Modular rearview mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
- a case having a reflective mirror element, said case including at least one opening therethrough;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted to said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a non-electrically conducting support body, said circuit member being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one lamp on said case; and
a lamp mounted on said carrier member, connected to said circuit member, and adapted to provide light through said case opening to a portion of the vehicle when said mirror assembly is mounted thereon;
said carrier member including an edge portion defining a recess, said circuit member including a bulb holder within said recess, and a reflector secured to said carrier member and received in said recess, said recess edge portion engaging and supporting said reflector, said lamp including a bulb mounted within said recess in said bulb holder, said reflector reflecting light from said bulb through said case opening when said bulb is illuminated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular rearview mirror assembly for vehicles incorporates one or more integrated subassembly modules or carrier members to which are connected separate electrical components such as lamps, reflectors, switches, plug receptacles and the like to simplify mirror assembly and provide integral support, electrical connections, and an electrical distribution network for the mirror assembly having added, electrically operated features. The carrier member includes a circuit member secured to and/or at least partially encased or encapsulated within a support body such that electrical connections extend therefrom. Preferably, the carrier member may include recesses at opposite ends for receiving and supporting reflectors thereon to prevent vibration while allowing interchangeability for different vehicle types. The carrier member may form a stop for a toggle actuator to limit the movement of the mirror housing between day and night positions in the event a prismatic mirror element is included. The mirror case includes a plurality of internal wall members including slots for snap-in reception of the carrier member during assembly. In addition, the plug connection includes a latch for retaining a plug in the plug connection when the assembly is connected to a vehicle electrical system. The electrically operated features may include video cameras, rain and other detectors, electro-optic reflective elements, blind spot detection systems, information displays, headlamp controllers, cellular phones, transmitters, receivers, compasses, computers, printers, and the like.
69 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a case having a reflective mirror element, said case including at least one opening therethrough;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted to said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a non-electrically conducting support body, said circuit member being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one lamp on said case; and
a lamp mounted on said carrier member, connected to said circuit member, and adapted to provide light through said case opening to a portion of the vehicle when said mirror assembly is mounted thereon;
said carrier member including an edge portion defining a recess, said circuit member including a bulb holder within said recess, and a reflector secured to said carrier member and received in said recess, said recess edge portion engaging and supporting said reflector, said lamp including a bulb mounted within said recess in said bulb holder, said reflector reflecting light from said bulb through said case opening when said bulb is illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30)
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24. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a case having a prismatic reflective mirror element;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted on said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a support body, said circuit member being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one electrical component on said case;
an electrical component mounted on said carrier member, said component being connected to said circuit member for operation on said mirror assembly;
a day/night actuator mounted for movement between day and night positions on said case to modify the amount of light reflected by said prismatic mirror element, said carrier member including a stop area thereon for engaging said actuator in one of said day and night positions, said actuator engaging said stop area when in said one position to limit movement of said day/night actuator.
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27. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a case having a reflective mirror element;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted on said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a support body, said circuit member being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one electrical component on said case;
an electrical component mounted on said carrier member, said component being connected to said circuit member for operation on said mirror assembly;
said case also including at least one internal wall for reinforcing said case, said internal wall including a slot receiving a portion of said carrier member to secure said carrier member within said case.
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31. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a case having a reflective mirror element;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted on said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a support body, said circuit member being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one electrical component on said case;
an electrical component mounted on said carrier member, said component being connected to said circuit member for operation on said mirror assembly;
said carrier member including a plug connection for receiving an electrical plug to connect said circuit member to an external power source, and a latch member adapted to engage the plug when connected to said plug connection to retain the plug in said plug connection.
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33. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a case having a reflective mirror element;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted on said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a support body, said circuit member being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one electrical component on said case;
an electrical component mounted on said carrier member, said component being connected to said circuit member for operation on said mirror assembly; and
said carrier member including a diode connected to said circuit member for reducing current leakage and battery drain when said assembly is connected to the electrical system of a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (32, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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34. A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a case having a reflective mirror element;
a support on said assembly for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted on said case, said carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit and a support body, said circuit being formed separately from and secured to said support body, said carrier member providing an integral support, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to at least one electrical component in said case; and
a video device mounted on said rearview mirror assembly, said video device being electrically coupled to said circuit member for operation in said mirror assembly.
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Specification