Mirror assembly for vehicle

• US 20060255960A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Karner, Lee, Uken, John T., Hook, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.400
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element assembly portion and at least one cap portion adapted to attach to the reflective element assembly portion. The reflective element assembly portion includes a reflective element. The reflective element assembly portion comprises a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of the reflective element. The first molding is formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1 percent. The cap portion comprises at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1 percent. The cap portion preferably includes internal structure for supporting at least one accessory.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a reflective element assembly portion;

at least one cap portion, said at least one cap portion adapted to attach to said reflective element assembly portion;

said reflective element assembly portion including a mirror reflective element, said reflective element assembly portion comprising a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of said reflective element, said first molding being formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1%;

said reflective element assembly portion comprising at least one pivot element, said pivot element providing adjustability of said reflective element when said reflective element assembly portion is mounted within the interior cabin of the vehicle; and

said at least one cap portion including at least one accessory, said at least one cap portion comprising at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1%.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one cap portion comprises a single cap portion substantially encasing a rear portion of said mirror assembly and having an aperture therethrough, wherein a mounting member extends from said pivot element and through said aperture when said cap portion is attached to said reflective element assembly portion.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one cap portion comprises a pair of cap portions attachable at corresponding portions of said reflective element assembly portion.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein each of said cap portions supports at least one accessory having circuitry, said circuitry of said cap portions being connected via a connecting cable.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said cap portions are connected via a connecting member.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one accessory includes circuitry operable to control a display at said reflective element.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said display comprises at least one of a compass display, a tire pressure monitoring display, a telematics display, a navigation system display, a garage door opening system display, a temperature display, a supplemental inflatable restraint system status display, and an object detection display.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one illumination source is positioned to align with at least one port formed on said reflective element when said cap portion is attached to said reflective element assembly portion.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said display comprises a compass display.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said circuitry is in communication with compass circuitry.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said compass circuitry is positioned at an accessory module positioned at a mounting portion of said mirror assembly.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one accessory comprises an accessory module insertable at least partially into said cap portion.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said accessory module includes at least one user input for selectively actuating an accessory of the vehicle.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein insertion of said accessory module into said cap portion interconnects said accessory module to said cap portion both mechanically and electrically.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said cap portion includes a connector for connecting to a vehicle wiring harness.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one cap portion is detachably attached to said reflective element assembly portion.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said first molding comprises a bezel portion of said mirror assembly.

21. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said first molding comprises a backing plate at said reflective element.

27. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said first molding has a first color and said second molding has a second color, said first color being different than said second color.

28. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said first molding has a first exterior finish and said second molding has a second exterior finish, said first exterior finish being different than said second exterior finish.

33. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element and said pivot element is actuated by a toggle element.

35. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element assembly.

36. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflective element assembly portion comprises a first sub-assembly and said cap portion comprises a second sub-assembly, said second sub-assembly being attached to said first sub-assembly to assemble said mirror assembly.

6. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

22-26. -26. (canceled)

29-32. -32. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

37. A method of manufacturing an interior rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:

forming a first molding by injection molding a first resinous material in a mold, said first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of at least approximately 1%, said first molding being at an elevated temperature when said first molding is removed from the mold;

providing a reflective element;

positioning said reflective element at said first molding before said first molding has cooled to ambient temperature, said first molding at least partially encompassing a perimeter portion of said reflective element to form a reflective element assembly portion;

allowing said first molding to cool and shrink to retain said reflective element at said first molding;

providing a cap portion comprising a second resinous material, said second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of at less than or equal to approximately 1%, said cap portion including at least one accessory; and

attaching said cap portion to said reflective element assembly portion after said first molding has cooled and shrunk, said cap portion being attached to said reflective element assembly portion such that said accessory is at least partially within said mirror assembly.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said cap portion includes a printed circuit board therein, said accessory comprising circuitry at said printed circuit board.

39. The method of claim 38 including forming a display region at said reflective element, said circuitry including at least one display element that generally aligns with at least a portion of said display region when said cap portion is attached to said reflective element assembly portion.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein at least one of said cap portion and said first molding include guide portions to guide said cap portion into engagement with and attachment to said first molding to align said at least one display element with a display port formed in said reflective element.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein said reflective element assembly portion is fabricated as a first sub-assembly and said cap portion and at least one accessory is fabricated as a second sub-assembly.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said first sub-assembly is fabricated at a first assembly location and said second sub-assembly is fabricated at a second assembly location.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said first assembly location is remote from said second assembly location.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said second sub-assembly is attached to said first sub-assembly at a third assembly location.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said third assembly location is remote from said first and second assembly locations.

46-59. -59. (canceled)

60. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a reflective element assembly portion;

said reflective element assembly portion including an electro-optic reflective element, said reflective element assembly portion comprising a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of said reflective element, said first molding being formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1%;

at least one cap portion, said at least one cap portion adapted to attach to said reflective element assembly portion, said at least one cap portion comprises at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1%;

said reflective element assembly portion comprising at least one pivot element, said pivot element providing adjustability of said reflective element when said reflective element assembly portion is mounted via a mounting member within the interior cabin of the vehicle; and

said at least one cap portion including electro-optic circuitry for controlling said reflective element assembly, said at least one cap portion providing electrical connection of said electro-optic circuitry to said reflective element assembly when said cap portion attaches to said reflective element assembly portion.

61. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 60, wherein said reflective element assembly comprises a pair of substrates with conductive coatings on opposed surfaces of substrates and an electrochromic medium disposed between said conductive coatings.

62. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 61 including a pair of connectors connected to respective ones of said conductive coatings, said connectors extending from said first molding for connection to said cap portion when said cap portion is attached to said reflective element assembly portion.

63. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 61, wherein said pair of substrates comprises a front substrate and a rear substrate, said front substrate having a first dimension thereacross and said rear substrate having a second dimension thereacross and juxtaposed with said first dimension, said first dimension of said front substrate being larger than said second dimension of said rear substrate.

64. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 60 including a mounting plate with said pivot element established thereon, said mounting plate being positioned at a rear surface of said reflective element assembly.

65. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 64, wherein said first molding at least partially encompasses said mounting plate to attach to said mounting plate and to substantially secure said mounting plate relative to said reflective element assembly.

66. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a reflective element assembly portion;

said reflective element assembly portion including a mirror reflective element, said reflective element assembly portion comprising a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of said reflective element;

at least one trim element adapted to attach to said first molding, said at least one trim element extending at least partially around a front portion of said reflective element assembly portion when attached to said first molding;

at least one cap portion, said at least one cap portion adapted to attach to said reflective element assembly portion, said at least one cap portion including at least one accessory; and

said reflective element assembly portion comprising at least one pivot element, said pivot element providing adjustability of said reflective element when said reflective element assembly portion is mounted within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

67. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 66, wherein said first molding is formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1%.

68. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 66, wherein said at least one cap portion comprises at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1%.

69. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 66, wherein said at least one trim element comprises a material having a Shore A durometer hardness that is less than a Shore A durometer hardness of said first molding.

70. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 66, wherein a portion of said at least one trim element is received at least partially within a portion of said first molding.

71. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 66, wherein said first molding has a first exterior finish and said at least one trim element has a second exterior finish, said first exterior finish being different than said second exterior finish.

72. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 71, wherein said cap portion has a third exterior finish, said third exterior finish being different than at least one of said first and second exterior finishes.