Electric device controlling the movement of the mirror in an external rearview mirror unit
First Claim
1. A rear-view mirror assembly comprising a housing, a reflective surface mounted in said housing for movement on first and second axes of rotation, said first axis of rotation being different to said second axis of rotation, an electrical motor, rotary drive means including a reduction gear coupled to said electrical motor, first and second driven means for rotating said reflective surface on said first and second axes of rotation respectively and selector means for selectively coupling said reduction gear to said first and second driven means, said first and second driven means each comprising a clutch having first and second engageable members, each of said first engageable members being constantly connected to said reduction gear and selectively connected to a respective one of said second engageable members by said selector means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This mechanism relates to an electrically controlled rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing, a moveable mirror mounted within the housing, and a control system within the housing for imparting movement of the mirror along a first and second axes of rotation. The control system includes a reversible electrical motor driving through a reduction gear to impart rotational movement of first and second driven means which effect movement of the mirror along the first and second axes respectively, and selector means selectively coupling the reduction gear to the first and second driven means.
14 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A rear-view mirror assembly comprising a housing, a reflective surface mounted in said housing for movement on first and second axes of rotation, said first axis of rotation being different to said second axis of rotation, an electrical motor, rotary drive means including a reduction gear coupled to said electrical motor, first and second driven means for rotating said reflective surface on said first and second axes of rotation respectively and selector means for selectively coupling said reduction gear to said first and second driven means, said first and second driven means each comprising a clutch having first and second engageable members, each of said first engageable members being constantly connected to said reduction gear and selectively connected to a respective one of said second engageable members by said selector means.
- 9. A rear-view mirror assembly comprising a housing, a reflective surface mounted within said housing, means carried by said housing mounting said reflective surface for movement along first and second axes of rotation, said first axis of rotation being generally normal with respect to said second axis of rotation, said mirror assembly further comprising control means mounted within said housing for selectively effecting movement of said reflective surface about said first and second axes of rotation, said control means including a reversible electric motor capable of imparting rotary motion about a third axis, single reduction gear train spaced from and coupled to said motor for providing a reduced speed rotary motion output about said third axis, first and second driven means coupled to said reflective surface for moving said reflective surface about said first and second axes of rotation respectively, selector means for selectively coupling the reduced speed rotary motion output to said first and second driven means, said selector means having selectively engageable first and second clutch means for selectively rotating said first and second driven means, and a solenoid capable of selective imparting reciprocal movement to said selector means for selectively engaging said first and second clutch means with said first and second driven means whereby said reflective surface is selectively moved about said first and second axes of rotation respectively.
Specification