FRAMELESS INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20120236388A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Wind, Darryl P., Rawlings, Donald S., Uken, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a housing and a mirror reflective element having a glass substrate. The housing includes an element that protrudes beyond a rear surface of the glass substrate and towards the front surface of the glass substrate when the reflective element is at least partially received at the housing. The glass substrate includes a slanted rear perimeter edge-portion along a perimeter circumference of the rear surface of the glass substrate to at least partially accommodate the element of the housing when the reflective element is at least partially received at the housing. The glass substrate includes a beveled front perimeter along a perimeter circumference of the front surface of the glass substrate. The beveled front perimeter of the glass substrate is exposed and viewable by the driver of the vehicle.

Claims

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

a housing;

a mirror reflective element, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate having a generally planar front surface and a generally planar rear surface;

wherein said generally planar front surface of said glass substrate generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at a surface of said mirror reflective element other than said front surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said housing at least partially receives said mirror reflective element and wherein said housing comprises an element that protrudes beyond said rear surface of said glass substrate and towards said front surface of said glass substrate when said mirror reflective element is at least partially received at said housing;

wherein said glass substrate comprises a slanted rear perimeter edge-portion along a perimeter circumference of said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein said glass substrate has a beveled front perimeter along a perimeter circumference of said front surface of said glass substrate, and wherein said beveled front perimeter has a curvature; and

wherein said beveled front perimeter of said glass substrate is exposed to, is contactable by and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said slanted rear perimeter edge-portion of said glass substrate is at least one of angled and curved to correspond to a correspondingly angled or curved form established at said element of said housing.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said angled or curved form established at said element of said housing comprises a resilient element disposed at an outboard region of said housing.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said angled or curved form established at said element of said housing is formed by molding said element as a part of said housing.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said beveled front perimeter of said glass substrate has a radius of curvature of at least about 2.5 mm.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said beveled front perimeter of said glass substrate provides a convex-curved transition between said generally planar front surface of said glass substrate and an outer surface of said element.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing encloses said mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element when said mirror reflective element is at least partially received at said housing.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a prismatic mirror reflective element and wherein said mirror reflector is established at said generally planar rear surface of said glass substrate.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal, and wherein said glass substrate comprises said front substrate of said electro-optic reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflector is established at a surface of said rear substrate of said electro-optic reflective element, and wherein said rear substrate has a generally planar front surface and a rear surface, and wherein said electro-optic medium is disposed between said rear surface of said front substrate and said front surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises an electro-optic active region where said electro-optic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal, and wherein a transparent electrically conductive coating is established at said rear surface of said front substrate at said electro-optic active region, and wherein the surface area of said front surface of said front substrate is larger than the surface area of said front surface of said rear substrate, and wherein no part of said rear substrate extends be and an cart of said front substrate to be viewable by a viewer viewing said front surface of said front substrate of said mirror reflective element.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said mirror reflector is established at said front surface of said rear substrate, said front surface of said rear substrate opposing said electro-optic medium.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said housing houses a perimeter edge dimension of said rear substrate of said electro-optic reflective element, and wherein said beveled front perimeter of said front substrate transitions between said front surface of said front substrate of said electro-optic reflective element and an outer surface of said element of said housing.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises a user input region outboard of said electro-optic active region.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein a touch sensor is disposed at said user input region, and wherein said touch sensor is not in electrical contact with said transparent electrically conductive coating that is disposed at said electro-optic active region, and wherein said touch sensor is operable to detect the presence or touch of a person'"'"'s finger at said user input region.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass substrate has a perimeter band established around a perimeter region of said glass substrate to generally hide at least said element of said housing from view by the driver of the vehicle normally viewing said front surface of said mirror reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said rear surface of said glass substrate has an electrically conductive coating disposed thereat, and wherein a switch portion of said electrically conductive coating is electrically isolated from the rest of said electrically conductive coating at said rear surface of said glass substrate, and wherein circuitry of said interior rearview mirror assembly is operable to detect the presence or touch of a person'"'"'s finger at said switch portion.

16. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror casing;

an electro-optic reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal;

wherein said front glass substrate has a generally planar first surface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and a second surface opposite said first surface, and wherein said rear glass substrate has a generally planar third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said electro-optic medium is disposed between said second and third surfaces;

wherein said rear glass substrate has a reflective mirror reflector established thereat;

wherein the surface area of said front surface of said front glass substrate is larger than the surface area of said front surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein no part of said rear glass substrate extends be and any part of said front glass substrate to be viewable by a viewer viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element, and wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic active region where said electro-optic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein said second surface has a transparent electrically conductive coating established at said electro-optic active region;

wherein said front glass substrate has a perimeter band established along a perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate to generally hide said perimeter seal of said reflective element from view by the driver of the vehicle, normally viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle;

wherein a perimeter portion of said front glass substrate extends beyond a corresponding perimeter portion of said rear glass substrate to establish a user input region that is outboard of said electro-optic active region;

wherein a touch sensor is disposed at said user input region, and wherein said touch sensor is not in electrical contact with said transparent electrically conductive coating that is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate at said electro-optic active region; and

wherein said touch sensor is operable to detect the presence or touch of a person'"'"'s finger at said user input region.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, further comprising a bezel portion encompassing a perimeter edge dimension of said reflective element, wherein said bezel portion does not overlap said first surface of said front glass substrate.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said fourth surface of said reflective element is attached to a mounting portion of said bezel portion.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said bezel portion comprises an outer curved surface that provides a curved transition between said first surface of said front glass substrate and a side wall of said mirror casing.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said reflective mirror reflector is established at said third surface of said rear glass substrate and wherein said reflective mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector.

21. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element having an electrochromic medium disposed between said front glass substrate and said rear glass substrate and bounded by said perimeter seal.

22. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said mirror casing extends across a perimeter edge dimension between said third surface and said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate of said reflective element, and wherein said front glass substrate of said reflective element has a rounded front perimeter along a perimeter circumference of said first surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said rounded front perimeter transitions between said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element and said mirror casing.

23. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror casing;

an electrochromic reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal;

wherein said front glass substrate has a generally planar first surface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and a second surface opposite said first surface, and wherein said rear glass substrate has a generally planar third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed between said second and third surfaces;

wherein said rear glass substrate has a reflective mirror reflector established thereat;

wherein said reflective element comprises (i) an electrochromic active region where said electrochromic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of said electrochromic active region;

wherein said second surface has a transparent electrically conductive coating established at said electrochromic active region;

wherein said mirror casing extends across a perimeter edge dimension between said third and fourth surfaces of said rear glass substrate of said reflective element, and wherein a perimeter portion of said front glass substrate of said reflective element generally coincides with a perimeter edge of said mirror casing; and

wherein a user input is disposed at said user input region and wherein said user input is operable to detect the presence or touch of a person'"'"'s finger at said first surface of said front glass substrate at said user input region.

24. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said front glass substrate has a perimeter band established around a perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate to generally hide said perimeter seal of said reflective element and said perimeter edge of said mirror casing from view by the driver of the vehicle normally viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

25. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said reflective mirror reflector is established at said third surface of said rear glass substrate and wherein said reflective mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector.

26. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein the surface area of said first surface of said front glass substrate is larger than the surface area of said third surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein no part of said rear glass substrate extends beyond any part of said front glass substrate to be viewable by a viewer viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element.

27. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said mirror casing comprises an element at said perimeter edge that protrudes beyond said third surface of said rear glass substrate and towards said second surface of said front glass substrate when said reflective element is at least partially received at said mirror casing, and wherein said front glass substrate comprises a slanted rear perimeter edge-portion along a perimeter circumference of said second surface of said front glass substrate.

28. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said slanted rear perimeter edge-portion of said front glass substrate is at least one of angled and curved to correspond to a correspondingly angled or curved form established at said element of said mirror casing.

29. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein said angled or curved form established at said element of said mirror casing comprises a resilient element disposed at an outboard region of said mirror casing.

30. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein said angled or curved form established at said element of said mirror casing is formed by molding said element as a part of said mirror casing.

31. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said front glass substrate has a rounded front perimeter along a perimeter circumference of said first surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said rounded front perimeter of said front glass substrate provides a convex-curved transition between said generally planar first surface of said front glass substrate and an outer surface of said element of said mirror casing.

32. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said front glass substrate has a rounded front perimeter along a perimeter circumference of said first surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said rounded front perimeter transitions between said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element and said mirror casing, and wherein said rounded front perimeter of said front glass substrate has a radius of curvature of at least about 2.5 mM.

33. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said user input at said user input region is not in electrical contact with said transparent electrically conductive coating that is disposed at said second surface at said electrochromic active region.

34. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said user input comprises at least one capacitive touch sensor.

35. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 34, wherein circuitry is operable to at least one of (a) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor, (b) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said first surface of said front glass substrate is at least one of wiped and washed, (c) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said reflective element is adjusted to adjust the driver'"'"'s rearward field of view, (d) limit erroneous double actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor, and (e) limit accidental actuation of a capacitive touch sensor adjacent to said at least one capacitive touch sensor.

36. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 34, comprising a second capacitive touch sensor disposed at or behind said reflective element remote from said at least one capacitive touch sensor, and wherein circuitry, responsive to a touch or proximity sensed by said second capacitive touch sensor, is operable to at least one of (a) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor, (b) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said first surface of said front glass substrate is at least one of wiped and washed, and (c) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said reflective element is adjusted to adjust the driver'"'"'s rearward field of view.

37. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 34, wherein said at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises a plurality of capacitive touch sensors at said user input region, and wherein circuitry is operable to limit accidental actuation of a capacitive touch sensor that is adjacent to a selected one of said capacitive touch sensors.

38. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 34, wherein said at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises two adjacent capacitive touch sensors, and wherein, responsive to a detection of a touch or presence at said two adjacent capacitive touch sensors, circuitry is operable to implement a priority in determining which of said two adjacent capacitive touch sensors to actuate.

39. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said user input comprises a plurality of touch sensors disposed at said user input region and outboard of said electrochromic active region.

40. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 39, wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, said plurality of touch sensors is disposed below said electrochromic active region.

41. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 40, wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, the individual touch sensors of said plurality of touch sensors are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another.

42. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal;

wherein said front glass substrate has a generally planar first surface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and a second surface opposite said first surface, and wherein said rear glass substrate has a generally planar third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed between said second and third surfaces;

wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic active region where said electrochromic medium is disposed and is bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein said second surface has a transparent electrically conductive coating established at said electrochromie active region;

wherein said rear glass substrate has a reflective mirror reflector established thereat;

wherein said front glass substrate has a perimeter reflective band established along a perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate to generally hide at least said perimeter seal from view by the driver of the vehicle normally viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle;

wherein a perimeter portion of said front glass substrate extends beyond a corresponding perimeter portion of said rear glass substrate to establish a user input region that is outboard of said electrochromic active region;

wherein a touch sensor is disposed at said user input region; and

wherein said touch sensor is operable to detect the presence or touch of a person'"'"'s finger at said first surface of said front glass substrate at said user input region.

43. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 42, wherein said touch sensor comprises at least one capacitive touch sensor.

44. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein circuitry is operable to at least one of (a) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor, (b) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said first surface of said front glass substrate is at least one of wiped and washed, (c) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said reflective element is adjusted to adjust the driver'"'"'s rearward field of view, (d) limit erroneous double actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor, and (e) limit accidental actuation of a capacitive touch sensor adjacent to said at least one capacitive touch sensor.

45. The interior rearview minor assembly of claim 43, comprising a second capacitive touch sensor disposed at or behind said reflective element remote from said at least one capacitive touch sensor, and wherein circuitry, responsive to a touch or proximity sensed by said second capacitive touch sensor, is operable to at least one of (a) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor, (b) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said first surface of said front glass substrate is at least one of wiped and washed, and (c) limit accidental actuation of said at least one capacitive touch sensor when said reflective element is adjusted to adjust the driver'"'"'s rearward field of view.

46. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein said at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises a plurality of capacitive touch sensors at said user input region, and wherein circuitry is operable to limit accidental actuation of a capacitive touch sensor that is adjacent to a selected one of said capacitive touch sensors.

47. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein said at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises two adjacent capacitive touch sensors, and wherein, responsive to a detection of a touch or presence at said two adjacent capacitive touch sensors, circuitry is operable to implement a priority in determining which of said two adjacent capacitive touch sensors to actuate.

48. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 42, comprising a plurality of touch sensors adjacently disposed at said user input region and outboard of said electrochromic active region.

49. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 48, wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, said plurality of touch sensors is disposed below said electrochromic active region.

50. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 49, wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, the individual touch sensors of said plurality of touch sensors are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another.

51. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 42, wherein said touch sensor is not in electrical contact with said transparent electrically conductive coating that is disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate at said electrochromic active region.

52. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 42, wherein the surface area of said first surface of said front glass substrate is larger than the surface area of said third surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein no part of said rear glass substrate extends beyond any part of said front glass substrate to be viewable by a viewer viewing said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element.

53. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 42, wherein said front glass substrate has a rounded front perimeter along a perimeter circumference of said first surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said rounded front perimeter of said front glass substrate has a radius of curvature of at least about 2.5 mm.

54. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 53, comprising a mirror casing, wherein said rounded front perimeter transitions between said first surface of said front glass substrate of said reflective element and said mirror casing.

55. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 54, wherein said mirror casing extends across the perimeter edge dimension between said third surface and said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate of said reflective element.

56. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 55, wherein said perimeter portion of said front glass substrate of said reflective element generally coincides with a perimeter edge of said mirror casing.

57. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 56, wherein said mirror casing comprises an element at said perimeter edge that protrudes beyond said third surface of said rear glass substrate and towards said second surface of said front glass substrate when said reflective element is at least partially received at said mirror casing.

58. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 57, wherein said front glass substrate comprises a slanted rear perimeter edge-portion along a perimeter circumference of said second surface of said front glass substrate.

59. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 58, wherein said rounded front perimeter of said front glass substrate provides a convex-curved transition between said generally planar first surface of said front glass substrate and an outer surface of said element of said mirror casing.