Vehicle mirror control circuit arrangement

• US 20030021048A1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Inventors: Olijnyk, Mark, Gersch, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 6,927,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

A rear view mirror control circuit arrangement is disclosed for a vehicle. The vehicle may have at least two rear view mirror assemblies each having housing and respective motors located external of the vehicle. The motors are adapted and mechanically coupled to mirror elements so as to control the position of the mirror elements with respect to said vehicle for the viewing convenience of the vehicle driver. The control circuit arrangement consists of a common electronic control circuit located internal of said vehicle for controlling each motor and predetermined other functions of the rear view mirror assembly. This has the advantage that only one common control circuit is used to control multiple mirrors that being located internal of the vehicle, protects it from extreme environmental and physical conditions. Furthermore it is cheaper to design and supply as an OEM product to vehicle manufacturers.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror control circuit arrangement for a vehicle having at least two rear view mirror assemblies each having a housing and respective motors located external of said vehicle, said motors adapted and mechanically coupled to mirror elements so as to control the position of said mirror element with respect to said vehicle, said control circuit arrangement consisting of

a) a common electronic control circuit located internal of said vehicle for controlling each said motor and predetermined other functions of said rear view mirror assembly.

2. A rear view mirror control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said common electronic control circuit controls a motor located in a said rear view mirror assembly located internal of said vehicle.

3. A rear view mirror control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said common electronic control circuit is co-located with control elements for use by a driver of said vehicle.

4. A rear view mirror control circuit according to claim 1 receives signals from sensors in said rear view mirror assembly and acts on said signals to control one or more of said predetermined other functions of said rear view mirror assembly.