METHOD OF MAKING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR AN ELECTRO-OPTIC REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:
- providing a mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces, and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface and said rear substrate has a third surface reflector established at said third surface, and wherein an electro-optic medium is disposed between said front and rear substrates and is in contact with said transparent conductive coating and said third surface reflector;
providing a metallic electrical connector comprising an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion for receiving an electrical wire therein;
inserting the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector such that at least one tang of said wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire, wherein, when the electrical wire is inserted in said wire receiving portion, an edge of said at least one tang engages and bites into the electrical wire to electrically conductively connect with the inserted electrical wire; and
attaching said attachment portion of said electrical connector at one of said front and rear substrates to attach said electrical connector at said mirror reflective element such that said attachment portion electrically conductively connects to one of said transparent conductive coating and said third surface reflector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween and in contact with a transparent conductive coating and a third surface reflector. A metallic electrical connector is provided that includes an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion. An electrical wire is inserted in the wire receiving portion such that at least one tang of the wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in the wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire. The attachment portion is attached at the front or rear substrate to attach the electrical connector at the mirror reflective element such that the attachment portion electrically conductively connects to the transparent conductive coating or the third surface reflector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:
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providing a mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces, and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface and said rear substrate has a third surface reflector established at said third surface, and wherein an electro-optic medium is disposed between said front and rear substrates and is in contact with said transparent conductive coating and said third surface reflector; providing a metallic electrical connector comprising an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion for receiving an electrical wire therein; inserting the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector such that at least one tang of said wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire, wherein, when the electrical wire is inserted in said wire receiving portion, an edge of said at least one tang engages and bites into the electrical wire to electrically conductively connect with the inserted electrical wire; and attaching said attachment portion of said electrical connector at one of said front and rear substrates to attach said electrical connector at said mirror reflective element such that said attachment portion electrically conductively connects to one of said transparent conductive coating and said third surface reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:
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providing a mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces, and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface and said rear substrate has a third surface reflector established at said third surface, and wherein an electro-optic medium is disposed between said front and rear substrates and is in contact with said transparent conductive coating and said third surface reflector; providing a metallic electrical connector comprising an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion for receiving an electrical wire therein; inserting the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector such that at least one tang of said wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire, wherein, when the electrical wire is inserted in said wire receiving portion, an edge of said at least one tang engages and bites into the electrical wire to electrically conductively connect with the inserted electrical wire; attaching said attachment portion of said electrical connector at said mirror reflective element such that said attachment portion electrically conductively connects to said transparent conductive coating; and wherein attaching said attachment portion comprises receiving a perimeter region of said front substrate in said attachment portion such that said attachment portion clips onto said front substrate and contacts said transparent conductive coating. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:
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providing a mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces, and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, wherein said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface and said rear substrate has a third surface reflector established at said third surface, and wherein an electro-optic medium is disposed between said front and rear substrates and is in contact with said transparent conductive coating and said third surface reflector; providing a metallic electrical connector comprising an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion for receiving an electrical wire therein; inserting the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector such that a plurality of tangs of said wire receiving portion engage the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in said wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire, wherein, when the electrical wire is inserted in said wire receiving portion, respective edges of said plurality of tangs engage and bite into the electrical wire to electrically conductively connect with the inserted electrical wire; wherein said plurality of tangs are circumferentially arranged around an aperture and wherein inserting the electrical wire comprises inserting the electrical wire into the aperture; wherein said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector comprises a connecting element that, when the electrical wire is inserted in said wire receiving portion, engages and electrically conductively connects with the electrical wire; attaching said attachment portion of said electrical connector at said front substrate to attach said electrical connector at said mirror reflective element such that said attachment portion electrically conductively connects to said transparent conductive coating, wherein, when said electrical connector is attached at said mirror reflective element, said wire receiving portion is disposed at said fourth surface of said rear substrate; and wherein attaching said attachment portion comprises receiving a perimeter region of said front substrate in said attachment portion such that said attachment portion clips onto said front substrate and contacts said transparent conductive coating. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification