Remotely actuated rearview mirror for automotive vehicles

• US 4,488,777 A
• Filed: 09/03/1981
• Issued: 12/18/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Bauer, Frederick T., Bechtel, Jon H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul
• Application Number:
  US06/299,104
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 350/278, 350/279, 350/280, 350/281, 350/289
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means

Abstract

An improved inside rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, the mirror including a reflective element having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode, and also incorporating improved means including a conveniently situated, manually actuatable electrical switch for indexing the reflective element successively between the full reflective and partial reflective modes each time the switch is actuated.

Claims

1. A remotely actuated rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle, said mirror comprising, in combination, a reflective element having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode, eccentric cam means connected to said reflective element, means including unidirectional, rotatable DC motor means operable upon multiple revolutions thereof to drive said cam means and index said reflective element successively between said full reflectance and partial reflectance modes, means including manually actuatable switch means operable to initiate energization of said DC motor means, and additional switch means controlling the energization of said DC motor means, to de-energize said DC motor means when said reflective element is in either of its reflective modes.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including speed reduction means operatively connected to said DC motor means, said eccentric cam means being driven by said speed reduction means to translate said reflective element successively between said full reflectance and partial reflectance modes.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including resistance means connected in parallel with said DC motor means and effective to provide a braking action on said DC motor means when said DC motor means is de-energized

4. In a remotely actuated rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle, the combination including a reflective element having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode, eccentric cam means connected to said reflective element, a unidirectional, rotatable DC motor operable upon multiple revolutions thereof to drive said cam means and index said reflective element successively between said full reflectance and partial reflectance modes, means controlling the initial energization of said DC motor including a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode, and a gate, said anode and said cathode being connected in series with said DC motor, means including capacitance means and diode means connected to said gate and controlling the conductivity of said silicon controlled rectifier between said anode and said cathode, manually actuatable switch means controlling the charge on said capacitance means, and additional switch means controlling the energization of said DC motor to de-energize said DC motor means when said reflective element is in either of its reflective modes.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 including resistance means connected in parallel with said DC motor and in series with said anode and said cathode and effective to provide a braking action on said DC motor when said DC motor is de-energized.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 including additional resistance means and additional diode means connected in series with said manually actuatable switch means and in parallel with said capacitance means.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 including means limiting rapid voltage excursions at said anode to prevent extraneous turn-on of said silicon controlled rectifier.

8. In a remotely actuated rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle, the combination including a reflective element having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode, a housing defining a chamber open in the direction facing the rear of the vehicle, a base disposed within the chamber defined by said housing, means fixing said reflective element to said housing, means pivotally connecting said housing to said base whereby said reflective element and said housing may be moved as a unit between the full reflectance mode and the partial reflectance mode of said reflective element, eccentric cam means connected to said reflective element, means including unidirectional, rotatable DC motor means operable upon multiple revolutions thereof to drive said cam means and pivot said housing and reflective element as a unit between said modes relative to said base, manually actuatable switch means located for convenient actuation by the driver of said vehicle and operable to initiate energization of said DC motor means, and additional switch means controlling the energization of said DC motor means when said-reflective element is disposed intermediate said full reflectance mode and said partial reflectance mode and de-energizing said DC motor means when said reflective element is in either of its reflective modes.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 including speed reduction means operatively connected to said DC motor means and said eccentric cam means.

10. In a remotely actuated rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle, the combination including a reflective element having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode, a housing defining a chamber open in the direction facing the rear of the vehicle, a base disposed within the chamber defined by said housing, means fixing said reflective element to said housing, means pivotally connecting said housing to said base whereby said reflective element and said housing may be moved as a unit between the full reflectance mode and the partial reflectance mode of said reflective element, eccentric cam means connected to said reflective element, means including DC motor means operable to drive said cam means and pivot said housing and reflective element as a unit relative to said base, manually actuatable switch means located for convenient actuation by the driver of said vehicle and operable to initiate energization of said DC motor means, additional switch means controlling the energization of said DC motor means when said reflective element is disposed intermediate said full reflectance mode and said partial reflectance mode and de-energizing said DC motor means when said reflective element is in either of its reflective modes, speed reduction means operatively connected to said DC motor means, said speed reduction means including noise reduction means comprising belt and pulley means.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10, said eccentric cam means being driven by said speed reduction means and being effective to translate said reflective element and said housing relative to said base.

12. In a remotely actuated rearview mirror for an automotive vehicle, the combination including a reflective element in the form of a prism and having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode, a housing defining a chamber, a base disposed within the chamber defined by said housing, means fixing said reflective element to said housing whereby said reflective element faces the rear of the vehicle, means pivotally connecting said housing to said base whereby said reflective element and said housing may be moved as a unit between the full reflectance mode and the partial reflectance mode of said reflective element, eccentric cam means connected to said reflective element, a unidirectional, rotatable DC motor mounted on said base and operable upon multiple revolutions thereof to drive said cam means and pivot said reflective element and said housing as a unit relative to said base, means controlling the energization of said DC motor including a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode, a cathode and a gate, said anode and said cathode being connected in series with said DC motor, resistance means connected in parallel with said DC motor and in series with said anode and said cathode and effective to provide a braking action on said DC motor when said DC motor is de-energized, means including capacitance means and diode means connected to said gate and controlling the conductivity of said silicon controlled rectifier between said anode and said cathode, manually actuatable switch means located for convenient actuation by the driver of said vehicle and controlling the charge on said capacitance means, and additional switch means controlling the energization of said DC motor and de-energizing said DC motor means when said reflective element is in either of its reflective modes.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 including speed reduction means operatively connected to said DC motor, said eccentric cam means being driven by said speed reduction means and being effective to translate said reflective element and said housing and pivot said reflective element and said housing as a unit relative to said base.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, said speed reuction means comprising three stages, two of said stages including noise reduction means comprising belt and pulley means driven by said DC motor, the third stage of said speed reduction means comprising pinion and gear means driven by said belt and pulley means, said eccentric cam means being driven by said gear means.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 12 including additional resistance means and additional diode means connected in series with said manually actuatable switch means and in parallel with said capacitance means.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 including means limiting rapid voltage excursions at said anode to prevent extraneous turn-on of said silicon controlled rectifier.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 12, said vehicle including a steering wheel, said manually actuatable switch means being located near said steering wheel.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 12, said vehicle including a steering wheel, said manually actuatable switch means being located on said steering wheel.