EP3433129A1

EP3433129A1 - Rear view device adjustment mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3433129A1
Application number: EP17716664.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout; Stefan Fritz Brouwer; Rudolf Pieter Hoogenboom
Original assignee: MCi Mirror Controls International Netherlands BV
Current assignee: MCi Mirror Controls International Netherlands BV
Priority date: 2016-03-24
Filing date: 2017-03-23
Publication date: 2019-01-30
Also published as: CN109415017B; CN109415017A; DE202016001998U1; WO2017164737A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear view device adjustment mechanism for a rear view device of a motor vehicle, comprising a base frame for attachment to a motor vehicle, and a rear view element support for supporting a rear view element. The rear view element support is pivotable connected to the base frame by means of a hinge construction in order to pivot about a pivot axis. The adjustment mechanism further comprises an electric motor and cooperating reducing gears for pivoting the rear view element support with respect to the base frame about the pivot axis. The electric motor has an output shaft and a motor housing having a length measured parallel to said output shaft. Said motor housing has a width being equal or larger than its height, wherein the width of the motor housing is not substantially smaller than the length of the motor housing.

Description

Title: Rear view device adjustment mechanism

The invention relates to a rear view device adjustment mechanism for a rear view device of a motor vehicle, especially a car. Said mechanism is a mechanism suitable for adjusting a rear view device, especially its rotational position with respect to the motor vehicle. The rear view element may enable a driver of the motor vehicle to view at least partly backwards. For example, said rear view element may be or comprise a camera, a display, and/or a mirror, and said mechanism may be arranged to change a position of said rear view element.

Such rear view device adjustment mechanisms, especially mirror actuator mechanism, are known and often comprise a base frame for attachment to a motor vehicle, and a rear view element support for supporting the rear view element. Usually, the rear view element support is pivotable connected to the base frame by means of a hinge construction in order to pivot about a first pivot axis, and usually also in order to pivot about a second pivot axis. Often, the adjustment mechanism further comprises at least a first electric motor and cooperating first reducing gears for pivoting the rear view element support with respect to the base frame about the first pivot axis, and usually also a second electric motor and cooperating second reducing gears for pivoting the rear view element support with respect to the base frame about the second pivot axis, especially a second pivot axis which is extending substantially transverse to the first pivot axis.

Many of the known rear view device adjustment mechanisms, especially mirror actuator mechanisms, are provided with standard electric motors, especially so called flat type motors, that are purchased parts or so- called bought-in parts. For example, many conventional rear view device adjustment mechanisms comprise electric motors sold by the company Mabuchi Motor, such as electric motors of one of the models FC- 140RF, FC-140SF, FC-140RE, and FC-140SE. Similar electric motors intended for mirror adjustment applications are for instance sold by Johnson Electric, which for example sells low voltage DC motors such as the NF140G-101. It is noted that such conventional electric motors usually have typical dimensions. For instance, the electric motors usually have a motor house length of about 25.0 mm, a motor house width of about 20.4 mm and/or a motor house height of about 15.4 mm. Besides, the length over which the motor shaft is extending out of the motor housing a the front side of the motor housing typically lies in the range of 9.0 to 10.0 mm, e.g. about 9.4, 9.5 or 9.6 mm.

Although these dimensions are pretty standard and a very large number of the conventional rear view device adjustment mechanisms, especially mirror actuator mechanisms, are provided with at least one or normally two of such electric motors, the inventor of the present invention has found that electric motors having different dimensions, especially electric motors having different relatively wide motor housings, can have surprising advantages in rear view device adjustment mechanisms, such as mirror actuator mechanisms.

Hence, the invention provides for a rear view device adjustment mechanism for a rear view device of a motor vehicle, comprising a base frame for attachment to a motor vehicle, and a rear view element support for supporting a rear view element, which rear view element support is pivotable connected to the base frame by means of a hinge construction in order to pivot about a first pivot axis, and in preferred embodiments also about a second pivot axis, the adjustment mechanism further comprising a first electric motor and cooperating first reducing gears for pivoting the rear view element support with respect to the base frame about the first pivot axis, wherein the first electric motor has a first output shaft and a first motor housing having a length measured parallel to said output shaft, the first motor housing also having a height and having a width being equal or larger than its height, characterised in that the width of the first motor housing is not substantially smaller than the length of the first motor housing, i.e. the length of the first motor housing is at most 110% of the width of the first motor housing, preferably at most 105% of the width of the first motor housing.

By providing the rear view device adjustment mechanism with an electric motor having a motor housing of which the width is not

substantially smaller than the length of said motor housing, said relatively wide electric motor may be relatively short and may in embodiments for instance be positioned relatively far backwards in a respective part of the rear view device adjustment mechanism, e.g. the mechanisms base frame or the mechanisms rear view element support, that forms a housing for the electric motor and a cooperating set of cooperating reducing gears. This may provide one or more advantages over prior art rear view device adjustment mechanisms.

As a result of a relatively far backward position of the electric motor, a front wall of the respective housing and/or a front motor support provided at an outer side of said front wall may in embodiments for instance be substantially located in the middle of the housing, e.g. located

substantially at the location of an imaginary central plane, whereas a motor housing front wall or a front motor support of a conventional electric motor is typically located in front of the middle of the housing, e.g. in front of such central plane. Locating the front motor support in the middle of the housing, which housing may preferably be shaped substantially in the form of a substantially spherical segment or in the form of a substantially spherical cap, may enable that the electric motor may be supported in a relatively stable and/or firm manner, which for instance may counteract vibrations and/or reduce noises caused by operation of the rear view device adjustment mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, as another result of a relatively far backward position of the electric motor, a front wall of the respective motor housing and/or a front motor support provided at an outer side of said front wall may in embodiments for instance be located even substantially behind the middle of the housing for the electric motor and a cooperating set of reducing gears, e.g. substantially behind an imaginary central plane of said housing. This may provide advantages over conventional motor locations, in which a front portion of the electric motor is positioned in front of the middle of the housing and a rear portion of said electric motor is positioned behind the middle of the housing. As an example of such advantages, the distance between the rotor of the electric motor and a first gear engaging a worm or gear provided on the motor shaft may be relatively large, which may result in noise reduction. Preferably, a distance between the centre of engagement between the worm or gear provided on the motor shaft and the first gear engaging it, may be at most substantially equal to or even longer than the length of the rotor. Advantageously, said distance may be at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250% or even at least 300% of the rotor length. Additionally or alternatively, said distance may be at least equal to, or even longer than, the length of the motor housing. For example thereto, the motor shaft and/or a worm provided on the motor shaft may be relatively long. Although the worm or gear may in embodiments have a length substantially equal to the portion of the shaft extending from the motor housing, said worm or gear may in alternative embodiments have a length shorter than said extending shaft portion. In such embodiments, the relatively long shaft may for instance be supported, preferably on bearings. It is noted that a gear which is provided on the motor shaft and which forms part of the first reducing gears can be part of an epicyclic gear train, especially a planetary gear train.

Alternatively, an advantage of providing the rear view device adjustment mechanism with an electric motor having a motor housing of which the width is not substantially smaller than the length of said motor housing may lie in that the electric motor may be supported relatively firmly. Advantageously, the distance between a front motor support provided at the outer side of the front wall of the motor housing and a rear motor support provided at the outer side of the rear wall of said motor housing may be such that it is not substantially exceeding the width of the first motor housing and/or may for instance be at most 120% of the width of said motor housing, preferably at most 110% or 105% of the width of said motor housing.

Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.

By way of non-limiting examples only, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional partly cutaway side view of a first embodiment of a rear view device adjustment mechanism according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional partly cutaway top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional partly cutaway top view of another embodiment of a rear view device adjustment mechanism according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a relatively wide electric motor of a rear view device adjustment mechanism according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional partly cutaway top view of a further embodiment of a rear view device adjustment mechanism

according to an aspect of the present disclosure. It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to the invention. In the figures, the same or similar reference signs or numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a rear view device adjustment mechanism 1 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The rear view device adjustment

mechanism 1 is suitable for adjusting a rear view device of a motor vehicle. For example, the rear view device may be a rear view mirror, especially an exterior rear view mirror or a side mirror or so-called wing mirror. The rear view device adjustment mechanism 1 may thus for instance be a mirror glass actuator 1.

