# US 10,118,554 B2 · Rear view element folding device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,554 B2 - Document ID: US10118554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/349,657 - Filed: 2016-11-11 - Published: 2017-05-18 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-12 - Assignees: SMR Patents S.à.r.l. - Applicants: SMR Patents S.à.r.l. - Inventors: Romeo Wieczorek; Peter Hein; Alexander Czechowicz; Andreas Herrmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118554B2 ## CPC - B60R 1/074: for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle - B60R 1/076: yieldable to excessive external force and provided with an indexed use position ({B60R1/0617, B60R1/074} take precedence) - F03G 7/06143: {Wires} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) ## Abstract A rear view element folding device for a motor vehicle is disclosed for approaching at least one pivot position of an element housing relative to an element foot that can be mounted on the motor vehicle. The rear view element folding device locks or unlocks at least one resting position of the element housing relative to the element foot. A method for triggering such a rear view element folding device is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rear view element folding device for a motor vehicle for approaching at least one rotational position of an element housing relative to an element foot that can be mounted on the motor vehicle, and for locking or unlocking at least one position of the element housing relative to the element foot, wherein a first actuator providing a linear translation movement along a rotation axis that separates a first engagement element firmly connected to the element housing from a second engagement element connected to the element foot, wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement element in a locking position of the element housing, are in a fixed engagement with each other against a spring force applied by a spring element to one of the first and second engagement elements, and in an unlocking position of the element housing, the first actuator lifts one of the first and second engagement elements against the force of the spring element during the change from the locking position to the unlocking position, and a second, separate actuator for a rotational movement for rotating the first engagement element relative to the second engagement element around the rotation axis after the first actuator completes the change from the locking position to the unlocking position, wherein through a first rotational movement, a first rotation position of the element housing can be approached from the unlocking position, and through a second rotational movement of the element housing, which is counter to the first rotational movement, the unlocking position can be approached from the first rotational position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement between the first and second engagement elements in the locking position can be overcome by a force applied to the element housing, and further wherein the unlocking position actuated by the first actuator permits the second actuator to freely rotate the first engagement element relative to the second engagement element around the rotation axis and the first actuator holds the unlocking position for a certain period of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the first actuator uses an active material configured as one of an SMA drive, a piezo drive or a drive designed with an electroactive polymer, wherein when the active material is configured as the SMA drive uses at least one SMA element, in the form of an SMA wire or an SMA spring, on which a current can be applied for the change from the locking position into the unlocking position the current supplied as at least one current surge or over a certain period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rear view element folding device according to claim 3, wherein the spring element comprises a spiral spring, running concentrically to the at least one SMA element, and/or the at least one SMA is a plurality of SMAs where each SMA element is shortened through heating when the current is applied, so that the spring element is compressed from the locking state into the unlocking state, while during the cooling of the SMA element, the spring element returns from the unlocking state into the locking state, and/or the first actuator can be adjusted depending on a first travel sensor and/or by means of end switches, in particular mechanical end switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the second actuator uses one of an active material, a magnetic angle adjuster or a an electric motor, which engages via a gear stage onto the first engagement element, and/or the second actuator position is controlled by one of a second travel sensor mechanical end switches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement element comprises at least one protrusion for engagement into a recess in the second engagement element and/or the second engagement element comprises at least one protrusion for engagement into a recess in the first engagement element, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a trapezoid form. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the element foot comprises a basic body having a cylindrical form, the spring element engages on the basic body and the second engagement element, and the first actuator engages on the basic body and the second engagement element, so that a locking device is provided in a hollow cylindrical form. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein a control or regulating device for the first and/or second actuator interacts with at least one sensor device, and/or the control or regulating device, the first actuator and/or the second actuator are arranged at least partially in the locking device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The rear view element folding device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor device comprises a first sensor for sensing a travel path of the first actuator, in the form of one of a resistance sensor, Hall effect sensor, temperature sensor or current sensor in combination with at least one stop, a second sensor for sensing a travel path of the second actuator, in the form of a rotation angle sensor or current sensor in combination with at least one stop, a third sensor for detecting obstacles in the area of the rear view element, a fourth sensor for capturing vibrations, and/or a fifth sensor for capturing the road and/or driving motion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the rear view element comprises at least one mirror element and/or a camera. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein in the locking position, a form fit is provided between the first and second engagement element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The rear view element folding device according to claim 3, wherein the position of the first actuator is adjusted in response to one of a first travel sensor or mechanical end switches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The rear view element folding device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one projection and the at least one recess are a plurality of projections and complementary recesses, the first engagement element comprising a first ring and the second engagement element comprises a second ring, wherein the rings are arranged concentrically to the rotation axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The rear view element folding device according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement element is formed as one of a first gear ring, a first clamping element, a brake element, or a latching element, and the second engagement element is formed as one of a second gear ring, a second clamping element, a brake element, or a latching element.