Electro-optic reflective element assembly
First Claim
1. A reflective element assembly for a mirror system of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly comprising:
- front and rear substrates with an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween, said rear substrate having a smaller dimension across a dimension of said rear substrate than a corresponding dimension across said front substrate such that said front substrate defines a first overhang region at a first edge of said front substrate that extends beyond a corresponding first edge of said rear substrate, said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface facing said electro-optic medium, said front substrate having at least one first conductive layer disposed on said second surface, said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, said third surface facing said electro-optic medium, said rear substrate having at least one second conductive layer disposed on said third surface, said second conductive layer including a tab portion that extends at least to a second edge of said rear substrate, said rear substrate including a non-conductive raceway proximate said second edge and devoid of said second conductive layer except at said tab portion;
a non-conductive seal disposed around a perimeter of said electro-optic medium and between said front and rear substrates and encompassing at least a portion of said second conductive layer and at least a portion of said raceway; and
a first electrical connector in electrical connection with said first conductive layer and a second electrical connector in electrical connection with said tab portion of said second conductive layer, said first electrical connector connecting to said first conductive layer at said first overhang region so as to be behind said front substrate and substantially not viewable through said first surface of said front substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optic reflective element assembly includes a pair of substrates and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween. Each of the pair of substrates includes at least one conductive or semi-conductive layer disposed thereon. The electrical connections may electrically connect to a respective layer and may be electrically isolated from the other layer, such as via non-conductive regions of the substrates and/or deletion lines along one of the conductive layers. The pair of substrates may be positioned relative to one another such that overhang portions of the front substrate extend beyond the corresponding edges of the rear substrate. The overlapping relationship may provide clearance for electrical connection to the conductive layers of the front and rear substrates such that the electrical connections are substantially not viewable through the front substrate.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A reflective element assembly for a mirror system of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly comprising:
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front and rear substrates with an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween, said rear substrate having a smaller dimension across a dimension of said rear substrate than a corresponding dimension across said front substrate such that said front substrate defines a first overhang region at a first edge of said front substrate that extends beyond a corresponding first edge of said rear substrate, said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface facing said electro-optic medium, said front substrate having at least one first conductive layer disposed on said second surface, said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, said third surface facing said electro-optic medium, said rear substrate having at least one second conductive layer disposed on said third surface, said second conductive layer including a tab portion that extends at least to a second edge of said rear substrate, said rear substrate including a non-conductive raceway proximate said second edge and devoid of said second conductive layer except at said tab portion;
a non-conductive seal disposed around a perimeter of said electro-optic medium and between said front and rear substrates and encompassing at least a portion of said second conductive layer and at least a portion of said raceway; and
a first electrical connector in electrical connection with said first conductive layer and a second electrical connector in electrical connection with said tab portion of said second conductive layer, said first electrical connector connecting to said first conductive layer at said first overhang region so as to be behind said front substrate and substantially not viewable through said first surface of said front substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A reflective element assembly for a mirror system for a vehicle, said reflective element assembly comprising:
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front and rear substrates with an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween, said rear substrate having a smaller dimension across a dimension of said rear substrate than a corresponding dimension across said front substrate such that said front substrate defines a first overhang region at a first edge of said front substrate that extends beyond a corresponding first edge of said rear substrate, said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface facing said electro-optic medium, said front substrate having at least one first conductive layer disposed on said second surface, said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, said third surface facing said electro-optic medium, said third surface of said rear substrate having a non-conductive portion proximate said first edge, said non-conductive portion being devoid of said second conductive layer;
a non-conductive seal disposed around a perimeter of said electro-optic medium and between said front and rear substrates, said non-conductive seal encompassing at least a portion of said non-conductive portion of said rear substrate; and
a first electrical connector in electrical connection with said first conductive layer and a second electrical connector in electrical connection with said second conductive layer, said first electrical connector extending from said fourth surface of said second substrate and over at least a portion of said first edge of said second substrate and toward said first overhang region of said front substrate, said first electrical connector connecting to said first conductive surface at said first overhang region so as to be behind said front substrate and substantially not viewable through said first surface of said front substrate, said non-conductive seal and said non-conductive portion substantially electrically isolating said first electrical connector from said second conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification