Outer mirror device for vehicle

• US 7,137,717 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Ohashi, Masatsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US10/721,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 359/843, 359/872, 359/873, 359/874, 359/876, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

In an outer mirror device for a vehicle, an electrically-driven retracting unit, a mirror surface angle adjusting unit, a mirror surface angle detecting sensor, a foot lamp device, a heater, and an ECU which is a control device, which are respectively internal mechanisms, are disposed within a door mirror visor which covers a reverse surface side of a mirror and between the mirror and which a space is formed. A wire harness led into the door mirror visor is only two power source wires and three signal wires connected to the ECU. As compared with a structure in which the ECU is disposed outside of the door mirror visor, a number of wires can be greatly reduced.

Claims

1. An outer mirror device for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror visor cover which covers a back surface of a mirror for rearward viewing to form a space between the mirror and the mirror visor cover;

a mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism at which an electric motor, a rotating member rotating due to rotation of the electric motor, and a portion of a drive rod connected to the mirror and moving rectilinearly due to rotation of the rotating member, are accommodated in a first case, the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism changing a mirror surface angle of the mirror by rectilinear movement of the drive rod;

a control device having a second case which is connected to the first case within the space, and a control substrate which is accommodated within the second case and at which is provided a control circuit power-supplying the electric motor on a basis of an operation signal;

a mirror surface angle detecting sensor disposed within the second case, and detecting one of a position of the drive rod and a rotational position of the rotating member,

wherein one of said first and second cases includes a wall disposed between said mirror surface angle adjustment mechanism and said control device that includes an opening for accommodating an electrical connector having detachably connectible electrical terminals such that said electrical terminals are interconnected when said first and second cases are positioned adjacent to one another.

2. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the mirror surface angle detecting sensor is provided at the control substrate.

3. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first case and the second case are integral.

4. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second case is water-tight.

5. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first and second cases include snap-fit connections for joining said cases together, and said electrical terminals of said electrical connector are interconnected when said snap-fit connections are connected.

6. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first case includes a frame wall that abuts said wall disposed between said control mechanism and said mirror surface angle adjustment mechanism.

7. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said electrical terminals are interconnected when said first and second cases are assembled within said mirror visor cover.

8. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector includes a male side and a female side which are mounted on walls of one of said first and second cases and the other of said first and second cases, respectively, and which become detachably connected when said first and second cases are assembled within said visor cover.