Dimmable rearview assembly having a glare sensor

• US 20050024729A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tuttle, Darin D., Stam, Joseph S., Bechtel, Jon H., Ockerse, Harold C., Rumsey, Wayne J., Walser, Jeremy A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/603
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0422 using light concentrators, collectors or condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0474 Diffusers cavities G01J2001/0481
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/46 using a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0076 for use with a detector G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0215 the surface having a regular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0221 the surface having an irregular structure G02B5/0226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

A rearview assembly of the present invention may include a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, a rearview element disposed in the housing for providing an image to the driver of the rearward view from the vehicle, and a glare sensor positioned to receive light from passing through the rearview element. The glare sensor may be a surface-mounted to a circuit board. An optional secondary optical element may be disposed between the rearview element and the glare sensor. The optional secondary optical element may have an anamorphic lens for providing different fields of view horizontally versus vertically.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in said housing for providing an image to the driver of the rearward view from the vehicle, said rearview element comprising a reflective surface, wherein a substantially transparent window is formed in said reflective surface; and

a glare sensor subassembly mounted behind said window in said rearview element so as to sense light passing through said window of said rearview element, said glare sensor subassembly comprising a glare sensor device and a secondary optical element positioned between said glare sensor device and said rearview element.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein said rearview element is an electro-optic mirror element having a reflective layer.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a circuit board disposed in said housing, wherein said glare sensor device is mounted on said circuit board.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 3, wherein said glare sensor device is surface-mounted to a surface of said circuit board.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 4 and further comprising an ambient light sensor surface-mounted to said surface of said circuit board.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 3, wherein said secondary optical element is mounted to said circuit board in spaced relation to said glare sensor device.

7. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein said glare sensor device comprises:

a support structure;

a sensing circuit mounted on said support substrate for sensing light and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and

an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing circuit on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident light onto an active surface of said sensing circuit, and a light collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting light that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing circuit.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein said support structure is a portion of a lead frame.

9. The rearview assembly of claim 8, wherein said portion of the lead frame includes at least two leads electrically coupled to said sensing circuit, and wherein said leads are retained by said encapsulant.

10. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein said lens portion is elliptical.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein said light collecting portion includes an annular light receiving surface that lies in a plane perpendicular to the major axis of said elliptical lens portion and is disposed around said elliptical lens portion.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein said light collecting portion includes a parabolic surface.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 12, wherein said parabolic surface redirects incident light towards said sensing circuit by total internal reflection.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in said housing for providing an image to the driver of the rearward view from the vehicle;

a circuit board mounted within said housing; and

a glare sensor device surface-mounted to one surface of said circuit board for sensing light from the rear of the vehicle.

19. The rearview assembly of claim 18, wherein said glare sensor device is surface-mounted to one side of said circuit board while receiving light from the opposite side of said circuit board.

20. The rearview assembly of claim 18 and further comprising an ambient light sensor surface-mounted to the same side of said circuit board as said glare sensor device, said ambient light sensor oriented to receive ambient light from the same side of said circuit board to which said ambient light sensor is mounted.

21. The rearview assembly of claim 18, wherein said glare sensor device comprises:

a support structure;

a sensing circuit mounted on said support substrate for sensing light and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and

an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing circuit on said support structure, said encapsulant including an integral anamorphic lens.

22. The rearview assembly of claim 18, wherein said glare sensor device comprises:

a support structure;

a sensing circuit mounted on said support substrate for sensing light and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and

an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing circuit on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident light onto an active surface of said sensing circuit, and a light collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting light that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing circuit.

23. The rearview assembly of claim 18, wherein said rearview element is an electro-optic mirror element.

24. The rearview assembly of claim 18 and further comprising a secondary optical element positioned such that light must pass therethrough prior to impinging upon said glare sensor device.

61. The rearview assembly of claim 19, wherein said circuit board includes an opening for allowing light to be received by the glare sensor from the opposite side of said circuit board, and wherein said rearview assembly further comprises a secondary optical element positioned such that light must pass therethrough prior to impinging upon said glare sensor device, said secondary optical element including at least two resilient legs each configured to engage a corresponding hole in said circuit board so as to enable said secondary optical element to be snapped into position.

25. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in said housing for providing an image to the driver of the rearward view from the vehicle; and

a glare subassembly comprising a glare sensor device for sensing light levels to the rear of the vehicle, and a secondary optical element, wherein said secondary optical element is configured to function as an anamorphic lens.

26. The rearview assembly of claim 25, wherein said secondary optical element further functions as a diffuser.

27. The rearview assembly of claim 25, wherein said secondary optical element comprises a substrate having first and second surfaces opposite one another.

28. The rearview assembly of claim 27, wherein said secondary optical element comprises an anamorphic lens on the first surface of said substrate.

29. The rearview assembly of claim 27, wherein said secondary optical element comprises an anamorphic lens on each of the first and second surfaces of said substrate.

30. The rearview assembly of claim 27, wherein said secondary optical element comprises a first lenticular lens on the first surface of said substrate.

31. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein said secondary optical element further comprises a second lenticular lens on the second surface of said substrate.

32. The rearview assembly of claim 31, wherein said first lenticular lens comprises a plurality of enlongated and parallel first lenslets, wherein said second lenticular lens comprises a plurality of enlongated and parallel second lenslets, wherein said first lenslets extend perpendicular to said second lenslets.

33. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in said housing for providing an image to the driver of the rearward view from the vehicle; and

a glare sensor device mounted behind said rearview element so as to sense light passing through said rearview element, said glare sensor device comprising;

a support structure;

a sensing circuit mounted on said support substrate for sensing light and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and

an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing circuit on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident light onto an active surface of said sensing circuit, and a light collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting light that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing circuit.

34. The rearview assembly of claim 33, wherein said support structure is a portion of a lead frame.

35. The rearview assembly of claim 34, wherein said portion of the lead frame includes at least two leads electrically coupled to said sensing circuit, and wherein said leads are retained by said encapsulant.

36. The rearview assembly of claim 33, wherein said lens portion is elliptical.

37. The rearview assembly of claim 36, wherein said light collecting portion includes an annular light receiving surface that lies in a plane perpendicular to the major axis of said elliptical lens portion and is disposed around said elliptical lens portion.

38. The rearview assembly of claim 33, wherein said light collecting portion includes a parabolic surface.

39. The rearview assembly of claim 38, wherein said parabolic surface redirects incident light towards said sensing circuit by total internal reflection.

43. The rearview assembly of claim 33 and further comprising a secondary optical element mounted between said glare sensor device and said rearview element.

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

44. A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a rearview element disposed in said housing for providing an image to the driver of the rearward view from the vehicle; and

a glare sensor device mounted behind said rearview element so as to sense light passing through said rearview element, said glare sensor device comprising;

a support structure;

a sensing circuit mounted on said support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and

an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing circuit on said support structure, said encapsulant including an integral anamorphic lens.

45. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said support structure is a portion of a lead frame.

46. The sensor device of claim 45, wherein said portion of the lead frame includes at least two leads electrically coupled to said sensing circuit, and wherein said leads are retained by said encapsulant.

47. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said integral anamorphic lens is a bi-radial lens.

48. The sensor device of claim 47, wherein said bi-radial lens is a toric lens.

49. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said integral anamorphic lens is a cylindrical lens.

50. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said integral anamorphic lens presents different fields of view to said sensing circuit for transverse directions.

51. The sensor device of claim 44 and further comprising a diffusant dispersed throughout at least a portion of said encapsulant.

52. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said sensing circuit is sensitive to visible light.

53. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said integral anamorphic lens has different focal lengths for transverse directions

54. The sensor device of claim 53, wherein a sensing area of said sensing circuit is positioned closer to the surface of said integral anamorphic lens than either focal length of said integral anamorphic lens.

59. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said encapsulant has at least a first zone and a second zone, the second zone exhibiting at least one different characteristic from the first zone.

60. The sensor device of claim 44, wherein said sensing circuit has an active sensing area less than 1 mm².

55. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

58. (canceled)