MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOW REGULATOR CONTROL

Abstract

MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOW CONTROL BY A WINDOW REGULATOR The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (2), comprising: - a rearview mirror (4); - a window regulator (6) including an electric motor (M); notable in that the rearview mirror includes an actuating mechanism (12) capable of controlling the position of said rearview mirror between a deployed position and a folded position, said actuating mechanism includes a rotating member (12.1) configured to engage with the window regulator, so as to allow the position of said rearview mirror to be controlled by means of the electric motor of said window regulator. (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: CONTROL OF MIRRORS BY A WINDOW REGULATOR DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of motor vehicle rearview mirrors. Prior art

[0002] In modern motor vehicles, rearview mirrors are increasingly equipped with specialized electrical systems to manage their folding and movement automatically.

[0003] Conventionally, the automated movements of the rearview mirror are ensured by a specially designed electric motor, which is generally mounted directly at the level of the folding and swinging mechanism of the rearview mirror.

[0004] For example, published utility model document CN 214985093 U discloses a motor vehicle comprising a rearview mirror equipped with a compact electric motor integrated into a rear cover of said rearview mirror located outside the vehicle body.

[0005] The published patent document FR 2 892 675 Al discloses a motor vehicle rearview mirror and a dedicated electric motor, respectively disposed on either side of a body panel, the electric motor being connected to the rearview mirror by a support rod positioned externally to the body panel.

[0006] However, there is room for improvement in existing prior art solutions, particularly to simplify the mechanism ensuring the automated movements of the rearview mirror's extension and retraction, and to further reduce the weight of the assembly. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More particularly, the invention aims to provide an efficient solution for controlling the position of a motor vehicle's rearview mirror between an extended and a folded position, in a simple and economical manner.

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising: - a rearview mirror; - a window lifting device comprising an electric motor; remarkable in that The rearview mirror includes an actuation mechanism capable of controlling the position of said rearview mirror between a deployed position and a folded position; said actuation mechanism includes a rotating member configured to engage with the window lift device, so as to allow the position of said rearview mirror to be controlled by means of the electric motor of said window lift device.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the rotating member is normally dissociated from the window lift device, said motor vehicle further comprising a door lock having a coupling means suitable for ensuring engagement of the rotating member with said window lift device.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the coupling means comprises a spring rod configured to be actuated by an actuator of the corresponding door lock of said motor vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the window lift device includes a first cable pulley system connected to the electric motor, and the actuation mechanism includes a second cable pulley system, said first cable pulley system comprising a first pulley arranged coaxially with the rotating member.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the rotating member and the window lift device are arranged internally to a corresponding exterior door panel of the motor vehicle, the rearview mirror being arranged externally to said exterior door panel.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for managing the position of a motor vehicle rearview mirror between a deployed position and a folded position, notable in that said motor vehicle is according to the invention, said method comprising the following steps: - activation of a door lock, or control for folding or unfolding the rearview mirror; - engagement of the rotating part with the window regulator; - activation of the electric motor; - folding or unfolding the rearview mirror.

[0014] Preferably, the folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror by the operation of the door lock is conditioned by the absence of detection of an occupant at the level of a driver's seat of the motor vehicle.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the engagement of the rotating member with the window lift device is exclusively ensured by the coupling means, said coupling means being configured to disengage the rotating member from the window lift device after completion of the folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the coupling means is configured to disengage the rotating member of the window lift device when the electric motor is not actuated, at most 800 ms after engagement by said coupling means.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the actuation of the electric motor is accompanied by an upward or downward movement of a corresponding window, said movement having a predefined stroke equivalent to a total travel of the rearview mirror.

[0018] According to one embodiment, said method further comprising a step of memorizing the position of the corresponding window prior to the actuation of the electric motor, and a step of restoring said window to its memorized position after the disengagement of the coupling means.

[0019] The features of the invention are advantageous in that controlling the position of the rearview mirror by means of the electric motor of the window regulator reduces the use of copper in the vehicle. Indeed, a single electric motor is sufficient to open and close the window and to deploy and fold the rearview mirror, resulting in considerable savings. Furthermore, this configuration offers weight reduction, simplifies assembly, and improves the repairability of the rearview mirror. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising a rearview mirror whose position is controlled by means of an electric motor of a window lift device of said motor vehicle;

[0021] [Fig.2] represents the steps of the process of managing the position of the rearview mirror of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1]. Detailed description

[0022] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention, comprising a rearview mirror 4 whose position is controlled by means of an electric motor M belonging to a window lift device 6 of said motor vehicle 2.

