Single-motor-and-cam, remotely adjustable, vehicle mirror system

• US 6,511,188 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anvik Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anvik Corporation
• Inventors: Kling, Carl C., Jain, Kanti
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/859,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 359/601, 359/602, 359/603, 359/604, 359/605, 359/606, 359/872, 359/877, 248/477, 248/479
• US Class Current: 359/603
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means

Abstract

This single-actuator-and-cam, remotely adjustable, exterior vehicle rear-view mirror provides the driver with glare-free viewing toward the rear of the vehicle, by switching between a high-reflectivity position and a low-reflectivity position at the same view adjustment. The exterior rear-view mirrors are repositioned with only a single motor working with a rotary cam to scan all possible mirror positions. The single-motor mechanism increases the reliability of the mirror system. The single motor accomplishes both the directional alignment and the day/night reflectivity adjustment of the mirror by use of a cam which has positions for all predicted view positions, with two reflectivity positions for each view. This invention works equally well with flat wedge mirrors and wide-angle convex wedge mirrors. Since each position is unique, each directional/reflectivity position can be assigned a set of digital coordinates which can be stored for each vehicle driver and each glare condition, for an initial setting which can be easily, or even automatically, adjusted for changes as the driver desires. Customizing features include manual and vehicle driver identification controlled override, start-up reset, and glare threshold setting.

Claims

1. A multi-function optical beam reflecting and steering system for an exterior vehicle mirror, characterized by

(a) a wedge mirror (1) having a range of view alignments, said range providing at least two different view alignments, having differing reflectivities, for each view position;

(b) angular adjustment means including a cam means associated with said wedge mirror (1);

(c) mounting means (3) affixed to said wedge mirror (1) to provide a limited, variable, motion entirely covering said range of view alignments to said wedge mirror (1);

(d) a single motor associated with said angular adjustment means to drive said wedge mirror (1) entirely through said range of view alignments for at least two different reflectivities for each view position; and

(e) control means (33) for said motor to cause said angular adjustment means to move said wedge mirror (1) to a selected view alignment, for a selected view position with selected reflectivity.

2. A multi-function optical beam reflecting and steering system for an exterior vehicle mirror, according to claim 1, further characterized in that:

said wedge mirror means (1) comprises a wide-angle convex wedge mirror segment (42) 61) of a larger wedge mirror, so that each view alignment also has a plurality of reflectivity positions in said wide-angle convex wedge mirror segment (42;

61), making available at least two different reflectivities at each view alignment in said wide-angle segment, as well as at least two different reflectivities at each view alignment in the remainder of said wedge mirror;

(1).

3. A mirror positioning system for an exterior vehicle mirror characterized by

(a) a mirror base (65);

(b) a mirror (1) pivoted near one end thereof on said mirror base (65) with capability of a range of alignment positions appropriate for a viewer;

(c) single-motor mirror alignment means (9) mounted to said mirror base (65); and

(d) an alignment cam (5) and cam driver (7, 10) set mounted axially to said mirror alignment motor means (9) near the end diagonally opposite in a lengthwise direction said one end of said mirror (1) to provide motion to said mirror (1) as a function of cam (5) configuration, under impetus of said alignment motor (9), said alignment cam and said cam driver set (5-11) adapted for positioning said mirror (1) within a range with respect to said base (65).