Memory mirror system for vehicles

• US 6,472,773 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kramer, Mark E., Veldman, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/052,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 318/466, 701/44, 701/49, 701/30, 701/213, 340/425.72, 710/51
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A vehicle memory mirror system includes a vehicle mirror assembly and a control module. The vehicle mirror assembly includes a reflective element, a motor for positioning the reflective element about an axis, a monitor for monitoring the position of the reflective element with respect to the axis, and a mirror-based control including a position control which is operatively connected with the motor and the monitor in order to position the reflective element at a particular position. The control module is interconnected with the mirror-based control by an analog interface and includes a processor for providing analog signals on the analog interface indicative of a desired position of the reflective element with respect to the axis. The mirror-based control preferably includes a servo-amplifier circuit. The control module can control the speed of movement by formatting a series of sequential signals on the interface, each representing an incremental movement of the reflective element.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a reverse gear, said mirror system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly;

said rearview mirror assembly adapted for attaching said assembly to a vehicle;

said rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element and an actuator for positioning said reflective element about two axes;

said rearview mirror assembly including a control for operating said actuator;

a processor adapted to determine a position for said reflective element, the position of said reflective element determined by one of (i) retrieval of one of several positions stored in a memory at said rearview mirror assembly and (ii) an indication to said processor that the vehicle has been placed in reverse gear; and

wherein said position for said reflective element is communicated from said processor to said rearview mirror assembly, said processor supplying at least two pulse streams, one of said at least two pulse streams being indicative of the position of said reflective element with respect to one of said axes, the other of said at least two pulse streams being indicative of the position of said reflective element with respect to the other of said axes, said at least two pulse streams being multiplexed on a single channel.

2. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least two pulse streams comprise pulse-coded signals.

3. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 2 wherein said pulse-coded signals have a selectable pulse width.

4. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 3 wherein each pulse width represents a particular position of the reflective element.

5. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least two pulse streams are time-multiplexed.

6. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the several positions is stored in response to actuation of a memory set switch.

7. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror assembly is selected from the group consisting of an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

8. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 including another rearview mirror assembly having another reflective element, another actuator for positioning said another reflective element about two axes and another control for operating said another actuator.

9. The vehicular rearview system of claim 8 wherein said reflective element of at least one of said rearview mirror assemblies comprises an electro-optical element and wherein said control of said at least one of said rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said electro-optical reflective element.

10. The vehicular rearview system of claim 9 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror.

11. The vehicular rearview system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror assembly includes a position monitor for monitoring the position of said reflective element about said respective axis, wherein said respective control compares a position of said reflective element about said respective axis with a position determined for said reflective element.

12. The vehicular rearview system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a servo-controller circuit.

13. The vehicular rearview system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror assembly includes at least one accessory and wherein said control controls said at least one accessory.

14. The vehicular rearview system of claim 13 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a turn signal.

15. The vehicular rearview system of claim 14 wherein said control provides an output to operate said turn signal.

16. The vehicular rearview system of claim 13 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a stop signal.

17. The vehicular rearview system of claim 16 wherein said control provides an output to operate said stop signal.

18. The vehicular rearview system of claim 13 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a security light.

19. The vehicular rearview system of claim 18 wherein said control provides an output to operate said security light.

20. The vehicular rearview system of claim 18 wherein said control receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

21. The vehicular rearview system of claim 13 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a power-fold mechanism.

22. The vehicular rearview system of claim 21 wherein said control provides an output to operate said power-fold mechanism.

23. The vehicular rearview system of claim 13 wherein said at least one accessory comprises an electro-optical element.

24. The vehicular rearview system of claim 23 wherein said control provides an output to operate said electro-optical element.

25. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said control controls the speed at which said reflective element moves toward a particular position.

26. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 25 wherein said control initially moves said reflective element toward said particular position at a first speed and subsequently moves the associated said reflective element toward said particular position at a second speed.

27. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 26 wherein said second speed is less than said first speed.

28. The vehicular rearview system of claim 1 wherein said processor comprises a microprocessor.

29. The vehicular rearview system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises said processor.

30. A vehicular rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a reverse gear, said mirror system comprising:

a first rearview mirror assembly and a second rearview mirror assembly;

each of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies adapted for attaching to a vehicle;

each of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies including a reflective element and an actuator for positioning said reflective element about two axes;

each of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies including a control for operating that actuator;

a processor adapted to determine a position for said reflective element of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies, the position of said reflective element of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies determined by at least one of (i) retrieval of one of several positions stored in a memory at said rearview mirror assembly and (ii) an indication to said processor that the vehicle has been placed in reverse gear; and

wherein said position for said reflective element of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies is communicated from said processor to said control for each rearview mirror assembly, said processor supplying at least two pulse streams, one of said at least two pulse streams being indicative of the position of the respective reflective element of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies with respect to one of said axes, the other of said at least two pulse streams being indicative of the position of the respective reflective element of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies with respect to the other of said axes, said at least two pulse streams being multiplexed on a single channel.

31. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said at least two pulse streams comprise pulse-coded signals.

32. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 31 wherein said pulse-coded signals have a selectable pulse width.

33. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 32 wherein each pulse width represents a particular position of the reflective element.

34. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said at least two pulse streams are time-multiplexed.

35. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein at least one of the several positions is stored in response to actuation of a memory set switch.

36. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said first and second rearview mirror assemblies are selected from the group consisting of an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

37. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 36 wherein one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and the other of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

38. The vehicular rearview mirror system in claim 30 wherein one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said interior rearview mirror assembly and the other of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

39. The vehicular rearview mirror system in claim 36 wherein one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said interior rearview mirror assembly and the other of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

40. The vehicular rearview mirror system in claim 30 wherein said first rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly and said second rearview mirror assembly comprises one of a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

41. The vehicular rearview system of claim 30 wherein each of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies includes a position monitor for monitoring the position of said respective reflective element about said respective axis, wherein said respective control compares a position of said respective reflective element about said respective axis with a position determined for that reflective element.

42. The vehicular rearview system of claim 30 wherein said control of at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises a servo-controller circuit.

43. The vehicular rearview system of claim 30 wherein at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies includes at least one accessory and wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies controls said at least one accessory.

44. The vehicular rearview system of claim 43 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a turn signal.

45. The vehicular rearview system of claim 44 wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said turn signal.

46. The vehicular rearview system of claim 43 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a stop signal.

47. The vehicular rearview system of claim 46 wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said stop signal.

48. The vehicular rearview system of claim 41 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a security light.

49. The vehicular rearview system of claim 48 wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said security light.

50. The vehicular rearview system of claim 48 wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

51. The vehicular rearview system of claim 43 wherein said at least one accessory comprises a power-fold mechanism.

52. The vehicular rearview system of claim 51 wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said power-fold mechanism.

53. The vehicular rearview system of claim 43 wherein said at least one accessory comprises an electro-optical element.

54. The vehicular rearview system of claim 53 wherein said control of said at least on of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said electro-optical element.

55. The vehicular rearview system of claim 53 wherein said reflective element of at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies comprises said electro-optical element and wherein said control of said at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies provides an output to operate said electro-optical reflective element.

56. The vehicular rearview system of claim 55 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror.

57. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said control of at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies controls the speed at which the associated said reflective element moves toward a particular position.

58. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 57 wherein said control of at least one of said first and second rearview mirror assemblies initially moves the associated said reflective element toward said particular position at a first speed and subsequently moves the associated said reflective element toward said particular position at a second speed.

59. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 58 wherein said second speed is less than said first speed.

60. The vehicular rearview system of claim 30 wherein said control of said first rearview mirror assembly comprises a microprocessor.

61. The vehicular rearview system of claim 30 wherein said control of said first rearview mirror assembly comprises said processor.

62. The vehicular rearview system of claim 61 wherein said processor comprises a microprocessor.