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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electric actuation device for a vehicle external rear view mirror, and in particular to a device of the type in which a pair of DC electric motors driven in a known way, in two orthogonal planes, control the adjustment of the orientation of a reflecting sheet with respect to an external casing containing the device, and another electric motor controls the adjustment of the orientation of this external casing
• the object of the present invention is that of providing an electric actuation device for a vehicle external rear view mirror, particularly for a motor vehicle, which can be produced and assembled very simply with a high degree of reliability of good operation and which is suitable for use with a control and drive system which overcomes the above-indicated disadvantages, in particular a system of the type described in Italian Patent application entitled “A Control and Drive System for a Plurality of Electrical Devices in a Vehicle” filed on the same date.
• an electrical actuation device for a vehicle external rear view mirror comprising at least one electric motor for the orientation movement of at least one element of the said mirror with respect to a support element, characterised by the fact that it includes a specific electronic control unit for the said electric motor.
• Figure 1 is a partially sectioned upper view of an external rear view mirror for a vehicle, incorporating the electric actuation device formed according to the principles of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a rear view of the rear view mirror of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an upper view of an electronic control unit for the external rear view mirror of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a partially sectioned side view of the electronic unit of Figure 3.
• the reference numeral 401 generally indicates an external rear view mirror for vehicles, which comprises, in a substantially known way, .an external cup-shape casing body 402 which carries a lateral leg 403 which is pivoted, by means of a rotation actuator 404 about a vertical axis A-A, including a DC electric motor 405, to a fixed leg 406 secured to a plate 407 adapted to be fixed with screws 408 onto the vehicle, conveniently to a door (in a known way not illustrated). These legs 403 and 406, and the rotation actuator unit 404, are covered by a protection bellows 409.
• the electric motor 405 therefore allows angular orientation adjustments of the cup-shape casing 402 with respect to the plate 407, and therefore with respect to the door.
• a main frame 411 which houses two DC electric motors 412 and 413 the drive spindles of which are connected, in a known way, to a movable secondary frame 414 which carries a reflecting sheet 415 which is disposed in the frontal aperture region of the cup-shape casing 402; to the rear surface of this reflecting sheet 415 there is fitted a heater element 416, of known type, conveniently in the form of a sheet having resistive characteristics.
• These electric motors 412 and 413 therefore make it possible to adjust the angular orientation of the movable frame 414 and therefore of the reflecting sheet 415 in two perpendicular planes B-B and C-C.
• a frame 420 is fixed onto the main frame 411, which frame is shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4, and has a box-like portion 421 with a base wall 422, two parallel side walls 423, a shaped upper wall 424, and a side wall 425 joining the side walls 423, which together form an internal cavity 426 open opposite the side wall 425.
• a U- shape projection 450 From one side of the base of the box-like portion 421 externally extends a U- shape projection 450, whilst from the opposite side extends externally the second hook-like projection 451 and a flat projection 453 of relatively greater length; this frame 420 is disposed on one side of the main frame 411 ( Figure 1) and the hook-like projection 451 engages into a corresponding seat in the frame 411, whilst the U-shape projection 450 locks against a side wall of the frame 411 and the flat projection 453 is fixed onto the side of the frame 411 against which it engages, by means of a screw 454 which is disposed in a hole 455 near the end of the projection 453.
• an electronic control unit 27 for controlling the electric motors 405, 412, 413 and the heater element 416 according to the system described in the said Italian Patent application entitled “A Control System for a Plurality of Electrical Devices on a Vehicle” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the block 27 includes a printed circuit board 471 which is disposed with its lateral edges lodged within respective grooves 429 formed towards the lower region of the side walls 423 ( Figure 4).
• This electrical cable 435 conveniently leads from a main central control unit, comprising a microprocessor, to the mirror 401, passing through a vehicle door; and - a first integrated circuit 23, provided with a heat dissipator 480, for distribution of electrical power supply to the electric motors 405, 412, 413 and the heater element 416, via respective electrical wires 490, 491, 492 and 493, and a second integrated circuit 25 for dealing with information signals relating to the operation of these motors 405, 412, 413 and the heater element 416.
• a main central control unit comprising a microprocessor
• These integrated circuits 23 and 25 can conveniently include specific logic circuits or a microprocessor, solid state switches etc, and can constitute a current or voltage overload protection circuit, monitoring and diagnostic circuits etc, even in combination with other discrete circuit components 495, also connected to the printed circuit 471.
• the electronic unit 27 which allows the information signals relating to the functions of adjustment of the mirror 401 and controlling the distribution of electric power supply for operation of the electric motors 405, 412, 413 and the heater element 416 significantly simplifies the assembly and reliability of the control and drive system by the considerable reduction in the number of connection cables as well as the associated connections; moreover this electronic unit 27 makes it possible to provide a malfunction diagnostic function both for a greater safety in operation of a vehicle, in that possible anomalies can be indicated in good time to the driver, and for a reduction in repair times in that an indication of the type of anomaly can be given to the repair engineer.
• a specific electronic unit 27 for the mirror 401 further allows the type of operation of the adjustment devices to be varied simply by modification of the specific electronic unit and the programme resident in the central unit.
• the housing of this electronic unit 27 is further achieved in an economic manner with a simple frame 420 which can easily be fitted to the conventional internal main frame 411 of the mirror and without having substantially to alter the dimensions of the cup-shape body 402.
• this frame 420 can be varied as can the manner of housing of the integrated circuits 23 and 25 as well as the configuration of the mirror 401, which can also be formed without the adjustment device 404 and/or the heater element 416.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11278563

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (12)

Citations (6)

• 1989
  • 1989-03-07 IT IT5292489U patent/IT216962Z2/it active
• 1990
  • 1990-03-06 WO PCT/IT1990/000021 patent/WO1990010555A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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