The mechanism 1 comprises a base frame 2 for attachment to a motor vehicle. For example, the base frame 2 may comprise attachment means 20 for fixedly connecting the base frame 2, e.g. for screwing and/or snapping it into or onto a mirror housing or mirror cap. The rear view device adjustment mechanism 1 also comprises a rear view element support 3 for supporting a rear view element 4. Although the rear view element 4 is here formed by a mirror glass 4, the rear view element 4 may alternatively or additionally comprise, or consist of, a camera, a display and/or other elements for facilitating a driver of the vehicle to look in an at least partly backward or rearward direction.

The rear view element support 3, e.g. a mirror glass support 3 or display support 3, is pivotable connected to the base frame 2 by means of a hinge construction 7 in order to pivot about a first pivot axis 6, and preferably also about a second pivot axis 5. Preferably, said second pivot axis 5 may extend substantially transverse to the first pivot axis 6. For example, one 6 of the axes 6, 5 may extend substantially upright during use of the rear view device adjustment mechanism 1 and/or may form an Y-axis, whereas the other one 5 may extend substantially horizontally, e.g. to form an X-axis. In advantageous embodiments, the hinge construction 7 may comprise one or more ball hinges 71, 72 or ball-and-socket joints 71, 72. Advantageously, the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3 may be arranged to slide upon each other over outer and inner delimiting surfaces 71a, 71b which form part of an imaginary spherical surface. In embodiments, the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3 may form a ball-and-socket joint or ball-and-socket construction 71, 72.

The adjustment mechanism 1 further comprises a first electric motor 8 and cooperating first reducing gears 18 for pivoting the rear view element support 3 with respect to the base frame 2 about the first pivot axis 6. Advantageously, the mechanism 1 can further be provided with a second electric motor 9 and cooperating second reducing gears 19 for pivoting the rear view element support 3 with respect to the base frame 2 about the second pivot axis 5. For instance in such case, the hinge construction 7 may further be arranged for allowing the rear view element support 3 and the base frame 2 to pivot about said second pivot axis 5. It is noted that a gear which is provided on the second motor shaft 90 and which forms part of the second set of reducing gears 19 can be part of an epicyclic gear train 900, especially a planetary gear train 900, such as for instance can be the case in the embodiment of Fig. 5.

It is noted that the or each electric motor 8, 9 can preferably be a DC motor, preferably a low voltage DC motor. Additionally or alternatively, the motor 8, 9 may be a carbon-brush motor, and/or may have an operating range of about 8-16 V, e.g. about 13.5 V. Advantageously, the respective motor, or both motors 8, 9, can have a stall torque (Ts) of at most 3.6 mNm or at most 3.5 mNm, preferably at most about 3 mNm, such as less than 2.5 mNm, e.g. about 2.0 mNm, about 2.1 mNm, or about 2.2. mNm.

It is further noted that, as such reducing gears and drive trains are well known in the art, most of the reducing gears 18, 19 are cutaway from the figures, i.e. not shown in the figures, in order to keep the figures relatively simple.

In Fig. 1, the there shown embodiment of the adjustment mechanism 1 is shown in its neutral position. By driving the electric motor 8 and thereby driving the respective reducing gears 18, the last gear 188 of said respective gears 18 will be rotated. In the there shown embodiment, said last gear 188 engages teeth 189 provided at the rear view element support 3 and will make the rear view element support 3 pivot about the first pivot axis 6 in a respective direction 6a, 6b. In embodiments, a similar last gear 198, engaging similar teeth provided in the rear view element support 3 which is cutaway from Fig. 3, and being driven by the second electric motor 9 via respective reducing gears 19, may drive the rear view element support 3 to pivot about a second pivot 6.

However, although the adjustment mechanism 1 may be arranged to pivot the rear view element support 3 with respect to the base frame 2 in a manner substantially similar to the manner described in International patent application WO 98/31 565, the adjustment mechanism 1 may in alternative embodiments be arranged in a different manner to pivot the rear view element support 3 with respect to the base frame 2, about at least one, and preferably two pivot axes 6, 5. For example, instead of a movement mechanism, substantially as shown in Fig. 1 and/or in WO 98/31 565, in which a last gear engages cooperating teeth provided at an inner surface of the rear view element support 3, the adjustment mechanism 1 may be provided with another movement mechanism, such as for instance a movement mechanism corresponding at least partly to the movement mechanism as described in International patent application WO 00/69 685 and/or the movement mechanism as described in International patent application WO 2014/178708 and/or to the movement mechanism as described in CN 201580312 U. Such and other movement mechanism will be known to the skilled person and it is appreciated that an alternative movement mechanism can be utilized without departing from the present invention.

