Memory mirror system for vehicle

• US 7,104,663 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Whitehead, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US10/790,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604, 359/605, 359/606, 359/843, 359/872, 359/877, 359/265, 359/267, 359/873, 248/549, 248/480, 248/481, 248/484
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks

Abstract

A vehicle memory mirror system of the present invention includes an interior rearview mirror assembly. The mirror assembly includes a mirror casing, with a reflective element, and a support, which is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to a vehicle. An electrical actuator is located interiorly of the mirror casing and is adapted to adjust the orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view of the reflective element.

Claims

1. A vehicular interior rearview mirror system, said interior rearview system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly;

said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a generally cup-shaped mirror casing having a reflective element, said mirror casing including a back wall, said reflective element being spaced from said back wall to thereby define a cavity for containing one or more electrical components therein;

said interior rearview mirror assembly further comprising a support, said support being adapted to mount to a vehicle windshield or a vehicle header portion, said support being adapted to provide a break-away mounting of said interior rearview mirror assembly, said support including a cavity; and

an electrical actuator located at least partially in said cavity of said support, said electrical actuator including at least one positioning member, said positioning member engaging said mirror casing whereby extension and retraction of said positioning member adjusts said mirror casing about one or more axes to thereby adjust said reflective element about said one or more axes in tandem with said mirror casing.

2. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said support is adapted to mount said mirror assembly to the windshield.

3. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said support is adapted to mount said mirror assembly to the header portion.

4. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator cooperates with said wall to thereby adjust the position of said mirror casing and said reflective element.

5. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a tubular member, said tubular member being adapted to mount to the vehicle windshield or the vehicle header portion.

6. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 5, wherein said tubular member defines said cavity of said support, said mirror system comprising at least one electrical device, and said device being housed in one of said cavities.

7. The vehicular interior rearview system according to claim 1, wherein,

said adjustment of said reflective element is responsive to a memory mirror system of the vehicle.

8. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 7, wherein said actuator is coupled to at least one control module of said memory mirror memory system.

9. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one control module comprises a mirror-based control module, said mirror-based control module positioned in said cavity of said support, said mirror-based control module for coupling to a vehicle-based control module of said memory mirror system.

10. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises a variable reflectance element.

11. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising a windshield contacting rain sensor for detecting moisture on the windshield.

12. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 11, wherein said rain sensor is located in said cavity of said support.

13. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic control system, said electronic control system including a mirror based control module in said interior rearview mirror assembly, said actuator including a motor, and said mirror based control module operable to actuate said motor to adjust the position of said mirror casing and said reflective element.

14. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 13, wherein said mirror based control module is located in said support.

15. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mirror casing includes a socket member, said socket member mounting said mirror casing to said actuator.

16. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 15, wherein said mirror casing further comprises a second socket member, said second socket member being engaged by said positioning member to thereby adjust the position of said mirror casing about said actuator about said axes when said positioning member extends or retracts.

17. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said reflective element is supported by said mirror casing.

18. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 17, wherein said mirror casing further includes a bezel, said bezel retaining said reflective element in said mirror casing.

19. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator further includes a housing, said positioning member extending and retracting from said housing.

20. The vehicular interior rearview mirror system according to claim 19, wherein at least a portion of said housing forms a pivot member, said pivot member engaged with said mirror casing whereby said mirror casing pivots about said pivot member of said actuator when said positioning member is extended or retracted from said housing.

21. A vehicular memory mirror system comprising:

at least one exterior sideview mirror assembly, said sideview mirror assembly including a sideview mirror casing adapted to mount to a vehicle, a sideview reflective element, and a sideview electrical actuator for adjusting the position of said sideview reflective element in said sideview mirror casing about one or more axes;

an interior rearview mirror assembly including a rearview mirror casing, a rearview reflective element a support for mounting said rearview mirror casing to a vehicle windshield or a vehicle header, and a rearview electrical actuator, said support including a cavity, said rearview mirror casing comprising a generally cup-shaped mirror casing with a back wall, and said reflective element being spaced from said back wall to thereby define a cavity for containing one or more electrical components therein, said rearview electrical actuator being located at least partially in said cavity of said support and having at least one positioning member, said positioning member engaging said rearview mirror casing whereby extension or retraction of said positioning member adjusts the position of said rearview reflective element and said mirror casing about one or more axes about said support to thereby adjust the rearward field of view of said rearview reflective element; and

at least one control module in communication with said rearview electrical actuator and said sideview electrical actuator, said control module actuating at least one of said actuators to adjust the position of at least one of said reflective elements in response to a signal from at least one of (a) a mirror switch that is user operable to selectively position of at least one of said reflective elements and (b) a memory set switch that is user operable to set a memory position for at least one of said reflective elements.

22. The memory mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said rearview electrical actuator engages said back wall of said rearview mirror casing to thereby adjust the rearview mirror casing about said one or more axes.

23. The memory mirror system according to claim 22, wherein said positioning member engages said back wall of said rearview mirror casing to thereby pivot said rearview mirror casing.

24. The memory mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said rearview electrical actuator is supported by said support.

25. The memory mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said support is adapted to provide a break-away mounting to the windshield or the header portion of the vehicle.

26. The memory mirror system according to claim 25, wherein said control module includes at least one mirror based control module, said mirror based control module in communication with said rearview electrical actuator and actuating said rearview electrical actuator to adjust the position of said rearview reflective element.