Heatable external mirror for motor vehicles

• US 20060016795A1
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Witzke, Michael, Lang, Heinrich, Scholler, Jorg
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/219
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks

Abstract

A heatable external rearview mirror including a mirror housing for attachment to the vehicle and a mirror pane with a reflecting surface carried in the housing. A heating element is located adjacent the mirror pane for heating the pane to remove precipitation. A thermochromic heating indicator is provided in heat conducting contact with at least one of the heating element and the mirror pane that reacts to temperature changes for detecting heating of the mirror pane by the heating element and providing a visual indication of the operation of the heating element.

Claims

1. A heatable external rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing for attachment to the vehicle;

a mirror pane with a reflecting surface carried in said housing;

a heating element adjacent said mirror pane for heating said pane to remove precipitation; and

,

a thermochromic heating indicator in heat conducting contact with at least one of said heating element and said mirror pane that reacts to temperature changes for detecting heating of said mirror pane by said heating element and providing a visual indication of the operation of said heating element.

2. The external rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator includes a thermochromic material that changes color based on changes in temperature.

3. The external rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator includes a thermochromic material that changes light transmissivity based on changes in temperature so that at a predetermined elevated temperature turns said thermochromic material transparent to allow light to pass, and a predetermined lower temperature turns said thermochromic material opaque to block light passage.

4. The external rearview mirror of claim 3 including a colored marker disposed behind said thermochromic heating indicator for viewing when said thermochromic material turns transparent.

5. The external rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator is carried on a back side of said mirror pane within said housing, and wherein said reflecting surface in an area adjacent said thermochromic heating indicator is at least partially removed so that a front side of the mirror pane acts as an indicator surface to display said thermochromic heating indicator.

6. The external rearview mirror of claim 5 wherein said indicator surface is provided with an optical enhancing structure that influences the optical appearance of said thermochromic heating indicator to improve said visual indication.

7. The external rearview mirror of claim 6 wherein said optical enhancing structure is a prism.

8. The external rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator is made from one of a thermochromic plastic and thermochromic foil.

9. The external rearview mirror of claim 8 wherein said thermochromic foil is carried on one of a back side and a front side of said mirror pane.

10. The external rearview mirror of claim 8 wherein said thermochromic foil is placed in heat conducting contact with said heating element within said housing and extends out of said housing to provide said visual indication.

11. The external rearview mirror of claim 8 wherein said thermochromic plastic is formed as an optical enhancing structure placed on a front side of said mirror pane to improve said visual indication.

12. A heatable external rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing for attachment to the vehicle;

a mirror pane carried in said housing with a reflecting surface disposed on one of a front and back side of said mirror pane;

a heating element adjacent said mirror pane for heating said pane to remove precipitation; and

,

a thermochromic heating indicator in heat conducting contact with at least one of said heating element and said mirror pane that changes color based on temperature changes for detecting heating of said mirror pane and providing a visual indication that said heating element is operating.

13. The external rearview mirror of claim 12 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator is carried on said back side of said mirror pane within said housing, and wherein said reflecting surface in an area adjacent said thermochromic heating indicator is at least partially removed so that a portion of said front side of said mirror pane acts as an indicator surface to display said thermochromic heating indicator.

14. The external rearview mirror of claim 13 wherein said indicator surface is provided with an optical enhancing structure in the form of a prism that influences the optical appearance of said thermochromic heating indicator to improve visual indication.

15. The external rearview mirror of claim 12 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator is placed in heat conducting contact with said heating element within said housing and extends out of said housing to provide said visual indication.

16. A heatable external rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing for attachment to the vehicle;

a mirror pane generally disposed in said housing with a reflecting surface disposed on one of a front and back side of said mirror pane;

a heating element adjacent said mirror pane for heating said pane to remove precipitation; and

,

a thermochromic heating indicator in heat conducting contact with at least one of said heating element and said mirror pane that changes light transmissivity based on temperature changes so that at a predetermined elevated temperature turns said indicator transparent, and a predetermined lower temperature turns said indicator opaque;

whereby, said thermochromic heating indicator detects heating of said mirror pane by said heating element and provides a visual indication of the operation of said heating element.

17. The external rearview mirror of claim 16 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator is carried on said back side of said mirror pane within said housing, and wherein said reflecting surface in an area adjacent said thermochromic heating indicator is at least partially removed so that a portion of said front side of said mirror pane acts as an indicator surface to display said thermochromic heating indicator.

18. The external rearview mirror of claim 17 including a colored marker disposed behind said thermochromic heating indicator for displaying through said indicator surface when said thermochromic heating indicator turns transparent.

19. The external rearview mirror of claim 16 wherein said thermochromic heating indicator is carried on said front side of said mirror pane, and a colored marker is carried on said back side of said mirror pane generally disposed behind said thermochromic heating indicator, and wherein said reflecting surface in an area between said thermochromic heating indicator and said colored marker is at least partially removed for allowing said colored marker to display through said thermochromic heating indicator when transparent.