[0023] The motor vehicle 2 includes a door 8 comprising an inner panel 8.1 and an outer panel (not shown) housing the window lift device 6 enabling the opening and closing movements of the window 7.

[0024] The window lift device 6 includes a main cable 6.1 connected to the electric motor M, and preferably wound around four pulleys 6.2 to allow the window 7 to be raised and lowered by changing the direction of rotation of said motor M.

[0025] The present invention advantageously proposes using the same electric motor M to control the deployment and folding of the rearview mirror 4. In this regard, the The window lift device 6 preferably further comprises a first cable pulley system 10 connected to the electric motor M, said connection being either direct or indirect. More preferably, said connection is indirect, with the rotation of the motor M being taken up from one of the pulleys 6.2 driven in rotation by the main cable 6.1, as illustrated in [Fig. 1].

[0026] Advantageously, the rearview mirror 4 includes an actuation mechanism 12 capable of controlling its position between the deployed and folded positions. Said actuation mechanism 12 includes a rotating member 12.1 configured to engage with the window regulator 6, and preferably to engage with a first pulley 10.1 belonging to the first cable pulley system 10. The rotating member 12.1 may be a pulley.

[0027] Preferably, the first pulley 10.1 is arranged coaxially with the rotating member 12.1. Alternatively, the rotating member 12.1 can be arranged adjacent to the pulley 10.1, so that they can engage, for example, by means of a gear system.

[0028] Preferably, the actuation mechanism 12 includes a second cable pulley system directly connected to pivoting means for the rearview mirror 4 (not shown) allowing passage from the deployed position to the folded position, and vice versa.

[0029] Preferably, the rotating member 12.1 is normally dissociated from the window lift device 6, so as to constantly isolate the opening and closing movements of the window 7 from the rearview mirror 4. For this purpose, the rotating member 12.1 is advantageously configured to engage in rotation with the first pulley 10.1, preferably by means of a coupling means 14.

[0030] In this configuration, the second cable pulley system 12 is only actuated when the rotating member 12.1 is engaged with the first pulley 10.1 by the coupling means 14.

[0031] The coupling means 14 preferably corresponds to a spring rod 14 that can be mounted on the lining 8.1 or on one of the first pulley 10.1 and the rotating member 12.1. The coupling means 14 can also correspond to any other suitable means to ensure mechanical rotational engagement between the two pulleys 10.1 and 12.1.

[0032] It should be noted that the coupling means 14 is illustrated in a very simplified manner, its shape and position in [Fig.1] are only schematic and do not limit the present invention.

[0033] The coupling means 14 is preferably configured to be controlled at least by an actuator 16.1 of a door lock 16 of the motor vehicle 2. Said lock 16 preferably corresponding to an electric lock 16.

[0034] The dashed arrow visible in [Fig. 1] may correspond, for example, to a mechanical linkage allowing the spring rod 14 to extend when the door 8 is unlocked and locked. In this configuration, the spring rod 14 is not in permanent contact with the actuator 16.1 of the lock 16.

[0035] The coupling means 14 can alternatively, or in addition to its control by the lock 16, be controlled by a computer (not shown) of the motor vehicle 2, for example, via a dedicated actuator.

[0036] Advantageously, the operation of the automated control of the rearview mirror 4 is managed by a management process according to the invention, the different stages of which will be detailed in the present description following [Fig.2].

[0037] Figure 2 shows the steps of method 100 for managing the position of the rearview mirror 4 of the motor vehicle 2 of Figure 1. Method 100 according to the invention is preferably controlled by the computer of vehicle 2.

[0038] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, in step S102, and when a driver locks or unlocks the vehicle 2 from the outside (driver not detected in his seat), or when he controls the folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror 4, for example, by means of a dedicated button.

[0039] So, the computer preferentially memorizes the initial position of the window 7 at step S103. This advantageously allows returning to said position after the completion of folding or unfolding the rearview mirror 4.

[0040] Next, the coupling means 14 can engage the rotating member 12.1 with the first pulley 10.1 at step S104.

[0041] The electric motor M is actuated in step S105, this actuation may be accompanied by an upward or downward movement of the window 7, which presents a vertical stroke of said window 7 which is predefined in the computer, said stroke is equivalent to a total travel of the rearview mirror 4 between its deployed and folded positions.

[0042] Step S106 of folding or unfolding the rearview mirror 4 is commonly carried out with step S105.

[0043] When the folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror 4 is complete, then the coupling means 14 can disengage the rotating member 12.1 of the window lift device 6, and thus isolate the electric motor M from the actuation mechanism 12. In this respect, the coupling means 14 may be mechanically capable of ensuring such disengagement, or may be controlled by the computer.

[0044] Preferably, the coupling means 14 is configured to disengage the rotating member 12.1 of the window regulator 6 when the electric motor M is not actuated, preferably at most 800 ms after the actuation of said means coupling 14. This advantageously avoids changing the position of the rearview mirror when the occupant operates the opening or closing of the window 7.

[0045] After the disengagement of the coupling means 14, at a step S107, the window 7 can be returned to its initial position memorized by the computer at step S103.

[0046] In the case where the control of the position of the rearview mirror 4 requires a movement of the window in a direction impossible because it is already at the stop, or if the stroke necessary for the total movement of the rearview mirror is insufficient, the method 100 may include an additional step (not shown) of modifying the position of the window 7, in particular after the initial position of the window 7 is memorized in step S103, and before step S104, and then returning to said initial position in step S107.

[0047] Alternatively, the actuation mechanism 12 can be directly connected to the electric motor M, and the latter can be able to dissociate itself from the window lift device 6, for example, by dissociating itself from the main cable 6.1. In this alternative configuration, the folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror 4 will not be accompanied by an opening or closing movement of the window 7.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle (2), comprising: - a rearview mirror (4); - a window lift device (6) including an electric motor (M); characterized in that the rearview mirror (4) includes an actuation mechanism (12) capable of controlling the position of said rearview mirror (4) between a deployed position and a folded position, said actuation mechanism (12) includes a rotating member (12.1) configured to engage with the window lift device (6), so as to allow the position of said rearview mirror (4) to be controlled by means of the electric motor (M) of said window lift device (6).

2. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member (12.1) is normally dissociated from the window lift device (6), said motor vehicle (2) further comprising a door lock (16) having a coupling means (14) capable of ensuring engagement of the rotating member (12.1) with said window lift device (6).

3. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2, wherein the coupling means (14) comprises a spring rod configured to be actuated by an actuator (16.1) of the corresponding door lock (16) of said motor vehicle (2).

4. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the window lift device (6) comprises a first cable pulley system (10) connected to the electric motor (M), and the actuation mechanism (12) comprises a second cable pulley system, said first cable pulley system (10) comprising a first pulley (10.1) arranged coaxially with the rotating member (12.1).

5. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotating member (12.1) and the window lift device (6) are disposed internally to a corresponding external door panel of the motor vehicle (2), the rearview mirror (4) being disposed externally to said external door panel.

6. A method (100) for managing the position of a rearview mirror (4) of a motor vehicle (2) between a deployed position and a folded position, characterized in that said motor vehicle (2) is according one of claims 1 to 5, said method (100) comprising the following steps: - (S 102) actuation of a door lock (16), or control of folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror (4); - (S 104) engagement of the rotating member (12.1) with the window lift device (6); - (S 105) actuation of the electric motor (M); - (S 106) folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror (4).

7. Method (100) according to claim 6, wherein the motor vehicle (2) is according to claim 2, and the engagement (S 104) of the rotating member (12.1) with the window lift device (6) is exclusively ensured by the coupling means (14), said coupling means (14) being configured to disengage the rotating member (12.1) from the window lift device (6) after completion of the folding or unfolding of the rearview mirror (4).

8. Method (100) according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means (14) is configured to disengage the rotating member (12.1) of the window lift device (6) when the electric motor (M) is not actuated, at most 800 ms after engagement by said coupling means (14).

9. Method (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the actuation (S 105) of the electric motor (M) is accompanied by an up or down movement of a corresponding window (7), said movement having a predefined stroke equivalent to a total travel of the rearview mirror (4).

10. Method (100) according to claims 7 and 9, further comprising a step (S 103) of memorizing the position of the window (7) corresponding prior to the actuation (S 105) of the electric motor (M), and a step (S 107) of restoring said window (7) to its memorized position after the disengagement of the coupling means (14).

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