Rearview mirror for a motor vehicle

• US 4,871,953 A
• Filed: 12/01/1987
• Issued: 10/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Britax Wingard Limited
• Original Assignee: Britax Wingard Limited
• Inventors: Anstee, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/127,224
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 318/470, 318/51, 318/53, 307/10 R, 350/605, 350/606, 350/636, 350/637
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A rear-view mirror system for a motor vehicle comprises a mirror housing, a reflective member mounted in the housing, electrically operated drive means for varying the orientation of the reflective member, a position sensor for producing a signal indicating the actual position of the reflective member, and a data processor comprising means for storing a value indicating a pre-selected orientation for the reflective member and means for comparing said value with the signal from the position sensor and producing a control signal for the drive means. The data processor includes a decoder and is located in the housing and is connected to an encoder at a central location, the encoder being arranged to send a multiplicity of data signals to the processor on a common data transmission line.

Claims

1. A rear-view mirror system for a motor vehicle comprising a plurality of mirror housings and an encoder at a location outside said mirror housings arranged to transmit a multiplicity of data signals, there being mounted in each mirror housing:

a reflective member,

electrically operated drive means for varying the orientation of the reflective member,

a position sensor for producing a signal indicating the actual position of the reflective member, and

a data processor comprising storage means for storing a value indicating a pre-selected orientation for the reflective member in said housing, means for comparing said value with the signal from the position sensor and producing a control signal for the drive means, and a decoder responsive to said encoder.

2. A mirror system according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises means for storing a plurality of values, each of which indicates a respective preselected location of said reflective member, and the processor is arranged to respond to data signals from the encoder either to store a value corresponding to the signal from the position sensor or to compare the signal from the position sensor with a previously stored value.

3. A mirror system according to claim 2, wherein the processor is arranged to respond to data signals from the encoder to cause the drive means to move the reflective member in a direction indicated by said data signals.

4. A mirror system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to respond to data signals from the encoder to cause the drive means to move the reflective member in a direction indicated by said data signals.