Electronic mirror circuit and outside mirror assembly with such a circuit

• US 20020048102A1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Witzke, Michael, Lang, Heinrich
• Granted Patent: US 6,777,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

An electronic mirror circuit for the activation of mirrors for motor vehicles, where the mirrors are positioned adjusted by electric motors. The circuit is made of an operational component having a plurality of circuits for conducting currents. Also, a load control unit is correspondingly connected with the current conducting circuits. A plurality of load circuits are in communication with the load control unit. Each of the load circuits corresponds with a given one of the current conducting circuits. The load circuits are activated by the current conducting circuits. Also provided is an electrical coupling device for connecting the load circuits to the mirrors via a wire distribution tree.

Claims

1. An electronic mirror circuit for the activation of outside mirrors for motor vehicles, particularly for commercial vehicles, which mirrors are position-adjusted by electric motors, said circuit possessing

an operative component (2) with a plurality of circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i;

20, 22, 24, 28) for currents of low voltage and amperage (hereinafter referred to as weak currents),

a load control unit (6) which is correspondingly connected with the weak current circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i;

20, 22, 24, 28),

a plurality of load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) which are in communication with the load control unit (6), by which they correspond with the respective individual weak current circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i;

20, 22, 24, 28), wherein the load circuits (8-1, 8-2,. . . , 8-i) by means of the respectively assigned weak current circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i;

20, 22, 24, 28) and the interposed load control unit (6) are activated, and

an electrical coupling device (10) for the connection of the load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) with a conventional wire distribution tree (12) of the outside mirrors.

2. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that one of the weak current and load circuits (28) serves for the activation of mirror heating.

3. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with claim 1 or 2, characterized by a display device (14) for the production of a optical and/or an acoustic signal to designate the activation of a weak current circuit (4-1, 4-2,. . . , 4-i;

20, 22, 24, 28) and of a thereto respective load circuit (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i).

5. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the operational unit (2) possesses sensor keys.

6. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the pressure keys of the operational unit (2) are especially membrane pressure keys (20, 24, 28).

7. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized,

in that the operational unit (2), the load control unit (6) and the plurality of the load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) are placed in a common housing, and in that the operational unit (2) is located on a forward side of the said common housing, and

in that the electrical coupling apparatus (10) is provided on one of the outer sides of the said common housing.

8. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with claim 7, therein characterized, in that the common housing is designed for installation in an instrument panel or in a door of a motor vehicle.

9. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the electric coupling apparatus (10) for the connection of the load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) to the distribution wire tree (12) is of standard plug-in construction.

10. An outside mirror for motor vehicles, especially for commercial vehicles, possessing an electric motor driven positioning unit for the positioning of at least one mirror pane, whereby the said electric motor driven positioning unit is activated by means of a mirror circuit, therein characterized, in that the mirror circuit is an electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims.