VEHICLE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH ACTUATOR

• US 20170210294A1
• Filed: 04/10/2017
• Published: 07/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mohan, Jake A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,189,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/04 using prisms only
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element disposed at a housing. The housing and the reflective element are tandemly and pivotally adjustable about a mounting structure mounted at an interior portion of the vehicle to provide a desired rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle. A user input is actuatable by the driver of the vehicle. A motorized actuator is operable responsive to actuation of the user input to tilt the reflective element and the housing in tandem about a horizontal axis. Responsive to actuation of the motorized actuator responsive to the user input, the motorized actuator tandemly tilts the reflective element and the housing about the horizontal axis to orientate an outermost front surface of the reflective element more towards the driver or more away from the driver.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle;

a housing;

a reflective element disposed at said housing;

wherein the reflective element comprises one of (i) an electro-optic reflective element and (ii) a prismatic reflective element;

wherein, with said mounting structure mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, said housing and the reflective element are tandemly and pivotally adjustable about said mounting structure to provide a desired rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle;

a user input actuatable by the driver of the vehicle when said mounting structure is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle and when the driver is driving the vehicle;

a motorized actuator operable responsive to actuation of said user input;

wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the reflective element and said housing in tandem about a horizontal axis; and

wherein, responsive to actuation of said motorized actuator responsive to said user input, said motorized actuator tandemly tilts the reflective element and said housing about the horizontal axis to orientate an outermost front surface of the reflective element more towards the driver or more away from the driver.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said user input comprises a touch sensor.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said touch sensor is disposed at said housing.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an aperture, and wherein said mounting structure at least partially passes through said aperture, and wherein said aperture provides clearance to allow for adjustment of said housing relative to said mounting structure.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said motorized actuator comprises a first motor operable to adjust orientation of the reflective element via a first drive element.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said motorized actuator comprises a second motor operable to adjust orientation of the reflective element via a second drive element.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said first and second motors operate in tandem to tilt the reflective element and said housing relative to said mounting structure about said horizontal axis.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said first and second motors are operable to cause said first and second drive elements to adjust the reflective element in a first direction.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said first and second motors are operable to cause said first and second drive elements to adjust the reflective element in a second direction, and wherein said second direction is generally orthogonal to said first direction.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said motorized actuator comprises (i) an actuator body that houses at least one motor and (ii) an adjustment plate that is adjustable relative to said actuator body via actuation of said at least one motor.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said actuator body is mounted at said mounting structure, and wherein said adjustment plate is disposed at the rear of the reflective element.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing and the reflective element are tandemly and pivotally adjustable about said mounting structure via a ball joint, and wherein said ball joint allows for manual adjustment of said housing and the reflective element in tandem relative to the interior portion of the vehicle when said mounting structure is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing and the reflective element are manually adjustable in tandem about said mounting structure.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said housing and the reflective element are manually adjustable in tandem about said mounting structure via a ball joint.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a bezel portion that circumscribes a perimeter region of the outermost front surface of the reflective element.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a perimeter region of the outermost front surface of the reflective element that circumscribes the reflective element is exposed.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior portion of the vehicle is at an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said mounting structure mounts at the windshield of the vehicle via a mounting button.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the reflective element and said housing in tandem about the horizontal axis from a nominal position of the reflective element.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the reflective element and said housing in tandem about the horizontal axis from a nominal position of the reflective element by an angle in a range from 2 degrees to 4 degrees.

21. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle;

wherein the interior portion of the vehicle is at an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle;

a housing;

a frameless reflective element disposed at said housing;

wherein, with said mounting structure mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, said housing and the frameless reflective element are tandemly and pivotally adjustable about said mounting structure via a single ball joint to provide a desired rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said single ball joint allows for manual adjustment of said housing and the frameless reflective element in tandem about said mounting structure;

a user input actuatable by the driver of the vehicle when said mounting structure is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle and when the driver is driving the vehicle;

a motorized actuator operable responsive to actuation of said user input;

wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the frameless reflective element and said housing in tandem about a horizontal axis; and

wherein, responsive to actuation of said motorized actuator responsive to said user input, said motorized actuator tandemly tilts the frameless reflective element and said housing about the horizontal axis to orientate an outermost front surface of the frameless reflective element more towards the driver or more away from the driver.

22. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 21, wherein said motorized actuator comprises (i) an actuator body that houses at least one motor and (ii) an adjustment plate that is adjustable relative to said actuator body via actuation of said at least one motor, and wherein said actuator body is mounted at said mounting structure, and wherein said adjustment plate is disposed at the rear of the frameless reflective element.

23. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 21, wherein said user input comprises a touch sensor.

24. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the frameless reflective element and said housing in tandem about the horizontal axis from a nominal position of the frameless reflective element.

25. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 24, wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the frameless reflective element and said housing in tandem about the horizontal axis from a nominal position of the frameless reflective element by an angle in a range from 2 degrees to 4 degrees.

26. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 21, wherein the frameless reflective element comprises a frameless electrochromic reflective element, and wherein a metallic perimeter band is disposed around a perimeter of the frameless reflective element.

27. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle;

wherein the interior portion of a vehicle is at an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle;

a housing;

an electrochromic reflective element disposed at said housing;

wherein, with said mounting structure mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, said housing and the electrochromic reflective element are tandemly and pivotally adjustable about said mounting structure via a single ball joint to provide a desired rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle;

a user input actuatable by the driver of the vehicle when said mounting structure is mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle and when the driver is driving the vehicle;

a motorized actuator operable responsive to actuation of said user input;

wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the electrochromic reflective element and said housing in tandem about a horizontal axis; and

wherein, responsive to actuation of said motorized actuator responsive to said user input, said motorized actuator tandemly tilts the electrochromic reflective element and said housing about the horizontal axis to orientate an outermost front surface of the electrochromic reflective element more towards the driver or more away from the driver.

28. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein a perimeter region of the outermost front surface of the electrochromic reflective element that circumscribes the electrochromic reflective element is exposed.

29. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein said housing comprises a bezel portion that circumscribes a perimeter region of the outermost front surface of the reflective element.

30. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein said motorized actuator is operable to tilt the electrochromic reflective element and said housing in tandem about the horizontal axis from a nominal position of the electrochromic reflective element by an angle in a range from 2 degrees to 4 degrees.

31. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein said user input comprises a touch sensor.

32. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 31, wherein said touch sensor is disposed at said housing.

33. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said single ball joint allows for manual adjustment of said housing and the electrochromic reflective element in tandem about said mounting structure.