Vehicular mirror system with at least one of power-fold and power-extend functionality
First Claim
1. An external mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
- a fixed portion adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
a moveable portion pivotally mounted to the fixed portion through a normal range of movement between a folded position and an unfolded, retracted position defined by a pair of terminal ends, the moveable portion having a reflective element mounted therein defining a rearwardly-directed field of view for a driver of the vehicle;
an actuator including a motor having at least one output shaft adapted for bi-directional rotational movement, wherein driven rotation of the output shaft of the motor causes the movable portion to be pivoted with respect to the fixed portion; and
at least one of;
a force-modifying device operably interconnected to the actuator for reducing a drive force required to pivot the movable portion relative to the fixed portion within the normal range of movement corresponding to the folded and unfolded, refracted positions and increasing the drive force required to pivot the movable portion relative to the fixed portion beyond one of the terminal ends of the normal range of movement;
a transmission operably interconnected to the actuator, the actuator operably interconnected to the moveable portion for continuous movement in a first stage and a second stage, wherein the transmission operably cooperates with the actuator for movement between the first stage and the second stage, wherein in the first stage rotational movement of the motor pivots the movable portion between a folded position to an unfolded, retracted position and in the second stage translates the moveable portion between the unfolded, retracted position and an extended position; and
an adjuster operably interconnected to the reflective element, wherein the reflective element is positioned at a first angle of reflectance and the adjuster positions the reflective element at a second angle of reflectance as the reflective element is moved between the unfolded, retracted and an extended position to adjust the field of view of the reflective element for the driver of the vehicle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized pivoting and extending mechanism for a vehicular mirror assembly includes, alternatively, a force-reduction mechanism for reducing the friction within the mechanism, and a slip clutch mechanism for reducing overloading of the motor when the limits of mirror extension and retraction have been reached. Mirror power functions receive electrical power and control signals through a circular array of electrical contacts incorporated into the pivot connection irrespective of the pivotal orientation of the mirror. A motor shut-off circuit is able to shut off the motor within a predetermined period of time. The mirror can be angularly adjusted upon movement of the mirror between the retracted and the extended positions to maintain a common field of view for a driver of the vehicle to prevent the extension and/or retraction of the mirror from undesirably repositioning the field of view captured by the mirror.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An external mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a fixed portion adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; a moveable portion pivotally mounted to the fixed portion through a normal range of movement between a folded position and an unfolded, retracted position defined by a pair of terminal ends, the moveable portion having a reflective element mounted therein defining a rearwardly-directed field of view for a driver of the vehicle; an actuator including a motor having at least one output shaft adapted for bi-directional rotational movement, wherein driven rotation of the output shaft of the motor causes the movable portion to be pivoted with respect to the fixed portion; and at least one of; a force-modifying device operably interconnected to the actuator for reducing a drive force required to pivot the movable portion relative to the fixed portion within the normal range of movement corresponding to the folded and unfolded, refracted positions and increasing the drive force required to pivot the movable portion relative to the fixed portion beyond one of the terminal ends of the normal range of movement; a transmission operably interconnected to the actuator, the actuator operably interconnected to the moveable portion for continuous movement in a first stage and a second stage, wherein the transmission operably cooperates with the actuator for movement between the first stage and the second stage, wherein in the first stage rotational movement of the motor pivots the movable portion between a folded position to an unfolded, retracted position and in the second stage translates the moveable portion between the unfolded, retracted position and an extended position; and an adjuster operably interconnected to the reflective element, wherein the reflective element is positioned at a first angle of reflectance and the adjuster positions the reflective element at a second angle of reflectance as the reflective element is moved between the unfolded, retracted and an extended position to adjust the field of view of the reflective element for the driver of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An external vehicular mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a fixed portion adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; a moveable portion adapted for a normal range of movement including a reflective element mounted therein; an actuator including a motor having at least one output shaft adapted for bi-directional rotational movement, the actuator operably interconnected to the moveable portion for continuous movement in a first stage and a second stage, wherein in the first stage rotational movement of the motor pivots the movable portion between a folded position to an unfolded, retracted position and in the second stage translates the moveable portion between the unfolded, retracted position and an extended position; and a transmission for transitioning rotational movement of the motor between the first and second stages. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification