Electrically operated remote control rearview mirror
First Claim
1. An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprising:
- an X axis;
a Y axis;
a Z axis, said X axis, said Y axis and said Z axis being mutually orthogonal;
a mirror;
a support for said mirror;
means for mounting said mirror on said support for pivotal movement about at least said X and Y axes;
a sphere;
means for mounting said sphere on the back of said mirror for conjunctive pivotal movement with said mirror about said X and Y axes and reciprocal movement about said Z axis;
an X drive means for pivoting said mirror about said X axis when electrical power is applied to said X drive means, said X drive means including a first surface encompassing at least a portion of one-half of said sphere, said first surface slidably engaging said sphere;
a Y drive means for pivoting said mirror about said Y axis when electrical power is applied to said Y drive means, said Y drive means including a second surface encompassing at least a portion of the opposing half of said sphere, said second surface slidably engaging said sphere, said first and second surfaces extending in mutually orthogonal directions; and
said X and Y drive means including means for displacing said first and second surfaces in mutually orthogonal directions, said first and second surfaces being displaced in directions which are orthogonal to the directions in which said first and second surfaces extend, respectively, said first and second surfaces being displaceable when power is applied to said X and Y drive means, respectively, to effect displacements of said sphere and imparting pivotal movements to said mirror.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprises a mirror, a support housing and means for pivotally mounting the mirror on the support housing. The mirror is pivotal about mutually orthogonal X and Y axes. A sphere is mounted on the back of the mirror and is disposed inwardly of the housing on a rod extending through an aperture in the housing. The X and Y drive means are disposed within the housing and arranged to engage the sphere for pivoting the mirror about the X and Y axes, when electrical power is applied to the drive means. The X drive means comprises a first surface, slidably engaging and partially encompassing the sphere and the Y drive means comprises a second surface slidably engaging and partially encompassing the sphere. The first and second surfaces extend in mutually orthogonal directions. The first and second cylindrical surfaces of the X and Y drive means are disposed on slides which are reciprocally mounted for displacement in mutually orthogonal directions in the housing. The slides are provided with clutch mechanisms including follower springs biased into sliding engagement with helical tracks disposed on the output shafts of the X and Y drive means to provide for ratchet-like adjustment of the mirror relative to the housing in the event of a power failure or in the case where the mirror reaches an adjustment stop. A resiliently deformable boot extends between the back of the mirror and the housing to provide a flexible seal for the housing aperture.
33 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprising:
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an X axis; a Y axis; a Z axis, said X axis, said Y axis and said Z axis being mutually orthogonal; a mirror; a support for said mirror; means for mounting said mirror on said support for pivotal movement about at least said X and Y axes; a sphere; means for mounting said sphere on the back of said mirror for conjunctive pivotal movement with said mirror about said X and Y axes and reciprocal movement about said Z axis; an X drive means for pivoting said mirror about said X axis when electrical power is applied to said X drive means, said X drive means including a first surface encompassing at least a portion of one-half of said sphere, said first surface slidably engaging said sphere; a Y drive means for pivoting said mirror about said Y axis when electrical power is applied to said Y drive means, said Y drive means including a second surface encompassing at least a portion of the opposing half of said sphere, said second surface slidably engaging said sphere, said first and second surfaces extending in mutually orthogonal directions; and said X and Y drive means including means for displacing said first and second surfaces in mutually orthogonal directions, said first and second surfaces being displaced in directions which are orthogonal to the directions in which said first and second surfaces extend, respectively, said first and second surfaces being displaceable when power is applied to said X and Y drive means, respectively, to effect displacements of said sphere and imparting pivotal movements to said mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A remotely actuated rearview mirror comprising in combination:
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a mirror; a support; means for mounting said mirror on said support for multi-directional pivotal movements relative thereto; a spherical actuating member; means for mounting said actuating member on a back of said mirror for conjunctive pivotal movements therewith and for independent reciprocating movements relative thereto in a direction essentially normal to said back of said mirror; remotely actuated drive means carried by said support and including first and second means disposed in engagement with said actuating member and cooperating to constrain said actuating member for movements in independent directions within a plane to impart said multi-directional pivotal movements to said mirror and said reciprocating movements of said actuating member as an incident thereto; and said remotely actuated drive means including first and second slide members, first and second means for mounting said first and second slide members on said support for reciprocating movements in said independent directions, and first and second means for imparting reciprocating movements to said first and second slide members, said first and second slide members defining first and second concave shaped surfaces extending transversely of the direction of the reciprocating movements of said first and second slide members, and said first and second surfaces being disposed in sliding surface-to-surface engagement with oppositely disposed portions of said spherical actuating member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A servomechanism for moving a device to different angular orientations comprising:
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an X axis; a Y axis; a Z axis, said X axis, said Y axis, and said Z axis being mutually orthogonal; a device; a support for said device; means for mounting said device on said support, said means for mounting providing at the least for pivotal movement of said device with respect to said support about said X and Y axes; a sphere; means for mounting said sphere on the back of said device for conjunctive pivotal movement with said device about said X and Y axes and reciprocal movement about said Z axis; an X drive means for pivoting said device about said X axis when power is applied to said X drive means, said X drive means including a first concave surface encompassing and slidably engaging a portion of one-half of said sphere; and a Y drive means for pivoting said device about said Y axis when power is applied to said Y drive means, said Y drive means including a second concave surface encompassing and slidably engaging a portion of one-half of said sphere, said first and second surfaces extending in mutually orthogonal directions; and said X and Y drive means including means for displacing said first and second surfaces in mutually orthogonal directions, said first and second surfaces being displaced in directions which are orthogonal to the directions in which said first and second surfaces extend, respectively, said first and second surfaces being displaceable when power is applied to said X and Y drive means, respectively, to effect displacements of said sphere and imparting pivotal movements to said device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification