Outside rear-view mirror for a motor vehicle having a reverse gear

• US 4,936,671 A
• Filed: 06/09/1989
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HOHE KG
• Original Assignee: HOHE KG
• Inventors: Kaspar, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ryan, J.
• Application Number:
  US07/363,781
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 350/632, 350/634, 350/636, 350/637, 350/606, 248/479, 248/486
• US Class Current: 359/877
• 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 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34215 Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36463 Manual switch to drive motor to wanted position, store, memorize position
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37169 Derive incremental pulse from motor current deviation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37171 Commutation brushes, sensors deliver increment
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45185 Auto mirror

Abstract

Disclosed is an outside rear-view mirror for a motor vehicle having a reverse gear. The outside rear-view mirror comprises a mirror housing adapted for being mounted to a body of the vehicle. A mirror glass is held by the mirror housing and a drive motor is provided for tilting the mirror glass about at least one axis with respect to the vehicle. The mirror is coupled to the drive motor through a link. A current supply circuit for the drive motor is provided and includes a reverse switch for reverting the direction of rotation of a rotor of the drive motor. A control member for switching the reverse gear is coupled to the reverse switch and to a preset displacement restricting device for restricting a rotation of the link. The displacement restricting device may be controlled electro-mechanically or may be formed electronically. Thereby, an inexpensive parking aid is presented to the driver which allows a view on the rearward portions of the car as an aid for rearwardly maneuvering the car into a parking space.

Claims

1. Outside rear-view mirror for a motor vehicle having a reverse gear comprising

a mirror housing mounted to the vehicle and holding a mirror glass,

the mirror glass adapted to be adjusted about an axis and being coupled to a drive motor through a link,

a current supply circuit being provided for the drive motor which includes a reverse switch for reverting the rotational direction of a rotor of the motor,

wherein a control element for switching the reverse gear is coupled to the reverse switch and to a preset displacement restricting device for limiting a rotation of the link.

2. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1 wherein the displacement restricting device includes an electro-magnetic clutch adapted to be activated by the control member and having two coupling members.

3. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 2 wherein one of the coupling members is provided with an axially extending nose engaging a recess of the other coupling member when the clutch is activated.

4. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 3 wherein the recess is curved.

5. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 3 wherein a trip-coil magnet is provided having an armature for locking a coupling member from rotation when the trip-coil magnet is activated which coupling member follows a rotation of link when the trip-coil magnet is deactivated.

6. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 2 wherein a trip-coil magnet is provided having an armature for locking a coupling member from rotation when the trip-coil magnet is activated which coupling member follows a rotation of link when the trip-coil magnet is deactivated.

7. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 2 wherein a first plate-like coupling member is mounted resiliently to the link and is provided with a profiled ring such as a peripheral gear into which a counter profile of a stop element may engage when the clutch is activated.

8. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1 wherein the link is a drive shaft of the drive motor.

9. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1 wherein the link is part of a reduction gear which is coupled to the drive motor and to the mirror glass.

10. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1 wherein voltage-peaks generated by a commutator of the direct current drive motor are shaped to impulses which are counted by a counter which when arriving at a preset maximum reading produces an inhibit signal for inhibiting further supply of current to the motor.

11. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 10 wherein an A.C. resistance network is coupled into current supply lines for the motor and wherein the voltage-peaks are taken over from a line connecting the A.C. resistance network and the commutator.

12. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 11 wherein voltage-peaks generated in the reverse switch when switching are fed to the counter as reset pulses.

13. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 10 wherein voltage-peaks generated in the reverse switch when switching are fed to the counter as reset pulses.

14. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 10 wherein the maximum reading is selected such that the link may rotate for tilting the mirror glass from a position adjusted to normal forward drive of the car to a position forming a parking aid and vice versa.