Patent Publication Number: US-2016236620-A1

Title: Rear-view mirror assemblies and systems for motor vehicles, and installation method

Description:
Rear-view mirror assemblies and rear-view mirror systems for motor vehicles including a rear-view camera device are disclosed herein. A method for installing said rear-view mirror assemblies and systems in motor vehicles is also disclosed herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rear-view mirror systems for motor vehicles are known in the art combining a rear-view mirror device and a rear-view camera device. The rear-view camera device is used together with the rear-view mirror device and it may comprise, for example, a video camera to be located in a rear part of the vehicle oriented toward a rear area outside the vehicle for capturing a field of view of the vehicle rear. 
     The rear-view mirror device usually comprises a mirror housing inside of which a display and a one-way mirror, also referred to as a half mirror, are provided. The one-way mirror comprises a front and a back surface and is positioned within the mirror housing such that the display is located adjacent to, but not necessarily in contact with, the rear surface of the one-way mirror. The mirror housing is adjustably mounted inside the motor vehicle through a pivot joint or swivel mount. The housing can thus be pivoted, e.g. tilted, by the user relative to the interior portion of the vehicle in order to adjust the height and viewing angle as required. 
     Thus the user can choose between having an image displayed from the camera on the display and having an image reflected on the one-way mirror as desired. 
     Indeed, when the display is switched on, the light intensity received by the back surface of the half mirror from the display is greater than the light intensity received by the front surface of the half mirror from the exterior. As a result, the image displayed by the display is viewable through the half mirror by the user. 
     If the display is switched off, the light intensity received by the front surface of the half mirror from the exterior is greater than the light intensity received from the back surface of the half mirror as the display is unlit. As a result, the half mirror acts as a conventional mirror. 
     However, such known rear-view mirror systems have the disadvantage that when the display is switched on, the image reflected by the half-mirror is still perceived by the driver, causing a disturbing double image effect. This results in discomfort of the driver and sometimes even in dizziness. 
     Solutions have been provided in the prior art consisting in pivoting the mirror housing in order to tilt the rear-view mirror device such that the light incident on the half-mirror is deviated from the driver&#39;s field of view. The half-mirror angle of inclination is such that it still allows the driver to see the image that is displayed by the display. 
     Inclination of the rear-view mirror device is usually performed in two mirror housing predefined angular positions. In a first mirror housing angular position, the display is switched on and the half-mirror is arranged such that the light incident on the half-mirror is deviated from the driver&#39;s field of view. In a second mirror housing angular position, the display is switched off and the half-mirror acts as a conventional mirror, reflecting external images. 
     In EP2789505 the display is switched on/off by means of an interlocking lever while, at the same time, the mirror housing angular position is changed. Again, the mirror housing can be positioned in two different, stable angular positions which are factory predefined: in a first mirror housing angular position the display is switched off and the image is reflected from the half-mirror, and a second mirror housing angular position the display is switched on and the image is displayed by the display, with no external image being reflected from the half-mirror. 
     Therefore, the two mirror housing angular positions are always predefined and set during manufacturing. Said predefined mirror housing angular positions cannot be thus subsequently varied by the user and/or the manufacturer. This has been found to be problematic as the same vehicle model may be provided or not with reflecting elements on the ceiling, such as a sunroof or a moonroof. This may result in that for certain vehicle models the mirror housing may be positioned according to an inadequate angle of inclination so as to avoid the above mentioned double image effect. As a consequence, in many cases such prior art rear-view devices may require two rear-view mirrors for the same vehicle model. This undesirably increases manufacturing complexity and costs. 
     SUMMARY 
     A rear-view mirror assembly for motor vehicles such as cars, vans and the like is disclosed herein which has been found that it at least partially overcomes the above disadvantages of the prior art rear-view mirror devices. 
     The present rear-view mirror assembly includes a mirror housing that is pivotally fixed to a vehicle inner support. Said vehicle inner support may be a swivel mount fixed to the interior of the motor vehicle such as, for example, the windshield or the roof. The mirror housing may comprise a frame and a rear cover. A rubber pad may be also provided enclosing the half-mirror to improve adjustment with the frame. In some cases, a frameless mirror housing might be provided where the half-mirror extends to the edge of the rear cover to be attached thereto. In the latter cases, the half mirror&#39;s periphery may be beveled. 
     Inside the mirror housing a half-mirror and a display are received. The half-mirror is suitable for a driver or a vehicle passenger to look toward the rear of the motor vehicle. The half-mirror is an ordinary mirror that is coated on its back surface with a thin layer of metal oxides such that a certain amount of light is reflected allowing the rest of the light to pass through. 
     The display is mounted inside the housing in a position substantially parallel to the half-mirror. The display may be, for example, a LED display. It may comprise a back light unit including a light guide and a light source. The light source comprises a set of LEDs for generating and directing light, a rear polarizer for polarizing the light in a first direction, a LCD open cell which is divided into pixels that receive information of light intensity and RGB code, and a front polarizer for polarizing the light in a second direction. 
     The display is configured to display the rear view field captured by the rear-view camera. The rear image displayed by the display is intended to replace the rear image of the half-mirror as it has substantially the same focal distance as the driver when looking at objects through the rear-view device. 
     A driving plate is also provided. The driving plate is pivotally coupled to the mirror housing and adapted for attachment to the vehicle inner support. For this purpose, the driving plate may include a vehicle attaching portion having a ball socket for attachment to a ball formed in the vehicle inner support thus forming a ball and socket joint. This allows the mirror housing to be manually adjusted by the user for adjusting the field of view. 
     In order to pivot or tilt the mirror housing, an actuator switch lever is provided. The actuator switch lever is arranged protruding out from the mirror housing through a recess formed therein. The actuator switch lever is pivotally attached to the driving plate for moving, e.g. pivoting or tilting, the mirror housing in at least two different angular positions while causing the display to be switched on or off depending on said mirror housing angular positions. The actuator switch lever is also pivotally attached to the housing rear cover. 
     The present rear-view mirror assembly is further provided with an adjustable positioning mechanism. The purpose of the adjustable positioning mechanism is to adjust at least one of said mirror housing angular positions. The adjustable positioning mechanism may be adapted to adjust the angle defined by a plane of the half-mirror in two different mirror housing angular positions. The angle defined by said plane of the half-mirror in the above mentioned mirror housing angular positions may be adjusted by the adjustable positioning mechanism in a range of, for example, between 3° and 9°. Other range of angular positions is of course not ruled out, depending on requirements. 
     In one example, the adjustable positioning mechanism may comprise a gear driven mechanism. The gear driven mechanism may comprise, for example, a rod coupled, through a gear wheel, to a displaceable rack. Specifically, the gear driven mechanism may consist of a rod rotatably mounted in the mirror housing meshing with a gear wheel. The gear wheel is in turn rotatably mounted in the mirror housing and meshing with the displaceable rack. Rotation of the rod by the user or the manufacturer from outside the mirror housing causes rotation of the gear wheel, which in turn causes the rack to be displaced. This in turn defines end positions of the driving plate and consequently angular end positions of the mirror housing. 
     A disengaging mechanism may be provided. In general, the disengaging mechanism is intended to cause the rod to freely rotate so as not to cause displacement of the rack. In other words, with such disengaging mechanism the rod is disengaged either from the gear wheel or the rack resulting in that rotation of the rod does not cause displacement of the rack. In one specific example the disengaging mechanism may comprise a sliding portion allowing the rod to slide in and out of the rear cover of the mirror housing according to a rod engagement position and a rod disengagement position. In the rod disengagement position, the rod does not engage the gear wheel such that the rod freely rotates and does not cause displacement of the rack. In the rod engagement position, the rod engages the gear wheel such that rotation of the rod causes displacement of the rack. 
     The above example of the adjustable positioning mechanism comprising a gear driven mechanism allows the range of mirror housing angular positions to be easily changed by the user or the manufacturer from outside of the mirror housing. 
     In a further example of the adjustable positioning mechanism, it may comprise a sliding member displaceably mounted in the mirror housing. The sliding member may comprise a base body with at least one wedged portion. The wedged portion is adapted to abut the driving plate, for example corresponding wedged portions of the driving plate, causing the driving plate to be locked in different mirror housing angular positions as desired. The wedged portions of at least one of the sliding member and the driving plate may be at least partially stepped, e.g. serrated or the like, so as to better adjust the angle defined by the plane of the half-mirror in at least two discrete, different mirror housing angular positions. 
     In the above example of the adjustable positioning mechanism, the rear cover of the mirror housing may have an opening for driving the sliding member from the outside easily. This allows the range of mirror housing angular positions to be easily changed by the user or the manufacturer from outside of the mirror housing as desired. 
     The driving plate may have a contact portion which may include, for example, a protrusion, adapted for contacting at least one electrical contact provided in or associated with the display. This will cause opening or closing of an electrical circuit and thus switching the display on or off depending on the angular position of the mirror housing relative to the driving plate according to actuation of the actuator switch lever. 
     With the above configuration for the present rear-view mirror assembly, the actuator switch lever is rotated by the user in order to pivot or tilt the mirror housing and switching the display on or off. 
     The driving plate, the vehicle inner support and the mirror housing are designed such that the force required to rotate the driving plate relative to the vehicle inner support is greater than the force required to rotate the driving plate relative to the mirror housing. This results in that rotation of the actuator switch lever does not cause rotation of the driving plate but rotation of the mirror housing. Therefore, rotation of the actuator switch lever causes the half-mirror to be displaced from a first mirror housing angular position to a second mirror housing angular position through a determined angle. 
     When the mirror housing is in any of said mirror housing angular positions, the protrusion in the driving plate may, or may not, contact the above mentioned electrical contact so as to switch off or on the display as stated above. In one particular example of the switch, in a first mirror housing angular position the contact portion in the driving plate contacts the electrical contact such that the electric circuit is open and the display is switched off, and in a second mirror housing angular position the contact portion in the driving plate does not contact the electrical contact such that the electric circuit is closed and the display is switched on. Other different configurations for the switch are of course possible. 
     A rear-view mirror system for motor vehicles is also provided herein comprising the above described rear-view mirror assembly. The present rear-view mirror system further includes a rear-view camera device for capturing images from the outside of the vehicle to be displayed on the display. The rear-view camera device may comprise at least one camera such as a video camera adapted and arranged for capturing images from the outside of the vehicle, e.g. for capturing a field of view of the vehicle rear. The camera of the rear-view camera device is connected to the display of the rear-view mirror assembly. 
     A method for installing the above rear-view mirror assembly in a motor vehicle is also disclosed herein. The method comprises providing the above rear-view mirror assembly and adjusting the adjustable positioning mechanism of the rear-view mirror assembly for determining at least one mirror housing angular position. In a preferred example, said mirror housing angular position may be one causing the display to be switched off. Then, other, different mirror housing angular positions could cause the display to be switched on. 
     It is thus clear that the present rear-view mirror assembly and system does not have predefined, fixed mirror housing angular end positions but the mirror housing angular end positions may be varied in a range of angular positions as required by the user of manufacturer. In one example, a first mirror housing angular position can be fixedly predefined, while other mirror housing angular position can be easily varied as desired or required by the user and/or the manufacturer. 
     Additional objects, advantages and features of examples of the present rear-view mirror assembly and system for motor vehicles together with the disclosed method of installation will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description, or may be learned by practice thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Particular examples of the present rear-view mirror system for motor vehicles will be described in the following by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational sectional view of one example of the present rear-view mirror assembly with the actuator switch lever shown such that the mirror housing is in a first mirror housing angular position where the display is switched off; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational sectional view of the example of the rear-view mirror assembly shown in  FIG. 1  with the actuator switch lever shown such that the mirror housing is in a second mirror housing angular position where the display is switched on; 
         FIGS. 3-5  are diagrammatic views of the rear-view mirror assembly in different mirror housing angular positions where a first example of the adjustable positioning mechanism is shown; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of the rear-view mirror assembly where a second example of the adjustable positioning mechanism is shown; 
         FIG. 6 a    is an enlarged detail view of the second example of the adjustable positioning mechanism in  FIG. 6  where the gear driven mechanism is shown; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the back cover of the mirror housing according to the first example of the adjustable positioning mechanism; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are elevational views showing two different examples of the sliding member according to the first example of the adjustable positioning mechanism shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is an elevational view of a car as an example of a motor vehicle to which the present rear-view mirror system can be applied. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES 
     In the examples shown, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings. 
     Examples of the present rear-view mirror system are shown in the figures comprising a rear-view mirror assembly indicated as a whole in  FIGS. 1-7  by the reference numeral  100  and a rear-view camera device indicated as a whole in  FIG. 10  by the reference numeral  400 . 
