GB2334499A - Folding wing mirrors - Google Patents

Folding wing mirrors Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2334499A
GB2334499A GB9901442A GB9901442A GB2334499A GB 2334499 A GB2334499 A GB 2334499A GB 9901442 A GB9901442 A GB 9901442A GB 9901442 A GB9901442 A GB 9901442A GB 2334499 A GB2334499 A GB 2334499A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
mirror
mirror system
signal
response
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9901442A
Other versions
GB2334499B (en
GB9901442D0 (en
Inventor
Wayne Kennedy Mcelfatrick
Peter Alan Bailey
David Hall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Publication of GB9901442D0 publication Critical patent/GB9901442D0/en
Publication of GB2334499A publication Critical patent/GB2334499A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2334499B publication Critical patent/GB2334499B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
    • B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
    • B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
    • B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
    • B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
    • B60R1/074—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/12—Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
    • B60R2001/1284—Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

A vehicle mirror is movable between an in-use position "a" and a substantially retracted position "b" under the power of an electric motor 16. The motor 16 is controlled by a control unit 18 in response to a signal from a hand held transmitter unit 22 which also causes closing of any open windows of the vehicle and locking of the vehicle and arming of the vehicle security system. The mirrors are re-erected/ unfolded into the in use position in response to a manually operable actuator means, e.g. a button inside the vehicle or the transmitter unit 22.

Description

Vehicle Mirrors The present invention relates to exterior mirrors for vehicles and in particular to such mirrors which can be moved between an extended in-use position and a retracted position in which they can be placed to reduce the overall width of the vehicle.
It is known, for example from DE 195 19 947 to provide an exterior mirror for a vehicle which is mounted on a base member and can be rotated between an in-use position and a retracted position by means of an electric motor. The motor for this type of mirror is generally operated by means of a manual switch inside the vehicle.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a mirror system for a vehicle, the system comprising an exterior vehicle mirror which is movable between an in-use position and a substantially retracted position, a motor for moving the mirror between the in-use position and the retracted position, and control means arranged in use to control the motor, wherein the control means is arranged to cause the motor to move the mirror into the retracted position in response to a signal received from a portable transmitter unit and to re-erect the mirror into its in-use position in response to a manually operable actuator means.
The system may be arranged such that the mirror can be re-erected only in response to the manually operable actuator means. The manually operable actuator means may fitted inside the vehicle.
The control means may be arranged to operate at least one other function of the vehicle in response to said signal, for example the closing of any open windows of the vehicle and/or the locking of at least one door of the vehicle. The signal may comprise a lazy-lock signal.
The mirror system may further comprise a warning means arranged in use to bring to the attention of a user by means of a warning signal a retracted state of the mirrors after vehicle use is commenced. The warning signal may comprise an audible or a visual signal and may, for example, be emitted after a predetermined time-out which starts when a user enters or starts to use the vehicle.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle mirror system according to the invention.
A vehicle exterior door mirror system comprises two mirror units each having a base 10 rigidly attached to the vehicle door 12 and a mirror 14 comprising a housing and the mirror glass and is pivotably mounted on the base 10 so that it can rotate about a vertical axis between an extended inuse position "a", in which it protrudes from the side of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the vehicle door 12 with the mirror facing to the rear, and a substantially retracted position "b" in which it is folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the vehicle door with the mirror facing towards the door 12.
An electric motor 16 is provided in the housing 14 and is arranged so that it can rotate the mirror 14 under the control of a control unit 18 mounted in the vehicle body. The control unit 18 is also arranged to control other functions of the vehicle, specifically the raising and lowering of the vehicle windows, the opening and closing of the vehicle sunroof, and the operation of the vehicle door lock and security systems.
The control unit 18 is connected to a radio frequency receiver 20 which is arranged to receive coded radio signals from a hand held transmitter unit 22 which is attached to the ignition key of the vehicle by a keyring. The transmitter unit 22 has a lock button 24 and an unlock button 26.
During normal use of the transmitter unit 22 pressing the lock button 24 for a short period of time causes the transmitter unit 22 to send a lock signal to the control unit which, on receipt of that signal locks the doors of the vehicle and arms the vehicle security system. Pressing the unlock button 26 for a short period causes the transmitter unit 22 to send an unlock signal to the control unit 18 which, on receipt of that signal, disarms the security system and unlocks the vehicle doors.
Pressing the lock button 24 for a longer period of time causes the transmitter unit to send a "lazy-lock" signal. When the control unit receives this lazy-lock signal it checks the position of all the windows and the sunroof of the vehicle and of the door mirrors 14. If any of the windows or the sunroof are open, the control unit closes them. If either of the door mirrors 14 is in its in-use position the control unit 18 operates the motor 16 to move it into the retracted position. The control unit 18 then locks the vehicle and arms the security system.
When the driver returns to the vehicle and unlocks the doors using the transmitter unit 20, the control unit 18 does not automatically unfold/reerect the mirrors 14 into the in-use position, but waits until the driver presses a button (not shown) inside the vehicle. This ensures that the mirrors are not re-erected when the vehicle is so close to another object that the mirrors 14 will hit that other object. The driver can move the vehicle into a less restricted space before re-erecting the mirrors.
The lazy-lock signal could be replaced by another signal which indicates that the mirrors 14 should be folded, for example a short press to lock the vehicle and a double short press to fold the mirrors 14.
In similar fashion, it would also be possible to include a lazy-unlock function using which a user could unfold/re-erect the mirrors 14 using the transmitter unit 22. It would also be possible to include a warning means in the vehicle in case the user were to forget to re-erect the mirrors 14 after entering the vehicle. Such a warning means might comprise, for example, a series of buzzer signals from a lights-on warning buzzer and/or a visual warning light arranged to emit after a short time-out after unlocking and/or engine starting and/or vehicle movement.

Claims (11)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A mirror system for a vehicle, the system comprising an exterior vehicle mirror which is movable between an in-use position and a substantially retracted position, a motor for moving the mirror between the in-use position and the retracted position, and control means arranged in use to control the motor, wherein the control means is arranged to cause the motor to move the mirror into the retracted position in response to a signal received from a portable transmitter unit and to re-erect the mirror into its in-use position in response to a manually operable actuator means.
  2. 2. A mirror system according to Claim 1, wherein the mirror can be re erected only in response to the manually operable actuator means.
  3. 3. A mirror system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the manually operable actuator means is fitted inside the vehicle.
  4. 4. A mirror system according to any preceding claim wherein the control means is arranged to operate at least one other function of the vehicle in response to said signal.
  5. 5. A mirror system according to Claim 4 wherein said other function is the closing of any open windows of the vehicle.
  6. 6. A mirror system according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein said other function is the locking of at least one door of the vehicle.
  7. 7. A mirror system according to any preceding claim, said signal comprising a lazy-lock signal.
  8. 8. A mirror system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a warning means arranged in use to bring to the attention of a user by means of a warning signal a retracted state of the mirrors after vehicle use is commenced.
  9. 9. A mirror system according to Claim 8, the warning signal comprising an audible or a visual signal.
  10. 10. A mirror system according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, the warning signal being emitted after a predetermined time-out which starts when a user enters or starts to use the vehicle.
  11. 11. A mirror system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9901442A 1998-01-23 1999-01-22 Vehicle mirrors Expired - Lifetime GB2334499B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9801336.0A GB9801336D0 (en) 1998-01-23 1998-01-23 Vehicle mirrors

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9901442D0 GB9901442D0 (en) 1999-03-10
GB2334499A true GB2334499A (en) 1999-08-25
GB2334499B GB2334499B (en) 2001-09-26

Family

ID=10825689

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9801336.0A Ceased GB9801336D0 (en) 1998-01-23 1998-01-23 Vehicle mirrors
GB9901442A Expired - Lifetime GB2334499B (en) 1998-01-23 1999-01-22 Vehicle mirrors

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9801336.0A Ceased GB9801336D0 (en) 1998-01-23 1998-01-23 Vehicle mirrors

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9801336D0 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10116269A1 (en) * 2001-03-31 2002-10-10 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Device for folding vehicle mirrors in and out, has controller designed to fold external mirror in when vehicle is locked in defined manner (automatic fold-in function)
EP1449720A2 (en) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-25 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft External rear view mirror control
DE102005008948A1 (en) * 2005-02-26 2006-08-31 General Motors Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Method for folding an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle
US7474203B2 (en) 2003-11-10 2009-01-06 Urick Kirk B System for automatically positioning vehicle mirrors
DE102013103744A1 (en) * 2013-04-15 2014-10-16 Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft mirror arrangement

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4451887A (en) * 1980-06-13 1984-05-29 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha System for controlling a door and driver's seat of vehicle
GB2293152A (en) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-20 Murakami Kaimeido Kk Control device for an electrically powered hinged rearview mirror for a vehicle

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4451887A (en) * 1980-06-13 1984-05-29 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha System for controlling a door and driver's seat of vehicle
GB2293152A (en) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-20 Murakami Kaimeido Kk Control device for an electrically powered hinged rearview mirror for a vehicle

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10116269A1 (en) * 2001-03-31 2002-10-10 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Device for folding vehicle mirrors in and out, has controller designed to fold external mirror in when vehicle is locked in defined manner (automatic fold-in function)
DE10116269B4 (en) * 2001-03-31 2008-12-24 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Device for folding in and out vehicle exterior mirrors
EP1449720A2 (en) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-25 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft External rear view mirror control
EP1449720A3 (en) * 2003-02-21 2009-10-14 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft External rear view mirror control
US7474203B2 (en) 2003-11-10 2009-01-06 Urick Kirk B System for automatically positioning vehicle mirrors
DE102005008948A1 (en) * 2005-02-26 2006-08-31 General Motors Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Method for folding an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle
DE102013103744A1 (en) * 2013-04-15 2014-10-16 Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft mirror arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9801336D0 (en) 1998-03-18
GB2334499B (en) 2001-09-26
GB9901442D0 (en) 1999-03-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Expiry date: 20190121