Patent · US Expired

Control device for an electrically powered foldable rearview mirror for automobiles

US5514940A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 26, 1995
Grant dateMay 7, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R1/074
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The control device controls an electrically powered foldable rearview mirror in which a mirror body is reversibly rotatable around a shaft by an electric motor contained in the mirror body and in which the mirror body rotation is stopped in a predetermined erected position and folded position by rotation stop devices. The control device for controlling mirror rotation includes a switching circuit for switching the power supply connections to the motor to rotate the mirror body in one of two direction, a relay circuit for supplying and cutting off power to the motor and a relay control circuit connected to the relay circuit and the motor. The relay control circuit includes a resistance and a semiconductor device for switching the relay control circuit connected in parallel with the resistance to perform a switching operation when the motor driving electric current is increased due to a stoppage of the mirror body rotation which causes the voltage drop across the resistance to exceed a threshold voltage of the semiconductor device and to open or release the relay cutting off current to the motor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.