Memory mirror system for vehicles

United States Patent [w]

Kramer et al.

US006093976A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

6,093,976 15 Jul. 25, 2000

[54] MEMORY MIRROR SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

[75] Inventors: Mark E. Kramer, Zeeland; Roger L.

Veldman, Holland, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Donnelly Corporation, Holland, Mich.

[ * ] Notice: This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

[21] Appl. No.: 09/135,375 [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1998

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of application No. 08/818,918, Mar. 17, 1997, Pat. No. 5,796,176, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/679,681, Jul. 11, 1996, Pat. No. 5,798,575.

[51] Int. CI.7 G02B 5/08

[52] U.S. CI 307/10.1; 701/49

[58] Field of Search 307/10.1; 701/36,

701/49, 213; 318/446, 466

[56] References Cited

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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Search Report from commonly owned European Applica-
tion No. EP 98 65 0018, dated Jun. 15, 1998.
European Search Report from commonly owned European
Application No. 9714581.7.

Industry Standard SAE J1708 Oct. 1993 entitled "Serial
Data Communications Between Microcomputer Systems in
Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications".

Article entitled "Electronics Create the Cybercar," Design News, Oct. 9, 1995.

Primary Examiner—Richard T. Elms

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn &

Burkhart, LLP

A vehicle memory mirror system includes a vehicle mirror assembly and a control module. The vehicle mirror assembly includes a reflective element, a motor for positioning the reflective element about an axis, a monitor for monitoring the position of the reflective element with respect to the axis, and a mirror-based control including a position control which is operatively connected with the motor and the monitor in order to position the reflective element at a particular position. The control module is interconnected with the mirror-based control by an analog interface and includes a processor for providing analog signals on the analog interface indicative of a desired position of the reflective element with respect to the axis. The mirror-based control preferably includes a servo-amplifier circuit. The control module can control the speed of movement by formatting a series of sequential signals on the interface, each representing an incremental movement of the reflective element.

56 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets

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