Electronic mirror circuit and outside mirror assembly with such a circuit

• US 6,777,824 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Witzke, Michael, Lang, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US09/760,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20020048102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/10.1, 701/49, 659/872-877
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

An electronic mirror circuit for the activation of mirrors for motor vehicles, where the mirrors are positioned adjusted by electric motors. The circuit is made of an operational component having a plurality of circuits for conducting currents. Also, a load control unit is correspondingly connected with the current conducting circuits. A plurality of load circuits are in communication with the load control unit. Each of the load circuits corresponds with a given one of the current conducting circuits. The load circuits are activated by the current conducting circuits. Also provided is an electrical coupling device for connecting the load circuits to the mirrors via a wire distribution tree.

Claims

1. An electronic mirror control circuit for the positioning of mirrors on motor vehicles where the mirrors position is adjusted by electric mirror motors, the control circuit comprising:

an operational component including a plurality of low current control circuits having low current control switches for controlling current flow in said control circuits;

a plurality of load circuits for conducting load currents;

load switches connected in said load circuits for controlling load current flow in said load circuits to selectively deliver said load currents to said mirror motors;

a load control unit connected between said control circuits and said load circuits for associating preselected control circuits with preselected load switches so that load switches are activated by said associated control circuits and,

an electrical coupling device for connecting the load circuits to the mirror motors so that said mirrors are positioned in response to actuation of said control switches.

2. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the low current control circuits serves for the activation of mirror heating.

3. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a signaling device for the production of at least one of the following:

an optical signal; and

,

an acoustic signal, to designate the activation of a circuit.

4. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operational component has sensor keys for selectively activating said control circuits.

5. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operational component has keys that are membrane pressure keys for selectively activating said control circuits.

6. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operational component said load control unit, and said plurality of the load circuits are placed in a common housing, and the operational component is located on a side of the common housing, and the electrical coupling device is provided on an opposite side of the common housing.

7. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 6, wherein the common housing is configured for installation in an instrument panel.

8. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 6, wherein the common housing is configured for installation in an instrument panel in a door of a motor vehicle.

9. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electric coupling device is of standard plug-in construction.

10. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 3, wherein the signaling device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

11. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an electric motor driven positioning unit communicating with the wire distribution harness; and

at least one mirror pane being positioned by the electric motor driven positioning unit.

12. An electronic mirror circuit for activating a mirror positioning motor comprising:

an operational component having a low current control circuit and a key for selectively activating the control circuit;

a load control unit having a load current circuit for delivering a load current to said mirror positioning motor connected to said control circuit;

a load circuit switch connected to said load current circuit activated by said key; and

,

an electrical coupling device for connecting the load circuit to the mirror positioning motor.

13. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a signaling device connected to the operational component for indicating the activation of said control circuit.

14. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein the key is a membrane pressure key.

15. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein the Operational component, the load control unit, and the load circuit switch are in a common housing and the operation control unit is on a side of the common housing, and the electrical coupling device is in an outer side of the common housing.

16. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 15, wherein the common housing is configured for placement in at least one of an instrument panel and in a door of a motor vehicle.

17. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein the electric coupling device is of standard plug-in construction.

18. An electronic mirror circuit as set forth in claim 13, wherein the signaling device has a plurality of light emitting diodes.