EXTERIOR MIRROR WITH SPOTTER MIRROR

• US 20160250971A1
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rawlings, Donald S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,259,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected 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: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/34 reflector

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a principal reflective element, a wide angle auxiliary reflective element and a back plate. The principal reflective element is disposed at a principal reflective element region of the back plate and has a cutout at a corner region thereof. The wide angle auxiliary reflective element is disposed at the auxiliary reflective element region of the back plate and is adjacent to the principal reflective element at the corner region of the principal reflective element. A single heater pad is disposed between the principal reflective element and the principal reflective element region of the back plate and between the wide angle auxiliary reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element region of the back plate. When powered, the single heater pad heats the principal reflective element and the wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

Claims

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

a principal reflective element comprising a mirror-coated glass substrate;

wherein said principal reflective element has a cutout at a corner region thereof;

a wide angle auxiliary reflective element comprising a mirror-coated glass substrate;

a plastic back plate formed by injection molding, said back plate comprising a principal reflective element region and an auxiliary reflective element region;

wherein said principal reflective element is disposed at said principal reflective element region of said back plate;

wherein said wide angle auxiliary reflective element is disposed at said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate and is adjacent to said principal reflective element at said corner region of said principal reflective element;

a single heater pad disposed between said principal reflective element and said principal reflective element region of said back plate and between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate;

wherein, when powered, said single heater pad heats said principal reflective element and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element; and

wherein, when powered, said single heater pad provides enhanced heating at said wide angle auxiliary reflective element as compared to heating at said principal reflective element.

2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass substrate of said principal reflective element is adhesively attached at said single heater pad and wherein said single heater pad is adhesively attached at said principal reflective element region of said back plate.

3. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, comprising a demarcation between a perimeter edge of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and a perimeter edge of said principal reflective element at said cutout.

4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said demarcation comprises a demarcating element disposed between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said principal reflective element.

5. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said demarcating element comprises a first groove that receives said perimeter edge of said principal reflective element and a second groove that receives said perimeter edge of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element, and wherein, with said perimeter edges received by said first and second grooves, respectively, a portion of said demarcating element overlaps a portion of said principal reflective element and a portion of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element at or near said perimeter edges.

6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said demarcation element comprises a molded plastic element.

7. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said demarcation element comprises a dark polymeric material.

8. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said back plate comprises a perimeter lip that forms a pocket that at least partially receives said principal reflective element and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

9. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said perimeter lip of said back plate frames said principal reflective element and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

10. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said single heater pad comprises electrical contacts that protrude at least partially through at least one aperture through said back plate for electrical connection of said electrical contacts to an electrical connector, and wherein, with said electrical connector electrically connected to an electrical power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly and powered, said single heater pad heats said principal reflective element and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

11. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said wide angle auxiliary reflective element disposed at said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate, a gap exists between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said heater pad.

12. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said gap is at least partially filled with a heat conductive material disposed between said single heater pad and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

13. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said substrate of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element comprises a concave surface.

14. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a principal reflective element comprising a mirror-coated glass substrate;

wherein said principal reflective element has a cutout at a corner region thereof;

a wide angle auxiliary reflective element comprising a mirror-coated glass substrate;

a plastic back plate formed by injection molding, said back plate comprising a principal reflective element region and an auxiliary reflective element region;

wherein said principal reflective element is disposed at said principal reflective element region of said back plate;

wherein said wide angle auxiliary reflective element is disposed at said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate and is adjacent to said principal reflective element at said corner region of said principal reflective element;

a single heater pad disposed between said principal reflective element and said principal reflective element region of said back plate and between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate;

wherein said single heater pad comprises electrical contacts that protrude at least partially through at least one aperture through said back plate for electrical connection of said electrical contacts to an electrical connector, and wherein, with said electrical connector electrically connected to an electrical power source of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly and powered, said single heater pad heats said principal reflective element and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element;

wherein said glass substrate of said principal reflective element is adhesively attached at said single heater pad and wherein said single heater pad is adhesively attached at said principal reflective element region of said back plate; and

wherein, when powered, said single heater pad provides enhanced heating at said wide angle auxiliary reflective element as compared to heating at said principal reflective element.

15. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, comprising a demarcation between a perimeter edge of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and a perimeter edge of said principal reflective element at said cutout, wherein said demarcation comprises a demarcating element disposed between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said principal reflective element, and wherein said demarcating element comprises a first groove that receives said perimeter edge of said principal reflective element and a second groove that receives said perimeter edge of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element, and wherein, with said perimeter edges received by said first and second grooves, respectively, a portion of said demarcating element overlaps a portion of said principal reflective element and a portion of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element at or near said perimeter edges, and wherein said demarcation element comprises a molded plastic element.

16. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein, with said wide angle auxiliary reflective element disposed at said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate, a gap exists between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said heater pad.

17. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said gap is at least partially filled with a heat conductive material disposed between said single heater pad and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

18. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a principal reflective element comprising a mirror-coated glass substrate;

wherein said principal reflective element has a cutout at a corner region thereof;

a wide angle auxiliary reflective element comprising a mirror-coated glass substrate;

a plastic back plate formed by injection molding, said back plate comprising a principal reflective element region and an auxiliary reflective element region;

wherein said principal reflective element is disposed at said principal reflective element region of said back plate;

wherein said wide angle auxiliary reflective element is disposed at said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate and is adjacent to said principal reflective element at said corner region of said principal reflective element;

a demarcation between a perimeter edge of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and a perimeter edge of said principal reflective element at said cutout;

a single heater pad disposed between said principal reflective element and said principal reflective element region of said back plate and between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate;

wherein, when powered, said single heater pad heats said principal reflective element and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element; and

wherein, when powered, said single heater pad provides enhanced heating at said wide angle auxiliary reflective element as compared to heating at said principal reflective element.

19. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said demarcation comprises a demarcating element disposed between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said principal reflective element, and wherein said demarcating element comprises a first groove that receives said perimeter edge of said principal reflective element and a second groove that receives said perimeter edge of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element, and wherein, with said perimeter edges received by said first and second grooves, respectively, a portion of said demarcating element overlaps a portion of said principal reflective element and a portion of said wide angle auxiliary reflective element at or near said perimeter edges, and wherein said demarcation element comprises a molded plastic element.

20. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein, with said wide angle auxiliary reflective element disposed at said auxiliary reflective element region of said back plate, a gap exists between said wide angle auxiliary reflective element and said heater pad, and wherein said gap is at least partially filled with a heat conductive material disposed between said single heater pad and said wide angle auxiliary reflective element.