Electric external rear view mirror

• US 6,312,135 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Polzer, Herwig
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/394,970
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/865, 264/239, 264/272.11, 264/272.14, 264/272.16, 264/272.17, 264/272.2
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

The invention relates to an external rear view mirror of a motor vehicle with a glass subassembly, at least one electrical function element, more particularly an adjustment drive and/or a lighting device and/or a folding drive and/or a heating element, and a support element, to which the electrical function element can be secured. In order to increase the electrical operational reliability of the external rear view mirror and to facilitate the assembly of the cabling, the support element (1) includes at least one electrical conductor path (6), to whose first end (7, 13, 14, 15, 17) an electrical function element (3, 4, 5) can be connected and to whose second end (19) a power supply of the motor vehicle can be connected.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle external rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a glass assembly;

at least one electrical function element;

a support element, to which the electrical function element can be secured, the support element including an electrical conductor path with a first end to which an electrical function element can be connected and having a second end which is connectable to a conductor that makes electrical connection to at least one electrical function elsewhere in the motor vehicle;

said support element being at least partially formed of a non-conducting moldable material and wherein said electrical conductor path comprises an electrical conductor embedded at least in certain areas in said non-conducting material of said support element and wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said conductor path comprises at least one of a plug and a socket.

2. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first end and said second end of said conductor path are constructed as a plug contact, more particularly as a plug tongue.

3. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor comprises a metal wire.

4. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support element includes an injection molded part, the conductor paths being laid into the mold pockets, prior to the injection of plastics material.

5. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said conductor path is formed of a wire material which is substantially resistant to bending.

6. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein said conductor path comprises a profiled conductor cross section.

7. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said conductor path is formed of a substantially flexible cable material.

8. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 7, wherein said electrical function element comprises at least one contact element having a complementary function to the first end of said conductor path, said contact element being arranged in such a manner that, when the electrical function element is secured in a correct position relative to the support element, said contact element can be brought into electrically conductive contact with the end of said conductor path.

9. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of conductor paths are provided each with second ends arranged on said support element in such a manner that a contact elements of a multi-polar plug connector can be brought into contact in each case with a second end of a conductor path.

10. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible current cable connected to at least one end of said conductor path, the contact point between the conductor path and the current cable being embedded in the material of said support element.

11. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a multi-polar plug connector, wherein a plurality of current cables are connected to the conductor paths to form a cable set, with an end having said multi-polar plug connector arranged for connecting the current cables to a system power supply connector to form a plug connection.

12. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a mirror base, wherein said plug connection is arranged in a recess in said mirror base.

13. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a mirror base, a support element connector connected to said conductor paths and a system power supply connector, said support element connector being brought into electrically conductive contact with said power supply connector when said support element is secured in a correct position with respect to said mirror base.

14. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein at least one conductor path has a branched construction, so that at least two function elements can be connected in common via said conductor path to said system power supply of the motor vehicle.

15. A rear view mirror assembly according to one of claim 1, wherein two branched conductor paths are provided, which connect at least two function elements in the rear view mirror with a multiplex signal control of the motor vehicle.

16. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support element is constructed as a central function support, which can be secured to a mirror base.

17. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support element is constructed as part of the mirror housing.

21. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said conductor path is constructed as a plug contact, more particularly as a plug tongue.

22. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said conductor path is constructed as a plug contact, more particularly as a plug tongue.

23. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein said conductor path comprises a hollow conductor cross section.

24. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support element is constructed as part of the body mirror.

18. An external rear view mirror of a motor vehicle with a glass subassembly, at least one electrical functional element, more particularly at least one of an adjustment drive, an electro-optic element, a lighting device, a folding drive and a heating element, comprising:

a support element, to which the electrical function element can be secured, said support element including at least one electrical conductor path with a first end to which the at least one electrical function element can be connected and to whose second end can be connected a conductor that makes electrical connection to at least one electrical function elsewhere in the motor vehicle;

said support element being at least partially formed of a non-conducting moldable material and wherein said electrical conductor path comprises an electrical conductor embedded at least in certain areas in said non-conducting material of said support element and wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said conductor path comprises at least one of a plug and a socket.

19. A motor vehicle external rear view mirror having a mirror element subassembly and at least one electrical functional element, the mirror comprising:

a support element with an electrical conductor path having a first end for connection to the electrical function element and having a second end connected to a conductor that provides a motor vehicle system electrical connection;

said support element being at least partially formed of a non-conducting moldable material and wherein said electrical conductor path comprises an electrical conductor embedded at least in certain areas in said non-conducting material of said support element and wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said conductor path comprises at least one of a plug and a socket.

20. The rear view mirror according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of said conductor path has a plug contact and said conductor path is embedded at least in certain areas in the material of said support element.