Exterior mirror assembly with actuator
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising 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 cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion;
wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized;
wherein operation of said first and second motors causes said common drive gear to rotate; and
a shutoff circuit operable to determine a stalled condition and, responsive to such determination, operable to deactivate driving of said common drive gear by said at least two motors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle and a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting portion. The mirror assembly includes an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion. The actuator includes a first motor and a second motor that are operable in tandem to cooperatively cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion. Operation of the first and second motors is synchronized and causes the common drive gear to rotate. A shutoff circuit is operable to determine a stalled condition and, responsive to such determination, is operable to deactivate driving of the common drive gear by the at least two motors.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising 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 cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized; wherein operation of said first and second motors causes said common drive gear to rotate; and a shutoff circuit operable to determine a stalled condition and, responsive to such determination, operable to deactivate driving of said common drive gear by said at least two motors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising 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 cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized; wherein operation of said first and second motors causes said common drive gear to rotate; wherein said common drive gear comprises a ring gear; wherein a shutoff circuit determines a stall condition of said first motor and, responsive to such determination, said shutoff circuit removes electrical power from said first motor; and wherein said shutoff circuit determines a stall condition of said second motor and, responsive to such determination, said shutoff circuit removes electrical power from said second motor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head portion pivotally adjustable relative to said mounting portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element at said mirror head portion; said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising 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 cause a common drive gear of a gear system to be driven to pivot said mirror head portion relative to said mounting portion; wherein operation of said first and second motors is synchronized; wherein operation of said first and second motors causes said common drive gear to rotate; a shutoff circuit operable to determine a stalled condition and, responsive to such determination, operable to deactivate driving of said common drive gear by said at least two motors; wherein, responsive to operation of said first and second motors, 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; and wherein said shutoff circuit provides bi-directional protection for said first motor and provides bi-directional protection for said second motor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification