Interior rearview mirror for motorized vehicles

• US 5,555,136 A
• Filed: 06/28/1995
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Waldmann, Bernd, Kusuma, Djuanarto
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US08/495,911
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 359/838, 359/871, 359/872, 359/603, 359/604, 250/203.3, 250/203.4, 250/208.4, 250/215, 454/75, 454/900, 248/479, 248/481, 236/91 C
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0075 the input being solar radiation
• 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

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror for a motorized vehicle has a mirror housing with a mirror member and a mirror support connected to the mirror housing. At least one sensor for sensing solar radiation entering the interior of the motorized vehicle through the windshield is provided. The sensor is coupled to the control unit of an air conditioning device of the motorized vehicle.

Claims

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

a mirror housing with a mirror member;

a mirror support connected to said mirror housing;

at least one sensor for sensing solar radiation entering the interior of the motorized vehicle through a windshield, said sensor coupled to a control unit of an air conditioning device of the motorized vehicle;

a cover connected to said mirror support, wherein said at least one sensor is positioned at said cover;

said cover comprises a holder to which said at least one sensor is connected;

said cover comprises at least one cover portion angularly positioned relative to said holder and covering an underside of said mirror support.

2. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said holder has an opening into which said sensor is placed.

3. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a cover element transmissive to solar radiation, wherein said sensor is positioned under said cover element.

4. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 3, wherein said cover element is made of a transparent material.

5. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cover portion and said holder are an unitary part.

6. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said holder extends upwardly through said cover portion.

7. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said cover is secured at said mirror support with a snap connection.

8. An interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a photodiode.