Abstract: An improved rear-view device for a motor vehicle includes an electronic device with at least one housing device, comprising at least one floor piece and a cover piece configured to be arranged on the floor piece. The floor piece and the cover piece, in the joined state, delimit an at least almost completely closed cavity. At least one first retaining means of a retaining unit, fixes the housing device in or on the rear-view device. At least one electronic module comprises at least one conductor unit and at least one contact means connected with the conductor unit. The conductor unit is arranged on a surface of the floor piece and/or cover piece and turned towards the cavity. The conductor unit comprises at least one carrier and at least one conductor track applied directly to the carrier. The contact means extends through the cover piece and/or through the floor piece with at least one protruding contact section and is accessible externally.

Abstract: An electronic circuit board unit for an electronic module installed in a vehicle rear view device. The electronic circuit board unit has a base plate, at least one printed circuit board, and at least one plug connection for an electronic and physical connection between the printed circuit board and the base plate. The electronic circuit board has at least one first receiver for mounting an electronic consumer unit of the electronic module and being attachable or attached to the base plate or to one of the at least one printed circuit board. There is at least one second connector attachable or attached to the base plate or to the at least one printed circuit board for connecting at least one further electronic consumer unit of the electronic module to the driver circuit of the base plate.

Abstract: A system for visibility enhancement comprises a first sensor means comprising a camera adapted to record at least one image. A second sensor means is adapted to generate at least one position profile of at least one object located within a critical range of the first sensor means. An image processing means is adapted to receive a first input signal from the first sensor means containing the at least one image and a second input signal from the second sensor means containing the at least one position profile of the at least one object located within the critical range. The image processing means further manipulates the at least one image to generate a manipulated image by altering the contrast of that part of the image that shows the at least one object located within the critical range. A corresponding method of visibility enhancement is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator device comprising at least one retaining means on which rearview means can be secured or is secured and which are mounted in a movable manner relative to a housing component of a rearview device and comprising at least one adjusting unit with at least one second adjusting means for moving the retaining means relative to the housing component. The first adjusting means and the second adjusting means each comprise at least one shape-memory element, and the first adjusting unit and the second adjusting unit are arranged between the housing component and the retaining means so as to be mechanically connected in series. The first adjusting unit has a first maximum travel path, and the second adjusting unit has a second maximum travel path which is different from the first maximum travel path. The invention also relates to a rearview device with an actuator device according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to decorative coatings for plastic substrates, the decorative coatings ideally being stable and durable coatings that are spectrally tuneable to permit the selection of a variety of appearances, and ideally providing a decorative metal finish. More particularly the present invention provides for a plastic substrate having a decorative coating including a spectrally controlling system and a stress controlling system. The spectrally controlling system includes alternating absorbing layers and transparent layers, and the stress controlling system controls the overall residual stress of the decorative coating to within a desired range. Further provided are methods for applying to a plastic substrate a decorative coating having a spectrally controlling system and a stress controlling system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning an optical device of a motor vehicle, wherein the cleaning device features at least two cleaning units and at least one holder upon which the cleaning units are arranged. Each cleaning unit has a drive part and a cleaning part, wherein the drive part features an electroactive polymer and can at least partly move the cleaning part. The holder on which the cleaning units are arranged can move between a working position, in which the cleaning units are positioned relative to the optical device in such a manner that the drive part can move the cleaning parts across a surface of the optical device that is to be cleaned, and a rest position, in which the cleaning units are positioned away from the optical device. The cleaning device is embodied in such a manner that each cleaning part of the cleaning units is moved over a subarea assigned to it of the surface to be cleaned, wherein the subareas can at least partly overlap.

Abstract: An actuator device for a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes at least one retaining element, at least one adjusting element, at least one driving means, and at least one heat-conducting means. The adjusting element is configured to be transferred into a plurality of functional positions, in particular from a basic position into at least one end position. The driving means includes at least one shape-memory element in the form of a wire, extending between the retaining element and the adjusting element and configured to be secured to both. Extension of the shape-memory element can be modified when electrically energized. The adjusting element can be transferred from one functional position into another functional position by modifying the extension. The heat-conducting means lies in contact with the driving means at least in the end position of the adjusting element.

Abstract: An adjustable rearview device, especially a side-view mirror for a motor vehicle, has a mirror head, a mirror base and at least one joint device. The joint device is arranged between the mirror head and mirror base and includes at least one elastomeric element and an axis of rotation around which the mirror head can move. The mirror head is configured to move, particularly by rotating or folding relative to the mirror base, from a first functional position to at least one second functional position. In the first functional position, the elastomeric element holds the mirror head. In at least one second functional position, the elastomeric element is stretched or compressed. The adjustable rearview device has at least one electrical conductor, which extends at least between the mirror base and mirror head. The electrical conductor is elastically deformable at least in the direction of its longitudinal dimension.

Abstract: An adjustment unit for a rear view device for a vehicle includes a pivot and a carrier. The carrier is tiltably mounted to the pivot. The adjustment unit includes at least one first bending actuator, which has its largest dimension in a first direction and which is bendably adjustable in an angular or crosswise direction relative to the first direction. The first bending actuator has a first end fixed to a first fastening means and a second end fixed to the carrier. At least one second bending actuator has its largest dimension in a second direction oriented angularly or crosswise relative to the first direction and is bendable angular or crosswise relative thereto. The second bending actuator has a first end fixed to the first fastening means or a further fastening means and a second end fixed to the carrier. The adjustment unit is characterized in that the first direction of the first bending actuator and/or the second direction of the second bending actuator run through the center of the pivot.

Abstract: The invention is related to a rear view mirror assembly that includes at least one electrical device as a light source with adapted connectors to be assembled in an easy way. The invention is related to an electrical device as a lighting mean in a rear view mirror that has a connector adapted to be self centric connected to the counterpart during assembling.

Abstract: A rear view assembly includes a housing, which is fixedly secured to a motor vehicle. The housing includes an optical sensor that is housed therewith. A lens focuses light for the optical sensor to capture a wide-angle image. The optical sensor creates electrical signals representative of the focused light. The electrical signals are transmitted to a display device, which is operatively connected to the optical sensor for receiving the electrical signal and displaying the electrical signal as a rear view image for a driver of the motor vehicle such that the rear view image includes distortions created by the lens.

Abstract: A light guiding device for an illumination device, especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes a light coupling side for incoupling light from a light source, a reflection side having a reflection layer; and a light outcoupling side, which is disposed generally opposite the reflection side. A clearance between the reflection side and the light outcoupling side generally decreases as the distance from the light incoupling side increases. The reflection side having the reflection layer is configured so that light arriving from the light incoupling side is deflected to the light outcoupling side. The reflection layer may be a paint or lacquer layer that is imprinted or evaporation-coated on the reflection side.

Abstract: A side rear view mirror assembly is used in conjunction with a motor vehicle equipped with a blind spot sensor designed to detect objects in blind spots of the motor vehicle. The side rear view mirror assembly includes a base fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A mirror case is movably secured to the base. The mirror case defines a housing and a mirror opening facing rearward. A backing light is operatively connected to the mirror case facing rearward. The backing plate is movable with respect to the mirror case. A mirror glass is fixedly secured to the backing plate and movable therewith in a manner allowing an operator of the motor vehicle to view rearward of the motor vehicle. The side rear view mirror assembly also includes a blind spot indicator fixedly secured to the backing plate and in communication with the blind spot sensor to receive signals from the blind spot sensor and to indicate to the operator of the motor vehicle when an object is in a blind spot of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror with a mirror glass that is embedded in a mirror head, where the mirror head is pivotably supported against a mirror base by being fastened to the vehicle, where the mirror glass includes at least two mirror parts having different radii of curvature, in that a separating line between the mirror parts passes through the area that meets the imaging specifications.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to vision systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to rear-view vision systems which provide the vehicle operator with scenic information in the direction rearward of the vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a rear-view vision system utilizing image capture devices, such as CMOS imaging arrays in external rear view mirrors to support lane change in a driver assistant system.

Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly with an optical display is suggested, whereby a light opening (2) is provided on the exterior mirror assembly for the passage of light of a warning display. The optical display comprieses of a display housing (4), into which an active illuminated display element (10) is mounted as a light source.