HEAD SECTION FOR A REAR VIEW DEVICE

• US 20170267179A1
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Andreas, Schmierer, Arne, Field, Simon David, Lettis, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,744,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/37 specially adapted for signal lamps

Abstract

A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle includes a casing means including at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle, at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section, a first rear view means for displaying an area of the motor vehicle, and a second rear view means for displaying a second are of the motor vehicle, where the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means includes a combined, single-piece component, and where the lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating.

Claims

1. A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a casing means comprising at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle;

at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section;

a first rear view means for displaying a first side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction; and

a second rear view means for displaying a second side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction,

wherein the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means forming a combined, single-piece component, and

wherein the lid section comprises a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating in the region of the combined, single-piece component for providing the second rear view means where the second rear view means is a reflective element.

2. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the lid section comprises a bezel section in addition to the coated, combined, single-piece component providing a second rear view means section.

3. The head section according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric substrate is also coated in the bezel section.

4. The head section according to claim 3, wherein the coating in the bezel section comprises a chromium-based reflective coating.

5. The head section according to claim 3, wherein the coating in the bezel section differs from the coating in the second rear view means section with respect to at least one of color and reflectivity.

6. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the housing section and the lid section seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area, or wherein the housing section, the lid section and the first rear view means seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area.

7. The head section according to claim 6, wherein the at least one electronic unit is arranged without housing in the hollow area.

8. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the housing section and the lid section are capable of being locked relative to each other at a coupling portion in such a manner that they overlap each other.

9. The head section according to claim 8, wherein the housing section and the lid section form an undercut.

10. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the first rear view means is capable of being locked relative to the housing section.

11. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the housing section includes at least one light window, and wherein the electronic unit has a lighting unit arranged in the hollow area and comprises at least one printed circuit board and at least one lamp suited for emitting light through the light window.

12. The head section according to claim 11, wherein the housing section comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, and wherein the first housing part is a plastic part which is immediately adjacent to the hollow area and has a coloring which is essentially opaque or non-translucent, and wherein the first housing part comprises an opening in the area of the light window.

13. The head section according to claim 12, wherein the second housing part of the housing section is a plastic part that is arranged in such a manner that the second housing part lies on a surface of the first housing part which faces away from the hollow area, and is essentially translucent or transparent in the area of the light window.

14. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the first rear view means is provided with a recess and the second rear view mean extends into said recess.

15. The head section according to claim 14, wherein the recess is provided at the end of the first rear view means facing away from the motor vehicle.

16. The head section according to claim 14, wherein the recess comprises a triangle with smoothened edges.

17. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the lid section further comprises a first rear view means section for supporting the first rear view means.

18. The head section according to claim 17, wherein the surface of the first rear view means section is at least one of flat, curved and convex shaped.

19. The head section according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the second rear view means section is at least one of flat, curved and convex shaped.

20. The head section according to claim 17, wherein the first rear view means comprises at least one of a coating, a chromium-based reflective coating, a reflective element, a display means, a screen, an LED screen and an LCD screen.

21. The head section according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the curvature of the surface of the first rear view means section differs from the curvature of the surface of the second rear view means section.

22. The head section according to claim 1 or claim 17, wherein at least one of the first rear view means section and the second rear view means section is inclined.

23. The head section according to claim 2 or claim 17, wherein the lid section further comprises a step between the second rear view means section and at least one of the bezel section and the first rear view means section.

24. The head section according to claim 23, wherein the reflective surface of the first and the second review means are arranged in one plane.

25. The head section according to claim 2, wherein the lid section further comprises a first groove between the bezel section and at least one of the first rear view means section and the second rear view means section.

26. The head section according to claim 17, wherein the lid section further comprises a first groove between the bezel section and at least one of the first rear view means section and the second rear view means section.

27. The head section according to claim 17, wherein the lid section further comprises a second groove or a rim between the first rear view means section and the second rear view means section.

28. The head section according to claim 25, claim 26, or claim 27, wherein the lid section is uncoated in the region of at least one of the first groove and the second groove.

29. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the second rear view means is a spotter mirror providing a wider field of view than the first rear view means.

30. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the first rear view means is configured to be moved at least one of relative to the second rear view means and independent from the second rear view means.

31. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the second rear view means is tilted with respect to at least one axis.

32. The head section according to claim 31, wherein the tilting angle lies in the region from −

30°

to 45°

.

33. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the lid section provides a multi-function backing plate comprising the second rear view means section and a first rear view means section.

34. The head section according to claim 33, wherein the first rear view means section comprises a recess for receiving the first rear view means, and the second rear view means section is thicker than the second rear view means section.

35. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the multi-function backing plate comprises a shoulder being provided between the first and the second rear view means section.

36. The head section according to claim 1 or claim 20, wherein the coating comprises an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

37. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.

38. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

39. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

40. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

41. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

42. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is titanium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

43. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is cobalt, and wherein the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

44. The head section according to claim 1 or claim 20, wherein the coating has a thickness of at least one of 200 nm or less, 100 nm or less, in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm, and about 60 nm.

45. The head section according to claim 33, wherein the second rear view means section is elevated with respect to and overlapping with the first rear view means section.

46. The head section according to claim 45, further comprising an inclined shoulder that is provided between the first and second rear view means sections such that the second rear view means section is elevated with respect to and overlapping with the first rear view means.

47. The head section according to claim 33, further comprising an inclined shoulder that is provided between the first and second rear view means sections such that the first rear view means section is elevated with respect to and overlapping with the second rear view means section.

48. The head section according to claim 1, further comprising

a transition surface disposed between the first and second rear view means and oriented toward the driver of the motor vehicle;

and

a blind spot indicator fixedly secured to the transition surface and oriented toward the driver of the motor vehicle to provide indication to the driver when an object is detected in the blind spot of the motor vehicle by said blind spot indicator emitting light toward the driver of the motor vehicle.

49. The head section according to claim 48, wherein the transition surface has a first edge contiguous with the first rear view means and a second edge contiguous with the second rear view means.

50. The head section according to claim 48, wherein the first rear view means surface, the second rear view surface and the transition surface are integrally formed by the lid section.

51. The head section according to claim 48, wherein the transition surface forms at least one of a discrete step, a rim and a discontinuity between the first and second rear view means sections.

52. The head section according to claim 48, wherein at least a portion of the transition surface is at least one of transparent and semi-transparent.

53. The head section according to claim 48, wherein the blind spot indicator comprises at least one of a light source located behind the transition surface and an indicator displayable on the transition surface, the indicator illuminated by the light source when an object is detected in the blind spot of the motor vehicle.

54. The head section according to claim 48, further including a symbol located on either the first or second rear view means surfaces for identifying the indicator displayable on the transition surface as a blind spot indicator.

55. The head section according to claim 48, wherein the surface of the first rear view means has a minimum radius of curvature of 600 mm.

56. The head section according to claim 48, wherein the surface of the second rear view means has a radius of curvature in the range 200-500 mm.

57. The head section according to claim 48, wherein at least one of the first or second rear view means surfaces is flat.

58. A rear view device for a motor vehicle with the head section according to claim 1.