Toggle mechanism for rearview assembly

• US 9,963,075 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Hallack, Jason D., Kuester, Ulrich A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/255,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 359265, 359267, 359275, 359629, 359632, 359838, 359841, 359843, 359871-873, 359876, 362135, 362136, 362494, 248479, 248481, 248484, 248486, 345105
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/14 operating by reflection only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15 based on an electrochromic effect

Abstract

An actuator assembly configured to adjust a viewing axis of a vehicle mirror is disclosed. The assembly comprises a toggle switch and a pivot plate rotationally coupled to the toggle switch proximate a first axis. The assembly further comprises a support bracket rotationally coupled to the pivot plate along a second axis and rotationally coupled to the toggle switch along the first axis. The support bracket is configured to support the vehicle mirror, and a rotation of the toggle switch is configured to move the pivot plate relative to the support bracket.

Claims

1. An actuator assembly configured to adjust a viewing axis of a vehicle mirror, the assembly comprising:

a toggle switch;

a pivot plate rotationally coupled to the toggle switch proximate a first axis; and

a support bracket rotationally coupled to the pivot plate along a second axis and rotationally coupled to the toggle switch along the first axis, wherein the support bracket is configured to support the vehicle mirror, and wherein a rotation of the toggle switch is configured to move the pivot plate relative to the support bracket to adjust a viewing angle of the vehicle mirror.

2. The actuator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivot plate is in connection with a mounting assembly configured to mount the vehicle mirror to a portion of a vehicle.

3. The actuator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivot plate forms a spring loaded assembly configured to restrict the rotation of the toggle switch about the first axis.

4. The actuator assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging member configured to couple the toggle switch to the pivot plate proximate the first axis.

5. The actuator assembly according to claim 4, wherein the engaging member is rotationally coupled to the toggle switch in an offset configuration.

6. The actuator assembly according to claim 5, wherein the engaging member is configured to translate concentrically about the first axis in response to the rotation of the toggle switch.

7. The actuator assembly according to claim 6, wherein the translation of the engaging member causes a rotation of the pivot plate about the second axis relative the support bracket, thereby adjusting the viewing angle of the vehicle mirror.

8. The actuator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the pivot plate comprises an engaging feature configured to selectively activate a sensor of the vehicle mirror in response to the rotation of the pivot plate.

9. The actuator assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a damper coupled to the toggle switch and the support bracket.

10. The actuator assembly according to claim 9, wherein the damper is configured to dampen a rotation of the toggle switch about the first axis relative to the support bracket.

11. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a glass element operably coupled with the housing;

an actuator device disposed in connection with the housing and operably coupled with the glass element, wherein the actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element to a first position and a second position; and

a damper in engagement with the actuator device and the housing, wherein the damper controls a movement of the actuator device corresponding to the movement of the glass element from the first position to the second position.

12. The mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first position corresponds to an off-axis position relative to a rearward reflected view and the second position corresponds to an on-axis position relative to the rearward reflected view.

13. The mirror assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a display module mounted between the glass element and the housing.

14. The mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein the display module is configured to be controlled to an on state and an off state.

15. The mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein the actuator device is further configured to control the display module to an on-state in the first position and an off-state in the second position.

16. The mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein the damper corresponds to a rotational damper.

17. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a support bracket;

a glass element operably coupled with the support bracket;

an actuator assembly disposed in connection with the support bracket, wherein the actuator assembly is adjustable to tilt the glass element to a first position and to a second position;

a damper in engagement with the actuator assembly and the support bracket over a first portion of an actuation range, wherein the damper controls a movement of the actuator assembly corresponding to the movement of the glass element from the first position to the second position; and

a sensor configured to detect a position of the actuator assembly.

18. The mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the engagement of the damper with the actuator assembly over the first portion of the actuation range is controlled via a rotational buffer.

19. The mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the actuator assembly is undamped by the damper over a radial distance corresponding to a second portion of the actuation range.

20. The mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the first portion and the second portion each correspond to approximately half of the actuation range of the actuator assembly.