Actuator Device For A Rearview Device Of A Motor Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347252-A1
Application number	US-201615165417-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An actuator device for a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes at least one retaining element, at least one adjusting element, at least one driving means, and at least one heat-conducting means. The adjusting element is configured to be transferred into a plurality of functional positions, in particular from a basic position into at least one end position. The driving means includes at least one shape-memory element in the form of a wire, extending between the retaining element and the adjusting element and configured to be secured to both. Extension of the shape-memory element can be modified when electrically energized. The adjusting element can be transferred from one functional position into another functional position by modifying the extension. The heat-conducting means lies in contact with the driving means at least in the end position of the adjusting element. At least one switching means provides no contact between the driving means and the heat-conducting means in the basic position of the adjusting element and causes contact between the driving means and the heat-conducting means.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An actuator device for a rearview device of a motor vehicle comprising:
at least one retaining element; at least one adjusting element which can be transferred into a plurality of functional positions, in particular from a basic position into at least one end position; at least one driving means which comprises at least one shape-memory element which is, in particular, in the form of a wire, which extends between the retaining element and the adjusting element and can be or is secured to both, where the extension of said shape-memory element can be modified on being actuated, in particular on being electrically energized, and by means of the modification of the extension of which the at least one adjusting element can be transferred from one functional position into another functional position, in particular from the basic position into the end position or vice versa; at least one heat-conducting means which lies in contact with the driving means at least in the end position of the adjusting element; and wherein at least one switching means, by means of which the at least one driving means and the at least one heat-conducting means can be or are arranged with respect to one another with no contact in the basic position of the adjusting element and/or by means of which the at least one driving means and the at least one heat-conducting means can be or are arranged touching one another at least in sections at least in the end position of the adjusting element.

2 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-conducting means is substantially stationary and the driving means can be moved transversely to its extension between the retaining element and the adjusting element by the switching means or that the driving means is substantially stationary and the heat-conducting means can be moved transversely or obliquely to the extension of the driving means between the retaining element and the adjusting element by the switching means.

3 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the switching means and the adjusting element comprise joint kinematics and a transfer of the adjusting element from the basic position into the end position automatically comprises a transfer from a non-contact arrangement of the driving means to the heat-conducting means into an arrangement of the driving means and heat-conducting means where they touch one another.

4 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the switching element and the adjusting element comprise a joint component, in particular that the switching element comprises a shaping of a surface section of the adjusting element, by means of which the driving means and/or the heat-conducting means, on transferring the adjusting element from the basic position into the end position lying in contact with a point of contact of the surface section, which can be modified by transferring the adjusting element, can be moved transversely or obliquely to the extension of the driving means between the retaining element and the adjusting element in the direction of the heat-conducting means or driving means.

5 . The actuator device according to claim 4 , wherein the adjusting element, on modifying the extension of the at least one driving means, can be transferred from the basic position into the end position by being rotated about an axis of rotation and/or that on rotating the adjusting element about the axis of rotation the distance between the axis of rotation and the point of contact of the surface section, which can be modified by transferring the adjusting element, can be modified.

6 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one driving means can be secured to the surface section of the adjusting element by a securing element and/or that the at least one driving means extensively lies in contact with the surface section between the point of contact which can be modified by transferring the adjusting element and the securing element.

7 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the surface section of the adjusting element is formed by an external contour which is rounded, in particular circular, oval or sinusoidal, at least in sections, and/or by an external contour which is straight at least in sections.

8 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one return means which biases the adjusting element into the basic position.

9 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-conducting means comprises a continuous recess which extends substantially parallel to the driving means, inside which recess the driving means is arranged extending between the retaining element and the adjusting element and with the inner surface of which the driving means lies in contact in the end position of the adjusting element and/or that the heat-conducting means is configured in a strip or plate form and with the external surface of which the driving means lies in contact in the end position of the adjusting element.

10 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one electrically insulating and thermally conducting insulating element arranged between the driving means and the heat-conducting means.

11 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one cooling element lies directly in contact with the driving means and at least virtually enclosing the driving means in its entirety.

12 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one cooling rib which can be or is thermally connected to the heat-conducting means, by means of which cooling rib heat can be released into the surroundings by convection and/or by forced convection, for example by being flowed around by the head wind.

13 . The actuator device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-conducting means, the cooling element and/or the at least one cooling rib comprises a plastic, in particular silicon, and/or a metal, in particular copper or iron.

14 . A rearview device, such as an interior mirror or exterior mirror or camera, for a motor vehicle having at least one actuator device according to claim 1 .

15 . A motor vehicle having at least one rearview device, such as an interior mirror or exterior mirror or camera, according to claim 14 and/or having at least one actuator device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Smr Patents Sarl

Inventors

• Wieczorek Romeo

Classifications

• B60R1/07 Primary

  by electrically powered actuators · CPC title

• B60R1/02

  Rear-view mirror arrangements (periscope arrangements B60R1/10) · CPC title

• B60R1/04

  mounted inside vehicle {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R1/062 Primary

  with remote control for adjusting position {(B60R1/0607 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title