Mirror Movable Relative To Support Patents (Class 359/872)
  • Patent number: 9151947
    Abstract: In an optical deflector including a mirror, a movable frame supporting the mirror, a first piezoelectric actuator for rocking the mirror with respect to a first axis of the mirror, a support body supporting the movable frame, and a second piezoelectric actuator for rocking the mirror through the movable frame with respect to a second axis of the mirror, at least one piezoelectric sensor is provided for sensing rocking vibrations of the mirror caused by the first and second piezoelectric actuators. The second piezoelectric actuator includes a pair of meander-type piezoelectric actuators opposite to each other with respect to the first axis. Each of the second meander-type piezoelectric actuators includes a plurality of piezoelectric cantilevers folded at every cantilever and connected from the support body to the movable frame in parallel with the first axis. The piezoelectric sensor is incorporated into an outermost one of the piezoelectric cantilevers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanori Aimono
  • Patent number: 9128287
    Abstract: A MEMS substrate is formed from a transparent substrate and a movable type shutter arranged on each pixel of a surface of the transparent substrate. An AP substrate includes another substrate and a light blocking film arranged on the other transparent substrate formed with an aperture corresponding to each shutter. A plurality of supporting columns is formed on a surface of the transparent substrate of the MEMS substrate. A plurality of cylindrical contact holes having the same inner diameter as an outer diameter of each supporting column are formed at a position corresponding to one part of the supporting columns. Both substrates are arranged with a certain interval so that each shutter and an aperture oppose each other, thereby a tip end of corresponding supporting columns is inserted into each contact hole and in this way, both substrate are mutually positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasukazu Kimura, Jun Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9079538
    Abstract: A pair of external vehicle mirrors with a driver-side external vehicle mirror and a passenger-side external vehicle mirror are provided. Each have a mirror foot and a mirror housing pivotably attached, in which an adjustable mirror glass is arranged. The mirror housings of the two external vehicle mirrors are constructed symmetrically, so that an identical oncoming wind flow situation is achieved, and that on a rear side of the two mirror housings there is arranged a mask encompassing the mirror glass, the mask of the driver-side external vehicle mirror being formed asymmetrically to the mask of the passenger-side external vehicle mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Willibald Assmann, Fabian Franke, Michael Friederich, Wolfgang Much, Volker Nickel, Robert Schwed
  • Patent number: 9067541
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion adjustably mounted at the mounting portion, and a reflective element at the mirror head portion. An actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion and about a generally vertical pivot axis to pivotally adjust the mirror head portion relative to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator comprises at least two motors and the motors are operable in tandem to cooperatively rotatably drive a common gear of a gear system to pivot the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9057833
    Abstract: An exterior vehicle mirror assembly includes a base, a mirror housing and a camera housing. The base has a mounting portion configured to attach to an exterior vehicle panel. The mirror housing is coupled to the base and extends from the base. The camera housing is coupled to the base adjacent to the mirror housing and extends from the base such that the mirror housing and the camera housing extend away from the base in respective directions are substantially parallel to one another with the mirror housing in an in-use orientation. A distal end of the camera housing is spaced apart from the mirror housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Bowers, Alfredo Dimichele, Kathryn Templeton, Kurt Maxwell, Takashi Kuwata
  • Patent number: 9033529
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a stopper member lock mechanism is configured to lock a stopper member from rotating in a direction from a forward tilt location to a use location with respect to a shaft when the mirror assembly that is positioned in the forward tilt location is restored to the use location and to release the locked state of the stopper member when the mirror assembly is restored from the forward tilt location to the use location. As a result, it is capable of causing the mirror assembly to be precisely positioned in the use location without any positional shift when the mirror assembly that has rotated from the use location to the forward tilt location for the sake of buffering is rotated and restored from the forward tilt location to the use location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Ikuo Sakata
  • Patent number: 9033526
    Abstract: A powerfold mechanism for an external rear view mirror is disclosed. The mechanism comprises: a powerfold housing mountable between a mirror housing and a vehicle mountable mirror base; a clutch member urged into engagement with the mirror, the clutch member allowing the mirror housing to be manually moved with respect to the mirror base; an electric drive train between the powerfold housing and the clutch member; and a drive stop movably mounted to the powerfold housing and having a drive stop face engagable with a drive stop detent mounted to the mirror base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Maarten Schuurmans, Garry Fimeri, Simon Belcher, Daniel Flynn
  • Patent number: 9022588
    Abstract: A mirror surface angle adjusting device includes: a pivot plate (10) which supports a mirror (6) and is attached to a holder (9) pivotably three-dimensionally on a pivot shaft (76); a bracket (8) disposed on a vehicle body; a mirror tilting drive section (11) contained between the bracket (8) and the holder (9) attached to the bracket (8); an operation shaft (44A, 44B) of the mirror tilting drive section (11), the operation shaft penetrating through the holder (9) and being connected to the pivot plate (10); a detection rod (101A, 101B) which moves following the pivot plate (10); an angle detection section (100) which detects a tilt angle of the pivot plate (10); a pivot depressed portion (80) into which the pivot shaft can be press-fitted; and a gear positioning rib (69) provided on an inner wall of the holder (9) to position the mirror tilting drive section (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Chino, Tetsuya Murakoshi, Hiroshi Morishita, Osamu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9022587
    Abstract: In a vehicle door mirror device, when a fitting recess portion and a fitting protrusion portion fit, a gap is formed between an orthogonal face and an opposing face due to a fitting recess portion and a fitting protrusion portion contacting along case rotating direction. Accordingly, even when the fitting protrusion portion wears and external shape becomes smaller, the fitting recess portion and the fitting protrusion portion are contacted and fitted until the gap disappears. The gap is set larger than a gap between a visor and a stay. Therefore, the fitting recess portion and the fitting protrusion portion contact along the case rotating direction even when the visor contacts the stay, due to presence of the gap. Accordingly, even when the visor contacting the stay is taken as useful life indicator of the device, rattling of the visor against the stay can be suppressed at this stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Toyama, Shigeki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9022586
    Abstract: A system and/or apparatus provided as a side-view or rear-view mirror for providing a plurality of independently moveable reflective surfaces to enable a driver increased visibility. To increase visibility for the driver, the system and/or apparatus includes a camera for providing images around a vehicle to the driver within a vehicle during low-light or poor lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rosco, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Englander
  • Publication number: 20150108218
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for deflecting and for widening a visible range of a camera (24) is provided, wherein the apparatus (10) has a first mirror element (12) which is tilted with respect to the optical axis of the camera (24) in a longitudinal direction in order to supply light to the camera (24) from a visible range lying laterally with respect to the optical axis. In this connection the first mirror element (12) is additionally tilted in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the apparatus has a second mirror element (14) besides the first mirror element (12) which is tilted in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction with respect to the first mirror element (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph ANSELMENT, Helmut WEBER, Johannes ASCHENBRENNER, Christofer ROSER, Norbert SCHNURR, Dirk STROHMEIER
  • Publication number: 20150097955
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a non-movable portion, a movable portion and a mirror head. The non-movable portion is configured for attachment at an exterior portion of a vehicle and the movable portion is movable relative to the non-movable portion. The mirror head is movable relative to the movable portion, and a mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at the mirror head. A first actuator is operable to move the movable portion relative to the non-movable portion about a first axis and a second actuator is operable to move the mirror head relative to the movable portion about a second axis. The first and second actuators are cooperatively operable to move the movable portion about the first axis and to move the mirror head about the second axis, and the mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Eric S. Deuel, Justin E. Sobecki, Joseph R. Mambourg, Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8992032
    Abstract: A Newtonian telescope secondary mirror mount which includes means for attaching a Newtonian telescope secondary mirror to the secondary mirror mount. The attachment means will define a secondary mirror plane. The mount also includes first and second means for adjusting the angular alignment of the secondary mirror plane. The first adjustment means defines a first adjustment axis and the second adjustment means defines a second adjustment axis. In all embodiments both the first and second axes of angular orientation adjustment are substantially parallel to the secondary mirror plane. Methods of adjusting the angular alignment of a Newtonian telescope secondary mirror are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Charles Howard Glatter
  • Patent number: 8996258
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of a rotatable side view mirror of an articulated tractor and trailer includes transducers attached to the tractor for transmitting signals toward the trailer and for receiving signals reflected by the trailer. The transducers have a substantially symmetrical arrangement about a centerline of a linear transducer bar attached to the tractor and each has an angular orientation substantially dissimilar to adjacent transducers on a same side of the centerline. A control circuit sequentially activates ones of the transducers such that only a single transducer transmits signals at any given time. Thereafter, the control circuit only processes reflected signals received by the emitting transducer. The control circuit calculates an angle between the tractor and trailer and causes the mirrors to rotate. Transducer calibration and mirror adjustment relative to a zero position set by a driver are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Full-View-Matic, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongwei Liu, Barry Davignon
  • Publication number: 20150077874
    Abstract: A high performance kinematic mirror mount facilitating the reduction of thermally and mechanically induced optical distortion of a precision mirror is disclosed. The mirror mount assembly includes a mirror with a front reflective surface and a rear support surface. A set of sub-tier mounting assemblies are provided being affixed to the rear support surface of the mirror utilizing a number of strut pairs and a number of bonded mount pads arranged so as to connect the sub-tier mounting assemblies to the mirror with numerous strut pairs arranged as bipods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Hans P. Naepflin, Alexander K. Raco, Maciej D. Makowski
  • Patent number: 8976439
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element. The mirror casing is a unitarily molded mirror casing having at least one attachment surface. The prismatic reflective element includes a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate. A mirror reflector is established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. The perimeter edge of said glass substrate has a generally rounded surface disposed between the front surface and the mirror casing. The prismatic reflective element is attached at the attachment surface of the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the glass substrate is exposed to and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Michael J. Baur, Timothy G. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20150054953
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rear-view mirror device for a windshield of a vehicle, which comprises: a) a mirror having a length that essentially extends along the entire length of said windshield, such that said mirror provides a maximize available field of view to a viewer being presence within the interior of said vehicle; b) a housing having a rear portion that is in abutting relation with the inner surface of the windshield for accommodating said mirror; and c) an adjusting mechanism adapted for adjusting the viewing angle of the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Elian Erica Frank
  • Patent number: 8960929
    Abstract: A device for correcting optical defects of a telescope mirror, compatible with use in a space environment, is provided, where the criteria of weight, reliability, service life, cost and resistance to extreme temperatures are fundamental. The device comprises at least one controllable-length element, means for controlling the length of this element, this element being connected to the mirror by its ends in zones that are diametrically or diagonally opposed and close to the periphery of this mirror, the connection between the controllable-length element and the mirror comprising attachments that are rigid on the axis joining these two attachment zones and flexible in the other degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Christophe Devilliers, Thierry Lasic
  • Patent number: 8955992
    Abstract: A mirror adjustment device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a mirror foot for mounting on a motor vehicle and a mirror housing adjustably connected with the mirror foot, wherein the mirror housing is adjustable between a folded-in position in which the mirror housing is situated substantially along the motor vehicle and a folded-out position in which the mirror housing is situated substantially transversely to the motor vehicle. The mirror housing is adjustable between a first position in which a slit is present between neighboring surfaces of the mirror housing and the mirror foot and a second position in which the neighboring surfaces of the mirror housing and the mirror foot substantially abut against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Marinus Jacobus Maria Van Zuijlen, Marinus Roose
  • Publication number: 20150042970
    Abstract: A mirror assembly (32) for directing a beam (28) includes a base (450), and an optical element (454) that includes (i) a mirror (460), (ii) a stage (462) that retains the mirror (460), (iii) a mover assembly (464) that moves the stage (462) and the mirror (460) relative to the base (450), and (v) a thermally conductive medium (466) that is positioned between the stage (462) and the base (450) to transfer heat between the stage (462) and the base (450). The thermally conductive medium (466) has a thermal conductivity that is greater than the thermal conductivity of air. The thermally conductive medium (466) can include an ionic fluid or a liquid metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Margeson, Travis Bow
  • Publication number: 20150043097
    Abstract: A personal viewing device that may be mounted to the bottom surface of a toilet seat or to the rim of a toilet. The personal viewing device may include a support member with a first end and a second end. The first end may be a handle and a reflective panel may be attached to the second end. The viewing device may be in a contracted form and an expanded form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Roy E. Sroka
  • Publication number: 20150022914
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a plastic bezel and a mirror reflective element. The bezel includes a perimeter bezel portion and a mirror mounting element unitarily formed with the perimeter bezel portion. The mirror mounting element is configured to pivotally attach to a mounting structure of a mounting assembly for mounting the interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the interior rearview mirror assembly. The reflective element is disposed at the bezel and has a front surface and a rear surface, with the front surface generally facing towards and being viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The mirror mounting element is disposed rearward of the rear surface of the reflective element when the reflective element is disposed at the bezel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Uken, Donald S. Rawlings
  • Publication number: 20150022913
    Abstract: A mount assembly for a vehicle component includes an attachment device configured to attach to a vehicle interior component. The attachment device defines an aperture and includes a vehicle attachment portion, an interior wall, and an exterior wall. A rearview device is configured to operably connect to the exterior wall of the attachment device. An accessory device is configured to operably connect to the interior wall of the attachment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Danny L. Minikey, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150009557
    Abstract: A gravitation compensator for mounting optical elements in a projection exposure apparatus and a corresponding projection exposure apparatus are disclosed. The gravitation compensator at least partly compensates for the weight force of a mounted optical element and simultaneously enables a change in the position of the optical element without the compensated weight force being altered in an impermissible manner during the change in position. This applies, in particular, to high weight forces which are to be compensated. Furthermore, the gravitation compensator enables use in different atmospheres and the compensation of corresponding aging effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Muehlberger, Thorsten Rassel, Armin Schoeppach, Juergen Fischer, Matthias Orth
  • Patent number: 8926105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of automatically adjusting a mirror (14, 16, 18) in a vehicle (10) to provide a driver (1) with an optimized rear view. A camera (24, 26, 28) is provided that is directed at the adjustable mirror (14, 16, 18). A camera capture area (60) is defined in the adjustable mirror (14, 16, 18), and the mirror (14, 16, 18) is automatically adjusted until the eyes (50) of the driver (1) are captured by the camera (24, 26, 28) within the capture area (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventor: Karl Frans Mario Verheyden
  • Patent number: 8919972
    Abstract: An optical element adjustment mechanism is for loading a reflection optical device, which comprises a base and a loading element. The base is movably assembled to the reflection optical device. The base is a hollow tubular structure, and each side has an opening. The inner edge of one of the opening has a plurality loading surfaces extension to the central side, and two leaning surfaces protruded along a tube wall of the base. The loading element movably assembled to the base has a first surface, a second surface and two datum planes. The first surface is flattened against the plurality loading surfaces. The second surface has a connecting portion connected the optical element. The two datum planes are respectively flattened against the two loading surfaces. Wherein, at least one adjustment gasket is moveably assembled between the base and the loading element for precision adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Po-Hsuan Huang, Yu-Cheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 8917437
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head portion and a reflective element accommodated by the mirror head portion. The reflective element includes a glass substrate and a mirror reflector coated at a surface of the glass substrate. The reflective element is configured to provide a field of view of at least about 15 degrees at the side of the vehicle and provides a substantially undistorted reflected image as viewed by the driver of the vehicle. The reflective element may have a width dimension of less than about 15 cm and a height dimension of less than about 9 cm. The mirror substrate is curved or formed via a hydro-bending process utilizing at least one bending element, which may be CNC formed in accordance with a free form pattern of curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Gregory A. Huizen
  • Patent number: 8899762
    Abstract: An exterior sideview mirror system includes an exterior sideview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a rearward field of view when attached to a side of an automobile. The reflective element includes has a plano reflective element and a separate auxiliary reflective element having a curvature. The plano reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element are supported adjacently at a backing plate element having a first support portion supporting the plano reflective element and a second support portion supporting the auxiliary reflective element. The auxiliary reflective element is positioned at an outboard portion of the reflective element assembly when the exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached to the side of the automobile. When the exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached to and operated at the side of the automobile, the field of view of the auxiliary reflective element overlaps with the field of view of the plano reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8894227
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting optical aberrations in an optical device using a deformable mirror. An actuator is provided which applies a deforming force to the deformable mirror. By selecting particular thickness profiles of the deformable mirror and force configurations of the actuator, the optical device can be configured to correct for different optical aberrations. The actuator may be configured to apply the deforming force peripherally, centrally, non-centrally or homogenously across the surface of the deformable mirror. The deformable mirror may be a flat disk mirror, a convex mirror, or a concave mirror, and may include a membrane having a variable flexibility. The optical device may be a wide-field microscope, an optical read/write device, laser tweezers, or any other optical device in which correction of optical aberrations is desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Yeda Research & Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Knor, David A. Agard, Zvi Kam, John W. Sedat
  • Patent number: 8885143
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography for the production of semiconductor components includes at least one optical assembly with at least one optical element which can be actuated in a mechanically controlled manner is mounted in a structure. For carrying out the mechanical actuation, a control signal transmission device and/or an energy transmission device are/is provided, which introduce(s) no parasitic mechanical effects into the optical assembly at least during specific operating states of the projection exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Fischer, Armin Schoeppach, Matthias Orth, Norbert Muehlberger, Thorsten Rassel, Armin Werber, Juergen Huber
  • Patent number: 8885240
    Abstract: A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a housing. A carrier is operably connected with the housing and supports a display. A circuit board is disposed in the housing. A sensing system is disposed proximate the display and is connected with the circuit board. A switching assembly is operably connected with the circuit board. Actuation of the switching assembly when the sensing system has been activated enables a function of the rearview assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Roth, Mark D. Bugno, Danny L. Minikey, Jr., David J. Cammenga, William L. Tonar, Joel A. Stray, Sandra Lynn Suman
  • Patent number: 8876306
    Abstract: Optical devices can comprise a deformable mirror and a system for deforming said mirror. A deformation system comprises a first mechanical structure comprising a first surround, one or more electromechanical actuators attached to the first mechanical structure, a second mechanical structure comprising a substantially planar bottom and a second surround, both deformable, the bottom being attached to the first surround, the second surround being attached to the surround of the mirror, a rigid stud being attached to the bottom, substantially planar and centerd on the bottom, the electromechanical actuator or actuators exerting predetermined forces or bending moments on the stud so as to generate a particular distribution of the bending moments on the surround of the mirror, deforming it according to a geometrical form representative or of one or more predetermined geometrical aberrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Thales, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales CNES, Universite d'Aix Marseille
    Inventors: Emmanuel Hugot, Marie Laslandes, Marc Ferrari, Arnaud Liotard
  • Patent number: 8876305
    Abstract: The rear-view mirror comprises a mirror housing, in which a mirror glass is disposed. It is surrounded by a rim portion, wherein at least a part of the rim portion is configured moveable relative to the mirror housing. Said part can be configured elastically resilient, linked with the mirror housing, or it can be provided detachable. When the mirror housing touches its installed elements during an evasive movement, the corresponding part of the rim portion can move, whereby an additional travel distance for the mirror housing is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Dirk Mueller
  • Patent number: 8876077
    Abstract: A spherical orienting device includes a base, first and second actuation shafts, an orientable device, an inner member, a middle member, and an outer member. The first and second actuation shafts are rotatably held by the base for rotary actuation about first and second actuation axes, respectively, which intersect orthogonally at a spherical center of rotation. The orientable device is supported by first and second revolute support joints which are disposed for rotation about an orientation axis of the orientable device and a support axis, respectively. The inner member is fixed to the first actuation shaft and linked to the second support joint. The middle member is inwardly linked to the first support joint and outwardly linked to a middle revolute joint disposed for rotation about a linkage axis. The outer member is fixed to the second actuation shaft and linked to the middle revolute joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Maillard
  • Publication number: 20140320277
    Abstract: A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate. The mirror back plate includes an indicator unit mounting portion and a mirror actuator attaching portion established at a first side by a plastic injection molding operation. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and a second side of the mirror back plate. An indicator unit has a light source that is activatable to emit light and is mounted at the indicator unit mounting portion. Light emitted by the light source, when activated, transmits through an aperture of the mirror back plate and through a light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting window of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the mirror assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Keith D. Foote, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8864094
    Abstract: A mirror mount that mounts a mirror to a fender of a vehicle includes a base member having a first end generally vertical when the base member is affixed to a fender and arranged to receive a fastener passing through the first end, through the fender, and into the base member so as to fasten the base member to the fender, a second end, a side portion extending between the first end and the second end and having a contour that follows an exterior profile of the fender, and a reinforcement reinforcing the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Velvac, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas L. Roberts, Jeffery R. Porter
  • Patent number: 8864325
    Abstract: A power transmission device which is free from a possibility of breakage of a driving member is provided. A stepping motor (driving member) 61a configured to be driven on the basis of a command signal from a controller 70, a lead screw portion 61c configured to be rotationally driven in association with the drive of the stepping motor 61a, and a power transmitting member 65 configured to move along an axial direction X of the lead screw portion 61c in accordance with the rotation of the lead screw portion 61c and transmit a power to a power transmitted member 42e are provided, and the controller 70 is configured to control the output of the command signal to the stepping motor 61a to be stopped when the power transmitting member 65 is not moved along the axial direction X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Maruyama, Kouichi Jinushi, Yoshiko Adachi
  • Publication number: 20140307344
    Abstract: A rearview assembly having a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle. A housing is operably connected with the mounting structure and a rearward viewing device is supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure. The rearward viewing device provides a rearward view to a vehicle driver and includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. The entire front surface of the front substrate is exposed and the entire rear substrate is positioned behind the front substrate. A concealing layer is disposed about a periphery of the rearward viewing device between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A partially optically transparent bezel is disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing, the optically transparent bezel having an edge radius greater than 2.5 mm and the optically transparent bezel being substantially flush with the front surface of the front substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: David J. Cammenga, Danny L. Minikey, JR., Mark R. Roth, William L. Tonar, Jeremy A. Fogg, Michael F. Lisowski, Peter N. Rizk
  • Patent number: 8858002
    Abstract: A door mirror includes a mirror housing incorporated with a mirror holder fixed with a mirror, and a mirror surface angle adjusting unit for adjusting an angle of the mirror holder. The mirror housing is provided with a partition wall for partitioning an inner space of the mirror housing to a first space on a front side and a second space on a rear side, and the mirror holder and the mirror surface angle adjusting unit are accommodated in the second space. The partition wall is formed with an insertion hole for inserting a fastening component from a side of the first space, and the mirror surface angle adjusting unit is provided with a fixing hole for fastening the fastening component inserted into the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8845113
    Abstract: A drive for a component to be adjusted, in particular for an adjustable automotive vehicle mirror, having a housing which can be mounted on a stationary structure and has a central axis for receiving drive elements, and having an element which encompasses the housing at least partially and is connected to a carrier for the component. The encompassing element with the carrier is disposed pivotably relative to the housing. About the central axis, a pin-like sleeve for guiding through a mounting element is disposed in the housing and has a plate spring-like projection for support on the base of the housing. The plate spring-like projection forms a means for uniform distribution of the tension force caused by the mounting element for mounting on the stationary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Auteca AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schadler, Hermann Dornhofer
  • Publication number: 20140285880
    Abstract: A telescope, mirror assembly and method of forming an aspheric mirror is disclosed. The telescope includes the mirror assembly which has a substantially spherical surface contour in a relaxed state. A plurality of actuators distributed substantially along an outer edge of the mirror is configured to apply a load to the mirror assembly to deform the mirror to obtain a substantially aspheric surface contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Bari M. Southard
  • Publication number: 20140268381
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical module for a lens, especially a microlithographic apparatus, comprising a first holding device with an inner circumference that extends in a first circumferential direction, and at least one first supporting device which is fastened to the inner circumference of said first holding device and is used for supporting a first optical element, an annular circumferential first assembly space being defined by displacing the first supporting device once in a revolving manner along the first circumferential direction. At least one second supporting device which is fixed to the inner circumference of the first holding device is provided for supporting a second optical element, an annular circumferential second assembly space being defined by displacing the second supporting device once in a revolving manner along the first circumferential direction. The first assembly space intersects the second assembly space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Kugler, Franz Sorg, Yim-Bun Patrick Kwan
  • Publication number: 20140268382
    Abstract: Clear Shot Mirrors are side view mirrors that are unique because the angles of the mirror base where the mirror head mounts, as well as the angle of the mirror spacer plate under the base, are different. These angles are changed to maximize inward adjustability of each mirror head, eliminating the passenger side blind spot that exists in standard mirrors currently on the market.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Billy G. Morris
  • Patent number: 8833949
    Abstract: Suppressing liquid from seeping into an adjusting section through a discharge hole. In a vehicle door mirror device an opening hole in a holder portion of a mirror-surface adjustment-device is in communication with opening outlet of a mirror holder outer through an opening outlet in the mirror holder outer and a gap between the mirror and the mirror holder outer. Accordingly, even suppose water seeps into the mirror-surface adjustment-device through the opening hole in the holder portion, the water would be externally discharged outside the mirror holder outer through the opening hole, the opening outlet, the gap and the opening outlet. Furthermore, even suppose water at high pressure from outside the mirror holder outer is to reach the opening outlet, the water can be suppressed from seeping into the mirror-surface adjustment-device through the opening outlet and the opening hole due to the water pressure being reduced in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Isao Sumi, Nobuhiro Kudo
  • Publication number: 20140254036
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical module for a lens, especially a microlithographic apparatus, comprising a first holding device with an inner circumference that extends in a first circumferential direction, and at least one first supporting device which is fastened to the inner circumference of said first holding device and is used for supporting a first optical element, an annular circumferential first assembly space being defined by displacing the first supporting device once in a revolving manner along the first circumferential direction. At least one second supporting device which is fixed to the inner circumference of the first holding device is provided for supporting a second optical element, an annular circumferential second assembly space being defined by displacing the second supporting device once in a revolving manner along the first circumferential direction. The first assembly space intersects the second assembly space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Kugler, Franz Sorg, Yim-Bun Patrick Kwan
  • Publication number: 20140233124
    Abstract: The need for an O ring cover is eliminated when a gap between a shaft portion of a mover for mirror surface angle detection and a hole in a sensor case is sealed using an O ring. An O ring that allows a shaft portion of a slide block to be inserted therethrough is interposed between a sensor case and an actuator housing. The sensor case and the actuator housing are interconnected by means of screw-fastening via screws, and the O ring is brought into pressure contact with and held between the sensor case and the actuator housing by means of the screw fastening forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryosuke IBA
  • Patent number: 8807510
    Abstract: Accuracy of positioning of a turning body to a mounting member when the mounting member and a support member are separate components is improved. In a vehicle door mirror device, a stand of a housing device is mounted to a base by being fastened with mounting screws. Axial directions of the mounting screws are angled with respect to an axial direction of the stand. An inner periphery abutting face and a vertical abutting face of the stand are abutted against an outer periphery abutting face and a perpendicular abutting face of the base in directions perpendicular to the axis of the stand. Thus, the stand is positioned to the base in whole directions perpendicular to the axis of the stand. Therefore, positioning accuracy of the housing device and a main body portion to the base in whole directions perpendicular to the axis of the stand can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenichi Sugisaka, Masami Kato
  • Patent number: 8801201
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for facilitating the imaging of books are presented. A first transparent plate and a second transparent plate may be positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle to the first transparent plate. A dual-sided mirror may be configured to be positioned substantially parallel with the first transparent plate and to be positioned substantially parallel with the second transparent plate. The first side of the dual-sided mirror may be configured to reflect a first image of a first page of a book, the first image being received by the dual-sided mirror through the first transparent plate. The second side of the dual-sided mirror may be configured to reflect a second image of a second page of the book, the second image being received by the dual-sided mirror through the second transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
  • Patent number: 8801203
    Abstract: A drive for a component to be adjusted, in particular for an adjustable automotive vehicle mirror, having a housing which can be mounted on a stationary structure for receiving drive elements, and having an element which encompasses the housing at least partially and is connected to a carrier for the component. The encompassing element with the carrier is disposed pivotably relative to the housing and means for elastic pretension between housing and encompassing element are provided. The means for elastic pretension have a compensating element which is disposed about a central axis of the housing. The compensating element is moveable axially under the effect of a spring force in order to exert a pressure on the carrier and hence on the element encompassing the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Auteca AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schadler, Hermann Dornhofer
  • Patent number: 8783883
    Abstract: In a vehicle door mirror including a motor and an adjuster assembly driven by the motor for moving a mirror glass connected with the adjuster assembly, a method for controlling delivery of power to the motor is described. The method can include detecting a voltage being supplied by a vehicle battery of the vehicle that includes the vehicle door mirror, and controlling delivery of power to the motor based on the detected voltage. A memory mirror system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Weastec, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Tobin, Takayuki Furui, Timothy Edward Kiss, Ohito Takahashi, Masakazu Endo