Control system for foldable outside rearview mirror

• US 4,798,967 A
• Filed: 03/24/1988
• Issued: 01/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murakami Kaimedio Company Limited, Omuron Tateishi Electronics Company
• Original Assignee: Murakami Kaimeido Company, Omuron Tateishi Electronics Company
• Inventors: Sato, Kazuhiko, Yamana, Tohru, Nakayama, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/173,154
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10 R, 350/604, 350/605, 350/606, 350/615, 350/624, 350/625, 350/626, 350/629, 350/631, 350/632, 350/633, 350/634, 350/635, 350/636, 350/637, 248/466, 248/479, 248/480, 248/481, 248/485, 248/486, 248/487, 248/478, 248/477, 248/484, 318/467, 318/468, 318/466, 318/568, 318/600, 318/601, 318/293, 340/52 R
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1827 Motorised alignment

Abstract

A control system for a foldable outside rearview mirror comprises an electric motor having an electric motor circuit, an operation switch, trigger element connected with the operation switch for outputting a trigger pulse in response to actuation of the operation switch, timer element connected with the trigger element for outputting a pulse of a predetermined pulse width to drive the electric motor only for a set time upon receipt of the trigger pulse from the trigger element, polarity changing element having a pair of outputs of high and low level and formed for reversely switching the electric motor by inverting the pair of the outputs upon receipt of the trigger pulse from the trigger element, and switching element for switching a voltage applied to the electric motor to react or fold a rearview mirror upon receipt of the output of the polarity changing element.

Claims

1. A control system for a foldable outside rearview mirror, comprising an electric motor having an electric motor circuit;

an operation switch;

trigger means connected with said operation switch for outputting a trigger pulse in response to actuation of said operation switch;

timer means connected with said trigger means for outputting a pulse of a predetermined pulse width to drive said electric motor only for a set time upon receipt of the trigger pulse from said trigger means;

polarity changing means having a pair of outputs of high and low level and formed for reversely switching said electric motor by inverting said pair of said outputs upon receipt of the trigger pulse from said trigger means; and

switching means for switching a voltage applied to said electric motor to erect or fold a rearview mirror upon receipt of the output of said polarity changing means.

2. A control system as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising actuating means for the rearview mirror, said actuating means including a mirror body, a shaft, an end gear connected with and rotatable by said electric motor, and a clutch gear arranged on said shaft in meshing contact with said end gear so as to transmit rotation of said electric motor to said mirror body.

3. A control system as defined in claim 2, wherein said actuating means includes a frame connected with said mirror body and rotatably supported on said shaft so as to rotate said mirror body.

4. A control system as defined in claim 2, wherein said actuating means includes a base, said shaft being fixedly connected with said base.

5. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating switch is an automatic reset type one-touch pushbutton switch.

6. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said trigger means and said polarity changing means includes dual D-type flip-flop integrated circuit.

7. A control system as defined in claim 6;

and further comprising an IC-driven power source having a reset terminal; and

a chatter preventing means, said polarity changing means having a clock input terminal, said timer means having an input terminal, said flip-flop integrated circuit having a first input terminal connected with said IC-driven power source, a second input terminal connected with said chatter preventing means, and an output terminal connected to said reset terminal of said IC-driven power source, said clock input terminal of said polarity changing means and said input terminal of said timer means.

8. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said switching means includes a pair of relays, a transistor and a relay circuit.

9. A control system as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising a mirror body, said electric motor being operative for turning said mirror body, said motor circuit including a limit switch group for opening said circuit when said mirror body arrives at a predetermined folded or erected position during the turning.