With Switch Or Motor Controlling Mirror Movement Patents (Class 359/877)
  • Publication number: 20140133044
    Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mountable at a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion at the mounting portion, and an actuator. The mirror head portion includes a mirror casing and a reflective element at least partially housed at the mirror casing. The actuator is operable to impart pivotal movement of the reflective element mirror relative to the mirror casing to adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle. The actuator includes a drive post that is pivotally attached at the reflective element. The actuator also includes a motor that rotatably drives a clutch device to adjust the drive post to adjust the reflective element relative to the mirror casing. The clutch device allows for manual adjustment of the reflective element and the drive post in a non-ratcheting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Mambourg
  • Publication number: 20140111879
    Abstract: An exterior mirror arrangement for motor vehicles, in particular utility vehicles, has s a holder mounted on a vehicle, a housing which is fastened, preferably latchably articulatedly connected, to the holder, and a holding member, which is displaceably received in the housing, for a vehicle exterior mirror. The housing has a housing portion which is formed in one piece from plastic and which alone guides the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: MEKRA Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Elmar Finkenberger
  • Patent number: 8702251
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light-collecting heliostat using flat mirrors of enhanced light-collecting efficiency. The gradients of low-price flat mirrors are adjusted when reflecting sunlight by the heliostat equipped with the flat mirrors, thereby causing reflection focal areas having the same size as each of the mirrors to overlap, in the same number as the number of the reflective plates constituting the heliostat, on a heat collecting unit of collecting lights, so that a high temperature light-collecting focal area with a uniform temperature distribution is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Sang-Nam Lee, Jong-Kyu Kim, Yong-Heack Kang
  • Patent number: 8702254
    Abstract: An adjustable mirror mechanism includes a first connection section, a mirror lens carrier or support having a second connection section receiving and/or engaging the first connection section, and a mirror housing having a third connection section receiving and/or engaging the second connection section of the mirror lens carrier. The first connection section and/or the mirror lens carrier are fastened and/or secured to the mirror housing, and the mirror lens carrier is configured to receive a mirror lens. In some embodiments, the mirror lens carrier engages the rim of the mirror housing for added stability on one or more sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rosco, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Englander, Julian Serer
  • Patent number: 8696146
    Abstract: A partition wall for partitioning a mirror accommodating space for accommodating a mirror holder and a mirror surface angle adjusting unit, and a harness accommodating space for accommodating a harness are provided in a mirror housing of an electric door mirror. An opening for exposing the terminal part of the mirror surface angle adjusting unit to the harness accommodating space, and insertion through-holes located to surround the opening and through which screws passes from the harness accommodating space toward the mirror surface angle adjusting unit respectively are formed in the partition wall. Further, reinforcing tube portions surrounding the insertion through-holes and protruding to the harness accommodating space are installed in the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventor: Ryosuke Iba
  • Publication number: 20140098437
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly for adjusting the reflecting surface of a glass assembly in an external rearview vehicle mirror, where two linear adjusting motors act on two points of the glass assembly, where the adjusting motors are positioned between the glass assembly and a mirror carrier in the mirror head. The adjusting motors are connected to the glass assembly and/or the mirror carrier via at least one elastomeric connecting piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Andreas Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8690367
    Abstract: A mirror housing of an electric door mirror is provided with a partition wall for partitioning a mirror accommodating space and a harness accommodating space. The partition wall is provided with an opening portion for exposing a terminal portion of a mirror surface angle adjusting unit to the harness accommodating space. A peripheral edge portion of the opening portion is provided with a claw portion elastically deformed when a connector portion is pushed to the terminal portion and elastically recovered to be opposed to a back face of the connector portion to thereby prevent detachment of the connector portion after connecting the connector portion to the terminal portion. Further, a peripheral edge portion of the opening portion is provided with a guide portion for restricting a movement of the connector portion against an elastic force of the claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8672496
    Abstract: A mirror ball adapted to engage the socket of a ceiling mounted electric light fixture in order to be suspended and powered therefrom. A tubular stem having a proximal portion threaded in the manner of an Edision screw is provided extending downward from the fixture to a lower base. A lightweight mirrored sphere or globe having a void through its (vertical) polar axis is rotatably engaged on the stem and retained in place by the lower base which houses power systems, a controller and a motor engaged to an annular gear at the lower pole of the mirrored sphere in order to slowly rotate the globe. A power supply is used to reduce line voltage to 12 v DC to drive the motor and operate one or more LED lighting elements directed at the mirrored surface and mounted at the ends of one or more arms radiating from the lower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Mona O'Kane
  • Patent number: 8662685
    Abstract: A system of a side mirror of a vehicle includes: a driving motor which is driven by input electric power and supplies a driving force for rotating the side mirror from a folding position to an unfolding position or rotating the side mirror from the unfolding position to the folding position; a switch selecting unfolding or folding of the side mirror; an electric power source supplying electric power to the driving motor; and a mirror driving unit supplying electric power to the driving motor from the electric power source according to a signal of the switch, and performing a blocking cancellation operation of reversing a rotation direction of the side mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Seok Sim
  • Patent number: 8643925
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for applying a correction to an initiated signal are disclosed. In some examples the correction may be a compensation for dispersion present, e.g., in an optical signal. An exemplary method may include receiving an initiated signal, and forming a curved surface with a first array of discrete elements. The exemplary method may further include impinging the initiated signal upon the curved surface, thereby applying a correction to the initiated signal determined at least in part by the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: David Zhi Chen
  • Patent number: 8636367
    Abstract: The power and response curves of one or more beams or primaries of beams of a laser projection system illuminating an image on a viewing surface are controlled to desired characteristics during exhibition by monitoring the scanning beams in real time by using at least part of the horizontal blanking time during the scanning of a motion or still image to project a test pattern with one or more of the beams onto a sensor or sensors. The system and method permits real-time balancing and maintenance of the response curves and power levels of each of the beams, and of primary beams of combined beams, to desired targets so as to produce a display field without artifacts and at desired brightness on the viewing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Magic Lantern, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Callison, Jeffrey S. Pease, Gordon L. Elliott
  • Patent number: 8616713
    Abstract: A drive unit for a mirror adjustment mechanism includes a housing and a drive motor mounted in the housing for driving a drive train. In an embodiment, the drive train comprises a planetary gear system. The drive train may include a coupling to the housing and, in an embodiment, the coupling may comprise a ratchet coupling. Further, in an embodiment, the housing and the drive train may be provided with a ratchet element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Paulus Gerardus Maria van Stiphout
  • Patent number: 8602575
    Abstract: An exterior mirror for mounting on a vehicle with a mirror base and a mirror head attached to the mirror base is suggested, whereby the mirroring element is rigidly connected to the housing of the mirror head. The mirror head and mirror base are rotatably connected to one another by means of a ball joint. The adjustment of the mirroring element is done by two bars, of which the length can be adjusted by actuators, which bars are arranged between the mirror head and mirror base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Raimund Negel
  • Publication number: 20130321941
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustment instrument for an exterior mirror unit for a vehicle. The adjustment instrument comprises a housing which is pivotably adjustable between a park position, a drive position and a fold-over position with respect to a base. The adjustment instrument further comprises an electrical drive unit provided in the housing, and a drive ring for coupling with the electrical drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B. V.
    Inventors: Paulus Gerardus Maria van Stiphout, Peter Alexander Hamming
  • Patent number: 8591047
    Abstract: An exterior sideview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing and a mirror backing plate element that is movable within the mirror housing by an electrically-operable actuator. A main plano mirror element is fixedly disposed at a first portion of the mirror backing plate element and an auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element is fixedly disposed at a second portion of the mirror backing plate element. The main plano mirror element and the auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element are adjacently disposed at the mirror backing plate element and are not superimposed with one mirror element on top of the other mirror element. The first primary field of view of the main plano mirror element may overlap the second auxiliary field of view of the auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element by between about 2 degrees and about 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8567967
    Abstract: A hinge construction for a wing mirror unit for a motor vehicle is proposed that comprises a first hinge part for mounting on the motor vehicle and a second hinge part, pivotably connected therewith via a shaft. The second hinge part supports a mirror frame of the wing mirror unit, wherein the shaft is connected with one hinge part and wherein the other hinge part is arranged pivotably about the shaft. The mirror frame has a location guide that corresponds with a location rib of a power fold module that is inserted into the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Hyok-Joo Hwang, Il-Sung Yu
  • Patent number: 8567972
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle mirror apparatus including: a mirror provided to a vehicle; a worm gear rotated by driving force from a base end side of the worm gear; a wheel gear engaged with the worm gear, the wheel gear adjusting a mirror-face angle of the mirror by being rotated due to the worm gear rotating; and a radial direction stopper portion that stops radial direction displacement of the worm gear towards the wheel gear radial direction outside by the leading end side of the worm gear making contact with the radial direction stopper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Isao Sumi, Nobuhiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 8506097
    Abstract: A vehicular integrated mirror system is provided that is supported on a vehicle body that includes a door, and has an outside mirror disposed outside a vehicle compartment and an interior mirror disposed within the vehicle compartment at a position in the proximity of the outside mirror so that, in cooperation with the outside mirror, a vehicle rear field of vision is obtained, wherein a mirror holder retaining the outside mirror and the inside mirror is swingably supported on mirror support means mounted on the vehicle body in order to change the reflection angle of the two mirror relative to a vehicle driver, and the reflection angle of the outside mirror and the inside mirror is changed by remote drive means that makes the mirror holder swing by remote operation. This enables the reflection angle of the outside mirror and the inside mirror to be remotely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kukita, Mitsuo Sasaki, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Masaaki Abe
  • Publication number: 20130194650
    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: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20130107386
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
  • Patent number: 8419198
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rear under view mirror system for vehicles. The rear under view mirror system includes a rear under view mirror unit having a semitransparent glass and an electrically switchable glass. When a vehicle moves forwards, the rear under view mirror unit does not protrude rearwards relative to a vehicle body and overlaps a rear windshield glass, thus providing a good appearance and preventing resistance to airflow, without hindering a driver from seeing the area behind the vehicle through the rear windshield glass. The rear under view mirror unit has a large area corresponding to that of the rear windshield glass, thus providing a sufficient view of the low area to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Keun-Sang Woo
  • Patent number: 8414136
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror apparatus comprising a mirror provided at a vehicle; a pivoting member holding the mirror; a sliding part provided at the pivoting member; a holding member pivotably holding the pivoting member, whereby an angle of a mirror surface of the mirror is adjusted; and a pivoting surface provided at the holding member. The sliding part is made slidable on the pivoting surface while a gap is provided between an edge of the holding member at a side of the pivoting member and the pivoting member in a pivoting radial direction of the pivoting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kudo, Isao Sumi
  • Publication number: 20130070354
    Abstract: A partition wall for partitioning a mirror accommodating space for accommodating a mirror holder and a mirror surface angle adjusting unit, and a harness accommodating space for accommodating a harness are provided in a mirror housing of an electric door mirror. An opening for exposing the terminal part of the mirror surface angle adjusting unit to the harness accommodating space, and insertion through-holes located to surround the opening and through which screws passes from the harness accommodating space toward the mirror surface angle adjusting unit respectively are formed in the partition wall. Further, reinforcing tube portions surrounding the insertion through-holes and protruding to the harness accommodating space are installed in the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryosuke IBA
  • Publication number: 20130070358
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kentaro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8366284
    Abstract: An external rear view mirror assembly to be fitted to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises: a mirror base mountable to a vehicle; a mirror head frame rotatably mounted to the base for rotation about a mirror head axis; a detent operably interposed between the base and the frame; a spring acting between the frame and the base in a direction parallel to the axis, the spring for holding the detent engaged; and a power fold mechanism operably interposed between the base and the frame, the power fold mechanism having a drive train and a clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism comprising a pair of axially spaced apart clutching faces, connecting the drive train to the base when the drive train is driving, the clutch mechanism arranged and constructed such that forces are not transmitted from the frame to the drive train when the drive train is not driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Flynn, Maarten Johannes Schuurmans, Garry Gordon Leslie Fimeri
  • Publication number: 20130027797
    Abstract: When a mirror charge lever is driven to a mirror-up position, the mirror charge lever is engaged with a first cam portion and driven to the mirror-up position in a region in which a force of a mirror-up spring for urging the mirror charge lever to the mirror-up position is larger than a force of a mirror-down spring for urging the mirror charge lever to the mirror-down position. In a region in which the force of the mirror-down spring for urging the mirror charge lever to the mirror-down position is equal to or larger than the force of the mirror-up spring for urging the mirror charge lever to the mirror-up position, the mirror charge lever is engaged with the second cam portion and driven to the mirror-up position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuaki Yamana
  • Patent number: 8297762
    Abstract: A vehicle outside mirror device according to the present invention is provided with a base 2, a shaft 3, a spring 10, a mirror assembly 4, and a washer 6. An annular line contact portion 50 is provided on an abutment face 35 of the washer 6 that abuts against an abutment face 33 of a mount portion 12 of the mirror assembly 4. As a result, the vehicle outside mirror device according to the present invention can prevent generation of abnormal noise further reliably and a further long period of time by means of the annular line contact portion 50. In addition, an abutment plane 301 of a rotation stop portion is provided at a shaft 3. A linear edge 601 of the rotation stop portion is provided at the washer 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuo Sakata
  • Patent number: 8287141
    Abstract: An automobile side mirror includes a reflective portion having a front mirror that is incompletely silvered and a rear mirror angularly offset from the front mirror, the rear mirror being fixed relative to the front mirror. The mirror includes a bracket hingedly coupled to the reflective portion and a solenoid hingedly coupled to the reflective portion to selectively move the reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration. The mirror includes a return element to return the reflective portion from the second configuration to the first configuration. A light sensor is positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward the reflective portion. A processor is in communication with the light sensor and in communication with the solenoid, the processor including programming to actuate the solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light directed at the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: John M. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8262240
    Abstract: Then invention is related to a rear view mirror attached to a vehicle comprising a mirror housing. The reflective element is fixed in relation to the mirror housing and the mirror housing is movable versus the vehicle by separately extendable elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Raimund Negel
  • Publication number: 20120200949
    Abstract: A system of a side mirror of a vehicle includes: a driving motor which is driven by input electric power and supplies a driving force for rotating the side mirror from a folding position to an unfolding position or rotating the side mirror from the unfolding position to the folding position; a switch selecting unfolding or folding of the side mirror; an electric power source supplying electric power to the driving motor; and a mirror driving unit supplying electric power to the driving motor from the electric power source according to a signal of the switch, and performing a blocking cancellation operation of reversing a rotation direction of the side mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Seok Sim
  • Publication number: 20120162798
    Abstract: When a mirror angle is automatically displaced toward a target position, if the movement is mechanically locked before reaching the target position, power supply to a motor can promptly be halt, and in the case of a low temperature and a low voltage where the operating speed is slow, the mirror angle can also reach the target position. If time during which no change in the mirror angle is detected after the start of power supply exceeds a long-term determination period, the power supply to the motor is halted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyuki TAKEMASA
  • Publication number: 20120134040
    Abstract: Motor bodies are housed between a case and a case-inner, with the whole of the outside-periphery surrounded by an outer peripheral wall. The upper-side-outer-peripheral face of the outer-peripheral wall slopes continuously downwards on progression from an uppermost portion of the outer-peripheral face towards a vehicle right side edge of the outer-peripheral face, and slopes continuously downwards from the uppermost portion towards the vehicle left side edge of the outer-peripheral face. Accordingly, even suppose water is to reach the upper side of the upper-side-outer-peripheral face, the upper-side-outer peripheral face of the outer-peripheral wall causes such water to always flow downwards towards the lower side of the outer-peripheral wall, and hence water can be suppressed or prevented from remaining standing on the upper-side-outer peripheral face of the outer-peripheral wall 46, enabling water to be suppressed or prevented from seeping in to the motor bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Nobuhiro KUDO, Isao SUMI
  • Publication number: 20120134039
    Abstract: The present invention has: a first worm gear 29 that is rotatably borne on a gear case 11 and a bearing member 16, the first worm gear being coupled to an output shaft 24 of a motor 13; and a helical gear that is geared with the first worn gear 29. In the gear case 11 and the first worm gear 16, an engagement recessed portion 42 and an engagement protrusive portion 43 configured to engage with each other are provided. At the engagement protrusive portion 43 of the bearing member 16, a first press-in fixing protrusive portion 44 configured to be pressed-in and fixed to an engagement recessed portion 42 of the gear case 11 is provided. As a result, according to the present invention, a rotational center O1 of the first worm gear 29 is positioned at the normal rotational center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Ikuo Sakata
  • Patent number: 8174230
    Abstract: A switch section includes a common terminal connected to a terminal at one end of each of a pair of motors, a first terminal connected to a terminal at the other end of one of the motors and a second terminal connected to a terminal at the other end of the other of the motors, and three-contact switches each including one common contact and two switching contacts. In the switch section two switches corresponding to one direction selected from the up and down directions form a switch group, at least one switch corresponding to the other direction selected from the up and down directions is provided, two switches corresponding to one direction selected from the left and right directions form a switch group, and at least one switch corresponding to the other direction selected from the left and right directions is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Ataka, Tomoaki Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20120099213
    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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Magna Auteca AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schadler, Hermann Dornhofer
  • Patent number: 8147077
    Abstract: An exterior sideview mirror system includes an exterior sideview mirror assembly including a plano-auxiliary reflective element having a rearward field of view when attached to a side of an automobile. The plano reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element are mounted adjacently at the reflective element assembly in a side-by-side relationship and not superimposed. The plano reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element are supported at a backing plate element. The rearward field of view of the auxiliary reflective element may be different from and angled to the rearward field of view of the plano reflective element. The plano reflective element and/or the auxiliary reflective element may have one of (a) a glass substrate having a surface coated with a metallic reflector coating and (b) a polymeric substrate having a thin glass element applied to a surface thereof and with an opposing surface thereof having a reflecting layer applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8127641
    Abstract: A device to adjust the orientation of a mirror of a motorcar includes a body to accommodate a first and a second electric motor and a first and a second gear driven by first and second motor respectively. Gear rods are formed as circular arc sections and the body accommodates means to resiliently press the first and second gear rod against the first and second gears, respectively, eliminating relative movement between the gearing of the gear rods and the gears in operation conditions. Each of the gears include a safety clutch, allowing the gears to slip in overload conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Juergen Tilg, Daniel Joseph Flynn
  • Publication number: 20120050901
    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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: WEASTEC, INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: William J. Tobin, Takayuki Furui, Timothy Edward Kiss, Ohito Takahashi, Masakazu Endo
  • Patent number: 8123369
    Abstract: In a shaft structure of a retractable outer mirror, a shaft includes: a first member; and a second member. The first member includes: a base section having an attachment boss; a shaft section vertically arranged on the base section; and a catch part by which a catch member is caught. The second member includes: clutch parts that performs an engagement or a release of the engagement in response to rotation of a frame; and an insert portion inserted into a shaft section. The second member is fitted in with the shaft section from above a top end side of the shaft section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Itoh, Takanobu Matsushita, Yusuke Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20120044665
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a catoptric element that causes incoming light traveling from an object in a direction of a first optical axis to be refracted in a direction of a second optical axis, a motor that drives an optical member provided on the second optical axis, and a stereo microphone including a left-channel microphone and a right-channel microphone that are provided on a side of the optical apparatus opposite the motor with respect to the second optical axis when seen from an object side and arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the second optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Terada, Kengo Hosomi, Yoichi Kato, Kota Ono
  • Publication number: 20120026617
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a mirror. The method includes using a time-of-flight (TOF) camera to capture an image of a scene in front of a reflecting portion of the mirror and obtaining data about distances between a number of points in the scene and the TOF camera. Building a three dimension (3D) model of the scene. Analyzing the 3D model to locate a face region in the 3D model. Obtaining a first midline between a reference eyeline in the face region and a top of the face region. Obtaining a second midline of the 3D model, comparing the first and second midlines to determine whether the two midlines overlap. Output a comparison signal upon the condition that the two midlines do not overlap; and directing a driving apparatus to move the mirror to adjust a height of the mirror according to the comparison signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HOU-HSIEN LEE, CHANG-JUNG LEE, CHIH-PING LO
  • Patent number: 8094357
    Abstract: A mirror control device includes a pivotally supported mirror (230), electrodes (340a-340d) spaced apart from the mirror (230), a driving voltage generation means (401) for generating a driving voltage corresponding to the desired tilt angle of the mirror (230) for each electrode, a bias voltage generation means (402) for generating, as a bias voltage for each electrode, a voltage which causes the tilt angle of the mirror (230) to have the same predetermined value upon being independently applied to each of the electrodes (340a-340d), and an electrode voltage applying means (403) for adding, for each electrode, the bias voltage to the driving voltage and applying the voltage after addition to a corresponding one of the electrodes (340a-340d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Mizukami, Johji Yamaguchi, Naru Nemoto, Shingo Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8083361
    Abstract: In an optical switch controller, in order that residual vibration at movement control of a movable body such as a tilt mirror can be reduced and controlled with high accuracy, a processing unit outputs a driving signal for controlling the angle of the tilt mirror, the driving signal is D/A converted by a D/A converter and then is changed to a high-voltage signal by a high-voltage amplifier to be supplied to the tilt mirror, the electrostatic capacity of the tilt mirror changes corresponding to angle change of the tilt mirror, a mirror-angle detecting unit detects the electrostatic capacity and feeds back it as a correction value to a processing unit, and the processing unit corrects the driving signal using a correction value obtained when the angle of the tilt mirror is actually changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Ide, Kazuyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 8079720
    Abstract: A mirror drive apparatus includes: a movable unit including a mirror used to switch an optical path in an imaging apparatus; and a drive mechanism that switches the attitude of the movable unit from a first attitude to a second attitude by relatively moving a specific member along a predetermined section defined by an edge of the movable unit from a start point to an end point of the predetermined section, wherein the movable unit includes a protrusion that protrudes from an extension line toward the specific member, the extension line obtained by extending the predetermined section beyond the end point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Negita
  • Publication number: 20110297655
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for angular positioning of a mirror, the apparatus including a motor configured to rotate a mirror, a detector configured to detect a rotational angle of the mirror, a controller configured to supply an electric current to the motor so that the rotational angle of the mirror reaches a target angle, to estimate, based on a model representing a relation between a value of the electric current to be supplied to the motor and a face tangle error angle of the mirror, a face tangle error angle of the mirror to which the electric current is supplied, and to, if the estimated angle exceeds a tolerance, perform a process of adjusting of a supply of the electric current to the motor so that the face tangle error angle of the mirror falls within the tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji UEDA
  • Publication number: 20110273694
    Abstract: An individual mirror is used to construct a facet mirror. A mirror body of the individual mirror is configured to be tiltable relative to a rigid carrier body about at least one tilting axis of a tilting joint. The tilting joint is configured as a solid-body joint. The solid-body joint, perpendicular to the tilting axis, has a joint thickness S and, along the tilting axis, a joint length L. The following applies: L/S>50. The result is an individual mirror to construct a facet mirror, which can be reproduced and is precisely adjustable and simultaneously ensures adequate heat removal, in particular, heat produced by residually absorbed useful radiation, which is reflected by the individual mirror, by dissipation of the heat by the mirror body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventors: Armin Werber, Norbert Muehlberger, Florian Bach
  • Publication number: 20110261476
    Abstract: A drive unit for a mirror adjustment mechanism includes a housing and a drive motor mounted in the housing for driving a drive train. In an embodiment, the drive train comprises a planetary gear system. The drive train may include a coupling to the housing and, in an embodiment, the coupling may comprise a ratchet coupling. Further, in an embodiment, the housing and the drive train may be provided with a ratchet element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout
  • Patent number: 8044789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for improving the monitoring of the external environment of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises a built-in system for detecting objects with which it is likely to collide, within a monitored area covering a blind spot, comprising a capturing device for acquiring images that are representative of one or more objects located within said area and an electronic system for processing and analysing input signals. The inventive method comprises the automatic activation of an infrared light source in the direction of the monitored area when the images acquired cannot be processed and analysed in order to provide a result that would reliably detect a determined object and the automatic deactivation of said infrared light source when the acquired images produce the correct result without the need for infrared light. In addition, the system comprises a model with an infrared light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fico Mirrors, S.A.
    Inventors: Francesc Daura Luna, Lorenzo Servera Serapio
  • Patent number: 8016437
    Abstract: A vehicular mirror device includes a housing which is comprised of two housing components at least partially opposed to each other, and which is adapted to cover a mirror from the front during traveling of a vehicle. A collar is integrally and projectingly provided on one of the housing components to extend so that it is superposed onto the other housing component at opposed portions of both the housing components, and a plurality of recesses are provided in a juxtaposed manner in a tip end of the collar. This suppresses to the utmost the generation of a wind roar due to traveling wind flowing into between opposed portions of the housing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventor: Shinichi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8000568
    Abstract: An optical comprising two or more mixed optical switches co-packaged together comprising discrete sets of fiber ports, each configured as N×1 optical switch or 1×N optical switch, wherein ?n from said input fiber ports is focused on ?n mirror via the use of shared free space optics elements, wherein beam steering elements steers ?n from any point in the optical path to any other point; and discrete arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors in a shared array, wherein first array of mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from input fiber ports to output fiber port of the same set, wherein second array of mirrors using and sharing the same shared optics is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths between input and output ports belonging to another set; and wherein output fiber ports from one set can be coupled to input ports of other sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Wayne Presley, Michael L. Nagy