Vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly with actuator

• US 7,722,199 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Foote, Keith D., DeWard, Joshua L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US11/842,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604, 359/843, 359/872, 359/877, 248/481
• US Class Current: 359/843
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mounting structure, an electrical actuator and a reflective element. The mounting structure may be configured to be detachably mounted at an attachment element adhered to an inner surface of the vehicle windshield. The mounting structure is adjustable relative to the vehicle windshield to generally vertically adjust a nominal setting of a rearward field of view of the reflective element. The electrical actuator is operable to adjust the reflective element in order to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of the reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly may include an imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield. The forward field of view of the imaging sensor may not be adjusted when the electrical actuator adjusts the rearward field of view of the reflective element.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting structure, an electrical actuator, and a reflective element;

said mounting structure being configured to be detachably mounted at an attachment element adhered to an inner surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said mounting structure is adjustable relative to the vehicle windshield to generally vertically adjust a nominal setting of a rearward field of view of said reflective element;

wherein said mounting structure comprises a pivot joint and wherein said reflective element is pivotable about said pivot joint to at least generally vertically adjust said nominal setting of said rearward field of view of said reflective element relative to the vehicle windshield;

wherein said pivot joint comprises at least two detents that correspond to at least two nominal settings;

wherein said electrical actuator is operable to adjust said reflective element in order to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of said reflective element when said reflective element is at one of said at least two nominal settings;

wherein said electrical actuator is operable to adjust said reflective element at least approximately 5 degrees from each of said at least two nominal settings in a generally vertical direction and a generally horizontal direction;

said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein said forward field of view of said imaging sensor is not adjusted when said electrical actuator adjusts said rearward field of view of said reflective element.

2. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting structure, an electrical actuator, and a reflective element;

said mounting structure being configured to be detachably mounted at an attachment element adhered to an inner surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said mounting structure is adjustable relative to the vehicle windshield to generally vertically adjust a nominal setting of a rearward field of view of said reflective element to at least two nominal settings;

wherein said electrical actuator is operable to adjust said reflective element in order to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of said reflective element when said reflective element is at one of said at least two nominal settings;

wherein said electrical actuator is operable to adjust said reflective element at least approximately 5 degrees from each of said at least two nominal settings in at least two directions;

a control for controlling said electrical actuator in response to an input, said input comprising at least one of a user actuated input and a vehicle input;

said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein said forward field of view of said imaging sensor is not adjusted when said electrical actuator adjusts said rearward field of view of said reflective element.