Rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

• US 9,487,142 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sobecki, Justin E., Peterson, Kenneth C., De Wind, Darryl P., Mohan, Jake A., Steffes, Matthew V., Deuel, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdur, Rahman
• Application Number:
  US14/312,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20140376119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 359/838, 359/839, 359/849, 359/850, 359/854, 359/855, 359/860, 359/864, 359/865, 359/871, 359/872, 359/881, 359/883, 359/890, 359/892
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at the mirror casing. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position. The mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position. Responsive to the mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of a user input, the powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at said mirror casing;

a powerfold actuator operable to pivot said mirror head relative to said mounting base between at least a park detent position, where said mirror head engages a park detent, and a drive detent position, where said mirror head engages a drive detent;

wherein said mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position;

a user input actuatable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to actuation of said user input, said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to the park detent position or the drive detent position; and

wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to actuation of said user input, said mirror head engages one of said park detent and said drive detent to re-engage the detent before said mirror head moves relative to said mounting base.

2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position responsive at least in part to at least one sensor, and wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one of (i) a detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a detent position, (ii) a non-detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a non-detent position rearward of the drive position and (iii) a drive position sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at the drive detent position.

4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said user input comprises a single powerfold input and wherein said at least one sensor comprises a detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a detent position, and wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to actuation of said single powerfold input, said powerfold actuator pivots said mirror head to the park detent position and then to the drive detent position.

10. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a friction device that limits pivotal movement of said mirror head relative to said mounting base when said mirror head is at a non-detent position, wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to actuation of said user input, said friction device causes said mirror head to engage one of said park detent and said drive detent to re-engage the detent before said mirror head moves relative to said mounting base.

11. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a turn signal indicator that is operable to project a turn signal icon onto the ground at or near the side of the vehicle in response to actuation of a turn signal of the vehicle.

12. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a light module disposed at said mirror casing and operable to (i) provide a blind zone alert viewable by the driver of the vehicle and (ii) provide a turn signal indication viewable by drivers of other vehicles at a side lane adjacent the equipped vehicle.

14. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a camera module disposed at said mirror head, and wherein said camera module is adjustably disposed at said mirror head and is adjustable to adjust the field of view of said camera module.

15. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said camera module is extendable and retractable and, when extended, extends laterally sideward away from said mirror head at the side of the vehicle to enhance viewing by said camera of and around a trailer that is being towed by the vehicle.

16. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a wide angle spotter mirror disposed at an upper outboard corner of said mirror head, and wherein said wide angle spotter mirror is integrally formed with an upper portion of said mirror casing of said mirror head.

17. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one electronic accessory of said rearview mirror assembly is controlled via a wireless communication by a control system of the vehicle.

3. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at said mirror casing;

a powerfold actuator operable to pivot said mirror head relative to said mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position;

wherein said mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position;

a user input actuatable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of said user input, said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to the park detent position or the drive detent position;

wherein said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position responsive at least in part to at least one sensor, and wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one of (i) a detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a detent position, (ii) a non-detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a non-detent position rearward of the drive position and (iii) a drive position sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at the drive detent position; and

wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least two of (i) a detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a detent position, (ii) a non-detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a non-detent position rearward of the drive detent position and (iii) a drive position sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at the drive detent position.

5. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at said mirror casing;

a powerfold actuator operable to pivot said mirror head relative to said mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position;

wherein said mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position;

a user input actuatable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of said user input, said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to the park detent position or the drive detent position;

wherein said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position responsive at least in part to at least one sensor, and wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one of (i) a detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a detent position, (ii) a non-detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a non-detent position rearward of the drive position and (iii) a drive position sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at the drive detent position; and

wherein said user input comprises a single powerfold input and wherein said at least one sensor comprises a detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a detent position and at least one of (i) a non-detent sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at a non-detent position rearward of the drive detent position and (ii) a drive position sensor operable to sense when said mirror head is at the drive detent position.

6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein, responsive to actuation of said single powerfold input and responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position, said powerfold actuator resets said mirror head to a detent position.

7. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein, responsive to actuation of said single powerfold input and responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position rearward of the drive detent position, said mirror actuator pivots said mirror head to the drive detent position.

8. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein, responsive to actuation of said single powerfold input and responsive to a determination that said mirror head is one of at the drive detent position and forward of the drive detent position, said mirror actuator pivots said mirror head to the park detent position.

9. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said powerfold actuator resets said mirror head to a detent position without pivoting said mirror head.

13. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at said mirror casing;

a powerfold actuator operable to pivot said mirror head relative to said mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position;

wherein said mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position;

a user input actuatable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to said mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of said user input, said powerfold actuator is operable to pivot said mirror head to the park detent position or the drive detent position;

a light module disposed at said mirror casing and operable to (i) provide a blind zone alert viewable by the driver of the vehicle and (ii) provide a turn signal indication viewable by drivers of other vehicles at a side lane adjacent the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said light module comprises a single circuit board and two light guides, and wherein a blind zone indicator light emitting diode is disposed at said single circuit board and operable to emit light along a blind zone indicator light guide and wherein the blind zone indicator light guide provides the blind zone alert, and wherein a turn signal indicator light emitting diode is disposed at said single circuit board and operable to emit light along a turn signal indicator light guide and wherein the turn signal indicator light guide provides the turn signal indication, and wherein said blind zone indicator light guide and said turn signal indicator light guide are disposed along a forward and sideward portion of said mirror casing, and wherein said turn signal indicator light guide is viewable along said forward and sideward portion of said mirror casing and wherein said blind zone indicator light guide is not viewable along said forward and sideward portion of said mirror casing.

18. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at an interior portion of a vehicle, wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a reflective element disposed at said mirror casing;

wherein said reflective element comprises a glass substrate and a mirror reflector;

circuitry disposed in said mirror casing and behind said reflective element; and

a user input connected to said circuitry, wherein said user input includes an actuating portion that protrudes at least partially through a hole formed through said glass substrate of said reflective element.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said glass substrate has a tapered region that circumscribes said hole.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said circuitry comprises an illumination source that, when activated, backlights an icon at said actuating portion of said user input.