Mirror actuator assembly with modular positional memory device

• US 7,090,363 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly Mirrors North America, LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boddy, Ian, Foote, Keith D., Brown, Kris D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry, Euncha P.
• Application Number:
  US10/708,389
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/875, 359/879
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprises an internal frame supporting a reflective element and a motorized tilt actuator assembly for adjusting the reflective element about perpendicular axes. The reflective element is attached to the internal frame through a pivot connection. A positional memory module comprising a separate assembly is supported by the internal frame adjacent the pivot connection for electrically determining the horizontal and vertical tilt of the reflective element at a selected position as a change in voltage through a pair of simple electrical circuits. The reflective element can be returned to the selected position by adjusting the horizontal and vertical tilt of the reflective element according to the changes in voltage.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a reflective element attached at the frame for providing an occupant of the vehicle with a rearward view;

a motorized tilt actuator adapted for selectively tilting the reflective element relative to the frame; and

a positional memory element located away from the tilt actuator coupling the frame with the reflective element, wherein a position of the reflective element relative to the frame is correlated to an output signal from the positional memory element so that movement of the reflective element from a first position to a second position results in a change in said output signal.

2. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positional memory element is selectively attached and removed from between the frame and the reflective element without requiring disassembly of the tilt actuator.

3. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positional memory element is mounted to the frame in a chamber separate from the attachment of the tilt actuator to the frame.

4. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positional memory element is located adjacent to a pivot point located between the reflective element and the frame.

5. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reflective element is returned to the first position by actuating the tilt actuator until the positional memory element generates an electrical output signal which is identical to the output signal corresponding to the first position.

6. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positional memory element is electrically energized.

7. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the output signal is electrical.

8. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said change in said output signal comprises a change in an electrical signal.

9. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a housing for the reflective element.

10. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising a wiper associated with one of the positional memory element and the frame and a contact associated with the other of the positional memory element and the frame, and wherein the wiper abuts the contact during movement of the positional memory element with respect to the frame.

11. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 10, wherein movement of the positional memory element with respect to the frame causes movement of the wiper with respect to the contact.

12. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising a sensor, wherein movement of the positional memory element with respect to the frame alters the output signal, wherein said output signal is received by the sensor.

13. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein the sensor detects the output signal via the Hall effect.

14. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein the sensor detects the output signal via a magnetic resonance effect.

15. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein the sensor detects the output signal without contact with the positional memory element.

16. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein the sensor detects the output signal by contact with the positional memory element.

17. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a reflective element attached to the frame for providing an occupant of the vehicle with a rearward view;

a motorized tilt actuator adapted for selectively tilting the reflective element relative to the frame; and

a positional memory element contained within a modular housing located away from the tilt actuator coupling the frame with the reflective element, wherein a position of the reflective element relative to the frame is correlated to an output signal from the positional memory element so that movement of the reflective element from a first position to a second position results in a change in said output signal;

wherein the modular housing containing the positional memory element can be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the frame and the reflective element without requiring disassembly of the tilt actuator.

18. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the positional memory element is mounted to the frame in a chamber separate from the attachment of the tilt actuator to the frame.

19. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the positional memory element is located adjacent to a pivot point located between the reflective element and the frame.

20. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the reflective element is returned to the first position by actuating the tilt actuator until the positional memory element generates an electrical signal which is identical to the output signal corresponding to the first position.

21. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein said change in said output signal comprises a change in an electrical signal.

22. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the frame is a housing for the reflective element.

23. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, and further comprising a wiper associated with one of the positional memory element and the frame and a contact associated with the other of the positional memory element and the frame, and wherein the wiper abuts the contact during movement of the positional memory element with respect to the frame.

24. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 23, wherein movement of the positional memory element with respect to the frame causes movement of the wiper with respect to the contact.

25. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, and further comprising a sensor, wherein movement of the positional memory element with respect to the frame alters the output signal and said output signal is received by the sensor.

26. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein the sensor detects the output signal via the Hall effect.

27. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein the sensor detects the output signal via a magnetic resonance effect.

28. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein the sensor detects the output signal without contact with the positional memory element.

29. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein the sensor detects the output signal by contact with the positional memory element.