Rearview mirror targeting and repositioning system
First Claim
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1. In a rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said system including a housing mounted to the vehicle, a plane mirror, and means for mounting the plane mirror in the housing, the improvement comprising:
- a switch which is adapted to generate a first signal to indicate a left turn of the vehicle, a second signal to indicate a right turn of the vehicle, a third signal to indicate a left lane change of the vehicle, and a fourth signal to indicate a right lane change of the vehicle; and
an actuator adapted to receive a signal from the switch and operatively connected to the plane mirror mounting means for automatically changing the position of the plane mirror with respect to the vehicle only when said actuator receives one of the third signal and fourth signal.
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Abstract
A rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a plane mirror pivotably mounted to a vehicle having a directional signal means. A solenoid is operatively connected to the plane mirror for automatically changing the position of the plane mirror in response to a signal from the directional signal means in order to render the blind spot viewable to a driver. A reference position corresponding to a properly focused mirror is established by visually aligning an indicium on the mirror with an indicium on the vehicle.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said system including a housing mounted to the vehicle, a plane mirror, and means for mounting the plane mirror in the housing, the improvement comprising:
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a switch which is adapted to generate a first signal to indicate a left turn of the vehicle, a second signal to indicate a right turn of the vehicle, a third signal to indicate a left lane change of the vehicle, and a fourth signal to indicate a right lane change of the vehicle; and an actuator adapted to receive a signal from the switch and operatively connected to the plane mirror mounting means for automatically changing the position of the plane mirror with respect to the vehicle only when said actuator receives one of the third signal and fourth signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a plane mirror pivotably mounted on the vehicle; a directional signal-indicating device comprising a multi-position switch having first, second, third, and fourth output terminals for selectively generating a left turn signal on the first output terminal, a right turn signal on the second output terminal, a left lane change signal on the third output terminal, and a right lane change signal on the fourth output terminal; and an actuator engageable with the mirror and electrically connected to one of the third and fourth output terminals and responsive to a lane change signal on one of the third and fourth output terminals to pivot the plane mirror. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising
a plane mirror pivotally mounted on the vehicle; -
a directional signal-indicating device comprising a multi-position switch having first, second and third output terminals for selectively generating a left turn signal on the first output terminal, a right turn signal on the second output terminal, and a lane change signal on the third output terminal; and an actuator engageable with the mirror and electrically connected to the third output terminal and responsive to the lane change signal to pivot the mirror.
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10. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a switch which is operable to generate a first signal to indicate a left turn of the vehicle, a second signal to indicate a right turn of the vehicle, a third signal to indicate a left lane change of the vehicle, and a fourth signal to indicate a right lane change of the vehicle, said system comprising:
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a housing adapted to be attached to the outside of the vehicle; a bracket pivotably mounted to the housing for rotation relative thereto between a normal position and an indexed position about an axis extending at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction; a plane mirror pivotably mounted to the bracket; and a solenoid mounted to the housing and having a shaft which is adapted to engage the bracket and move the bracket toward the indexed position when the solenoid is energized, said solenoid being adapted to be energized only in response to one of the third signal and fourth signal.
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Specification