For example, such as for instance is the case in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 5, the adjustment mechanism 1 may be arranged to pivot the rear view element support 3 with respect to the base frame 2 by letting a last gear 188, 198 of a respective set of reducing gears 18, 19 engage a respective non-straight drive rod 820, 920, located in the base frame 2. Said non-straight drive rod 820, 920 may be substantially arc-shaped and/or may be provided, for instance, with involute or other inner toothing 822, 922. As can be seen in Fig. 5, each drive rod 820, 920 can be provided with an anchor part 821, 921 which is connected with the rear view element support 3, for instance by being snapped into it, so that the drive rod moves the rear view element support 3 when it is moved within the base frame 2 by the last gear 188, 198 of the respective drive train 18, 19 or set of reducing gears 18, 19.

The drive rod 820, 920, as for instance is the case in the example shown here, may be located substantially inside the base frame 2. For instance, the drive rod 820, 920 may be located in a guiding slot provided in the interior of the base frame 2 and/or it may be located, for instance, between two guiding ribs 830, 930 or surfaces which can prevent lateral displacement of the drive rod. Alternatively or additionally, the drive rod may be bearing-mounted, for example with the aid of a slide bearing.

In preferred embodiments, such as for example in each of the embodiments of Figs. 1-5, the reducing gears 18, 19 or the so-called drive train 18, 19 may for instance be arranged to reduce the rotational speed of an output shaft 80 of the motor 8, which for instance may be in the range of 1,000 rpm - 10,000 rpm, especially about 3,000 rpm, about 4,000 rpm or about 5,000 rpm, into a relatively slow pivoting movement of the rear view element support 3, which for instance pivots with respect to the base frame 2 at a speed in the range of 1° - 7° per second, such as for instance about 2.5°, 3.0°, 3.5°, 4.0° or 4.5° per second.

It is further noted that the first electric motor 8 has a first output shaft 80 and a first motor housing 81, which may comprise a front part 81a, e.g. formed of metal, and a rear part 81b, which may be formed of plastic. For example, the front part may house the rotor 89 and the rear part may form a cover, which cover for instance may be arranged to house a

commutator of the electric motor. The housing, especially its rear part 81b that can be of plastic, may be provided connectors, e.g. sockets, for

electrically connecting the motor to a power source. The motor housing 81 has a length 82 measured parallel to said output shaft 80, wherein said length 82 does not include motor supports 83, 84 or motor support edges 83, 84 that can be provided at a respective front or rear wall 85, 86. The first motor housing 81 further has a width 87 being equal or larger than its height 88.

It is noted that the width 87 of the first motor housing 81 is not substantially smaller than the length 82 of the first motor housing 81. This can be understood at least as that said length 82 is at most 110% of said width 87, and preferably only at most 105% of said width 87. Since the length 82 of the first motor housing 81 is thus not substantially exceeding the width 87 of the first motor housing 81, the motor housing 81 is relatively wide compared to motor housings of conventional electric motors used for rear view device adjustment mechanisms such as glass actuators of door mirrors, as the lengths of conventionally used glass actuator motor housings are usually about 25.0 mm and are then about 20% - 25% larger than the widths of such motor housings which are usually about 20.4 mm.

In the shown embodiments, the electric motor 8, a schematic perspective view of which is shown in Fig. 4, has a motor housing 81 with a length 82, which not includes the motor supports 83, 84, of about 18 - 22 mm, especially between 19.0 and 21.0 mm, preferably about 20 mm, more preferably about 20.0 mm.

Additionally or alternatively, the motor housings width 87, which in embodiments may for instance be slightly larger than the length 82, can for example be in the range of about 18 - 23 mm, especially between 19.0 and 21.5 mm, preferably about 20 mm or about 21 mm, more preferably about 20.4 mm.