     The rear-view mirror assembly  100  is intended to be installed in the interior of a motor vehicle such as a car, a van, a truck and similar vehicles. In the particular example of  FIG. 10  the rear-view mirror system comprises a rear-view mirror assembly  100  installed in a car  500 . 
     In the example shown, the rear-view mirror assembly  100  includes a mirror housing  110  inside of which a half-mirror  120 , a display  130  and a driving plate  140  are received. 
     The half-mirror  120  in this example is a glass substrate coated on its back surface with a thin layer of metal oxides such that a certain amount of light is reflected allowing the rest of the light to pass through. This allows the driver or a vehicle passenger to look toward the rear of the car  500 . 
     The display  130  is mounted inside the mirror housing  110  in a position substantially parallel to the half-mirror  120  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The purpose of the display  130  is to display rear-view images captured by a rear-view camera device  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10  of the drawings, the rear-view camera device  400  includes a video camera  405 . The video camera  405  is arranged in a top rear part of the car  500  for capturing at least a field of view of the vehicle rear equivalent to that of a half-mirror  120  which is displayed on the display  130 . 
     In the specific example disclosed herein, the display  130  comprises a back light unit including a light guide and a light source such as a set of LEDs for generating and directing light with a rear polarizer for polarizing the light in a first direction, a LCD open cell which is divided into pixels that receive information of light intensity and RGB code, and a front polarizer for polarizing the light in a second direction. 
     The mirror housing  110  is pivotally fixed to a vehicle inner support  150  that is rigidly fixed to the interior of the motor vehicle windshield. The vehicle inner support  150  may be any suitable support such as a swivel mount or a support assembly comprising a stem  155  with a ball  156  such as it will be described further below. 
     The mirror housing  110  comprises a frame  160  and a rear cover  170 . The half-mirror  120  is fitted inside the mirror housing  110  enclosed by a rubber pad  180  to improve adjustment with the mirror housing frame  160 . 
     The above mentioned driving plate  140  is pivotally coupled to the mirror housing  110  therein around pivot point  142 . The driving plate  140  is adapted for attachment to the vehicle inner support  150 . To this end, in this example, the driving plate  140  comprises two bodies attached to each other through screws  145  or any other suitable attaching means. One of the bodies is the driving plate main body itself, the other of the bodies being configured so as to have a ball socket  190 . The ball socket  190  is adapted to be attached to the above mentioned vehicle inner support  150 . Alternatively, the ball socket  190  may be an integral portion of the driving plate  140  as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
     In the above mentioned example of the vehicle inner support  150 , it comprises a stem  155  the free end of which has a ball  156 . The ball  156  is adapted to be rotatably coupled inside the above mentioned ball socket  190  of the driving plate  140 . This defines a ball and socket joint. The stem  155  of the vehicle inner support  150  projects from an inner portion of the motor vehicle passing through an opening  175  formed in the rear cover  170  of the mirror housing  110 . This may be clearly seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. In this way, the mirror housing  110  can be manually adjusted, i.e. pivoted or tilted, by the user or driver to suitably adjust the field of view of the vehicle rear as desired. 
     The rear-view mirror assembly  100  further includes an actuator switch lever  200 . The actuator switch lever  200  is arranged protruding out from the mirror housing  110  through a recess  205  formed therein. This allows the actuator switch lever  200  to be easily operated by the user or driver. The actuator switch lever  200  is pivotally attached to the driving plate  140  through pivot point  202 . The actuator switch lever  200  is also pivotally attached to the mirror housing rear cover  170 . Thus, rotation of the actuator switch lever  200  by the user or driver causes the mirror housing  110  to be positioned from a first angular position  125 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to a second, different angular position  126 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Reference numerals to housing angular positions  125 ,  126  are shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The ball and socket joint  156 ,  190  is designed such that the force that is required to rotate the driving plate  140  relative to the vehicle inner support  150  is greater than the force that is required to rotate the driving plate  140  relative to the rear cover  170 . Thus, as the actuator switch lever  200  is actuated by the user or driver, the actuator switch lever  200  does not cause the driving plate  140  to be rotated but causes rotation of the mirror housing  110 , with the driving plate  140  remaining substantially stationary. In this way, the half-mirror  120  is caused to be displaced from a first mirror housing angular position  125  to a second mirror housing angular position  126  through a determined angle α as indicated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
     In the first angular position  125  of the mirror housing  110  that is shown in  FIG. 1 , where both the half-mirror  110  and the display  130  are substantially in a vertical position, the driving plate  140  is arranged such that it contacts an electrical contact  210  of the switch in the display  130 . This causes the display  130  to be switched off, no image is displayed and the user or driver only sees the field of view of the vehicle rear through the image reflected by the half-mirror  110  acting as a conventional mirror. 
