upon energization of said motor, a harmonic oscillation to the mirror element, said harmonic oscillation including a dwell period at said extreme angularly displaced viewing position so as to present thereat a momentary stationary field of vision; and

switch means operated by said drive mechanism for maintaining an electric circuit to the motor for at least one oscillatory period and for deenergizing said electric motor and providing automatic termination of said harmonic oscillation when said mirror returns to said normal viewing position.

3. A remotely controlled rearview mirror for automatically scanning a field of view rearward of a motor vehicle and selectively presenting a fixed field of view at a predetermined intermediate position, comprising:

a housing adapted to be attached to the vehicle;

a mirror element supported by said housing for oscillation about the vertical axis between a normal viewing position and an extreme angularly displaced viewing position so as to provide a scanning view to the rear of the vehicle;

an electric motor;

drive mechanism including cam means formed on a rotatable portion thereof;

said drive mechanism connected between the motor and the mirror element for imparting upon energization of said motor, an oscillation to the mirror element about said vertical axis;

actuator means remotely located interior of the vehicle for selectively energizing the motor; and

means including switch means and second cam means operated by the drive mechanism for automatically deenergizing said motor at said intermediate position and said normal viewing position whereby the mirror automatically oscillates from one said viewing position to the other upon operation of said actuator means.