Mirror angle controller

• US 7,690,800 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hisaya, Fukai, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US11/664,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction

Abstract

A mirror angle controller is provided which includes a pivot plate (H) which is attached to a reverse side of a mirror (M), and an actuator (A) which holds the pivot plate (H), in which the actuator (A) includes a housing (A1), a rod (A3) which pushes and pulls the pivot plate (H), and a motor which provides driving force to the rod (A3), in which, a ringed holder (121) which is placed to surround the rod (A3) is formed in the housing (A1), and in which the pivot plate (H) includes a ringed sliding part (H31) which is contact with and arbitrarily slides on the holder (121), and an engaging part which is engaged with an end of the rod (A3) so as to securely hold the mirror (M).

Claims

1. A mirror angle controller comprising:

a pivot plate which is attached to a reverse side of a mirror; and

an actuator which holds the pivot plate,

wherein the actuator comprises a housing, a rod which pushes and pulls the pivot plate, and a motor which provides driving force to the rod,

wherein, a ringed holder is formed along a back side rim of the housing which is placed to completely surround the rod, and an inner peripheral surface of the ringed holder has a plurality of lubricating grooves therein, and

wherein the pivot plate comprises a ringed sliding part which is in contact with and arbitrarily slides on the ringed holder, and an engaging part which is engaged with an end of the rod.

2. The mirror angle controller as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the housing further comprises a stopper which prevents the pivot plate from turning in a circumferential direction of the ringed holder, and

wherein the stopper is surrounded by the ringed holder.

3. A mirror angle controller as comprising:

a pivot plate which is attached to a reverse side of a mirror; and

an actuator which holds the pivot plate,

wherein the actuator comprises a housing, a rod which pushes and pulls the pivot plate, and a motor which provides driving force to the rod,

wherein, a ringed holder is formed along a back side rim of the housing which is placed to completely surround the rod, and an inner peripheral surface of the ringed holder has a plurality of lubricating grooves therein,

wherein the pivot plate comprises a ringed sliding part which is in contact with and arbitrarily slides on the ringed holder, and an engaging part which is engaged with an end of the rod,

wherein the housing is formed in a bowl-shape, and

wherein the ringed holder is formed on a rim of the housing.

4. The mirror angle controller as claimed in claim 3,

wherein a motor container in which the motor is placed is formed on the pivot plate side of the housing.

5. The mirror angle controller as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the actuator further comprises a cover which covers the motor container.

6. The mirror angle controller as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the actuator further comprises a stopper which prevents the pivot plate from turning in a circumferential direction of the ringed holder, and

wherein the stopper is formed in the cover.