     When the actuator switch lever  200  is rotated by the user or driver such that the mirror housing  110  is positioned in a second angular position  126  as shown in  FIG. 2 , where both the mirror housing  110 , with the half-mirror  110  and the display  130  therein, are tilted, the driving plate  140  is arranged such that it does not contact the electrical contact  210  of the switch in the display  130 . This results in that the display  130  is switched on so an image of the field of view of the vehicle rear is displayed. In this second angular position  126  of the mirror housing  110 , the user only sees the field of view of the vehicle rear through the image displayed by the display  130  of the rear-view mirror assembly  100  because the second angular position  126  was adjusted adequately for this purpose. 
     Therefore, regardless of the angular position  125 ,  126  of the mirror housing  110  inside the vehicle, the field of view of the vehicle rear is always perceived by the user either through the image reflected by the half-mirror  120  or through the image displayed by the display  130 . The image reflected by the half-mirror  120  is no longer perceived by the driver concurrently with the image displayed by the display  130  as in prior art devices, and therefore inconvenient double image effects are advantageously avoided. 
     As stated above, the second angular position  126  of the mirror housing  110  can be adjusted. Referring now to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, this is carried out by means of an adjustable positioning mechanism  300 . The adjustable positioning mechanism  300  allows a plane of the half-mirror  120  to be inclined in said two different angular positions  125 ,  126  by an angle α between 3° and 9°. Other range of angles α may be possible. 
     Two different examples of the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  are now described with reference to  FIGS. 3-9  of the drawings. Specifically, a first example of the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  is shown in  FIGS. 3-5 and 7-9  of the drawings, and a second example of the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  is shown in  FIGS. 6-6   a  of the drawings. 
     Referring now to the first example of the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  according to  FIGS. 3-5 and 7-9  of the drawings, the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  comprises a sliding member  340 . The sliding member  340  is displaceably mounted in the mirror housing  110  along an opening or guide recess  176  formed in the rear cover  170  as shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  of the drawings, the sliding member  340  comprises a U-shaped base body  345  whose branches have respective wedged portions  350 . A first example of wedged portions  350  having a smooth surface is shown in  FIG. 8 , while a second example of wedged portions  350  having a stepped surface is shown in  FIG. 9 . Stepped wedged portions  350  allow the angle of inclination a to be adjusted in a stepwise manner which may be preferred. In the particular example shown in  FIG. 9  every step in the wedged portion  350  corresponds to an angle of inclination a of about 0.5°-1°. In the particular example shown in  FIG. 8 , the smooth surface of the wedged portions  350  allows the angle of inclination a to be adjusted in a continuous manner. A stepwise opening or guide recess  176  in combination with the example shown in  FIG. 8  where the wedged portions  350  have a smooth surface also allow the angle of inclination a to be adjusted in a stepwise manner. 
     In any case, the wedged portions  350  are adapted to abut corresponding wedged portions  370  formed in the driving plate  140 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The sliding member  340  can be thus moved by the user or the manufacturer sideways along the guide recess  176  of the rear cover  170  as shown in  FIG. 7  such that the wedged portions  350  contact the corresponding wedged portions  370  of the driving plate  140  locking the driving plate  140  in a desired mirror housing angular position  125 ,  126 . The stepped surfaces in the wedged portions  350 ,  370  allow the angle α defined by the plane of the half-mirror  120  to be adjusted in discrete, different mirror housing angular positions. 
