Environmentally improved rearview mirror assemblies

• US 20070019296A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, John, Neuman, George, Busscher, Bradley, Bauer, Frederick, Tonar, William, Cammenga, David, Poll, David, Stray, Joel, Ypma, Kenton
• Granted Patent: US 7,370,982 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

Abstract

Environmentally improved rearview mirror assemblies are provided which incorporate a reflective element with variable reflectance. In one embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of cadmium (Cd). In another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of lead (Pb). In yet another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of mercury (Hg). In a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). In yet a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of halogen producing chemicals such as bromine (Br).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having a spectral filter material on a second surface proximate at least a perimeter portion; and

a second substrate having an at least partially reflective stack of materials on at least a portion of a third surface, wherein a spectral filter material b* value is lower than an at least partially reflective stack of materials b* value, wherein the assembly is substantially free of at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of cadmium, lead-based paint, lead-based solder, bromine, poly-vinyl-chloride, a sub-combination thereof and any combination thereof.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 configured as a rearview mirror element.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a coating on a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate that alters the contact angle of water relative to the contact angle of glass.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said coating is hydrophilic.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said coating is hydrophobic.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material comprises spacer beads configured to not cause bead distortion in said spectral filter material.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said spectral filter material comprises chromium.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material is at least partially visible when viewing from a fourth surface of said second substrate.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said plug material is UV curable through said second substrate.

10. An apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising an electrical circuit board having a friction fit electrical connector and at least one electrical connection post on said mirror element, wherein said electrical connection post is in electrical communication with said friction fit electrical connector.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising at least one J-clip.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said J-clip is a formable contact material.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least one of a second surface stack of materials and a third surface stack of materials comprises a thin laser line creating an isolation area.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an exterior light control, a moisture sensor, an information display, a light sensor, a blind spot indicator, a turning signal indicator, an approach warning, an operator interface, a compass, a temperature indicator, a voice actuated device, a microphone, a dimming circuitry, a GPS device, a telecommunication system, a navigation aid, a lane departure warning system, an adaptive cruise control, a vision system, a rear vision system and a tunnel detection system.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a spectral filter material on a second surface proximate at least a perimeter portion;

a second substrate having an at least partially reflective stack of materials on at least a portion of a third surface; and

a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material is at least partially visible when viewing from a fourth surface of said second substrate, wherein the assembly is substantially free of at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of cadmium, lead-based paint, lead-based solder, bromine, poly-vinyl-chloride, a sub-combination thereof and any combination thereof.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising a plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said plug material is UV curable through said second substrate.

17. An apparatus as in claim 15 configured as a rearview mirror element.

18. An apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising a coating on a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate that alters the contact angle of water relative to the contact angle of glass.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said coating is hydrophilic.

20. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said coating is hydrophobic.

21. An apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material comprises spacer beads configured to not cause bead distortion in said spectral filter material.

22. An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said spectral filter material comprises chromium.

23. An apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising at least one J-clip.

24. An apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said J-clip is a formable contact material.

25. An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein a spectral filter material b* value is lower than an at least partially reflective stack of materials b* value.

26. An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein at least one of a second surface stack of materials and a third surface stack of materials comprises a thin laser line creating an isolation area.

27. An apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an exterior light control, a moisture sensor, an information display, a light sensor, a blind spot indicator, a turning signal indicator, an approach warning, an operator interface, a compass, a temperature indicator, a voice actuated device, a microphone, a dimming circuitry, a GPS device, a telecommunication system, a navigation aid, a lane departure warning system, an adaptive cruise control, a vision system, a rear vision system and a tunnel detection system.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a spectral filter material on a second surface proximate at least a perimeter portion;

a second substrate having an at least partially reflective stack of materials on at least a portion of a third surface; and

a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material comprises spacer beads configured to not cause bead distortion in said spectral filter material, wherein the assembly is substantially free of at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of cadmium, lead-based paint, lead-based solder, bromine, poly-vinyl-chloride, a sub-combination thereof and any combination thereof.

29. An apparatus as in claim 28 configured as a rearview mirror element.

30. An apparatus as in claim 28 further comprising a coating on a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate that alters the contact angle of water relative to the contact angle of glass.

31. An apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said coating is hydrophilic.

32. An apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said coating is hydrophobic.

33. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein said spectral filter material comprises chromium.

34. An apparatus as in claim 28 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material is at least partially visible when viewing from a fourth surface of said second substrate.

35. An apparatus as in claim 28 further comprising a plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said plug material is UV curable through said second substrate.

36. An apparatus as in claim 29 further comprising an electrical circuit board having a friction fit electrical connector and at least one electrical connection post on said mirror element, wherein said electrical connection post is in electrical communication with said friction fit electrical connector.

37. An apparatus as in claim 28 further comprising at least one J-clip.

38. An apparatus as in claim 37 wherein said J-clip is a formable contact material.

39. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein a spectral filter material b* value is lower than an at least partially reflective stack of materials b* value.

40. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein at least one of a second surface stack of materials and a third surface stack of materials comprises a thin laser line creating an isolation area.

41. An apparatus as in claim 28 further comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an exterior light control, a moisture sensor, an information display, a light sensor, a blind spot indicator, a turning signal indicator, an approach warning, an operator interface, a compass, a temperature indicator, a voice actuated device, a microphone, a dimming circuitry, a GPS device, a telecommunication system, a navigation aid, a lane departure warning system, an adaptive cruise control, a vision system, a rear vision system and a tunnel detection system.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a spectral filter material on a second surface proximate at least a perimeter portion;

a second substrate having an at least partially reflective stack of materials on at least a portion of a third surface;

an electrically conductive epoxy in electrical communication with said at least partially reflective stack of materials; and

a J-clip in electrical communication with said electrically conductive epoxy, wherein the assembly is substantially free of at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of cadmium, lead-based paint, lead-based solder, bromine, poly-vinyl-chloride, a sub-combination thereof and any combination thereof.

43. An apparatus as in claim 42 configured as a rearview mirror element.

44. An apparatus as in claim 42 further comprising a coating on a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate that alters the contact angle of water relative to the contact angle of glass.

45. An apparatus as in claim 44 wherein said coating is hydrophilic.

46. An apparatus as in claim 44 wherein said coating is hydrophobic.

47. An apparatus as in claim 42 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material comprises spacer beads configured to not cause bead distortion in said spectral filter material.

48. An apparatus as in claim 42 wherein said spectral filter material comprises chromium.

49. An apparatus as in claim 42 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material is at least partially visible when viewing from a fourth surface of said second substrate.

50. An apparatus as in claim 42 further comprising a plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said plug material is UV curable through said second substrate.

51. An apparatus as in claim 43 further comprising an electrical circuit board having a friction fit electrical connector and at least one electrical connection post on said mirror element, wherein said electrical connection post is in electrical communication with said friction fit electrical connector.

52. An apparatus as in claim 42 wherein said J-clip is a formable contact material.

53. An apparatus as in claim 42 wherein a spectral filter material b* value is lower than an at least partially reflective stack of materials b* value.

54. An apparatus as in claim 42 wherein at least one of a second surface stack of materials and a third surface stack of materials comprises a thin laser line creating an isolation area.

55. An apparatus as in claim 42 further comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an exterior light control, a moisture sensor, an information display, a light sensor, a blind spot indicator, a turning signal indicator, an approach warning, an operator interface, a compass, a temperature indicator, a voice actuated device, a microphone, a dimming circuitry, a GPS device, a telecommunication system, a navigation aid, a lane departure warning system, an adaptive cruise control, a vision system, a rear vision system and a tunnel detection system.

56. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate having a spectral filter material on a second surface proximate at least a perimeter portion;

a second substrate having an at least partially reflective stack of materials on at least a portion of a third surface, configured as a rearview mirror element; and

an electrical circuit board having a friction fit electrical connector and at least one electrical connection post on said mirror element, wherein said electrical connection post is in electrical communication with said friction fit electrical connector, wherein the assembly is substantially free of at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of cadmium, lead-based paint, lead-based solder, bromine, poly-vinyl-chloride, a sub-combination thereof and any combination thereof.

57. An apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising a coating on a first surface of said first substantially transparent substrate that alters the contact angle of water relative to the contact angle of glass.

58. An apparatus as in claim 57 wherein said coating is hydrophilic.

59. An apparatus as in claim 57 wherein said coating is hydrophobic.

60. An apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material comprises spacer beads configured to not cause bead distortion in said spectral filter material.

61. An apparatus as in claim 56 wherein said spectral filter material comprises chromium.

62. An apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising a primary seal material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said primary seal material is at least partially visible when viewing from a fourth surface of said second substrate.

63. An apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising a plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substrate, wherein said plug material is UV curable through said second substrate.

64. An apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising at least one J-clip.

65. An apparatus as in claim 64 wherein said J-clip is a formable contact material.

66. An apparatus as in claim 56 wherein a spectral filter material b* value is lower than an at least partially reflective stack of materials b* value.

67. An apparatus as in claim 56 wherein at least one of a second surface stack of materials and a third surface stack of materials comprises a thin laser line creating an isolation area.

68. An apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an exterior light control, a moisture sensor, an information display, a light sensor, a blind spot indicator, a turning signal indicator, an approach warning, an operator interface, a compass, a temperature indicator, a voice actuated device, a microphone, a dimming circuitry, a GPS device, a telecommunication system, a navigation aid, a lane departure warning system, an adaptive cruise control, a vision system, a rear vision system and a tunnel detection system.