Vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly

• US 20030026012A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pavao, Leo W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,916,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A mirror system for a vehicle comprising an exterior rearview mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion which is configured to mount to a side of the vehicle. The movable portion includes a reflective element and a reflective element actuator. The reflective element has a generally rearward field of view when the mirror system is mounted to the vehicle. The reflective element actuator provides selective adjustment of an orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and the movable portion is movably mounted to the fixed portion. The movable portion actuator selectively moves the movable portion between a viewing position wherein the movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle. The movable portion actuator is adapted to move the movable portion to one of the positions, and the reflective element actuator is adapted to generally maintain the rearward field of view at the desired orientation independent of the position of the movable portion.

Claims

1. A mirror system for a vehicle, said mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;

a fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle;

a movable portion including a reflective element and a reflective element actuator, said reflective element having a generally rearward field of view when said mirror system is mounted to the vehicle, said reflective element actuator providing selective adjustment of an orientation of said reflective element to adjust said rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and said movable portion being movably mounted to said fixed portion;

a movable portion actuator for selectively moving said movable portion between a viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle; and

said movable portion actuator being adapted to move said movable portion to one of said positions, and said reflective element actuator being adapted to generally maintain said rearward field of view at said desired orientation independent of the position of said movable portion.

2. The mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising a control, said control selectively actuating said movable portion actuator to move said movable portion about said fixed portion to one of said viewing positions.

3. The mirror system according to claim 2, wherein said control is adapted to selectively actuate said movable portion actuator in response to the speed of the vehicle.

4. The mirror system according to claim 3, said movable portion actuator selectively moving said movable portion between a plurality of viewing positions wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at a plurality of angles with respect to the side of the vehicle.

5. The mirror system according to claim 3, wherein said control selectively actuates said reflective element actuator to direct said reflective element to said desired orientation to maintain said rearward field of view independent of the position of said movable portion.

6. The mirror system according to claim 2, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly includes said control.

7. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said reflective element actuator comprises an electrical actuator.

8. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises a variable reflectance reflective element.

9. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly further includes a second reflective element.

10. The mirror system of claim 9, wherein second reflective element comprises a curved reflector element.

12. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said movable portion is movable about said fixed portion by a break-away mechanism, said movable portion moving from a normal viewing position toward a folded position when said movable portion is impacted by a force having a pre-selected magnitude.

13. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said movable portion actuator comprises a power-fold mechanism.

14. The mirror system of claim 2, wherein said control comprises a manual control.

15. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly further comprises a light emitting element.

16. The mirror system of claim 15, wherein said light emitting element is provided at said movable portion.

17. The mirror system of claim 16, wherein said light emitting element is provided at an outboard position whereby said light emitting element generates a sweeping light pattern extending outwardly and at least generally laterally with respect to the vehicle when said movable portion actuator is actuated.

18. The mirror system of claim 15, wherein said light emitting element is provided at said fixed portion.

19. The mirror system of claim 18, wherein said light emitting element comprises a signal light assembly.

11. The mirror system of claim 11, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly further comprises a reflective element assembly, said reflective element assembly including said second reflective element.

20. A mirror system for a vehicle, said mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising;

a reflective element;

a fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle;

a movable portion being movably mounted to said fixed portion, said reflective element being supported in said mirror assembly by a reflective element actuator, said reflective element having a generally rearward field of view when said mirror system is mounted to the vehicle, said reflective element actuator providing selective adjustment of an orientation of said reflective element to adjust said rearward field of view to a desired orientation; and

a movable portion actuator for selectively moving said movable portion between a viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle; and

a control selectively actuating said movable portion actuator to move said movable portion about said fixed portion to one of said positions and actuating said reflective element actuator to direct the orientation of said reflective element to said desired orientation to maintain said rearward field of view independent of the position of said movable portion.

21. The mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said exterior rearview mirror system further includes a reflective element support, said reflective element actuator being supported by said reflective element support in said movable portion.

22. The mirror system of claim 20, said exterior rearview mirror assembly further comprising a power-fold mechanism, said control in communication with said power-fold mechanism and actuating said power-fold mechanism to move said movable portion between said viewing positions.

23. The mirror system of claim 22, wherein said reflective element actuator is supported by said movable portion.

24. The mirror system of claim 23, wherein said control selectively actuates said movable portion actuator in response to the vehicle traveling at a pre-selected speed.

25. The mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said control selectively actuates said movable portion actuator in response to the vehicle traveling at pre-selected speeds.

26. The mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly further comprises a light emitting element.

27. The mirror system of claim 26, wherein said light emitting element is provided in said movable portion.

28. The mirror system of claim 27, wherein said light emitting element is provided at an outboard position whereby said light emitting element generates a sweeping light pattern extending outwardly and at least generally laterally with respect to the vehicle when said light emitting element is actuated and when said movable portion actuator is actuated.

29. The mirror system of claim 26, wherein said light emitting element comprises a signal light assembly.

30. An exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle;

a mirror casing including a first reflective element, said mirror casing being mounted to said mounting portion, and said reflective element having a generally rearward field of view when said mirror system is mounted to the vehicle; and

said mirror casing including a second reflective element for extending said rearward field of view, said second reflective element being mounted independent from said first reflective element and being mounted for movement between a viewing position and a stowed position.

31. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 30, wherein said second reflective element is not viewable by an occupant of the vehicle when said second reflective element is moved to its stowed position.

32. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 30, wherein said second reflective element is moved behind said first reflective element when moved to its stowed position.

33. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 32, wherein said second reflective element is moved below said first reflective element when moved to its viewing position.

34. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 30, further comprising a reflective element assembly, said reflective element assembly including a carrier and said second reflective element.

35. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 34, wherein said mirror casing includes a casing wall, said carrier forming a portion of said casing wall when said second reflective element is moved to said stowed position.

36. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 34, wherein said carrier is mounted for pivotal movement between said viewing position and said stowed position.

37. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 35, wherein said carrier is mounted to a bottom wall of said mirror casing.

38. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 30, wherein said second reflective element comprises a curved reflective element.

39. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 30, wherein said mirror casing is movable mounted to said mounting portion.

40. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 39, further comprising a movable portion actuator for selectively moving said mirror casing about said mounting portion.

41. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 40, further comprising a reflective element actuator for selectively moving said first reflective element to adjust said rearward field of view to a desired orientation.

42. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 41, wherein said movable portion actuator selectively moves said mirror casing about said mounting portion to a plurality of viewing positions, said reflective element actuator being adapted to direct the orientation of said reflective element to said desired orientation and thereby generally maintain said rearward field of view independent of the position of said mirror casing.

43. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 42, further comprising a control system, said control system selectively actuating said movable portion actuator to move said movable portion about said fixed portion to one of said viewing positions and selectively actuating said reflective element actuator to adjust the orientation of said reflective element to generally maintain said rearward field of view independent of the position of said movable portion.

44. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 43, wherein said control system is adapted to selectively actuate said movable portion actuator in response to the speed of the vehicle.