Mirror system with varying characteristics based on vehicle positioning

• US 7,168,818 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly Mirrors North America, LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schnell, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson; Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/905,330
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 248/475.1
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means

Abstract

A rearview mirror system comprising a passenger-side mirror having a lower natural frequency and/or more resiliency than the driver-side mirror.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror system for a motor vehicle having a driver'"'"'s side and a passenger'"'"'s side, comprising:

a first rearview mirror assembly attached to the driver'"'"'s side for providing a rearward view along the driver'"'"'s side to the operator of the vehicle, a first planar reflective element assembly comprising a first planar reflective element, a first base assembly fabricated of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity for attaching the first planar reflective element assembly to the exterior of the vehicle, and a first cantilever arm coupling the first planar reflective element assembly to the first base assembly;

a second rearview mirror assembly attached to the passenger'"'"'s side for providing a rearward view along the passenger'"'"'s side to the operator of the vehicle, a second non-planar reflective element assembly comprising a second non-planar reflective element, a second base assembly fabricated of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity for attaching the second non-planar reflective element assembly to the exterior of the vehicle, and a second cantilever arm coupling the second non-planar reflective element assembly to the second base assembly;

wherein said second modulus of elasticity is substantially less than said first modulus of elasticity; and

whereby the natural frequency of said first planar reflective element assembly supported by said first cantilever arm on said first base assembly is substantially less than the natural frequency of said second non-planar reflective element assembly supported by said second cantilever arm on said second base assembly.

2. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the second base assembly is made from a material having more resiliency than the first base assembly.

3. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 2 wherein the second non-planar reflective element is a convex reflective element.

4. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 3 wherein the second base assembly is formed at least in part from a polymeric material.

5. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 4 wherein the natural frequency of the first planar reflective element assembly is at least 60 Hz and the natural frequency of the second non-planar reflective element assembly is less than 60 Hz.

6. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 5 wherein the second non-planar reflective element assembly comprises a plurality of components made from at least one of a polymeric material and a metallic material.

7. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the second non-planar reflective element is a convex reflective element.

8. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the second base assembly is formed at least in part from a polymeric material.

9. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the natural frequency of the first planar reflective element assembly is at least 60 Hz and the natural frequency of the second non-planar reflective element assembly is less than 60 Hz.

10. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the second non-planar reflective element assembly comprises a plurality of components made from at least one of a polymeric material and a metallic material.