Vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly

• US 7,216,994 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• 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:
  US11/115,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/843, 359/872, 359/877, 359/881, 362/494
• 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. A mirror system for a vehicle, said mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview minor assembly comprising;

a reflective element;

a fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle;

a movable portion being movably mounted to said fixed portion, said reflective element being supported in said mirror assembly by a reflective element actuator, said reflective element having a generally rearward field of view when said mirror system is mounted to the vehicle, said reflective element actuator providing selective adjustment of an orientation of said reflective element to adjust said rearward field of view to a desired orientation for a driver of the vehicle;

a movable portion actuator for selectively moving said movable portion between a viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at an angle with respect to the side of the vehicle and another viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle at another angle with respect to the side of the vehicle;

a control selectively actuating said movable portion actuator to reposition said movable portion about said fixed portion to one of said positions; and

said control further actuating said reflective element actuator to adjust the orientation of said reflective element responsive to said repositioning of said movable portion and to compensate for the repositioning of said movable portion so as to maintain said desired orientation independent of the position of said movable portion.

2. The mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror system further includes a reflective element support, said reflective element actuator being supported by said reflective element support in said movable portion.

3. The mirror system of claim 1, said exterior rearview mirror assembly further comprising a power-fold mechanism, said control in communication with said power-fold mechanism and actuating said power-fold mechanism to move said movable portion between said viewing positions.

4. The mirror system of claim 3, wherein said reflective element actuator is supported by said movable portion.

5. The mirror system of claim 4, wherein said control selectively actuates said movable portion actuator in response to the vehicle traveling at a pre-selected speed.

6. The mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said control selectively actuates said movable portion actuator in response to the vehicle traveling at pre-selected speeds.

7. The mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly further comprises a light emitting element.

8. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said light emitting element is provided in said movable portion.

9. The mirror system of claim 8, wherein said light emitting element is provided at an outboard position whereby said light emitting element generates a sweeping light pattern extending outwardly and at least generally laterally with respect to the vehicle when said light emitting element is actuated and when said movable portion actuator is actuated, and said control including a user actuatable device accessible by an occupant of the vehicle wherein the occupant may power said light emitting element white actuating said movable portion actuator to illuminate an area adjacent the vehicle.

10. The mirror system of claim 9, wherein said movable portion actuator comprises a power-fold mechanism.

11. The mirror system of claim 9, wherein said control is configured to actuate said movable portion actuator to move said movable portion to reduce wind noise.

12. The mirror system of claim 11, wherein said movable portion comprises a mirror casing.

13. The mirror system of claim 11, further comprising a control system, said control system including said control and a lock-out circuit wherein said light emitting element cannot be powered when the vehicle is being driven.

14. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said light emitting element comprises a signal light assembly.