Vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly

• US 7,073,914 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pavao, Leo W
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US11/177,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20050243449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/843, 359/865, 359/872, 359/877, 359/881
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• 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 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A mirror system for a vehicle comprising an exterior rearview mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion which is configured to mount to a side of the vehicle. The movable portion includes a reflective element and a reflective element actuator. The reflective element has a generally rearward field of view when the mirror system is mounted to the vehicle. The reflective element actuator provides selective adjustment of an orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view to a desired orientation, and the movable portion is movably mounted to the fixed portion. The movable portion actuator selectively moves the movable portion between a viewing position wherein the movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion extends outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle. The movable portion actuator is adapted to move the movable portion to one of the positions, and the reflective element actuator is adapted to generally maintain the rearward field of view at the desired orientation independent of the position of the movable portion.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mounting portion being configured to mount to a side of a vehicle;

a mirror casing including a first reflective element, said mirror casing being mounted to said mounting portion, and said reflective element having a generally rearward field of view when said mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle;

a movable portion actuator for selectively adjusting said mirror casing about said mounting portion between at least two viewing positions having different angular orientations about said mounting portion;

a reflective element actuator for selectively moving said first reflective element to adjust said rearward field of view;

a control system, said control system selectively actuating said movable portion actuator to adjust said mirror casing about said mounting portion to one of said viewing positions to reduce wind noise generated by said mirror assembly and selectively actuating said reflective element actuator to adjust the orientation of said reflective element in response to the adjustment of said mirror casing so as to generally maintain said rearward field of view of said reflective element independent of the position of said minor casing; and

said control system being adapted to selectively actuate said movable portion actuator to adjust the orientation of said mirror casing in response to the speed of the vehicle.

2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror casing includes a second reflective element for extending said rearward field of view of said first reflective element, said second reflective element being mounted independent from said first reflective element and being mounted for movement between a viewing position and a stowed position.

3. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said second reflective element is not viewable by an occupant of the vehicle when said second reflective element is moved to its stowed position.

4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said second reflective element is moved behind said first reflective element when moved to the stowed position.

5. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second reflective element is moved below said first reflective element when moved to the viewing position.

6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a reflective element assembly, said reflective element assembly including a carrier and said second reflective element.

7. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 6, wherein said mirror casing includes a casing wall, said carrier forming a portion of said casing wall when said second reflective element is moved to said stowed position.

8. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 7, wherein said carrier is mounted to a bottom wall of said mirror casing.

9. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 6, wherein said carrier is mounted for pivotal movement between said viewing position and said stowed position.

10. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said second reflective element comprises a curved reflective element.

11. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said control system compares the speed of the vehicle to a stored speed value and adjusts the orientation of said mirror casing between said two viewing positions by actuating said movable portion actuator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds said stored speed value.

12. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 11, wherein said control system includes a second stored speed value and adjusts said mirror casing to another viewing position when the speed of the vehicle corresponds or exceeds said second stored speed value.