Rearview unit with clutch for automated tilt mechanism
First Claim
1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
- a substrate having a reflective surface thereon; and
an actuation mechanism coupled with the substrate and including;
a socket plate rotatably coupled with the substrate at a first end thereof and extending to a second end;
a link element rotatably coupled with the substrate adjacent the second end of the socket plate, the link element being engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element;
a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof and defining a plurality of undulations extending in the direction of the axis and radially spaced around the axis; and
an input element including a friction plate having a plurality of undulations equal in number to the undulations of the clutch plate and positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along an axis of the link element, the input element releaseably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis by the undulations of the friction plate moving out of phase with the undulations of the clutch plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rearview mirror for a vehicle includes a substrate having a reflective surface thereon and an actuation mechanism coupled within the substrate. The actuation mechanism includes a socket plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof and extending to a second end and a link element rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing adjacent the second end of the socket and engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element. The actuation mechanism further includes a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof and an input element positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element. The input element releasably engages the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis.
56 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
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a substrate having a reflective surface thereon; and an actuation mechanism coupled with the substrate and including; a socket plate rotatably coupled with the substrate at a first end thereof and extending to a second end; a link element rotatably coupled with the substrate adjacent the second end of the socket plate, the link element being engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element; a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof and defining a plurality of undulations extending in the direction of the axis and radially spaced around the axis; and an input element including a friction plate having a plurality of undulations equal in number to the undulations of the clutch plate and positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along an axis of the link element, the input element releaseably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis by the undulations of the friction plate moving out of phase with the undulations of the clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle, comprising:
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an imaging system including a rear view camera; a windshield; and a rearview mirror mounted adjacent the windshield and including; a substrate having a reflective surface thereon; and an actuation mechanism coupled with the substrate and including; a socket plate rotatably coupled with the substrate at a first end thereof and extending to a second end; a link element rotatably coupled with the substrate adjacent the second end of the socket plate and engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element; a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof and defining a plurality of undulations extending in the direction of the axis and radially spaced around the axis; and an input element including a friction plate having a plurality of undulations equal in number to the undulations of the clutch plate and positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along an axis of the link element, the input element releaseably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis by the undulations of the friction plate moving out of phase with the undulations of the clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for moving a mirror substrate, comprising:
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causing rotation of an input element, the input element being coupled with a link element by way of a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof, the input element being positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element with the input element releaseably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis, the rotation of the input element being such that the input element remains releaseably engaged with the clutch plate; and causing further rotation of the input element in excess of a range of motion defined by the engagement between the link element and the socket plate, thereby causing movement of the input element along the axis in a direction away from the clutch plate against the force, wherein; the clutch plate defines a plurality of undulations extending in the direction of the axis and radially spaced around the axis; the input element includes a friction plate having a plurality of undulations equal in number to the undulations of the clutch plate; and when input element releaseably engages the clutch plate, the undulations of the friction plate are 90 degrees out of phase with the undulations of the clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification