Exterior mirror assembly with actuator
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
- a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle;
a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion;
a reflective element at said mirror head portion;
an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted;
wherein said actuator comprises at least two motors;
wherein said at least two motors comprises a first motor and a second motor;
wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion;
wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized;
wherein operation of said first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; and
wherein operation of said second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first and second motors is synchronized. Operation of the first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives the common drive gear and operation of the second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives the common drive gear.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; a reflective element at said mirror head portion; an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein said actuator comprises at least two motors; wherein said at least two motors comprises a first motor and a second motor; wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized; wherein operation of said first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; and wherein operation of said second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; a reflective element at said mirror head portion; an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein said actuator comprises at least two motors; wherein said at least two motors comprises a first motor and a second motor; wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized; wherein operation of said first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; wherein operation of said second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; wherein said first and second gears engage teeth of said common drive gear at opposite sides of said common drive gear; and wherein, responsive to operation of said first motor driving said first gear that engages said common drive gear and to operation of said second motor driving said second gear that engages said common drive gear, said mirror head portion pivots relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head between (i) a rearward viewing position or orientation where said reflective element at said mirror head is positioned so as to provide a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle and (ii) a folded or stowed position where said mirror head is oriented generally along the side of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; a reflective element at said mirror head portion; an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head portion relative to the side of a vehicle at which said mounting portion is mounted; wherein said actuator comprises at least two motors; wherein said at least two motors comprises a first motor and a second motor; wherein said first motor and said second motor are operable in tandem to cooperatively drive a common drive gear of a gear system to adjust said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized; wherein operation of said first motor drives a first gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; wherein operation of said second motor drives a second gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; wherein said first motor comprises a first drive shaft defining a first axis and wherein said second motor comprises a second drive shaft defining a second axis, and wherein said first axis is oriented generally parallel to said second axis when said first motor is driving said first gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear and said second motor is driving said second gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear; and wherein, responsive to operation of said first motor driving said first gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear and to operation of said second motor driving said second gear that rotatably drives said common drive gear, said mirror head portion pivots relative to said mounting portion to adjust said mirror head between (i) a rearward viewing position or orientation where said reflective element at said mirror head is positioned so as to provide a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle and (ii) a folded or stowed position where said mirror head is oriented generally along the side of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification