Coordinated pivoting and extending vehicle mirror

Abstract

An exterior vehicle mirror system has a vehicle mountable support and a support arm. A mirror housing is movable along the support arm between the support and a distal end. An electrically powered mirror unit adjust mechanism can adjust the mirror unit about horizontal and vertical axes. An electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism pivots the support arm about the support between an extended position and a position folded against a vehicle side. An electronic control system controls movement of the mirror housing along the support arm, and folding of the support arm, independent of an adjustment of the mirror unit. The electronic control system comprises a memorized position for the powered pivoting and extending mechanism, or alternatively, a microprocessor for controlling at least one of movement of the mirror housing along the support arm, folding of the support arm, and adjustment of the mirror unit.

1 . An exterior mirror system suitable for a vehicle, said system comprising:
 an exterior mirror assembly;   said exterior mirror assembly comprising a fixed support adapted to be mounted to the side of the vehicle;   said exterior mirror assembly comprising a support arm extending from said fixed support to a distal end;   a mirror housing supported by said support arm and movable along said support arm from a first position proximate to said fixed support to a second position proximate said distal end of said support arm;   said exterior mirror assembly comprising an electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism for pivoting said support arm about said fixed support between an operative position wherein said support arm generally extends outwards from said fixed support and a folded position wherein said support arm generally extends transverse to said operative position and is generally folded to said side of the vehicle and for moving said mirror housing relative to said fixed support along said support arm from said first position to said second position;   said mirror housing comprising a mirror unit and an electrically powered mirror unit adjust mechanism disposed in said mirror housing and operable to adjust said mirror unit to a desired adjusted position about horizontal and vertical axes;   an electronic control system, said control system operable by the driver of the vehicle to control operation of said powered pivoting and extending mechanism independent of operation of said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism; and   wherein said electronic control system comprises a memorized position for said powered pivoting and extending mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic control system comprises a memorized adjusted position for said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       3 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 2 , wherein said electronic control system comprises a microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor processes a memorized adjusted position for at least one of (i) said electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism and (ii) said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       4 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic control system comprises a microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor processes a memorized adjusted position for at least one of (i) said powered pivoting and extending mechanism and (ii) said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       5 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic control system comprises a microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor processes a memorized adjusted position for both of (i) said powered pivoting and extending mechanism and (ii) said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , including a manually-operable control for manually operating said powered pivoting and extending mechanism and a manually-operable control for manually operating said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said support arm comprises a twin-arm support arm wherein said twin-arm support arm comprises an upper tubular member and a lower tubular member. 
   
   
       8 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said tubular members comprises a metal tubular member. 
   
   
       9 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 8 , wherein said metal member constitutes a flux yoke for an electric motor. 
   
   
       10 . An exterior mirror system suitable for a vehicle, said system comprising:
 an exterior mirror assembly;   said exterior mirror assembly comprising a fixed support adapted to be mounted to the side of the vehicle;   said exterior mirror assembly comprising a support arm extending from said fixed support to a distal end;   a mirror housing supported by said support arm and movable along said support arm from a first position proximate to said fixed support to a second position proximate said distal end of said support arm;   said exterior mirror assembly comprising an electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism for pivoting said support arm about said fixed support between an operative position wherein said support arm generally extends outwards from said fixed support and a folded position wherein said support arm generally extends transverse to said operative position and is generally folded to said side of the vehicle and for moving said mirror housing relative to said fixed support along said support arm from said first position to said second position;   said mirror housing comprising a mirror unit and an electrically powered mirror unit adjust mechanism disposed in said mirror housing and operable to adjust said mirror unit to a desired adjusted position about horizontal and vertical axes; and   said powered pivoting and extending mechanism comprising a worm gear;   an electronic control system, said control system operable by the driver of the vehicle to control operation of said powered pivoting and extending mechanism independent of operation of said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism; and   wherein said electronic control system comprises a microprocessor and wherein a processing by said microprocessor controls at least one of (i) a movement of said mirror housing along said support arm, (ii) a folding of said support arm, and (iii) an adjustment of said mirror unit.   
   
   
       11 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said microprocessor processes a memorized adjusted position for at least one of (i) said electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism and (ii) said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       12 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said electronic control system comprises a microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor processes a memorized adjusted position for both of (i) said powered pivoting and extending mechanism and (ii) said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 12 , including a manually-operable control for manually operating said powered pivoting and extending mechanism and a manually-operable control for manually operating said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism. 
   
   
       14 . The exterior mirror system of  claim 13 , wherein said support arm comprises a twin-arm support arm.