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Electrically foldable rearview mirrors interlocked with door locks

  • US 5,008,603 A
  • Filed: 03/14/1990
  • Issued: 04/16/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling a position of foldable rearview mirrors on a motor vehicle comprising:

  • at least one rearview mirror foldably mounted on the vehicle for movement between a folded position when not in use and an extended position for use;

    a door lock controller operatively connected to door locks of the vehicle for locking and unlocking doors of the vehicle;

    at least one outer door lock switch and at least one inner door lock switch operatively connected to said door lock controller for operating said door locks between locking and unlocking positions;

    reversible electric motor means operatively connected to said at least one rearview mirror for operating said at least one rearview mirror between said folded and extended positions when actuated;

    a rearview mirror controller having an input side and an output side, said output side being operatively connected to said reversible electric motor means for actuating said motor means and said door lock controller and said at least one outer door lock switch and at least one inner door lock switch being operatively connected to said input side;

    ignition switch means and operation switch means inside the vehicle connected in series between an electric power source and said input side of said rearview mirror controller, said ignition switch means and operation switch means having open and closed positions, said operation switch means comprising a manual-two circuit reversible motor operation switch;

    a driving circuit in said rearview mirror controller operatively connected to said electric motor means for reversing the rotation of said electric motor means in response to said open and closed positions of said operation switch so that when said ignition switch means is in the closed position and said operation switch means is in said open position said driving circuit operates said electric motor means to move said at least one rearview mirror into said folded position and when said operation switch means is in said closed position said driving circuit operates said electric motor means into said extended position;

    limit switch means mounted on said at least one rearview mirror for detecting said folded and extended positions of said at least one rearview mirror; and

    a micro computer operatively connected to said driving circuit for controlling said driving circuit by processing inputs from said switches.

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