     In the second example of the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6   a  of the drawings, it comprises a gear driven mechanism  310 . The gear driven mechanism  310  consists of a rod  320  that is rotatably mounted in the rear cover  170  of the mirror housing  110  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The rod  320  has a bevel gear  325  at one end thereof meshing with a first threaded portion of a gear wheel  330  that is formed in an upper surface thereof. The gear wheel  330  is rotatably mounted on a fixed positioning mechanism  380  fitted in the rear cover  170  of the mirror housing  110  which will be described further below. The gear wheel  330  is also provided with a second threaded portion that is formed in a lateral surface thereof meshing with a displaceable rack  335 . The rack  335  is mounted in the rear cover  170  so that it can be displaced along a guide  385  formed therein as shown in detail in  FIG. 6 a    of the drawings. The rack  335  is provided with a stop member  336  at one end thereof arranged to abut the driving plate  140  so as to change the different mirror housing angular positions. Thus, rotation of the rod  320  causes rotation of the gear wheel  330  which in turn causes the rack  335  to be displaced along the guide  385  to change the angular end position of the driving plate  140  and consequently that of the mirror housing  110 . 
     A disengaging mechanism  315  is provided which serves the purpose of causing the rod  320  to freely rotate so as not to cause displacement of the rack  335 . The disengaging mechanism  315  in the example shown is associated with the rod  320  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 6   a.  The disengaging mechanism  315  in this example comprises a sliding portion in the rear cover  170  allowing the rod  320  to slide through the rear cover  170  according to a rod engagement position and a rod disengagement position as it will be described below. 
     In the rod disengagement position, the rod  320  is not allowed to move further into the rear cover  170  so that the bevel gear  325  does not engage the gear wheel  330  resulting in the rod  320  to freely rotate. Therefore, in the rod disengagement position, rotation of the rod  320  does not cause displacement of the rack  335 . 
     In the rod engagement position, the rod  320  is allowed to move through the rear cover  170  when pushed by the user until the bevel gear  325  engages the gear wheel  330 . Therefore, in the rod engagement position, rotation of the rod  320  causes displacement of the rack  335 . 
     Although not shown in the drawings, in a further example of the adjustable positioning mechanism  300  the rod  320  would be replaced with a worm screw. In this case, the gear wheel  330  would have a first diameter body with a first threaded portion meshing with the worm screw and a second diameter body having a second threaded portion meshing with the rack. Operation will be the same as in the above example. The above described disengaging mechanism  315  could be likewise applied to this further example. 
     Referring now to the fixed positioning mechanism  380  shown in  FIGS. 3-6   a  of the drawings, it comprises a U-shaped body suitable to limit movement of the mirror housing  110  between the angular positions  125 ,  126  corresponding to the end stroke of the movement of the actuator switch lever  200 . The fixed positioning mechanism  380  might comprise first and second limiting walls fixed to the rear cover  170  of the mirror housing  110  adapted to limit movement of the mirror housing  110 . 
     It is to be noted that the angular positions  125 ,  126  of the mirror housing  110  referred to in the present disclosure refer to end angular positions corresponding to the end stroke of the actuator switch lever  200 . Between the end positions of the mirror housing  110 , the mirror housing  110  may be positioned according to a number of different angular positions as desired by the user or driver. The present rear-view mirror assembly  100  allows at least one of such end angular positions  125 ,  126  to be varied such that they are not fixedly predefined as in prior art rear-view mirror assemblies. 
     Although only a number of particular examples of the present rear-view mirror assembly, system and method of installation have been disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other alternative examples and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof are possible. 
     For example, the wedged portions  350  of the sliding member  340  could be projections projecting outwards from the base body  340  of the sliding member  340  or they could be recesses formed inwards into the base body  340  of the sliding member  340  or even a combination of projections and recesses. 
     On the other hand, the disengaging mechanism has been described for causing the rod to freely rotate so as not to cause displacement of the rack by disengaging the rod from the gear wheel or from the rack such that rotation of the rod does not cause displacement of the rack. However, the disengaging mechanism could alternatively operate with all such parts, i.e. the rod, the gear wheel and the rack, engaged with each other while still preventing the rack to be displaced as the rod is rotated. In this case, for example, the rod could be provided with a sliding threaded portion that can be arranged in a first position engaged with an inner threaded wall of the rod such that rotation of the sliding threaded portion causes rotation of the rod and thus displacement of the rack. In a second position, the sliding threaded portion is disengaged with the inner threaded wall of the rod such that the sliding threaded portion rotates freely, that is, it does note cause rotation of the rod and therefore the rack is not caused to be displaced. 
     Thus, the present disclosure covers all possible combinations of the particular examples described. The scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow. 
     Reference signs related to drawings and placed in parentheses in a claim, are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim, and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim.