Vehicle rearview mirror system with compass sensor and method of making same

• US 20050162745A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/148 Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a vehicle rearview mirror system comprises providing a reflective element and providing a common circuit board having first and second circuit portions joined with a breakout interface. The first circuit portion is populated with electronic components and the second circuit portion is populated with at least a compass sensor. After population, the first and second circuit portions are separated from the common circuit board to form, respectively, first and second circuit boards. The first circuit board is disposed at the rear of the reflective element and the second circuit board is interconnected to the first circuit board.

Claims

1-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A vehicle rearview mirror system comprising:

the rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element;

a first circuit board and a second circuit board that are electrically interconnected, each of said circuit boards comprising a plurality of electronic components;

said first and second circuit boards manufactured from a common circuit board having first and second circuit portions joined with a breakout interface, wherein said first and second circuit portions are separated from said common circuit board after said common circuit board is populated with said electronic components to form, respectively, said first and second circuit boards;

said first circuit board disposed at the rear of said reflective element; and

said second circuit board comprising a compass sensor.

51. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element and wherein at least some of said electronic components of said first circuit board controls dimming of said electro-optic reflective element.

52. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said electronic components of said first circuit board includes a display to read out the heading of the vehicle as measured by said compass sensor.

53. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

54. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said first circuit board comprises auto-dimming circuitry, compass information processing circuitry and a display.

55. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said breakout interface comprises a perforated breakout interface and wherein said first and second circuit portions are separated by breaking out the perforated breakout interface to form said first and second circuit boards.

56. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said second circuit portion is at a generally central region of said common circuit board before being broken-out.

57. The mirror system of claim 50 wherein said second circuit portion is at a generally edge region of said common circuit board before being broken-out.

58. A method of manufacturing a vehicle rearview mirror system, said method comprising:

providing a reflective element;

providing a common circuit board having first and second circuit portions joined with a breakout interface;

populating said first circuit portion with electronic components;

populating said second circuit portion with at least a compass sensor;

separating said first and second circuit portions from said common circuit board after being populated to form, respectively, first and second circuit boards;

electrically interconnecting said first circuit board and said second circuit board; and

disposing said first circuit board at the rear of said reflective element.

59. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element and wherein at least some of said electronic components of said first circuit board controls dimming of said electro-optic reflective element.

60. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said electronic components of said first circuit board includes a display to read out the heading of the vehicle as measured by said compass sensor.

61. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

62. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said first circuit board comprises auto-dimming circuitry, compass information processing circuitry and a display.

63. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said breakout interface comprises a perforated breakout interface and including separating said first and second circuit portions to form said first and second circuit boards by breaking out the perforated breakout interface.

64. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said second circuit portion is at a generally central region of said common circuit board before being broken-out.

65. The method of manufacturing of claim 58 wherein said second circuit portion is at a generally edge region of said common circuit board before being broken-out.

66. A method of manufacturing a vehicle rearview mirror system, said method comprising:

providing an electro-optic reflective element;

providing a common circuit board having first and second circuit portions joined with a breakout interface;

populating said first circuit portion with at least one selected from the group comprising auto-dimming circuitry, compass information processing circuitry and a display;

populating said second circuit portion with at least a compass sensor;

separating said first and second circuit portions from said common circuit board after being populated to form, respectively, first and second circuit boards;

electrically interconnecting said first circuit board and said second circuit board; and

disposing said first circuit board at the rear of said reflective element.

67. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein said compass sensor comprises a magneto-resistive sensor.

68. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein said compass sensor comprises a magneto-inductive sensor.

69. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

70. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein at least one of said first circuit board and said second circuit board comprises a flip-chip circuit.

71. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein said breakout interface comprises a perforated breakout interface and including separating said first and second circuit portions by breaking out the perforated breakout interface to form said first and second circuit boards.

72. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein said second circuit portion is at a generally central region of said common circuit board before being broken-out.

73. The method of manufacturing of claim 66 wherein said second circuit portion is at a generally edge region of said common circuit board before being broken-out.