Method for operating an adjustment device for a vehicle component of a motor vehicle, adjustment device and motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for operating an adjustment device (10) for a motor vehicle component, in particular an exterior mirror (20a, 20b), arranged on the outside of a motor vehicle (19), wherein the adjustment device (10) comprises an electric motor (11) for adjusting the motor vehicle component from a non-use position to a use position and vice versa, and a control device (12) for controlling the electric motor (11), wherein reaching the respective end position of an adjustment process is detected when a blocking condition indicating a blocking of the electric motor (11) is fulfilled, and the electric motor (11) is switched off when the end position is reached, wherein a counter-induction voltage (4a, 3b) is generated by deactivating the voltage supply to the electric motor (11) during an adjustment process to an end position for a predetermined measuring period (3a, 3b) by means of the control device (12).4b) of the electric motor (11) is measured and evaluated to determine a distance quantity describing the adjustment distance already traveled, the value of which lies in a value interval (5) from zero at the beginning of the adjustment process to a final value (6) at the end of the adjustment process, wherein, in order to detect that the end position has been reached, the blocking condition is only checked within an end-part interval (9) of the adjustment quantity encompassing the final value (6) of the value interval (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an adjusting device for a motor vehicle component arranged on the exterior of a motor vehicle, in particular an exterior mirror of the motor vehicle. The adjusting device comprises an electric motor for adjusting the motor vehicle component from a non-use position to a use position and vice versa, as well as a control device for controlling the electric motor. Reaching the respective end position of an adjusting process is detected upon fulfillment of a blocking condition indicating blocking of the electric motor, and the electric motor is switched off upon reaching the end position. The invention also relates to an adjusting device and a motor vehicle.

[0002] Motor vehicles typically have at least one exterior mirror, particularly exterior mirrors on both sides, to provide the driver with additional visibility into the rear and to the sides of the vehicle. These exterior mirrors naturally protrude from the vehicle and thus increase its effective width. To avoid collisions, particularly when parking the vehicle, it has been proposed to fold the exterior mirrors into a non-use position (“garage position”) in which their mirror surface is essentially in contact with the vehicle or at least facing it. This reduces the effective width of the vehicle.

[0003] The movement of the exterior mirror from the unfolded position, i.e. a use position, to the folded position and back from the folded position to the unfolded position, which usually involves pivoting, is achieved automatically by means of an adjusting device that may include an electric motor for driving the exterior mirror. The folding or unfolding can be triggered automatically, for example, due to a vehicle condition and / or due to a driver input. For example, motor vehicles are known in which the exterior mirrors are automatically folded in when the motor vehicle is turned off, in particular when the ignition is switched off, and automatically unfolded when the motor vehicle is started again, in particular when the ignition is switched on. Control elements for controlling the folding and unfolding are also known, which can be combined, for example, with a mirror adjustment.

[0004] Such adjustability between a non-use position and a use position has also already been proposed for other motor vehicle components, for example extendable support elements with an environmental sensor.

[0005] To detect when the electric motor needs to be switched off, thus reaching the respective end position (for the exterior mirror, the extended position when unfolding and the retracted position when folding), a so-called blockage detection can be performed in a control unit of the adjustment device. To detect a blockage of the electric motor, for example, its current can be detected and analyzed, as proposed, for example, in DE 10 2006 055 367 A1.

[0006] If such detection is used for the end position, it can happen that the exterior mirror "gets stuck" between the folding and unfolding positions as end stops due to stiffness along the adjustment path, as a block indicating the end position is incorrectly detected. Consequently, the exterior mirror is then in an undefined intermediate position, which must be corrected, for example, by the driver. Such intermediate positions are particularly problematic if an environmental sensor, such as a camera, is installed in the exterior mirror, the sensor data from which can only be used when the clearly defined unfolded position is present. Similar problems can also occur with other vehicle components.

[0007] DE 10 2010 044 292 B4 relates to a method for moving an exterior mirror between two positions. In order to determine the respective end position, it teaches, in addition to checking a variable indicating the electrical energy, also checking a time period, dependent on the outside temperature, for energizing the electric motor of the mirror adjustment. Using the variable indicating the electrical energy, it is possible, for example, to check for the presence of a blocking current in the event of a blockage in the mirror adjustment. The power supply to the electric motor is only interrupted when the time period determined based on the current outside temperature has elapsed and the electrical variable has risen sufficiently. This ensures that temperature-related stiffness of the exterior mirror does not lead to a premature stoppage of the mirror adjustment.

[0008] DE 199 59 059 A1 teaches a method for driving an actuator with an electric motor, which eliminates the need for additional sensors to determine the actuator's current position. The method involves monitoring the motor current over time. As long as the current remains within a defined measurement window, it is assumed that the actuator is functioning correctly. Malfunctions are detected when the motor current leaves the measurement window.

[0009] DE 10 2020 127 179 A1 relates to a method for setting a target position of a component adjustable via at least one electric motor, in particular a mirror glass of an exterior mirror adjustable in two axes. At least one measured value is recorded, which describes a mutual induction voltage of the electric motor generated by an inertial movement of the electric motor and / or the component, wherein a change in position of the component after the measuring step is determined as a function of the one or more measured values ​​previously recorded during the adjustment process. In this way, starting from the known starting position, an instantaneous position of the component can be determined by a change in position, which is determined on the basis of all measuring steps previously performed during the adjustment process, and can be compared with a target position.

[0010] DE 10 2022 107 474 A1 describes a method for detecting the end position of an actuator moved by an electric motor. For this purpose, the electric motor is controlled by signal pulses, and the generated mutual induction voltages are summed. If the sum reaches a specified value, this is considered as reaching the end position.

[0011] DE 36 12 140 C2 discloses a method for ventilating a room. In this method, a blockage of a fan motor driven by a pulse generator is determined based on the mutual induction voltage. If this voltage falls below a predetermined limit, the fan is assumed to be blocked.

[0012] The invention is based on the object of providing a means of reliably and accurately reaching the end position of a motor vehicle component, in particular an exterior mirror, during an adjustment process.

[0013] This object is achieved by a method, an adjustment device, and a motor vehicle according to the independent patent claims. Advantageous further developments are set out in the dependent claims.

[0014] In a method of the type mentioned above, the invention provides that by deactivating the voltage supply to the electric motor during an adjustment process to an end position for a predetermined measuring period by means of the control device, a counter-induction voltage of the electric motor is measured and evaluated to determine a distance variable describing the adjustment distance already covered, the value of which lies in a value interval from zero at the beginning of the adjustment process to a final value at the end of the adjustment process, wherein, to detect that the end position has been reached, the blocking condition is only checked within a final sub-interval of the distance variable comprising the final value of the value interval. The motor vehicle component is in particular an exterior mirror, in which the use position can be a folded-out position (“driving position”) and the non-use position can be a folded-in position (“garage position”).

[0015] It is proposed that the actual, and therefore precise, reaching of the end position—i.e., the use position when extending, and the non-use position when retracting—be determined by blocking detection using a blocking condition only in a section at the end of the adjustment process. By measuring a mutual induction voltage, a distance variable that describes the traveled adjustment distance during the adjustment process is determined, and a rough position determination is performed in the area of ​​the respective end position. The actual reaching of the end position is detected by fulfilling the blocking condition at the corresponding end stop.This means that it does not rely solely on the distance, which may still be subject to inaccuracies, but rather checks whether the end position has actually been reached. This can be done with high sensitivity and therefore time-efficiently, since the position in the end sub-interval – which, if the blocking condition is not met, continues beyond the end value upon reaching it – already ensures proximity to the end position. Specifically, for example, it can be provided that the end sub-interval encompasses less than the last 10%, in particular less than the last 5%, of the value interval, in order to be as certain as possible that a blockage indicated by the fulfillment of the blocking condition also corresponds to the end position being reached. For example, the end sub-interval can encompass the last 3% of the value interval.

[0016] In summary, this makes it possible to reach the end position particularly reliably, with high precision, and in a time-efficient manner. Additional adjustment steps, such as movements in the opposite direction of the adjustment process and back to confirm that the end position has been reached, can be avoided, as can lengthy checking times for the blocking condition, which require the electric motor to continue operating despite the blockage. This also protects the electric motor. Nevertheless, the vehicle component, in particular the exterior mirror, reliably moves to the defined end position. The probability of incorrect detection of reaching the end position is reduced.

[0017] Particular advantages arise when at least one environmental sensor, particularly a camera, is installed in the motor vehicle component, especially the exterior mirror. Due to the extremely precise reaching of the end position, vehicle systems can assume, when evaluating the sensor data from the environmental sensor, that a predetermined orientation of the environmental sensor in the end position, here in particular the use position, has actually been achieved.

[0018] To determine the distance traveled, the electric motor is de-energized for a short measurement period during the adjustment process, particularly cyclically. This means that the operating voltage is deactivated. If the electric motor is moving at this time, its inertia causes it to rotate further, inducing a mutual induction voltage whose magnitude indicates how fast the electric motor is rotating. From this, repeated measurements during the adjustment process can be used to determine how far the vehicle component has been moved by the electric motor by integrating or summing the corresponding mutual induction voltages obtained as measurement results.

[0019] It can be expedient to provide for the mutual induction voltage to be measured cyclically at regular intervals during the adjustment process. This enables controlled, traceable measurement, with the distance value then being expediently determined by cumulatively summing the measured mutual induction voltages. It has been shown that with sufficiently frequent measurements, regardless of the speed of the adjustment process and / or stiffness / other obstructions, a distance value determined in this way, or generally a distance value determined from measured mutual induction voltages, remains at least essentially the same for a given adjustment distance, and this with extremely little variation. In other words, the distance value represents an extremely robust measure of the adjustment distance covered, so that the final subinterval can be selected accordingly small.For cyclic measurements, it has proven appropriate to have a time interval of 20 to 60 ms, especially 30 to 50 ms. For example, 40 ms is a conceivable, advantageous choice. These values ​​are suitable for a sufficiently accurate measurement of the adjustment distance, so that the final subinterval can be defined as less than 5%, for example, 3%, of the value interval.

[0020] To allow for reliable determination of the mutual induction voltage, the measurement period can be 500 to 1200 µs and / or several measured values ​​for the mutual induction voltage can be recorded during the measurement period, with the measurement result for the mutual induction voltage for the measurement period being determined by statistical processing of the measured values. For example, a measurement can be taken cyclically every 30 to 50 ms for a measurement period of 700 µs to 1000 µs (1 ms), which is sufficient to account for settling and decay effects. In this case, several statistically combinable measured values ​​for the mutual induction voltage can be recorded within the measurement period, for example, for averaging purposes.Specifically, for example, it may be provided that four to eight measured values ​​are recorded and / or a lowest and a highest measured value are discarded and / or an average of at least some of the measured values, in particular the remaining values ​​after discarding the lowest and the highest measured values, is determined as the measurement result. It has proven expedient to record five measured values, delete the highest and the lowest measured values, and calculate the average for the remainder.

[0021] The final value (and thus also the extent of the value interval) can expediently be determined from calibration data of a calibration measurement of the distance variable for at least one, particularly undisturbed, adjustment process. Particularly advantageously, during the calibration measurement, distance variables are also recorded for several adjustment processes, particularly in both directions (i.e., from the use position to the non-use position and from the non-use position to the use position) and averaged accordingly in order to determine the final value of the value interval expected during an adjustment process as accurately as possible. For example, statistical processing, particularly including averaging, can also be performed here.

[0022] The blocking condition is intended to determine whether the electric motor is still rotating or whether further movement is not possible due to the end position being reached. This can also be determined particularly expediently via the measured mutual induction voltage, because if the electric motor is not rotating, no mutual induction voltage is generated. A useful development of the present invention thus provides that the blocking condition checks whether a currently measured mutual induction voltage is below a threshold value, in particular in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 V. In this way, the measurement of the mutual induction voltage, in particular cyclical, is also used for the blocking condition. Since the blocking condition is only checked in the end sub-interval, it is sufficient that the value falls below the threshold value once, thus enabling an extremely quick and simple check of whether the end position has been reached.The blocking condition can therefore be designed to be highly sensitive. Generally speaking, the threshold indicates that there is no or only minimal movement of the electric motor. For example, it can be selected as 0.1 V if the operating voltage of the electric motor is in the range of a few volts, for example, between 5 and 15 volts.

[0023] A voltage divider can be conveniently used to measure the mutual induction voltage. For example, the voltage divider can be implemented in a control unit of the control system. When measuring the mutual induction voltage, a smoothing element, such as a capacitor, is advantageously used to filter out noise / fluctuations.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that, before reaching the final sub-interval, an obstacle condition is checked that is more difficult to fulfill than the blocking condition, indicates a blockage of the electric motor, in particular requiring a fall below the threshold value for a blocking period comprising several measurement periods. If this condition is fulfilled, the electric motor is deactivated. This means that the detection of a block does not have to be completely deactivated outside the final sub-interval, but can also be made more robust by defining a corresponding obstacle condition that indicates that the exterior mirror cannot be adjusted further due to an obstacle, for example, a jammed grain of sand, icing, or the like.By making it more difficult to detect a blockage, the electric motor ultimately tries to overcome the obstacle with full power before an error deactivation takes place.

[0025] However, as described, it is also possible to completely deactivate blockage detection, at least in the middle of the value interval. Then, if an actual blockage occurs, the adjustment process can be deactivated / terminated after a timeout period, for example, 10 to 30 seconds.

[0026] Within the scope of the present invention, it is conceivable to also check the blocking condition in a starting sub-interval beginning with a distance of zero in order to detect an obstacle to the start of adjustment. In this way, it is therefore possible to monitor whether there is a fundamental obstacle to the adjustment process, for example something is jammed or icy, or the motor vehicle component is touching something, such as an exterior mirror against a wall, another vehicle, or the like. The adjustment process can then be stopped early by deactivating the electric motor. With regard to the starting sub-interval, it can also be provided that the starting sub-interval comprises less than the first 10%, in particular less than the first 5%, of the value interval. For example, it can again comprise the first 3% of the value interval.

[0027] In addition to the method, the present invention also relates to an adjusting device for a motor vehicle component arranged on an outside of a motor vehicle, wherein the adjusting device has an electric motor for adjusting the motor vehicle component from a non-use position to a use position and vice versa, as well as a control device for controlling the electric motor, wherein the control device is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Here, too, the motor vehicle component can preferably be an exterior mirror in which the non-use position is a folded-in position and the use position is an unfolded position. All statements relating to the method according to the invention can be applied analogously to the adjusting device according to the invention, with which the advantages already mentioned can therefore also be achieved.

[0028] Finally, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a motor vehicle component and an adjusting device associated with the motor vehicle component. The statements regarding the method and the adjusting device also apply accordingly to the motor vehicle.

[0029] Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a flow chart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention, Fig. 2 schematically shows a voltage curve explaining a control scheme of the method, Fig. 3 a division of a value interval, Fig. 4 a schematic diagram of an adjusting device according to the invention, and Fig. 5 a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to an exterior mirror as a motor vehicle component, the non-use position of which corresponds to a folded position and the use position of which corresponds to an extended position. By means of an adjustment device comprising an electric motor and a control device, the exterior mirror can be moved between the folded and extended positions during adjustment processes.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. In step S1, the adjustment process begins in a starting position, which corresponds to the non-use position when unfolded and to the use position when folded. The electric motor is then operated for a period of time corresponding to the time interval between cyclic measurements of a mutual induction voltage. In this case, the electric motor is operated for 40 ms each time, followed by a measurement period that can, for example, have a length of 1 ms or 700 µs. Steps S2 and S3 are performed during the measurement period.

[0032] In step S2, the power supply of the electric motor is switched off for the measurement period, thus eliminating the operating voltage. Any movement of the electric motor is then described by a mutual induction voltage, which can be measured in step S2. This control scheme is schematically represented by the graph of the Fig. 2 is explained in more detail, which describes the voltage curve on the electric motor.

[0033] The value 1 indicates the level of the operating voltage, for example, a few volts. The operating voltage is obviously always applied for time intervals 2, for example, 40 ms, and is then switched off for the measuring periods 3a and 3b. For illustrative purposes, the measuring periods shown here are relatively longer. In the measuring period 3a shown as an example, the electric motor is still moving, so that a mutual induction voltage 4a that is clearly different from zero can be measured. In the measuring period 3b, the electric motor, for example, does not move or moves very little, so that a mutual induction voltage 4b ​​that is close to zero is measured.

[0034] In this case, to determine the measurement result for each measurement period 3a, 3b, several, for example, five, measured values ​​are recorded for the mutual induction voltage 4a, 4b. The highest and lowest measured values ​​are discarded, and the remaining measured values ​​are averaged.

[0035] Returning to Fig. 1, in step S3, a measured value that started at zero and describes the adjustment distance already traveled is updated by adding the last measured mutual induction voltage 4a, 4b. In other words, the measured mutual induction voltages 4a, 4b of an adjustment process are summed to form the measured value.

[0036] In step S4, a case distinction is then made regarding a value interval of the measured variable. To determine this value interval before performing the adjustment process, calibration measurements were performed at an earlier point in time to determine an expected final value of the distance variable for the adjustment process. Various subintervals are then determined based on this value interval, in which different procedures are used to detect a blockage of the electric motor. In other words, the value interval for the distance variable, from zero to the final value, is divided into subintervals, with the distance variable being checked in step S4 to determine which subinterval it currently lies in.

[0037] This is done by Fig. 3, which initially shows the proven interval 5 from zero to the end value 6. The first 3% of the value interval 5 form a starting sub-interval 7, the next 94% of the value interval 5 form a middle sub-interval 8, and from the last 3% of the value interval 5, an end sub-interval 9 begins, which in this case can be continued beyond the end value 6, as shown. For example, it is conceivable to continue the end sub-interval 6 by the same value range as the last 3% of the value interval 6, or to provide no end.

[0038] The start sub-interval 7 is optional and can also be included in the middle sub-interval 8. If it is used, then in step S5, see again Fig. 1, a blocking condition is checked to determine whether an obstacle is present at the very beginning of the adjustment, thus preventing the adjustment process from being started effectively. This can be the case, for example, if the exterior mirror is icy or something similar.

[0039] The blocking condition checks whether the last measured mutual induction voltage 4a, 4b is below a threshold value, in this case 0.1 V, which indicates that the electric motor is not moving. A single undershoot of the threshold value is sufficient to fulfill the blocking condition. If the blocking condition is met in step S5, the adjustment process is aborted, in particular the electric motor is switched off (step S6). A message indicating the error or abort can be output. If, however, the blocking condition is not met in step S5, the process returns to step S2 so that the next measuring period 3a, 3b can follow after the expiration of time interval 2.

[0040] If the distance in step S4 lies in the middle part interval 8, an obstacle condition is checked in step S7, the fulfillment of which is more difficult than the blocking condition, but which nevertheless indicates a blockage of the electric motor. For this to happen, the threshold value of the blocking condition must be undershot for a minimum number of consecutive measuring periods 3a, 3b, i.e., for a blocking period that can be, for example, one second. This means that in the middle part interval 8, an attempt is made to overcome blockages by continuing to operate the electric motor before the adjustment process is aborted in step S8 if the obstacle condition is fulfilled, in particular by issuing a message indicating an error or the presence of the obstacle. If the obstacle condition is not fulfilled, the system returns to step S2 in order to take the next measurement of the mutual induction voltage after the time interval 2 has elapsed.

[0041] It should be noted that embodiments are also conceivable in which, in the middle part of the interval 8, in step S7, it is merely checked whether a maximum time (timeout) for the adjustment process has been exceeded (timeout), which can be, for example, 15 or 20 seconds. If the maximum time is reached, the adjustment process is also aborted in step S8.

[0042] In the final sub-interval 9, a check is again carried out in step S9 to determine whether the blocking condition is met. If this is not the case, the system returns to step S2. Otherwise, the end position is determined to have been reached and the adjustment process has thus been properly completed, and the adjustment process is terminated in step S10. As already explained, the final sub-interval 9 can expediently continue beyond the final value 6 to also cover measurement inaccuracies in this other direction.

[0043] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of an adjustment device 10 according to the invention, which, in addition to the electric motor 11, can also comprise a control device 12, which is implemented here as part of a door control unit 13. The control unit 12 comprises a control unit 14, which controls a semiconductor full bridge 15 to provide the operating voltage to the electric motor 11. A voltage divider 16 is provided for measuring the mutual induction voltage, at which measured values ​​can be recorded via a measuring unit 17. Optionally, a smoothing element 18, for example a capacitor, can be provided to smooth the voltage signal.

[0044] The control device 12 is therefore for carrying out the Fig. 1 described procedure.

[0045] Fig.Finally, Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 19 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 19 clearly has a left exterior mirror 20a and a right exterior mirror 20b, each of which is assigned an adjustment device 10 according to the invention. For illustrative purposes, the left exterior mirror 20a is shown in the use position (folded-out position), and the right exterior mirror 20b is shown in the non-use position (folded-in position). A camera is installed in each of the exterior mirrors 20a, 20b, which is to be used at least in the use position.

Claims

[1] Method for operating an adjusting device (10) for a motor vehicle component arranged on an outside of a motor vehicle (19), in particular an exterior mirror (20a, 20b), of the motor vehicle (19), wherein the adjusting device (10) has an electric motor (11) for adjusting the motor vehicle component from a non-use position to a use position and vice versa, and a control device (12) for controlling the electric motor (11), wherein reaching the respective end position of an adjusting process is detected upon fulfillment of a blocking condition indicating a blocking of the electric motor (11), and the electric motor (11) is switched off upon reaching the end position, characterized byby deactivating the voltage supply of the electric motor (11) during an adjustment process to an end position for a predetermined measuring period (3a, 3b) by means of the control device (12), a counter-induction voltage (4a, 4b) of the electric motor (11) is measured and evaluated to determine a distance variable describing the adjustment distance already covered, the value of which lies in a value interval (5) from zero at the beginning of the adjustment process to an end value (6) at the end of the adjustment process, wherein in order to detect that the end position has been reached, the blocking condition is only checked within an end sub-interval (9) of the adjustment variable comprising the end value (6) of the value interval (5). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the final subinterval (9) comprises less than the last 10%, in particular less than the last 5%, of the value interval (5). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the mutual induction voltage (4a, 4b) is measured cyclically at regular time intervals (2) during the adjustment process. [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized by that the distance is determined by cumulatively summing the measured mutual induction voltages (4a, 4b). [5] Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the time interval (2) is 20 to 60 ms, in particular 30 to 50 ms. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the length of the measuring period (3a, 3b) is 500 to 1200 µs and / or during the measuring period (3a, 3b) several measured values ​​for the mutual induction voltage (4a, 4b) are recorded, wherein the measurement result for the mutual induction voltage (4a, 4b) for the measuring period (3a, 3b) is determined by statistical processing of the measured values. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the final value (6) is determined from calibration data of a calibration measurement of the distance variable for at least one, in particular undisturbed, adjustment process. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the blocking condition checks whether a currently measured mutual induction voltage (4a, 4b) is below a threshold value, in particular in the range from 0.05 to 0.2 V. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a voltage divider (16) and / or a smoothing element (18), in particular a capacitor, is used to measure the mutual induction voltage (4a, 4b). [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat before reaching the final partial interval (9), an obstacle condition is checked which is more difficult to fulfill than the blocking condition, which indicates a blockage of the electric motor (11), in particular requiring a fall below the threshold value for a blocking period comprising several measuring periods (3a, 3b), and if this condition is fulfilled, the electric motor (11) is deactivated. [11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the blocking condition is also checked in a start sub-interval (7) starting at a distance of zero to detect an obstacle to the start of adjustment. [12] Method according to claim 11, characterized by that the starting subinterval (7) comprises less than the first 10%, in particular less than the first 5%, of the value interval (5) [13] Adjusting device (10) for a motor vehicle component arranged on an outside of a motor vehicle (19), in particular an exterior mirror (20a, 20b), of the motor vehicle (19), wherein the adjusting device (10) has an electric motor (11) for adjusting the motor vehicle component from a non-use position to a use position and vice versa and a control device (12) for controlling the electric motor (11), wherein the control device (12) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. [14] Motor vehicle (19), comprising a motor vehicle component and an adjusting device (10) associated with the motor vehicle component according to claim 13.

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