US 4,103,560 A · Day-night mirror control apparatus

Abstract

Remote control, day-night, outside rearview mirror control apparatus. The control structure includes a plurality of interconnection cables linking an orthogonally pivotable, double sided vehicle mirror and multi-axial actuation, operator control mechanism. Mirror movement in the form of yaw about the vertical axis thereof is facilitated via swivel motion of a control bat resulting in axial movement of cables terminating outwardly of the reference axis of the mirror. Mirror movement about the horizontal axis thereof, including 180.degree. flipping and control pitch adjustment, is facilitated through a single cable, double action mechanical servo which is responsive to axial and rotational control bat movement. The servo may be positioned adjacent the mirror or control bat and utilizes a spring loaded cam biased within a rotable casing to independently differentiate mirror pitch adjustment signals from day-night flip signals in a fashion which permits 180.degree. repositioning of the mirror to identical mirror viewing positions. In this manner, the mirror is maintained in its preadjusted orthogonal viewing orientation for both day and night operation. In an alternative construction of the mechanical servo, the pitch and flip control is effected through a pull cable system wherein the servo is disposed adjacent the control bat and incorporates a double action mechanical cable linkage, responsive to axial and rotational movement therefrom. While both constructions incorporate the principles of the present invention, the dual cable mirror drive as compared to the single cable version is more readily adaptable to conventional outside mirror apparatus.

Claims31

Dependent claims

In a remote control for day-night, outside, rearview mirror apparatus of the type comprising a double sided mirror supported within a first frame member rotatably mounted for pitch movement of the mirror and a second frame member rotatably mounted for yaw movement, wherein said frame members are interconnected for mirror field of view adjustment and 180.degree. mirror flip actuation to a remote control bat through a plurality of control cables effecting synchronous pivotal control thereof, the improvement including a mechanical servo adapted for differentiating translational and rotational control bat signals into segregated mirror flip and field of view adjustment actuation, said mechanical servo comprising:

a servo housing disposed relative to said control bat and between said mirror and said control bat;
a signal transducer mounted within said housing for translational and rotational movement and connected to an end of at least one said control cables for differentiating mirror flip signals from mirror field of view adjustment signals;
said transducer including clutch means for selectively interconnecting said transducer and said housing for providing controlled relative translational and rotational movement therebetween in response to mirror adjust signals;
and
means for connecting said transducer and one of said mirror frame members, wherein mirror adjustment and flip signals inputted into said housing may be differentially transmitted to said mirror to effect a resultant 180.degree. flip thereof and substantially identical field of view positions therefor.

2 more elements

An improved remote control for day-night, outside, rearview mirror apparatus of the type comprising a double sided mirror supported within a first frame member rotatably mounted for pitch movement of the mirror and second frame member rotatably mounted for yaw motion, wherein said frame members are interconnected to a remote control bat through a plurality of control cables effecting synchronous pivotal control thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a mechanical servo control including:

a servo housing disposed relative to said mirror and between said mirror and said control bat;
a signal transducer rotatably mounted within said housing and connected to an end of at least one of said control cables for differentiating mirror flip signals from mirror field of view adjustment signals;
said transducer including clutch means for selectively interconnecting said transducer and said housing for providing controlled relative translational and rotational movement therebetween in response to mirror adjust signals;
means for connecting said transducer and one of said mirror frame members, wherein mirror adjustment and flip signals inputted into said housing may be differentially transmitted to said mirror;
and
means for biasing said transducer relative said housing into a controlled shift configuration including two opposing positions effecting a resultant 180.degree. flip position and substantially identical field of view positions.

3 more elements

A day-night outside rearview mirror apparatus comprising;

a remote control bat adapted for receiving both translational and rotational actuation for the transmission of mirror control signals;
a mirror having reflective surfaces on relative opposite sides thereof;
first and second mirror support frames pivotal about different given axes and supporting said mirror for pitch, flip and yaw movement;
remote control cable means interconnecting said control bat and said mirror support frames for synchronous flipping and pivotal adjustment of said field of view of said mirror;
and
a mechanical servo interposed between said mirror and said control bat and connected to certain ones of said control cables for receiving both translational and rotational signals from said control bat said servo including a signal transducer assembly mounted within a housing and coupled thereto in a selectable translational interengagement for segregating transducer rotation for purposes of flipping said mirror from transducer rotation for purposes of adjusting the field of view of said mirror.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Day-night mirror control apparatus

Life of this patent

Day-night mirror control apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31