Motor assembly usable for an outer motor of a vehicle

• US 7,652,403 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Misato Industries Company Limited (Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Sakata, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/866,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 310/71, 310/91, 335/272, 359/877
• US Class Current: 310/71
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle

Abstract

A motor assembly includes a motor, a circuit board on which a control circuit to control the motor and a plug unit are mounted, and a supporting member which supports the motor and the circuit board. The motor is provided with a socket unit in which the plug unit is fitted. The supporting member has a board supporting portion to support the circuit board, a motor supporting portion to support the motor, and a supporting member engagement portion. The plug unit has a plug unit engagement portion which is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion. The plug unit engagement portion is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion when the plug unit is fitted in the socket unit.

Claims

1. A motor assembly, comprising:

a motor;

a circuit board on which a control circuit to control the motor and a plug unit are mounted; and

a supporting member which supports the motor and the circuit board;

wherein the motor is provided with a socket unit in which the plug unit is fitted;

wherein the supporting member has a board supporting portion to support the circuit board, a motor supporting portion formed together with the board supporting portion and configured to support the motor, and a pair of plug stop projections, the pair of plug stop projections being provided together with the motor supporting portion and configured to stop the plug unit in an engaged state from both sides of the plug unit in a width direction of the circuit board;

wherein the plug unit has a plug unit engagement portion which is engaged with the pair of plug stop projections; and

wherein the plug unit engagement portion of the plug unit mounted on the circuit board is engaged with the pair of plug stop projections in a state where the plug unit is fitted in the socket unit.

2. The motor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is disposed in a direction parallel to a drive axis direction of the motor, and the plug unit extends in a thickness direction of the circuit board.

3. The motor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motor supporting portion is formed in a tubular shape extending in a drive axis direction of the motor.

4. The motor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the board supporting portion has a pair of slit portions which are disposed so as to be engaged with both corners of an end of the circuit board.

5. The motor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plug unit engagement portion has curved portions.

6. The motor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member includes a harness holding portion having a harness protecting space which receives harnesses connected to the circuit board and a pair of harness guiding tabs which guide the harnesses to the harness protecting space and retain the harnesses in the harness protecting space.

7. The motor assembly according to claim 1, used in an outer mirror driving apparatus for a vehicle mirror.

8. A motor assembly, comprising

a motor;

a circuit board on which a control circuit to control the motor and a plug unit are mounted; and

a supporting member which supports the motor and the circuit board;

wherein the motor is provided with a socket unit in which the plug unit is fitted;

wherein the supporting member has a board supporting portion to support the circuit board, a motor supporting portion to support the motor, and a supporting member engagement portion formed by a pair of plug stop projections which are provided together with the motor supporting portion and configured to stop the plug unit in an engaged state from both sides of the plug unit in a width direction of the circuit board;

wherein the plug unit has a plug unit engagement portion which is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion; and

wherein the plug unit engagement portion supporting member engagement portion when the plug unit is fitted in the socket unit.

9. A motor assembly, comprising:

a motor;

a circuit board on which a control circuit to control the motor and a plug unit are mounted; and

a supporting member which supports the motor and the circuit board;

wherein the motor is provided with a socket unit in which the plug unit is fitted;

wherein the supporting member has a board supporting portion to support the circuit board, a motor supporting portion to support the motor, and a supporting member engagement portion;

wherein the plug unit has a plug unit engagement portion which is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion;

wherein the plug unit engagement portion is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion in a state where the plug unit is fitted in the socket unit; and

wherein the board supporting portion has a pair of slit portions which are disposed so as to be engaged with both corners of an end of the circuit board.