Magna Mirror Systems, Inc.

Magna Donnelly Mirrors North America, LLC

Lowell Engineering Corp.

Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.

Other

Ian Boddy

Keith D Foote

Kenneth C Peterson

James A Ruse

Kris D Brown

Peter John Ellis

Matthew D Potts

Volker Christian Rudinitzki

Rex E Blakeman

Donald S Rawlings

Benjamin D Newton

Robert Brinchek

Jeffrey Janowicz

James Ruse

A window surround module () for installation to the perimeter of a window opening () in a motor vehicle door panel () comprises individual window surround components that are fabricated into a unitary structure. The individual components include two or more of a header molding (), a bell molding (), a mirror base (), a B-pillar trim piece (), a glass run channel (), a wire harness (), a wire harness support (), seals (), a mirror (), and a window (). At least some of the components are molded together to form a unit to which other components are mounted.

Window surround module

A mirror system for a motor vehicle comprises a reflective element assembly, a support bracket, a tilt actuator, and a fastener system for fastening at least one of the reflective element assembly and the tilt actuator to at least one of the tilt actuator and the support bracket. The fastener system comprises a projection on one of the reflective element assembly and the support bracket, and a receptacle on the other of the support bracket and the tilt actuator. The projection can be removably interlocked with the receptacle to fasten the reflective element assembly or the tilt actuator to the tilt actuator or the support bracket, respectively.

Mirror system with rapid installation fastening components

A vehicular exterior mirror assembly comprises a base assembly adapted for fixed attachment to an exterior portion of the vehicle and a reflective element assembly pivotally attached to the base assembly and supported thereby. A pivot member having a perimeter wall is interposed between the base assembly and the reflective element assembly and defines an axis of rotation between the base assembly and the reflective element assembly. A side-acting detent assembly is mounted to one of the base assembly and the reflective element assembly, and has a side-acting detent assembly member positioned to exert a force against the perimeter wall of the pivot member normal to the axis of rotation. One of the pivot member and the side-acting detent assembly member comprises at least one indentation and the other of the pivot member and the side-acting detent assembly member comprises a bearing element. The reflective element assembly can be pivoted relative to the base assembly against the force exerted by the side-acting detent assembly member and, when the bearing element engages with the at least one indentation, the reflective element assembly will be held in a position defined by the at least one indentation relative to the base assembly by said force.

Multi-function side detent for vehicular mirror

The invention provides improvements to an external vehicle mirror assembly. The pivot point is located at an outboard side of the mirror housing. The power pack is mounted at an inboard side of the mirror housing. The mirror case is molded with no obstructions in a recessed base for holding the mirror, and the pivotable socket is molded at one side of the mirror case. The mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle through an improved mounting mechanism. Trim seals seal the mirror assembly to the vehicle with improved wind noise, moisture, and dust resistance, and fewer components.

Mounting system for vehicular mirror

A vehicular pivot mirror assembly comprises a reflective element assembly pivotably attached to a support arm to enable rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm about a pivot connection. A positioning assembly enables rotation of the reflective element assembly in response to a rotational force applied to the reflective element assembly and prevents rotation of the reflective element assembly when the rotational force is removed.

Vehicular pivot mirror

A motorized tilt actuator assembly comprises one or more threaded jack screws attached to a mirror glass case and traveling along one or more threaded actuator shafts with rotation of the motor. When a jack screw reaches its limit of travel, relative movement between the actuator shaft and the glass case can occur through a slip clutch mechanism during such time as the motor continues to operate. In one embodiment, the relative movement is accommodated by a spherical actuator head rotating in a compressively spring-biased socket. In another embodiment, the relative movement is accommodated by slippage along a friction surface interposed between the actuator shaft and the motor. Manual repositioning of the mirror can be accommodated by slippage of the jack screw threads past the actuator shaft threads, or by a coarse threaded interconnection of the jack screw and the actuator shaft.

Vehicular mirror with slip clutch for jack screw actuator

A vehicular mirror system comprises a base frame attached to a motor vehicle and a support frame supporting a reflective element assembly and pivotally attached to the base frame for pivoting the reflective element assembly between a folded position and an unfolded position. A detent assembly intercommunicating the support frame and the base frame comprises a plurality of spaced bosses and recesses positioned at different radii and enabling pivoting of the support frame with minimal vertical displacement of the support frame relative to the base frame.

Vehicle mirror system with control rise detent assembly

A rearview mirror tilt actuator comprises a clutch assembly that selectively transfers torque from an actuator motor to one of at least two output shafts based upon the speed of the motor. One output shaft can pivot the mirror about a first axis of rotation; another output shaft can pivot the mirror about a second axis of rotation. One output shaft can pivot the mirror housing; the other output shaft can extend and retract the mirror housing. At a low speed, the clutch assembly is disengaged, thus only the first output shaft is activated. At a high speed, the clutch assembly is engaged, thus both output shafts are activated The mirror assembly described herein also has an improved mass configuration which allows for lower moments of inertia in the direction of mirror travel.

Vehicular mirror actuator with single motor actuation and inboard center of gravity and vehicular mirror incorporating the same

An external rearview mirror assembly comprises an arm assembly comprising a pair of parallel support arms rigidly attached to a pivot tube which connects the arm assembly to a base. The pivot tube is held to the base in a cradle which is securely holds the arm assembly to the base while enabling the arm assembly to pivot relative to the base. A motorized powerfold mechanism is used to fold the reflective element assembly against the vehicle, and a motorized powerextend mechanism is used to adjust the position of the reflective element assembly outwardly of the vehicle.

Twin-arm vehicle mirror with powerfold and powerextend features

A rearview mirror system comprises a spotter mirror for providing an image of an object in a vehicle's blind zone to the vehicle's operator. A recognition enhancement device is provided with the spotter mirror for drawing the attention of the driver to the spotter mirror when an overtaking vehicle enters the driver's blind zone. The signaling display is activated by a sensing system which senses the presence of the overtaking vehicle in the blind zone. An electrochromic element is incorporated into the spotter mirror to reduce the intensity of light transmitted from the object and reflected from the spotter mirror. Activation of the electrochromic element to darken the spotter mirror will induce the operator to observe the object in the spotter mirror.

Dimming mirror with blind zone sub-mirror and indicator

A rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprises an internal frame supporting a reflective element and a motorized tilt actuator assembly for adjusting the reflective element about perpendicular axes. The reflective element is attached to the internal frame through a pivot connection. A positional memory module comprising a separate assembly is supported by the internal frame adjacent the pivot connection for electrically determining the horizontal and vertical tilt of the reflective element at a selected position as a change in voltage through a pair of simple electrical circuits. The reflective element can be returned to the selected position by adjusting the horizontal and vertical tilt of the reflective element according to the changes in voltage.

Mirror actuator assembly with modular positional memory device

A rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprises an internal frame supporting a reflective element and a motorized tilt actuator assembly for adjusting the reflective element about perpendicular axes. The reflective element is attached to the internal frame through a pivot connection. The position of the pivot connection on the internal frame relative to the tilt actuator assembly can be selectively changed so that a single internal frame can be incorporated into mirrors of different sizes. Alternatively, the position of the tilt actuator assembly relative to the internal frame can be selectively changed.

Vehicular mirror with adjustable pivot connection

The invention relates to an external rearview mirror having an illumination source capable of illuminating various portions of an vehicle and the surrounding area depending upon the operational status of the vehicle. The illumination source is adjustable to selectively illuminate predetermined areas of the vehicle and the surrounding area. Two sets of light-emitting diodes of selected colors can be arranged and controlled so that the first set of LEDs can be selectively illuminated as a turn signal indicator, and the first set and second set can be selectively illuminated so that the combined illumination forms a white light suitable for illumination, such as a 'puddle light' or backup light.

Growing community of inventors

Ada, MI, United States of America

Ian Boddy