US4986646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric rearview mirror device for a vehicle
Assignee: Tokai Denki Seisakusho KK
•
Filing: 1989-07-12
•
Granted: 1991-01-22
•
Expires: 2009-07-12
Abstract
Abstract The electric rearview mirror system comprising a position sensor which outputs a position signal showing the rotational position of the mirror body, memory device which stores the position signal from the position sensor at a prescribed sampling period, and a motor control circuit which judges the rotational direction of the mirror body based on the change with time of the position signal stored in the memory device and turns off the motor when the judged direction of the motor is opposite to the rotational direction of the mirror body due to the mirror driving mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadanao Hamamoto
- 👤 Tadashi Wakiya
- 👤 Kazunari Hayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/06; B60R1/062; B60R1/07; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/33; G05B19/35; G05B19/351; G05B19/406; G05B19/4062; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36463; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37094; G05B2219/42; G05B2219/42288; G05B2219/42321; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An electric rearview mirror system for use in a vehicle, comprising: a housing supported by said vehicle; a mirror body mounted turnably in said housing; means for driving said mirror body in a selected turning direction, said mirror body driving means having spring means connected to said mirror body for absorbing a rotational force of said mirror driving means; means for detecting a position of said mirror body; means for storing an output of said position detecting means at a predetermined sampling period; and means for controlling said mirror body driving means, said controlling means having means for stopping the operation of said mirror driving means whenever an incremental turning of said mirror body is detected in a direction opposite said selected turning direction, said incremental turning being caused by a recoil of said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An electric rearview mirror system for use in a vehicle, comprising: a housing supported by said vehicle; a mirror body mounted turnably in said housing; means for driving said mirror body in a selected turning direction, said mirror body driving means having spring means connected to said mirror body for absorbing a rotational force of said mirror driving means; means for detecting a position of said mirror body; means for storing an output of said position detecting means at a predetermined sampling period; and means for controlling said mirror body driving means, said controlling means having means for stopping the operation of said mirror driving means whenever an incremental turning of said mirror body is detected in a direction opposite said selected turning direction, said incremental turning being caused by a recoil of said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
191 words
The electric rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror body driving means comprises: a first motor turning said mirror body along a vertical direction with respect to said vehicle; a second motor turning said mirror body along a horizontal direction with respect to said vehicle; a first gear plate rotated by said first motor, said first gear plate having an opening and a first spring; a second gear plate rotated by said second motor, said second gear plate having an opening and a second spring; a first gear rod threadably engaged with said first spring, said first gear rod moving in an axial direction of said first gear plate, said first gear rod being connected to said mirror body; and a second gear rod threadably engaged with said second spring, said second gear rod moving in an axial direction of said second gear plate, said second gear rod being connected to said mirror body; wherein a rotational force of said first and second motors are absorbed by a sliding of said first and second springs so as to override thread ridges of said first and second gear rod, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror body driving means is disposed within said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electric rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising means for operating said mirror body driving means, said operating means being provided in a vehicle compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror body position detecting means comprises a Hall IC.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electric rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising means for automatically turning said mirror body to a position stored in said storing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electric rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a constant voltage power supply circuit connected to a battery of said vehicle, said constant voltage power supply circuit supplying a power voltage to said electric rearview mirror system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
281 words
An electric rearview mirror system for use in a vehicle, comprising: a housing supported by said vehicle; a mirror body mounted turnably in said housing; means for driving said mirror body in a selected turning direction, said driving means having a first motor turning said mirror body along a vertical direction with respect to said vehicle, a second motor turning said mirror body along a horizontal direction with respect to said vehicle, a first gear plate rotated by said first motor, said first gear plate having an opening and a first spring, a second gear plate rotated by said second motor, said second gear plate having an opening and a second spring, a first gear rod threadably engaged with said first spring, said first gear rod moving in an axial direction of said first gear plate, said first gear rod being connected to said mirror body, and a second gear rod threadably engaged with said second spring, said second gear rod moving in an axial direction of said second gear plate, said second gear rod being connected to said mirror body, wherein a rotational force of said first and second motors are absorbed by a sliding of said first and second springs so as to override thread ridges of said first and second gear rod, respectively; means for detecting a position of said mirror body; means for storing an output of said position detecting means at a predetermined sampling period; and means for controlling said mirror body driving means, said controlling means having means for stopping the operation of said mirror driving means whenever an incremental turning of said mirror body is detected in a direction opposite said selected turning direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
281 words
An electric rearview mirror system for use in a vehicle, comprising: a housing supported by said vehicle; a mirror body mounted turnably in said housing; means for driving said mirror body in a selected turning direction, said driving means having a first motor turning said mirror body along a vertical direction with respect to said vehicle, a second motor turning said mirror body along a horizontal direction with respect to said vehicle, a first gear plate rotated by said first motor, said first gear plate having an opening and a first spring, a second gear plate rotated by said second motor, said second gear plate having an opening and a second spring, a first gear rod threadably engaged with said first spring, said first gear rod moving in an axial direction of said first gear plate, said first gear rod being connected to said mirror body, and a second gear rod threadably engaged with said second spring, said second gear rod moving in an axial direction of said second gear plate, said second gear rod being connected to said mirror body, wherein a rotational force of said first and second motors are absorbed by a sliding of said first and second springs so as to override thread ridges of said first and second gear rod, respectively; means for detecting a position of said mirror body; means for storing an output of said position detecting means at a predetermined sampling period; and means for controlling said mirror body driving means, said controlling means having means for stopping the operation of said mirror driving means whenever an incremental turning of said mirror body is detected in a direction opposite said selected turning direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2006475A
Cited
GB2006990A
Cited
JPS57107936A
Cited
JPS5853537A
Cited
JPS61115748A
Cited
DE3609695A1
Cited
JPS6250247A
Cited
US4940322A
Cited
US4798967A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-07-23 | 1995-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-21 | 1998-07-23 | 1999-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-21 | 2002-07-23 | 2003-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |