Mirror and angle detection device

• US 7,585,082 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Ayako
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US11/230,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 359/872, 359/874, 359/876, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2205/14 by converting the linear movement into a rotary movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

Disclosed are a mirror and an angle detection device that detects an inclined angle of a mirror surface of the mirror. A mirror includes a mirror surface, an actuator for swiveling the mirror surface, at least one magnet for changing its orientation by an angle according to a variation in an inclined angle of the mirror surface, and at least one signal output unit for outputting a signal according to the inclined angle, based on the orientation of the magnet. An angle detection device that detects an inclined angle of a mirror surface of a mirror includes at least one magnet for changing its orientation by an angle according to a variation in the inclined angle of the mirror surface, and at least one signal output unit for outputting a signal according to the inclined angle, based on the orientation of the magnet.

Claims

1. A mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror surface;

an actuator which swivels the mirror surface;

at least one magnet which changes orientation by an angle in accordance with a variation in an inclined angle of the mirror surface when the actuator swivels the mirror surface;

at least one signal output unit which outputs a signal in accordance with the inclined angle of the mirror surface, based on the orientation of the magnet;

an interlocking member which changes an orientation in conjunction with the mirror surface, so that the orientation of the interlocking member is aligned with the orientation of the mirror surface;

at least one slide block being urged toward the interlocking member, and moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mirror surface by a distance in accordance with the variation in the inclined angle when the inclined angle of the mirror surface changes; and

at least one turning member which rotates by an angle in accordance with a moving distance of the slide block, when the slide block moves,

wherein the magnet is secured to the turning member and rotates in relation to the rotation of the turning member.

2. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the slide block is supported not to rotate around an axis parallel to the moving direction of the slide block, the turning member comprises a screw portion to be screwed into the slide block on the axis and to rotate on a thread ridge or a thread groove formed in the slide block when the slide block moves in the moving direction, and a turning portion that is secured to the screw portion and that rotates around the axis in conjunction with the screw portion, and the magnet is fixed to the turning portion.

3. The mirror according to claim 1, further comprising at least one MR element being positioned such that a current, of which amount changes in accordance with the orientation of the magnet, flows in the MR element, wherein the signal output unit outputs the signal in accordance with the inclined angle of the mirror surface, based on the current flowing in the MR element.

4. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the magnet changes the orientation by at most 180 degrees over a range where the mirror surface swivels.

5. A mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror surface;

an actuator which swivels the mirror surface;

at least one magnet which moves by a distance in accordance with a variation in an inclined angle of the mirror surface when the actuator swivels the mirror surface;

at least one MR element which detects a movement of the magnet;

at least one signal output unit which outputs a signal in accordance with the inclined angle of the mirror surface, based on an output of the MR element;

an interlocking member which changes an orientation in conjunction with the mirror surface, so that the orientation of the interlocking member is aligned with the orientation of the mirror surface;

at least one slide block being urged toward the interlocking member, and moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mirror surface by a distance in accordance with the variation in the inclined angle when the inclined angle of the mirror surface changes; and

at least one turning member which rotates by an angle in accordance with a moving distance of the slide block, when the slide block moves,

wherein the magnet changes the orientation by at most 180 degrees over a range where the mirror surface swivels, and the magnet is secured to the turning member and rotates in relation to the rotation of the turning member.

6. The mirror according to claim 5, wherein the slide block is supported not to rotate around an axis parallel to the moving direction of the slide block, the turning member comprises a screw portion to be screwed into the slide block on the axis and to rotate on a thread ridge or a thread groove formed in the slide block when the slide block moves in the moving direction, and a turning portion that is secured to the screw portion and that rotates around the axis in conjunction with the screw portion, and the magnet is fixed to the turning portion.

7. An angle detection device for detecting an inclined angle of a mirror surface of a mirror for a vehicle, the device comprising:

at least one magnet which changes orientation by an angle in accordance with a variation in the inclined angle of the mirror surface, when an actuator swivels the mirror surface;

at least one signal output unit which outputs a signal in accordance with the inclined angle of the mirror surface, based on the orientation of the magnet;

an interlocking member which changes an orientation in conjunction with the mirror surface, so that the orientation of the interlocking member is aligned with the orientation of the mirror surface;

at least one slide block being urged toward the interlocking member, and moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mirror surface by a distance in accordance with the variation in the inclined angle when the inclined angle of the mirror surface changes; and

at least one turning member which rotates by an angle in accordance with a moving distance of the slide block, when the slide block moves,

wherein the magnet is secured to the turning member and rotates in relation to the rotation of the turning member.

8. The angle detection device according to claim 7, wherein the slide block is supported not to rotate around an axis parallel to the moving direction of the slide block, the turning member comprises a screw portion to be screwed into the slide block on the axis and to rotate on a thread ridge or a thread groove formed in the slide block when the slide block moves in the moving direction, and a turning portion that is secured to the screw portion and that rotates around the axis in conjunction with the screw portion, and the magnet is fixed to the turning portion.

9. The angle detection device according to claim 7, further comprising at least one MR element being positioned such that a current, of which amount changes in accordance with the orientation of the magnet, flows in the MR element, wherein the signal output unit outputs the signal in accordance with the inclined angle of the mirror surface, based on the current flowing in the MR element.

10. The mirror according to claim 7, wherein the magnet changes the orientation by at most 180 degrees over a range where the mirror surface swivels.

11. An angle detection device for detecting an inclined angle of a mirror surface of a mirror for a vehicle, the device comprising:

at least one magnet which moves by a distance in accordance with a variation in the inclined angle of the mirror surface, when an actuator swivels the mirror surface;

at least one MR element which detects a movement of the magnet;

a signal output unit outputs a signal in accordance with an inclined angle of the mirror surface, based on an output of the MR element;

an interlocking member which changes an orientation in conjunction with the mirror surface, so that the orientation of the interlocking member is aligned with the orientation of the mirror surface;

at least one slide block being urged toward the interlocking member, and moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mirror surface by a distance in accordance with the variation in the inclined angle when the inclined angle of the mirror surface changes; and

at least one turning member which rotates by an angle in accordance with a moving distance of the slide block, when the slide block moves,

wherein the magnet changes the orientation by at most 180 degrees over a range where the mirror surface swivels, and the magnet is secured to the turning member and rotates in relation to the rotation of the turning member.

12. The angle detection device according to claim 11, wherein the slide block is supported not to rotate around an axis parallel to the moving direction of the slide block, the turning member comprises a screw portion to be screwed into the slide block on the axis and to rotate on a thread ridge or a thread groove formed in the slide block when the slide block moves in the moving direction, and a turning portion that is secured to the screw portion and that rotates around the axis in conjunction with the screw portion, and the magnet is fixed to the turning portion.