Indicator display assembly for a vehicle rearview mirror

• US 20090201690A1
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Reep, Phillip, Boivin, Joseph Ivan Rodolph
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10424 Frame holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10484 Obliquely mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2036 Permanent spacer or stand-off in a printed circuit or printed circuit assembly pattern for applying drops or paste H05K2203/0545
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/306 Lead-in-hole components, e.g. affixing or retention before soldering, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated light-emitting diode (LED) indicator display assembly having a carrier plate including a plurality of LED mounting steps. Electrical contact leads for LEDs carried on the mounting steps extend through openings in the mounting steps and out the bottom side of the carrier plate for engaging a metal fret to power the LED array. Preferably, a vibration dampening member is positioned between the LED and the LED mounting step, and a protective covering is applied over the metal fret along the bottom side of the carrier plate to enclose the metal fret and secures the metal fret in place.

Claims

1. An indicator display assembly for mounting to an interior side of a vehicle mirror face, comprising:

a carrier plate adapted for mounting to a vehicle mirror face;

a series of raised mounting steps included in said carrier plate;

at least one LED mounted on each of said mounting steps, wherein each said LED mounted to one of said mounting steps includes a pair of electrical contact leads for extending through said carrier plate;

a series of lead openings extending through said mounting steps from a top side of said carrier plate to a bottom side of said carrier plate, wherein said electrical contact leads of each said LED extend through said lead openings in said mounting steps and out said bottom side of said carrier plate; and

,

a metal fret disposed on said bottom side of said carrier plate, said metal fret including a corresponding series of fret lead openings receiving said electrical contact leads from each said LED, wherein said electrical contact leads are secured to said metal fret in electrical communication to secure each said LED to said mounting steps and interconnect each said LED to provide power for lighting each said LED.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 including a vibration dampening member disposed between each said LED and said mounting steps for relieving stress tensions associated with assembly and damage from vehicle vibrations during use.

3. The display assembly of claim 1 including a protective covering over said bottom side of said carrier plate and said metal fret to form a generally airtight seal with said carrier plate that encloses and secures said metal fret on said bottom side of said carrier plate.

4. The display assembly of claim 1 including a stabilizing member securing each said LED to said mounting steps on said top side of said carrier plate.

5. The display assembly of claim 4 wherein said stabilizing member comprises a silicone adhesive coating applied around a base portion of each said LED to prevent accidental repositioning and provide anti-vibration resistance.

6. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting steps are skewed relative to said bottom side of said carrier plate so that each said LED is carried at an angle for directing light in a desired direction through said vehicle mirror face when mounted.

7. An indicator display assembly for mounting to an interior side of a vehicle mirror face, comprising:

a carrier plate having a perimeter wall extending from a base surface defining a recessed interior portion;

a flange carried on a top side of said perimeter wall providing a uniform engaging surface for mounting said carrier plate to a vehicle mirror face;

a plurality of mounting steps protruding from said base surface in said recessed interior portion of said carrier plate, wherein said mounting steps are skewed relative to said base surface of said carrier plate; and

,

a plurality of LEDs carried on said mounting steps so that each said LED is disposed at an angle relative to said vehicle mirror face when mounted for directing light in a desired direction.

8. The display assembly of claim 7 wherein said LEDs each includes a pair of electrical contact leads for extending through said carrier plate.

9. The display assembly of claim 8 including a series of lead openings extending through said mounting steps from a top side of said carrier plate to a bottom side of said carrier plate, wherein said electrical contact leads of said LEDs extend through said lead openings in said mounting steps and out said bottom side of said carrier plate.

10. The display assembly of claim 9 including a metal fret disposed on said bottom side of said carrier plate, said metal fret including a corresponding series of fret lead openings receiving said electrical contact leads from said LEDs, wherein said electrical contact leads are secured to said metal fret in electrical communication to secure said LED to said mounting steps and interconnect said LEDs to provide power for lighting said LEDs.

11. The display assembly of claim 10 including a protective covering over said bottom side of said carrier plate and said metal fret to form a generally airtight seal with said carrier plate that encloses and secures said metal fret on said bottom side of said carrier plate.

12. The display assembly of claim 7 including a stabilizing member securing said LEDs to said mounting steps.

13. The display assembly of claim 12 wherein said stabilizing member comprises a silicone adhesive coating applied around a base portion of each of said LEDs to prevent accidental repositioning and provide anti-vibration resistance.

14. The display assembly of claim 7 including a vibration dampening member disposed between each of said LEDs and said mounting steps for relieving stress tensions associated with assembly and damage from vehicle vibrations during use.

15. An indicator display assembly for mounting to an interior side of a vehicle mirror face, comprising:

a carrier plate for mounting to a vehicle mirror face;

an LED array mounted on a top side of said carrier plate;

a series of lead openings extending through said carrier plate from said top side to a bottom side of said carrier plate receiving electrical contact leads from said LED array which extend out said bottom side of said carrier plate; and

,

a metal fret disposed on said bottom side of said carrier plate connecting said electrical contact leads of said LED array in electrical communication to power said LED array.

16. The display assembly of claim 15 including a vibration dampening member disposed between each LED of said LED array and said carrier plate for relieving stress tensions associated with assembly and damage from vehicle vibrations during use.

17. The display assembly of claim 15 including a protective covering over said bottom side of said carrier plate and said metal fret to form a generally airtight seal with said carrier plate that encloses and secures said metal fret on said bottom side of said carrier plate.

18. The display assembly of claim 15 including a stabilizing member securing said LED array to said carrier plate.

19. The display assembly of claim 18 wherein said stabilizing member comprises a silicone adhesive coating applied around a base portion of each LED in said LED array to prevent accidental repositioning and provide anti-vibration resistance.

20. The display assembly of claim 15 wherein said top side of said carrier plate includes a series of mounting steps skewed relative to said bottom side of said carrier plate so that each LED in said LED array is carried at an angle for directing light in a desired direction through said vehicle mirror face when mounted.