Additionally or alternatively, the motor housing height 88 may be in the range of about 13 - 18 mm, especially between 14 and 17 mm, preferably about 15 mm or about 16 mm or between 15 and 16 mm, more preferably about 15.4 mm. It is noted that the height 88 of the motor housing 81 may for instance be substantially smaller than its width 87, for example because, when seen in a direction in which the motor 8 and motor shaft 80 are extending horizontally, two magnets, especially permanent magnets, that may form part of the stator of the electric motor, may be located each a lateral side of a rotor of the electric motor 8, while the electric motor 8 may then for instance be free of magnets substantially above and substantially below the rotor of electric motor 8. The electric motor 8, 9 may thus be a so-called flat type motor.

It will be appreciated that at least one, and preferably both, of the first motor and second motor 8, 9 can be provided with a respective rotor 89 for turning the respective shaft 80, 90. Said rotor 89, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, may be fixedly attached to said shaft 89, 90 and may include a number of poles 89a, 89b, preferably three poles, which can comprise windings 89a', 89b'. The rotor 89, which should be understood as not including the shaft 80, 90, can have a length 891, measured along the longitudinal direction of said shaft 80, 90, that is not substantially larger than the height 88 of the respective motor housing 81, 91, preferably at most 110%, more preferably at most 100% or even at most 90%, of said motor housing height 88. The rotor length 891 may for instance be understood as the distance over which the windings 89a', 89b' extends in the axial direction of the electric motor 8, 9.

It is noted that alternatively or additionally, the axial length of the windings 89a', 89b', the length of the poles 89a, 89b of the rotor 89, when measured along the longitudinal direction of said shaft 80, 90, and/or the length 89m of the heads of the poles, when measured along the longitudinal direction of said shaft 80, 90, may be such that it is not substantially larger than the height 88 of the respective motor housing 81, 91, preferably at most 110%, more preferably at most 100% or even at most 90%, of said motor housing height 88. A relatively short rotor 89 may reduce the sound radiating surface and may thus result in a noise reduction.

In advantageous embodiments, the length 82 of the motor housing 81, 91 can be substantially equal to the width 87, 97 of the motor housing. This is, the motor housing length 82 may for instance be at most 110% of the width 87, 97 of the motor housing, and may preferably be not even more than 105% of said width 87, 97, whereas said motor housing length 82 on the other hand may for instance also be not smaller than 90%, and

preferably not even smaller than 95%, of the width 87, 97 of the motor housing 81, 91.

In embodiments, a distance 82b, 92b between a front motor support

83, 93 provided at the outer side of the front wall 85 f one of the motor housings 81, 91 and a rear motor support 84, 94 provided at the outer side of the rear wall 86 of said motor housing 81, 91 may be of such length that it is not substantially exceeding the width 87, 97 of said motor housing 81, 91 and/or such that it is may for instance be at most 120% of the width 87, 97 of said motor housing 81, 91, preferably at most 110% or 105% of the width 87, 97 of said motor housing 81, 91. It is noted that the distance from the front motor support 83, 93 to the rear motor support 84, 94 should

preferably be measured from a rear end of the front motor support to a front end of the rear motor support, i.e. the shortest distance between said two motor supports.

It is noted that the motor supports 84, 94 can preferably have a relatively small length seen in the longitudinal direction of the motor 8, 9 and/or the motor shaft 80, 90. For example, the length of a respective motor support may be between 1 and 4 mm. For example, a front motor support length may be between 1.5 and 2.0 mm, e.g. about 1.6 mm or about 1.7 mm. Additionally or alternatively, a rear motor support length may for instance be 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm, such as for instance about 2.2. mm or about 3.0 mm.

In embodiments, one of the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3, preferably the base frame 2, can form a housing 11 for housing at least the first electric motor 8 and the first reducing gears 18, and

preferably also a second electric motor 9 and corresponding second reducing gears 19.

