TIGHT BEZEL-TO-GLASS FIT MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20170158139A1
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tonar, William L., Stray, Joel A., Fox, Mathias R., Minikey, JR., Danny L., Olesen, Niels A., Filipiak, Kenneth R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,214,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 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: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• 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: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly includes a housing, a bezel and an electro-optic mirror element. The electro-optic mirror element includes a first substantially transparent substrate having an edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first substantially transparent substrate and a second substrate having a second edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second substrate and a fourth surface. The first substantially transparent substrate and the second substrate define a cavity therebetween. An electro-optic material is disposed within the cavity. The edge of the first substantially transparent substrate and the second edge of the second substrate are coupled to at least one of the bezel and the housing.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a housing;

a bezel; and

an electro-optic mirror element comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate having an edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second substrate having a second edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second substrate and a fourth surface, wherein the first substantially transparent substrate and the second substrate define a cavity therebetween; and

an electro-optic material disposed within the cavity,

wherein the edge of the first substantially transparent substrate and the second edge of the second substrate are coupled to at least one of the bezel and the housing.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the edge of the first substantially transparent substrate and the second edge of the second substrate are coupled to the bezel.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the bezel extends onto the fourth surface of the second substrate.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein the second edge of the second substrate is positioned outboard of the edge of the first substantially transparent substrate.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein the second edge of the second substrate is positioned inboard of the edge of the first substantially transparent substrate.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein the edge of the first substantially transparent substrate and the second edge of the second substrate are substantially flush with one another.

7. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a bezel; and

an electro-optic mirror element comprising;

a first substrate having an edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first substrate;

a second substrate having a second edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second substrate and a fourth surface, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate define a cavity therebetween; and

an electro-optic material disposed within the cavity,

wherein at least one of the edge of the first substrate and the second edge of the second substrate are coupled to the bezel.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of any one of claim 7, further comprising:

a film coupled to the bezel.

9. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the film comprises a metallized layer.

10. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the metallized layer is configured to reduce at least one of radio frequency interference and electromagnetic interference.

11. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the film further comprises:

an electronic component.

12. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one of the bezel, edge and second edge includes an adhesion promoter.

13. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein the bezel defines one or more securement features.

14. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is electrically coupled with the electro-optic material and extends onto the fourth surface of the second substrate.

15. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a bezel; and

an electro-optic mirror element comprising;

a first substrate having an edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first substrate;

a second substrate having a second edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second substrate and a fourth surface, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate define a cavity therebetween; and

an electro-optic material disposed within the cavity,

wherein the bezel extends onto the fourth surface of the second substrate.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein the second edge of the second substrate is positioned inboard of the edge.

17. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein the edge is positioned inboard of the second edge.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

an electronic component coupled to the bezel.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein the bezel extends onto a third surface of the second substrate.

20. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

an electrical coating positioned on a third surface and the fourth surface of the second substrate.