Rear view element folding device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166925-B2
Application number	US-201815902055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2018
Priority date	Nov 12, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A rear view element folding device is disclosed for approaching at least one pivot position of an element housing relative to an element foot that can be mounted on the motor vehicle. The rear view element folding device locks or unlocks at least one resting position of the element housing relative to the element foot. A method for triggering such a rear view element folding device is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rear view element folding device for a motor vehicle for approaching at least one rotational position of an element housing relative to an element foot than can be mounted on the motor vehicle, and for locking or unlocking at least one resting position of the element housing relative to the element foot, wherein
a first actuator for a translation movement of a first engagement element that is firmly connected to the element housing relative to a second engagement element that is connected to the element foot along a rotation axis, wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement element in locking position, such as a locked resting position of the element housing, stand in a fixed engagement with each other and in an unlocking position, such as an unlocked resting position of the element housing, the engagement is released by a certain translation movement, and
a second, separate actuator for a rotational movement for rotating the first engagement element relative to the second engagement element around the rotation axis, wherein through a first rotational movement, a first rotation position of the element housing can be approached from the unlocked resting position, and through a second rotation movement of the element housing, which is counter to the first rotational movement, the unlocked resting position can be approached from the first rotational position, wherein the second actuator comprises a Bowden cable having an inner cable comprising at least one of an active material or a shaped memory alloy, wherein the inner cable connects the first engagement element to the element foot.

2. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one spring element in the locking position applies a force onto the first and/or second engagement element, and
the first actuator moves the first or second engagement element against the force of the spring element during the change from the locking position into the unlocking position, in particular with a lifting movement, wherein preferably, the first actuator holds the unlocking position for a certain period of time.

3. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuator uses an active material, in particular as an SMA drive, piezo drive or a drive designed with an electroactive polymer, wherein preferably, the SMA drive uses at least one SMA element, in particular in the form of an SMA wire or an SMA spring, on which a current can be applied for the change from the locking position into the unlocking position, in particular in form of at least one current surge and/or over a certain period of time.

4. The rear view element folding device according to claim 3 , wherein the spring element comprises a spiral spring, concentrically to which the SMA element(s) run, in particular in an evenly distributed manner, and/or each SMA element is shortened through heating when the current is applied, so that the spring element is compressed from a locking state into an unlocking state, while during the cooling of the SMA element, the spring element returns from the unlocking state, in particular automatically, into the locking state, and/or
the first actuator can be adjusted depending on a first travel sensor and/or by means of end switches, in particular mechanical end switches.

5. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein the second actuator uses an active material, a magnetic angle adjuster or a motor, in particular an electric motor, which preferably engages via a gear stage onto the first engagement element, and/or the second actuator can be adjusted depending on a second travel sensor and/or by means of end switches, in particular mechanical end switches.

6. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein the second actuator comprises at least one piezo actuator.

7. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first engagement element comprises at least one protrusion for engagement into a recess, which is preferably designed to be complementary to the protrusion, in the second engagement element and/or the second engagement element comprises at least one protrusion for engagement into a recess, preferably designed to be complementary to the protrusion in the first engagement element wherein preferably, a plurality of protrusions is provided, and/or preferably, each protrusion comprises a trapezoid form in its profile, and/or preferably, the first engagement element comprises a first ring and the second engagement element comprises a second ring, wherein the rings are arranged concentrically to the rotation axis, and/or
the first engagement element is formed as a first gear ring and/or a first clamping element, brake element and/or latching element, and the second engagement element is formed as a second gear ring and/or a second clamping element, brake element and/or latching element.

8. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein
the element foot comprises a basic body, in particular having a cylindrical form, or is firmly connected thereto,
the spring element engages on the basic body and the second engagement element, and
the first actuator engages on the basic body and the second engagement element, so that a locking device is provided in a cylindrical form, in particular a hollow cylindrical form.

9. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein
a control or regulating device for the first and/or second actuator interacts with at least one sensor device, and/or the control or regulating device, the first actuator and/or the second actuator are arranged at least partially in the locking device, in particular in the hollow cylinder.

10. The rear view element folding device according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor device is a resistance sensor detecting an inner resistance of an SMA element of the first and/or second actuator.

11. The rear view element folding device according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor device comprises a micro switch and/or an electrical contact surface which is actuated when the first and second engagement element are engaged in the locking position.

12. The rear view element folding device according to claim 9 , wherein
the sensor device comprises a first sensor for sensing a travel path of the first actuator, such as in the form of a resistance sensor, Hall effect sensor, temperature sensor or current sensor in combination with at least one stop,
a second sensor for sensing a travel path of the second actuator, such as in the form of rotation angle sensor or current sensor in combination with at least one stop, a third sensor for detecting obstacles in the area of the rear view element,
a fourth sensor for capturing vibrations, and/or a fifth sensor for capturing the road and/or driving motion.

13. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear view element comprises at least one mirror element and/or a camera.

14. The rear view element folding device according to claim 1 , wherein in the locking position, a form fit is provided between the first and second engagement element.

Assignees

• Smr Patents Sarl

Inventors

• Wieczorek Romeo
• Hein Peter
• Czechowicz Alexander
• Hermann Andreas

Classifications

• B60R21/34

  Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R1/076

  yieldable to excessive external force and provided with an indexed use position ({B60R1/0617, B60R1/074} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R1/074 Primary

  for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Y2400/411

  Bowden cables or linkages · CPC title

• B60Y2410/136

  Memory alloys · CPC title