Outer mirror device for vehicle

• US 20040114261A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Ohashi, Masatsugo
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

In an outer mirror device for a vehicle, an electrically-driven retracting unit, a mirror surface angle adjusting unit, a mirror surface angle detecting sensor, a foot lamp device, a heater, and an ECU which is a control device, which are respectively internal mechanisms, are disposed within a door mirror visor which covers a reverse surface side of a mirror and between the mirror and which a space is formed. A wire harness led into the door mirror visor is only two power source wires and three signal wires connected to the ECU. As compared with a structure in which the ECU is disposed outside of the door mirror visor, a number of wires can be greatly reduced.

Claims

1. An outer mirror device for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror for rearward viewing;

a mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism mounted to the mirror, which receives power and adjusts a mirror surface angle of the mirror;

a mirror surface angle detecting mechanism which can detect the mirror surface angle of the mirror;

a control device electrically connected to the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism and the mirror surface angle detecting mechanism, and supplying power to the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism on the basis of an operation signal, and electrically charging the mirror surface angle detecting mechanism at appropriate times; and

a mirror visor which accommodates the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism, the mirror surface angle detecting mechanism and the control device between the mirror visor and the mirror.

10. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism has a first case, and the control device has a second case and the mirror surface angle detecting mechanism is provided in the second case.

11. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first case and the second case are integral.

2. An outer mirror device for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror visor which covers a back surface of a mirror for rearward viewing to form a space between the mirror and the mirror visor;

a mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism which has a first case and an electric motor accommodated in the first case, which is mounted to the mirror within the space, and which is able to adjust a mirror surface angle of the mirror by driving force of the electric motor;

a control device having a second case disposed within the space, and a control substrate which is accommodated within the second case and at which is provided a control circuit supplying power to the electric motor on the basis of an operation signal;

a power supplying terminal provided at the control substrate and passing through the second case; and

a connector portion provided integrally with the second case, and fixed to the first case to connect the power supplying terminal to the electric motor.

3. The outer mirror device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism has a rotating member rotating due to rotation of the electric motor, and a drive rod which moves rectilinearly due to rotation of the rotating member and which changes the mirror surface angle of the mirror, and wherein

a mirror surface angle detecting sensor, which detects one of a position of the drive rod and a rotational position of the rotating member, is provided within the second case.

5. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 3, wherein the mirror surface angle detecting sensor is provided at the control substrate.

7. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 5, wherein the mirror surface angle detecting sensor detects, in a non-contact manner, the one of the position of the drive rod and the rotational position of the rotating member.

8. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first case and the second case are integral.

4. An outer mirror device for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror visor which covers a back surface of a mirror for rearward viewing to form a space between the mirror and the mirror visor;

a mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism at which an electric motor, a rotating member rotating due to rotation of the electric motor, and a portion of a drive rod connected to the mirror and moving rectilinearly due to rotation of the rotating member, are accommodated in a first case, the mirror surface angle adjusting mechanism changing a mirror surface angle of the mirror by rectilinear movement of the drive rod;

a control device having a second case which is connected to the first case within the space, and a control substrate which is accommodated within the second case and at which is provided a control circuit power-supplying the electric motor on the basis of an operation signal; and

a mirror surface angle detecting sensor disposed within the second case, and detecting one of a position of the drive rod and a rotational position of the rotating member.

6. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein the mirror surface angle detecting sensor is provided at the control substrate.

9. The outer mirror device for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first case and the second case are integral.