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The mentioned system, which comprises the internal and the external rear-view mirrors, is one of the most important components of the groups of accessories developed to provide an adequate active safety standard for automotive vehicles.
As a matter of fact, it is essential for the motorist to have a clear perception of what is happening around his vehicle, in order that he may anticipate and prevent situations that could result in potentially hazardous conditions vis-a-vis the physical integrity of the automotive vehicle as well as of the passengers.
The rear-view sets require to be adjusted regularly, either because someone else has previously driven the vehicle-and therefore adjusted the mirror to his particular height and driving posture-or because the mirrors, as a result of their daily use, become misadjusted.
The internal mirror is very easy to adjust, and that can be readily done. However, the lateral rear-views sets, are usually installed outside the vehicle body, and require more frequent adjustments, as they are exposed to positioning changes induced by the aerodynamic pull provoked by the movement of the vehicle.
A few decades ago, some manufacturers in their pursuit of solutions to solve the mentioned problem, and to eliminate the need for such adjustments or at least to simplify the said adjustments, developed rear-view sets enclosed in casings designed to be installed on the vehicle door. The mentioned casings were developed with an aerodynamic design and served as
a protective element to avoid the possibility of detritus or dust hitting the mirror, which was generally either flat or concave. On the opposite side, a bracket was fitted to a linkage inside the casing that enabled the angular movement of the mirror.
Some models of the mentioned rear-view sets were provided with manually operated adjustment mechanisms, which involved a lever traversing the door that could be operated from inside the car.
These mechanical adjustment systems did, however, present a difficulty as it was practically impossible to adjust the angle of the reflecting element, especially that of the rear-view set installed on the passenger's door whilst maintaining a driving posture.
A few years later, as a result of further research, new rear-view sets equipped with electrical adjustment and control systems were made available, which were operated by means of buttons or keys installed on the instrument panel of the vehicle.
Those systems do in fact enable the motorist to adjust the rear- view mirror quickly and precisely whilst maintaining his driving posture, but their installation demands a considerable amount of time and work, due to the need of installing the tubing that protects the wires which interconnect the buttons or the keys on the instrument panel to the small drive motors (in some cases, pace motors) fitted on the rear-view sets.
In the case of systems installed at the factory, this aspect does not represent a problem, as the wiring that actuates the mirrors is installed during the assembly of the vehicle concomitantly with the other wires of the ignition, lighting and signalling systems.
The same cannot be said with regard to the installation of the mentioned type of rear-view sets on existing vehicles, as the installation of the wiring and the necessary connections demand a considerable amount of time and work.
Probably that is the main reason for the small quantity of rear- view sets sold at accessory stores and other specialised stores, as the amount of work required for their installation increases significantly the final cost of this type of rear-view set.
As it can be perceived, the problem arises as a result of the type of system chosen for the transmission of the control signals.
Having noticed this peculiarity, the inventor decided to commit efforts to the research and development of an alternative solution that would simplify the installation work of rear-view sets provided with electrical adjustment systems.
As a result of his work, he devised the system described in this document, which eliminates the need of installing the wire tubing between the door of the vehicle and the instrument panel area.
Therefore, the object of this patent consists of new and original improvements to the electrical system that controls the position of the mirror of external rear-view sets for automotive road vehicles. The angular adjustment is controlled by one or more micro-motors. The new rear-view set possesses inside its casing a small four-channel electromagnetic wave receiver whose circuit board is connected to a micro-switch set, which eventually could be incorporated on the circuit board itself. Each micro- switch activates one of the micro-motors that actuate the articulated bracket of the reflecting element and change its angular positioning. The control signal is issued by a small electromagnetic wave transmitter of reduced capacity, installed on the instrument panel of the vehicle. This transmitter possesses a circuit board to which the switches or keys that are operated by the motorist are connected, and each switch/key activates a transmitter channel, that corresponds to the respective receiver channels.
The system described above eliminates any mechanical or electrical connections between the panel and the control system, and thus greatly facilitates the installation of this new rear-view set.
For a better understanding and comprehension of this new system, the attached drawing illustrates the essential aspects of the mentioned system. Fig. 1 consists of an operational diagram of an electrical remote control system for the angular adjustment of a rear-view set, which was built in conformity with this patent.
In accordance with the mentioned drawing and its main details, the new features consist of new and original improvements introduced in the
electrical control system for the angular adjustment of reflecting elements (1), of external rear-view sets (2), of the type utilised for automotive road vehicles, provided with a casing (3) that protects the reflecting element (1), being the angular adjustment controlled by one or more micro-motors (4) which actuate the articulated bracket of the element (1), and change its angle. This new rear-view set possesses in its casing (3) a small four- channel electromagnetic wave receiver (5), whose circuit board is connected to a micro-switch set (6), which eventually could be incorporated on the circuit board itself, and each micro-switch activates one of the micro-motors (4), the control signal is issued by a small electromagnetic wave transmitter (7) of reduced capacity, attached to the instrument panel of the vehicle. This transmitter possesses a circuit board to which the switches or keys (8) that are operated by the motorist are connected, and each switch/key activates a transmitter channel (7) that corresponds to the respective receiver channels (5).
Evidently, various systems similar to the system described above could be conceived, differing only with regard to form, dimensions, proportions, materials and other aspects of secondary importance.
Nevertheless, such products would remain inextricably associated with the spirit and scope of this patent.