Vehicle rearview mirror assembly

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• a casing;
• a mirror fixed on said casing, said mirror having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode;
• mounting means disposed within said casing;
• means for pivotally connecting said casing and said mounting means for pivotal movement of said casing and said mirror as a unit relative to said mounting means;
• actuation means coupling said casing to said mounting means;
• electric drive means for operating said actuation means to pivot said casing and mirror as a unit between said full and said partial reflectance modes relative to said mounting means;
• said actuation means including primary and secondary drive shafts rotatably mounted in axial alignment with one another on said mounting means, said secondary drive shaft also being coupled to said electric drive means, said primary drive shaft including means for engaging a portion of said casing to pivot said casing and mirror as a unit, and resilient coupling means for connecting said secondary drive shaft to said primary drive shaft while reducing vibration and noise during operation by said electric drive means.

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising;

• a casing;
• a mirror fixed on said casing, said mirror having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode;
• mounting means disposed within said casing;
• means for pivotally connecting said casing and said mounting means for pivotal movement of said casing and said mirror as a unit relative to said mounting means;
• actuation means coupling said casing to said mounting means;
• electric drive means for operating said actuation means to pivot said casing and mirror as a unit between said full reflectance mode and said partial reflectance mode relative to said mounting means;
• said actuation means including a primary drive shaft rotatably mounted on said mounting means and coupled to said electric drive means;
• said electric drive means including a rotary switch connected to said primary drive shaft for deenergising said electric drive means in said full and partial reflectance modes.

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising;

• a casing;
• a mirror fixed on said casing, said mirror having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode;
• mounting means disposed within said casing;
• means for pivotally connecting said casing and said mounting means for pivotal movement of said casing and said mirror as a unit relative to said mounting means;
• actuation means coupling said casing to said mounting means;
• electric drive means for operating said actuation means to pivot said casing and mirror as a unit between said full reflectance mode and said partial reflectance mode relative to said mounting means;
• said electric drive means including a leaf switch mounted on said casing;
• said mounting means including abutment means engaging and maintaining a portion of said leaf switch in position for electrical contact by other portions of said leaf switch for deenergising said electric drive means in said full and partial reflectance modes.

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• a casing;
• a mirror fixed on said casing, said mirror having a full reflectance mode and a partial reflectance mode;
• mounting means disposed within said casing;
• means for pivotally connecting said casing and said mounting means for pivotal movement of said casing and said mirror as a unit relative to said mounting means;
• actuation means coupling said casing to said mounting means;
• drive means including electric motor means for operating said actuation means to pivot said casing and mirror as a unit between said full reflectance mode and said partial reflectance mode relative to said mounting means;
• said electric motor means including a reversible d.c. motor and electric circuit means for energising said motor, said electric circuit means including switch means for deenergising said motor in said full reflectance and said partial reflectance modes;
• said motor being connected between first and second comparator circuits;
• one input of each comparator circuit being connected to a common reference voltage, a second input to said first comparator circuit being connected to said switch means for deenergising said electric motor, and a second input of said second comparator circuit being connected to a signal supply means for changing the reflectance mode of said mirror.