It is noted that said housing 11, which for instance may be assembled from at least two housing parts 11a, l ib, e.g. a cup 11a and a cover l ib, attached to each other, may be provided with one or more, preferably multiple, supporting members 101, 102, 103, 104 for supporting the motor supports 83, 84 provided at the electric motor 8, 9. The housing 11 may comprise one or more first or front supporting members 101, 102 to support a front motor support 83 and one or more second or rear supporting members 103, 104 to support a rear motor support 84. In embodiments, multiple first or front supporting members 101, 102 may cooperate to support and/or engage the front motor support 83, wherein one or multiple ones 101a of said front supporting members can be provided at the first housing part 11a, e.g. the cup 11a, and one or more 101b other front supporting members can be provided at the second housing part l ib, e.g. the cover l ib. The same may apply to the second or rear supporting members 103, 103a, 103b, 104, which may be provided partly at the first housing part 1 la and partly at the second housing part 1 lb. It is noted that, in advantageous embodiments, at least a part of the supporting members 101, 102, 103, 104 may be arranged to lock the electric motor 8, 9, e.g. by clamping its motor supports 83, 84 between clicking elements, e.g. snap fingers, which for instance may be formed by at least a part of the supporting members 101, 102, 103, 104.

It is further noted that, advantageously, the diameter 89d of a rotor 89 of at least one of the electric motors 8, 9 can be larger than or substantially equal to the length 891 of said rotor 89. As a result of such relatively short rotor, the electric motor may be held relatively firmly in said housing 11.

As best can be seen in Fig. 1, one 2 of the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3, preferably the base frame 2, can be at least partly nested in the other 3 of base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3, preferably the rear view element support 3. The base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3 may then for instance form a ball-and-socket joint or ball-and-socket construction 71, 72, and/or the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3 may then be arranged to slide upon each other over outer and inner delimiting surfaces 71a, 71b which form part of a spherical surface.

Here, an outer surface of a first part 2a of the base frame 2 forms an outer delimiting surface 71a for cooperation with a an inner delimiting surface 71b formed by a first part 3a of the rear view element support 3. The one 2 of the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3 which defines the outer delimiting surface 71a which form part of a spherical surface, preferably the base frame 2, may form a housing 11 for housing at least the first electric motor 8 and first reducing gears 18.

Said housing 11 can be substantially formed as, or can comprise, a part 11a substantially formed as a substantially spherical segment, which may have a substantially flat bottom side, or as a substantially spherical cap, which may have a substantially round bottom side. Also the other one of the base frame 2 and the rear view element support 3 may be

substantially formed as, or may comprise, a part 3a substantially formed as a substantially spherical segment or as a substantially spherical cap. It is noted that the bottom side 3x of the housing 11, the bottom side of the rear view element support 3, the bottom side of the base frame 2 and/or the bottom sides of respective part thereof 3a, 2a, 11a thereof, may be substantially open.

Additionally or alternatively, said housing 11, the first part 3a of the rear view element support 3 or the first part 2a of the base frame 2, which may be formed substantially as a substantially spherical segment or as a substantially spherical cap and/or may be substantially cup-shaped, with or without a substantially open bottom, may be provided with a respective second part 3b, 2b, which may be formed as a cover 3b, 2b. In embodiments, such covers 3b, 2b may form parts 722, 723 of a hinge construction, especially a ball hinge 72, for allowing the rear view element support 3 to pivot with respect to the base frame 2 about at least the first pivot axis 6, and preferably also about a second pivot axis 5. With respect to such spherical segment and/or such substantially spherical cap, it is noted that it may preferably have a respective height 2h, 3h being smaller than the radius Id of the sphere, preferably a height 2h, 3h being at most 80%, more preferably at most 70%, or even at most 60%, of the radius Id of the sphere.

As best can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, which show schematic cross sectional partly cutaway top views of different respective embodiments of rear view device adjustment mechanisms 1 according to aspects of the present disclosure, at least one electric motor housing 81, 91 can be substantially located behind an imaginary central plane 14 of said substantially spherical segment or said substantially spherical cap 2, 3, 11. It is noted that such an imaginary central plane 14, 14' is extending in the upright direction of the imaginary central axis 15 of said substantially spherical segment or said substantially spherical cap 2, 3, 11. This is, said imaginary central axis 15 is extending in said imaginary central plane 14, 14'. It is noted that being substantially located behind a respective

imaginary central plane 14, 14' can at least be understood such as that at least 90% of the length 82, 92 of the motor housing 81, 91, more preferably at least 95% of said length 82, 92, is located behind said imaginary central plane 14, 14'. As can be understood from Fig. 3, a respective motor 8, 9 of the rear view device adjustment mechanisms 1, or its housing 81, 91, may be located substantially behind its own respective imaginary central plane 14, 14'. Nevertheless, in embodiments, both motors 8,9, or their housings 81, 91, may be located substantially behind a respective imaginary central plane. This can for instance also be understood from Fig. 3, in which both motors 8, 9 are each substantially located behind both imaginary central planes indicated by dotted lines 14, 14'.

Advantageously, a front wall 85, 95 of the respective housing 81, 91 and/or a front motor support 83, 93 provided at an outer side of said front wall 85, 95 can be substantially located in the middle of the housing, e.g. substantially at the location of said imaginary central plane 14, 14', e.g. within about 5 mm, preferably even within about 3 mm or 2 mm of said imaginary central plane 14, 14'.

In embodiments, the rotor 89 of a respective electric motor 8, 9 can be located substantially behind the middle of the housing 81, 91, e.g.

substantially behind the location of said imaginary central plane 14, 14'. Additionally or alternatively, a front wall 85, 95 of the respective housing 81, 91 and/or a front motor support 83, 93 provided at an outer side of said front wall 85, 95 can be located substantially behind the middle of the housing, e.g. substantially behind the location of said imaginary central plane 14, 14'.

As can best be seen in Fig. 1, a distance 183d between the front wall 85, 95 of the motor housing 81, 91 and the centre 183 of engagement between a worm 180 or a gear provided on the motor shaft 80 of one of the motors 8, 9 and a first gear 181 engaging it, may be substantially equal to or even longer than the length 891 of a rotor 89 of said motor 8, 9. For example, said distance 183d may be at least 120%, or even at least 150%, of said rotor length 891. Additionally, said distance 183d can be at least equal to, and preferably can be even longer than, the length 82, 92 of the respective motor housing 81, 91.

Placing the rotor 89 of the electric motor 8 relatively far away from the reducing gears 18 can have a relatively advantageous effect on the noise production of the rear view device adjustment mechanism 1 and/or may reduce adverse vibrations in the rear view device adjustment mechanism 1, as a result of which the rear view device 4, e.g. a mirror 4 glass, can be adjusted in a relatively smooth or calm manner.

In embodiments, such as for instance seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, at least the motor shaft 80, 90 of one of the electric motors 8, 9 can be provided with a worm 180, 190 for cooperation with respective other gears 18, 19 for reducing the rotational speed. However, in other embodiments, the motor shaft(s) 80, 90 can be provided with another gear then a worm. Said other gear may for instance be a gear 810, 910of an epicyclic gear train 800, 900, especially a sun gear 810, 910 of a planetary gear train 800, 900, such as for instance can be seen in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 5.

Preferably, the worm 180, 190, sun gear 810, 910, or other gear is rotationally fixed with respect to the shaft 80, 90 in at least one rotationally direction, and preferably said worm 180, 190, sun gear 810, 910, or other gear is fixedly attached to the shaft 80, 90, e.g. at least partly by means of press fitting. A distance 180d, 810d measured from a front end of the worm, sun gear 810, 910, or other gear to the front wall 85, 95 of the motor housing 81, 91 can be substantially equal to or even longer than the length 82, 92 of said motor housing 81, 91. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the electric motors 8, 9 can have a motor shaft 80, 90 that extends outside the motor housing 81, 91 over a length 80d that preferably may be substantially equal to, or even longer than, the length 82, 92 of said motor housing 81, 91.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Further, it is noted that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

Such and other variants will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to lie within the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.

Claims

1. A rear view device adjustment mechanism for a rear view device of a motor vehicle, comprising a base frame for attachment to a motor vehicle, and a rear view element support for supporting a rear view element, which rear view element support is pivotable connected to the base frame by means of a hinge construction in order to pivot about a first pivot axis, the adjustment mechanism further comprising a first electric motor and cooperating first reducing gears for pivoting the rear view element support with respect to the base frame about the first pivot axis, wherein the first electric motor has a first output shaft and a first motor housing having a length measured parallel to said output shaft, the first motor housing having a height and having a width being equal or larger than its height, characterised in that the width of the first motor housing is not

substantially smaller than the length of the first motor housing, i.e. the length of the first motor housing is at most 110% of the width of the first motor housing, preferably at most 105% of the width of the first motor housing.

2. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the hinge construction is further arranged for allowing the rear view element support and the base frame to pivot about a second pivot axis, the adjustment mechanism further comprising a second electric motor and cooperating second reducing gears for pivoting the rear view element support with respect to the base frame about the second pivot axis, wherein the second electric motor has a second output shaft and a second motor housing having a length measured parallel to said second output shaft, the second motor housing also having a height and having a width being equal or larger than its height, preferably wherein the width of said second motor housing is not substantially smaller than the length of said second motor housing, i.e. the length of the second motor housing is at most 110% of the width of the second motor housing, preferably at most 105% of the width of the second motor housing.

3. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a distance between a front motor support provided at the outer side of the front wall of one of the motor housings and a rear motor support provided at the outer side of the rear wall of said motor housing is not substantially exceeding the width of said respective motor housing and/or may for instance be at most 120% of the width of said respective motor housing, preferably at most 110% or 105% of the width of said motor housing.

4. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the motor housing is substantially equal to the width of the motor housing, i.e. the length of the motor housing is at most 110%, preferably at most 105%, of the width of the motor housing, and said length of the motor housing being at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, of the width of the motor housing.

5. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one, and preferably both, of the first motor and second motor being provided with a respective rotor for turning the respective shaft, wherein said rotor has a length measured along the longitudinal direction of said shaft, which rotor length is not substantially larger than the height of the respective motor housing, preferably at most 110%, more preferably at most 100% or even at most 90%, of said motor housing height.

6. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of a rotor of one of the electric motors is larger than or substantially equal to the length of said rotor, wherein said rotor length is measured along the longitudinal direction of the shaft of said motor.

7. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the base frame and the rear view element support, preferably the base frame, forms a housing for housing at least the first electric motor and the first reducing gears, and preferably also for housing a second electric motor and corresponding second reducing gears.

8. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the base frame and the rear view element support, preferably the base frame, is at least partly nested in the other of base frame and the rear view element support.

9. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base frame and the rear view element support are arranged to slide upon each other over outer and inner delimiting surfaces which form part of a spherical surface.

10. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the one of the base frame and the rear view element support which defines the outer delimiting surface which form part of a spherical surface, preferably the base frame, forms the housing for housing at least the first electric motor and reducing gears, and preferably also for housing a second electric motor and second reducing gears.

11. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, preferably according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the housing is substantially formed as or comprises a part substantially formed as a substantially spherical segment or as a substantially spherical cap.

12. The rear view device adjustment mechanism of claim 11, wherein at least one of the electric motor housings is substantially located behind an imaginary central plane of said substantially spherical segment or said substantially spherical cap, wherein said imaginary central plane is extending in the upright direction of the imaginary central axis of said substantially spherical segment or said substantially spherical cap.

13. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, preferably according to claim 12, wherein a front wall of the respective housing and/or a front motor support provided at an outer side of said front wall is substantially located in the middle of the housing, e.g. substantially at the location of said imaginary central plane.

14. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, preferably according to claim 12, wherein a front wall of the respective housing and/or a front motor support provided at an outer side of said front wall is located substantially behind the middle of the housing, e.g. substantially behind the location of said imaginary central plane.

15. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, preferably according to claim 12 or 14, wherein the rotor of the respective electric motor is located substantially behind the middle of the housing, e.g. substantially behind the location of a respective imaginary central plane.

16. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance between the centre of

engagement between a worm or a gear provided on the motor shaft of one of the motors and a first gear engaging it, may be substantially equal to or even longer than the length of a rotor of said motor.

17. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said distance is at least equal to, and preferably even longer than, the length of the motor housing.

18. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the motor shaft of one of the electric motors is provided with a worm, and wherein a distance measured from a front end of the worm to the front wall of the respective motor housing is substantially equal to or even longer than the length of said motor housing.

19. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the electric motors has a motor shaft that extends outside the motor housing over a length being substantially equal to or even longer than the length of said motor housing.

20. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electric motor, and preferably a second electric motor as well, has a stall torque (Ts) of at most 3.6 mNm or at most 3.5 mNm, preferably at most about 3 mNm, such as less than 2.5 mNm, e.g about 2.0 mNm, about 2.1 mNm, or about 2.2. mNm.

21. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first reducing gears and/or the second reducing gears comprise an epicyclic gear train, especially a planetary gear train.

22. The rear view device adjustment mechanism according to claim 21, wherein a sun gear of the planetary gear train is provided on the motor shaft of one of the motors.