Vehicle mirror assembly

• US 9,150,156 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bowers, Kenneth, Dimichele, Alfredo, Templeton, Kathryn, Maxwell, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garces-Rivera, Angel L
• Application Number:
  US13/599,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20140063245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0607 with remote position control adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

A vehicle mirror assembly includes a vehicle attachment member, a mirror housing, a mirror and a camera. The vehicle attachment member is configured for attachment to a vehicle. The mirror housing is telescopically coupled to the vehicle attachment member between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the vehicle attachment member. The mirror housing defines a camera receiving recess. The mirror is coupled to the mirror housing. The camera is coupled to the vehicle attachment member and disposed in the camera receiving recess of the mirror housing at a fixed position relative to the vehicle attachment member while the mirror housing is moved between the extended position and the retracted position.

Claims

1. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a vehicle attachment member configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a mirror housing telescopically coupled to the vehicle attachment member between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the vehicle attachment member, the mirror housing defining a camera receiving recess;

a mirror coupled to the mirror housing; and

a camera coupled to the vehicle attachment member and disposed in the camera receiving recess of the mirror housing at a fixed position relative to the vehicle attachment member while the mirror housing is moved between the extended position and the retracted position.

2. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the mirror at least partially covers the camera receiving recess while the mirror housing is in both the extended position and the retracted position.

3. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the mirror housing defines a window, and the camera includes a lens arranged to capture an image through the window of the mirror housing while the mirror housing is in both the extended position and the retracted position.

4. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein

the camera includes a portion that extends into the window while the mirror housing is in both the extended position and the retracted position.

5. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein

the mirror housing includes a lower wall defining the window.

6. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein

the lower wall of the mirror housing includes an edge that faces an inner face of the mirror to at least partially define the window between the edge and the inner face of the mirror.

7. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein

the lower wall of the mirror housing includes front and rear edges, and the window is an elongated slot that is located between the front and rear edges.

8. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein

the window is an elongated slot defined through a wall of the mirror housing having an overall length greater than the lens of the camera, the camera including a cover member covering sections of the window adjacent to the lens of the camera while the mirror housing is in both the extended position and the retracted position.

9. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the camera includes a sub-mirror housing coupled to the vehicle attachment member in a fixed position relative thereto, the sub-mirror housing being matingly received in the camera receiving recess to define an integrated appearance while the mirror housing is in the retracted position.

10. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the sub-mirror housing includes a contoured surface that conforms to an overall shape of the mirror housing while the mirror housing is in the retracted position.

11. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the sub-mirror housing includes an extension that is concealed within the mirror housing while the mirror housing is in the retracted position, with the extension being exposed and covering a portion of the camera receiving recess while the mirror housing is in the extended position.

12. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein

the extension of the sub-mirror housing is slidably received within a recess formed within the mirror housing.

13. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle attachment member includes at least one hollow extension configured for attachment to the mirror housing for telescopic movement with respect thereto, and

the camera includes an elongated connecting member extending through the hollow extension, the connecting member having a first end fixedly coupled to the vehicle attachment member and a second end fixedly coupled to the camera.

14. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein

the mirror housing includes a telescoping portion that is slidably disposed on the hollow extension of the vehicle attachment member for telescopic movement with respect thereto.

15. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the elongated connecting member of the camera extends through a hollow interior of the telescoping portion of the mirror housing.

16. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein

the mirror housing defines a window, and the camera includes a lens arranged to capture an image through the window of the mirror housing while the mirror housing is in both the extended position and the retracted position.

17. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein

the window is an elongated slot that extends in a direction that is parallel to a lengthwise direction of the hollow extension of the vehicle attachment member.

18. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein

the window is an elongated slot that extends in a direction that is parallel to a lengthwise direction of the elongated connecting member of the camera.

19. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 16, further comprising

the window is an elongated slot defined through a wall of the mirror housing having an overall length greater than the lens of the camera, the camera including a cover member covering sections of the window adjacent to the lens of the camera while the mirror housing is in both the extended position and the retracted position.

20. The vehicle mirror assembly according to claim 16, further comprising

the cover member is made of a flexible material slidably received within a recess formed within the mirror housing.