Full display rearview device

• US 10,112,540 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Minikey, Jr., Danny L., Fish, Jr., Richard T., Hamlin, Bradley R., Lisowski, Michael F., Hallack, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deherrera, Kristina
• Application Number:
  US15/157,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20160341963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 359630, 359265-275, 359277, 359245-247, 359254, 359242, 359843, 359871-877, 248474, 248479, 248817, 345 49, 345105, 345107, 438929, 701 36, 701 49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

A display mirror assembly having a mount operably coupled to a vehicle interior. The mount includes one of a ball and a socket extending forwardly therefrom. An engagement plate is pivotally coupled with the mount via the other of a ball and a socket extending rearwardly from the engagement plate. The engagement plate includes a first support member and a second support member pivotally coupled to the first support member. A carrier plate is operably coupled with the engagement plate. The carrier plate supports a rear housing on a rear portion thereof. A glass element is operably coupled with the carrier plate. A display module is configured to be turned to an on state and an off state. An actuator device is disposed on a bottom surface of the housing and is operably coupled with the glass element. The actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element.

Claims

1. A display mirror assembly comprising:

a mount operably coupled to a vehicle interior, the mount including one of a ball and a socket extending forwardly therefrom;

an engagement plate pivotally coupled with the mount via the other of a ball and a socket extending rearwardly from the engagement plate, the engagement plate including a first support member and a second support member pivotally coupled to the first support member;

a carrier plate operably coupled with the engagement plate, the carrier plate supporting a rear housing on a rear portion thereof;

a glass element operably coupled with the carrier plate;

a display module being configured to be turned to an on state and an off state;

a glare sensor disposed between an optic tray and the carrier plate, the glare sensor being in optical communication with a light pipe that extends outside the rear housing; and

an actuator device disposed on a bottom surface of the rear housing and operably coupled with the glass element, wherein the actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element in one direction, thereby moving the glass element to an off-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module, and wherein the actuator device is also adjustable to tilt the glass element in another direction, thereby moving the glass element to an on-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module.

2. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass element is a partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

3. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein an edge of the glass element has a chrome ring edge treatment.

4. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the display module has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the glass element, and wherein the display module is one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

5. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a main printed circuit board arranged behind the display module and oriented such that a planar extent of the main printed circuit board is generally parallel with a planar extent of the display module.

6. The display mirror assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a secondary circuit board proximate the main printed circuit board and having a planar extent that is generally orthogonal to the planar extent of the main printed circuit board.

7. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an optic stack disposed behind the display module and supported by the optic tray.

8. A display mirror assembly comprising:

a mount operably coupled to a vehicle interior;

a carrier plate operably coupled with the mount, the carrier plate at least partially bearing the weight of a rear housing on a rear portion thereof;

a glass element operably coupled with the carrier plate;

an optic stack disposed behind the glass element;

a glare sensor operably coupled with the glass element and being in optical communication with a light pipe that extends above the carrier plate;

a display module being configured to be turned to an on state and an off state; and

an actuator device disposed on a bottom surface of the rear housing and operably coupled with the glass element, wherein the actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element in one direction, thereby moving the glass element to an off-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module, and wherein the actuator device is also adjustable to tilt the glass element in another direction, thereby moving the glass element to an on-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module.

9. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the glass element is a partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

10. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein an edge of the glass element has a chrome ring edge treatment.

11. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the display module has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the glass element, and wherein the display module is one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

12. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a main printed circuit board arranged behind the display module and oriented such that a planar extent of the main printed circuit board is generally parallel with a planar extent of the display module.

13. The display mirror assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a secondary circuit board proximate the main printed circuit board and having a planar extent that is generally orthogonal to the planar extent of the main printed circuit board.

14. A display mirror assembly comprising:

a mount operably coupled to a vehicle interior;

a carrier plate operably coupled with the mount, the carrier plate at least partially bearing the weight of a rear housing on a rear portion thereof;

a glass element operably coupled with the carrier plate;

a glare sensor operably coupled with the carrier plate and being in optical communication with a light pipe that is exposed to an exterior of the rear housing;

a display module being configured to be turned to an on state and an off state; and

an actuator device disposed on a bottom surface of the rear housing and operably coupled with the glass element, wherein the actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element in one direction, thereby moving the glass element to an off-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module, and wherein the actuator device is also adjustable to tilt the glass element in another direction, thereby moving the glass element to an on-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module.

15. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein the glass element is a partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

16. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein an edge of the glass element has a chrome ring edge treatment.

17. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein the display module has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the glass element and includes a display, and wherein the display is one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

18. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a main printed circuit board arranged behind the display module and oriented such that a planar extent of the main printed circuit board is generally parallel with a planar extent of the display module.

19. The display mirror assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

a secondary circuit board proximate the main printed circuit board and having a planar extent that is generally orthogonal to the planar extent of the main printed circuit board.