EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20160264054A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uken, John T., De Wind, Darryl P., Foote, Keith D., Mambourg, Joseph M., Blank, Rodney K., Larson, Mark L., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,261,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and an exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached at the mirror head. An attachment portion is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of the vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a multi-axis adjustment mechanism having at least one electrically-operable actuator. The multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to move the mirror head, with the exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto, about multiple axes relative to the attachment portion. The exterior mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the body of the vehicle to adjust the rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle who views the exterior mirror reflective element when operating the vehicle.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head;

an exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached at said mirror head;

an attachment portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprising at least one electrically-operable actuator;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to move said mirror head, with said exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto, about multiple axes relative to said attachment portion; and

wherein said exterior mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the body of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached to adjust the rearward field of view of a driver of the equipped vehicle who views said exterior mirror reflective element when operating the equipped vehicle.

2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and wherein the outermost front perimeter edge of said exterior mirror reflective element is rounded.

3. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror head comprises a bracket to which said exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached.

4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror head comprises a bracket to which said exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached by use of an adhesive.

5. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprises a support structure that is adjustable about multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached via operation of said at least one electrically-operable actuator, and wherein said mirror head is disposed at one end of said support structure and wherein said attachment portion is at a distal other end of said support structure.

6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said mirror head comprises a bracket to which said exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached, and wherein said one end of said support structure attaches at said bracket.

7. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein a mirror casing attaches at said bracket and wherein said mirror casing adjusts in tandem with adjustment of said bracket to which said exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached.

8. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprises at least one pivot element.

9. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable for yaw and roll adjustment of said exterior mirror reflective element relative to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached.

10. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust said exterior mirror reflective element about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, and wherein said first and second pivot axes are angled non-orthogonally relative to one another.

11. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second pivot axes are angled relative to one another at an angle that is greater than 15 degrees and is less than 90 degrees.

12. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically-operable actuator comprises a first electrically-operable actuator and a second electrically-operable actuator and wherein said first and second electrically-operable actuators are cooperatively operable to adjust said mirror head, with said exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto and moving in tandem therewith, relative to the exterior portion of the body of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached in order to enable a driver of the equipped to adjust his or her rearward field of view.

13. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said first electrically-operable actuator is operable at a speed different than a speed of operation of said second electrically-operable actuator.

14. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said exterior mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element and wherein, when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached and operated at an equipped vehicle, signals to control dimming of said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element are provided by an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle that is mounted at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount configured to attach said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly at the in-cabin surface of the windshield, and wherein said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing having an interior electrochromic mirror reflective element disposed thereat and pivotally mounted at said mirror mount, and wherein a touch sensor device is disposed behind at least a portion of said interior electrochromic mirror reflective element and is operable to sense the presence of a person'"'"'s finger at a touch zone of said interior electrochromic mirror reflective element proximate to said touch sensor device, and wherein a backlighting device is disposed behind said touch sensor device and is operable to backlight at least a portion of said touch sensor device, and wherein said touch sensor device comprises a generally light transmissive touch sensor substrate having a patterned electrically conductive trace established at said touch sensor substrate, and wherein said patterned electrically conductive trace is established at said touch sensor substrate in a pattern that allows light emanating from said backlighting device to pass through said touch sensor substrate, and wherein said patterned electrically conductive trace comprises multiple spaced apart light absorbing and electrically conductive traces, and wherein said patterned electrically conductive trace comprises a non-light-transmitting icon disposed generally at said touch sensor substrate, and wherein, when said backlighting device is activated, light emanating from said backlighting device passes through light transmitting gaps between said spaced apart electrically conductive traces at said touch sensor substrate and illuminates said icon so that said icon is viewable through said interior electrochromic mirror reflective element by a driver of the vehicle when said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the equipped vehicle.

15. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head;

an exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached at said mirror head;

an attachment portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprising at least one electrically-operable actuator;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprises at least one pivot element;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to move said mirror head, with said exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto, about multiple axes relative to said attachment portion;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprises a support structure that is adjustable about multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached via operation of said at least one electrically-operable actuator; and

wherein said exterior mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the body of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached to adjust the rearward field of view of a driver of the equipped vehicle who views said exterior mirror reflective element when operating the equipped vehicle.

16. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said exterior mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic exterior mirror reflective element, and wherein said electro-optic exterior mirror reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear substrate sandwiching an electro-optic medium capable of electrically-variable light transmission, and wherein said front glass substrate has an outer first side separated from an inner second side by the plate thickness of said front glass substrate, and wherein the perimeter circumferential edge of said outer first side of said front glass substrate is rounded.

17. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said electro-optic exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached to a bracket by at least one of (i) mechanical attachment and (ii) adhesive attachment using an adhesive.

18. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said electro-optic exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached to the bracket by use of an adhesive.

19. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said electro-optic exterior mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element.

20. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said mirror head is disposed at one end of said support structure and wherein said attachment portion is at a distal other end of said support structure.

21. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said mirror head comprises a bracket to which said exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached, and wherein said one end of said support structure attaches at said bracket.

22. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 21, wherein a mirror casing attaches at said bracket, and wherein said mirror casing adjusts in tandem with adjustment of said bracket to which said exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached.

23. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust said exterior mirror reflective element about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, and wherein said first and second pivot axes are angled non-orthogonally relative to one another.

24. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said at least one electrically-operable actuator comprises a first electrically-operable actuator and a second electrically-operable actuator, and wherein said first and second electrically-operable actuators are cooperatively operable to adjust said mirror head, with said exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto and moving in tandem therewith, relative to the exterior portion of the body of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached in order to enable a driver of the equipped to adjust his or her rearward field of view.

25. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 24, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable for yaw and roll adjustment of said exterior mirror reflective element relative to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached.

26. An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head;

an electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached at said mirror head;

an attachment portion configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said electrochromic exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprising at least one electrically-operable actuator;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprises at least one pivot element;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to move said mirror head, with said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto, about multiple axes relative to said attachment portion;

wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism comprises a support structure that is adjustable about multiple degrees of freedom with respect to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached via operation of said at least one electrically-operable actuator;

wherein said mirror head is disposed at one end of said support structure and wherein said attachment portion is at a distal other end of said support structure;

wherein said one end of said support structure attaches at said mirror head, and wherein the rearward field of view of said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element is adjustable by said multi-axis adjustment mechanism over multiple degrees of freedom to allow a driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust his or her rearward field of view; and

wherein said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of said mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the body of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached to adjust the rearward field of view of a driver of the equipped vehicle who views said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element when operating the equipped vehicle.

27. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein said at least one electrically-operable actuator comprises a first electrically-operable actuator and a second electrically-operable actuator, and wherein said first and second electrically-operable actuators are cooperatively operable to adjust said mirror head, with said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element fixedly attached thereto and moving in tandem therewith, relative to the exterior portion of the body of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached in order to enable a driver of the equipped to adjust his or her rearward field of view.

28. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said first electrically-operable actuator is operable at a speed different than a speed of operation of said second electrically-operable actuator.

29. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein said mirror head comprises a bracket to which said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached, and wherein said one end of said support structure attaches at said bracket.

30. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein a mirror casing attaches at said bracket and wherein said mirror casing adjusts in tandem with adjustment of said bracket to which said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached.

31. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 30, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable for yaw and roll adjustment of said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element relative to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached.

32. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear substrate sandwiching an electrochromic medium capable of electrically-variable light transmission, and wherein said front glass substrate has an outer first side separated from an inner second side by the plate thickness of said front glass substrate, and wherein said mirror head comprises a bracket at which said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element is fixedly attached, and wherein a heater is disposed between said rear substrate of said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element and said bracket.

33. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 32, wherein the perimeter circumferential edge of said outer first side of said front glass substrate is rounded.

34. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, and wherein said first and second pivot axes are angled non-orthogonally relative to one another.

35. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 34, wherein said first and second pivot axes are angled relative to one another at an angle that is greater than 15 degrees and is less than 90 degrees.

36. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 34, wherein said multi-axis adjustment mechanism is operable for yaw and roll adjustment of said electrochromic exterior mirror reflective element relative to the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached.