# US 12,759,461 B2 · Adjusting instrument for an exterior vision unit for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,461 B2 - Document ID: US12759461B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/926,784 - Filed: 2021-05-26 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-26 - Assignees: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V. - Applicants: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V. - Inventors: Peter Alexander Hamming; Sigrid Elizabeth Van Leeuwen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759461B2 ## CPC - B60R 1/07: by electrically powered actuators - B60R 1/28: with an adjustable field of view - B60R 2300/101: using cameras with adjustable capturing direction - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The invention relates to an adjusting instrument for an exterior vision unit for a vehicle, comprising a base shaft and a housing surrounding the base shaft which is pivotable around a longitudinal axis adjustment range between at least a park position and a drive position. The adjusting instrument further comprises a driving gearwheel, a gearwheel body, and a spring. The driving gearwheel includes a face provided with an outer toothing surrounding the base shaft, defining a face height within which a web part of the gearwheel body extends in a transverse plane with respect to the base shaft. The spring surrounds the base shaft and is supported on a support surface of the gearwheel body, exerting a force on the driving gearwheel along the longitudinal axis. The support surface lies recessed in an axial direction with respect to the transverse plane, such that the spring reaches through the transverse plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjusting instrument for an exterior vision unit for a vehicle, comprising: a base shaft; a housing which surrounds the base shaft and which is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of the base shaft in an adjustment range, between at least a park position and a drive position; a driving gearwheel comprising a face provided with an outer toothing which surrounds the base shaft, and a gearwheel body, wherein the face defines a face height that is entirely covered by the outer toothing, and wherein a web part of the gearwheel body extends within the face height substantially in a transverse plane with respect to the base shaft, between the base shaft and the face; and a spring which surrounds the base shaft, the spring being supported on a support surface of the gearwheel body for exerting a spring force on the driving gearwheel along the longitudinal axis, wherein the support surface is located recessed in axial direction with respect to the transverse plane in which the web part substantially extends, such that the spring reaches through the transverse plane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the support surface is located outside the face height, and the spring reaches through the driving gearwheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the driving gearwheel comprises a bearing face which surrounds the base shaft, wherein a height of the bearing face, in axial direction, is greater than the face height of the driving gearwheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, further comprising two or more cam rings surrounding the base shaft, and which are each provided with at least one force transmission cam that can cooperate mutually, with at least one of the driving gearwheel or with the housing, wherein the two or more cam rings are positioned radially with respect to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adjusting instrument according to claim 4, wherein the support surface is located between the base shaft and the cam rings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an electric motor coupled with the housing and having an output shaft, for pivoting the housing around the longitudinal axis of the base shaft, with the output shaft of the electric motor extending transversely to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein a ratio between a diameter of the base shaft and a diameter of the driving gearwheel is between 0.15 and 0.5. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein a ratio between a width of the housing and a height of the housing is between 0.15 and 0.5. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the base shaft comprises a receiving provision for receiving a screw in the base shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, comprising one or more positioning cams or positioning recesses for cooperation with one or more complementary positioning recesses or positioning cams of a base part of the vehicle on which the adjusting instrument can be mounted, for positioning the adjusting instrument with respect to the base part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the base shaft, in mounted condition, extends from a base part along a longitudinal axis of the base shaft up to a free end, wherein the housing is bearing-mounted around the base shaft at the free end of the base shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The adjusting instrument according to claim 11, wherein the free end of the base shaft is an open end, wherein a bearing part of the housing reaches through the open end into the hollow base shaft so as to bearing-mount the housing with the base shaft on an internal side of the base shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The adjusting instrument according to claim 11, wherein the free end of the base shaft is covered by a part of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An exterior vision unit for a vehicle, comprising an adjusting instrument according to claim 1, and at least one of a mirror, display or camera coupled with the housing. ### Claim 15 An adjusting instrument for an exterior vision unit for a vehicle, comprising: a base shaft a housing which surrounds the base shaft and which is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of the base shaft in an adjustment range, between at least a park position and a drive position; a driving gearwheel comprising a face provided with an outer toothing which surrounds the base shaft, and a gearwheel body, wherein the face defines a face height that is entirely covered by the outer toothing, and wherein a web part of the gearwheel body extends within the face height substantially in a transverse plane with respect to the base shaft, between the base shaft and the face; a spring which surrounds the base shaft, the spring being supported on a support surface of the gearwheel body for exerting a spring force on the driving gearwheel along the longitudinal axis, wherein the support surface is located recessed in axial direction with respect to the transverse plane in which the web part substantially extends, such that a center of the spring is located within the face height. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The adjustment instrument according to claim 15, wherein the support surface is located outside the face height, and the spring reaches through the driving gearwheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The adjusting instrument according to claim 15, wherein the driving gearwheel comprises a bearing face which surrounds the base shaft, wherein a height of the bearing face, in axial direction, is greater than the face height of the driving gearwheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The adjusting instrument according to claim 15, further comprising two or more cam rings surrounding the base shaft, and which are each provided with at least one force transmission cam that can cooperate mutually, with at least one of the driving gearwheel or with the housing, wherein the two or more cam rings are positioned radially with respect to each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The adjusting instrument according to claim 18, wherein the support surface is located between the base shaft and the cam rings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The adjusting instrument according to claim 15, further comprising an electric motor coupled with the housing and having an output shaft, for pivoting the housing around the longitudinal axis of the base shaft, with the output shaft of the electric motor extending transversely to the longitudinal axis.