Rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9487142-B2
Application number	US-201414312056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Sobecki Justin E
• Peterson Kenneth C
• De Wind Darryl P
• Mohan Jake A
• Steffes Matthew V
• Deuel Eric S

Classifications

• B60Q9/008

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60R2001/1215

  with information displays · CPC title

• B60R1/06 Primary

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

• B60R1/12

  Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks · CPC title

• B60R1/074 Primary

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