Rear view mirror with pivotally mounted component mirrors

• US 6,412,962 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Kaspar, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/621,515
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 359/850, 359/851, 359/852, 359/853, 359/855, 359/865, 359/866, 359/868, 359/872, 359/877, 359/846
• US Class Current: 359/850
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence

Abstract

A rear view mirror (1) for a motor vehicle is disclosed having a mirror element, in the mirror surface of which the driver may observe the traffic behind the driver. In order variably to be able to vary the reflection detail shown in the rear view mirror (1), the mirror element (2) is composed of a plurality of component mirrors (3). These component mirrors (3) are arranged so as to be pivotally mounted on a base plate (5) and the angle of reflection of each component mirror (3) may be adjusted through control of at least one associated drive unit (6).

Claims

1. A rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, the rear view mirror comprising:

a mirror structure having a mirror surface of which a driver of the motor vehicle may observe the traffic behind him, wherein the mirror structure comprises a base plate and a plurality of component mirrors, said component mirrors being arranged so as to be pivotally mounted on said base plate and at least one associated drive unit, an angle of reflection of each component mirror being adjustable through control of said at least one associated drive unit,

wherein at least one of said component mirrors comprises a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip.

2. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a central control unit, wherein said component mirrors are adjustable in a coordinated manner by said central control unit.

3. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a resilient connecting element, wherein said component mirrors are connected by said resilient connecting element to said base plate.

4. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a resilient connecting element, wherein said component mirrors are connected by said resilient connecting element to said base plate.

5. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said component mirrors, which component mirrors are disposed in the region of the edge of the mirror structure are partially completely covered by another component.

6. A rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, the rear view mirror comprising:

a mirror structure having a mirror surface of which a driver of the motor vehicle may observe the traffic behind him, wherein the mirror structure comprises a base plate and a plurality of component mirrors, said component mirrors being arranged so as to be pivotally mounted on said base plate and at least one associated drive unit, an angle of reflection of each component mirror being adjustable through control of said at least one associated drive unit;

a central control unit, wherein said component mirrors are adjustable in a coordinated manner by said central control unit;

a resilient connecting element, wherein said component mirrors are connected by said resilient connecting element to said base plate;

wherein at least one of said component mirrors comprises a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip.

7. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some of said component mirrors, which component mirrors are disposed in the region of the edge of the mirror structure are partially or completely covered by another component.