Method and system for deploying a mirror assembly from a recessed position

• US 20050105196A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Mendez, Todd A., Raines, Aaron T.
• Application Number:
  US10/973,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20050105196A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for deploying a mirror assembly from a recessed position that includes rotating the mirror assembly in a first direction about a first axis, the mirror assembly coupled proximate the first axis to at least one lifting arm and rotating each lifting arm in a second direction about a second axis such that the mirror assembly moves to an operational position. The first direction may be opposite from the second direction.

Claims

1. A method for deploying a mirror assembly from a recessed position, comprising:

rotating the mirror assembly recessed within a dash of an automobile in a first direction about a first axis, the mirror assembly coupled proximate the first axis to at least one lifting arm; and

rotating each lifting arm in a second direction about a second axis such that the mirror assembly moves to an operational position that is not recessed within the dash of an automobile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the mirror assembly in a first direction about a first axis comprises biasing the mirror assembly such that an end of the mirror assembly lifts from a recessed position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the mirror assembly in a first direction about a first axis comprises biasing the mirror assembly such that the mirror assembly rotates about at least one coupling member coupling the mirror assembly to each lifting arm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating each lifting arm comprises rotating each lifting arm using a gear mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the mirror assembly in a first direction comprises relieving compression on a spring adjacent the mirror assembly to rotate the mirror assembly from the recessed position.

6. A system for deploying a mirror assembly from a recessed position, comprising:

a mirror assembly recessed within a dash of an automobile and coupled proximate a first axis to at least one lifting arm, the mirror assembly operable to rotate in a first direction about the first axis; and

wherein each lifting arm operates to rotate in a second direction about a second axis such that the mirror assembly moves to an operational position that is not recessed within a dash of an automobile.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one spring located between the mirror assembly and a notch of each lifting arm, the spring operable to bias the mirror assembly such that an end of the mirror assembly rotates in the first direction from a recessed position.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one spring located between the mirror assembly and a notch of each lifting arm, the spring operable to bias the mirror assembly such that the mirror assembly rotates in the first direction about at least one coupling member coupling the mirror assembly to each lifting arm.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a gear mechanism operable to move each lifting arm to rotate each lifting arm in the second direction about the second axis.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first direction and the second direction comprise opposite directions.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising a stop feature operable to compress a spring adjacent the mirror assembly to maintain the mirror assembly in the recessed position.

12. A method for deploying a mirror assembly from a recessed position, comprising:

rotating the mirror assembly recessed within a dash of an automobile in a first direction about a first axis, the mirror assembly coupled proximate the first axis to at least one lifting arm; and

rotating each lifting arm in a second direction opposite the first direction about a second axis such that the mirror assembly moves to an operational position that is not recessed within a dash of an automobile.