Vehicle rear view mirror assembly with heating and antenna features

• US 5,925,272 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Seiboth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US08/832,925
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 219/219, 343/713, 343/704, 455/345, 362/83.1
• US Class Current: 219/219
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A multi-layer heating and antenna element for mounting to a mirror plate of a vehicle rear view mirror assembly includes a heating foil layer secured to a surface of the mirror plate for heating the mirror plate, a conducting layer adjacent the heating foil layer for providing a heating current to the heating foil layer, an antenna layer, and at least one insulating layer between the conducting layer and the antenna layer for insulating the antenna layer from the conducting layer. A rear view mirror assembly mountable to a mirror housing includes a mirror carrier plate having a first and a second surface, a mirror plate secured to the mirror carrier plate, a heating foil disposed between the first surface of the mirror carrier plate and the mirror plate for heating the mirror plate, and an antenna secured to an disposed along the second surface of the mirror carrier plate. Related rear view mirror assemblies are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear view mirror assembly mountable to a mirror housing, the assembly comprising:

a mirror plate mountable to the mirror housing; and

a multi-layer heating and antenna element secured to a surface of the mirror plate and including a heating foil layer adjacent the surface for heating the mirror plate, a conducting layer adjacent the heating foil layer for providing a heating current to the heating foil layer, an antenna layer, and at least one insulating layer between the conducting layer and the antenna layer for insulating the antenna layer from the conducting layer.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-layer heating and antenna element further includes a conductive protective layer and two insulating layers, the multi-layer heating and antenna element being arranged in the following order:

the heating foil layer, the conducting layer, a first of the two insulating layers, the conductive protective layer, a second of the two insulating layers, and the antenna layer.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the conductive protective layer is electrically grounded via a conductive connector.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer is a stamped layer.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer is a laminated layer.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer is a printed layer.

7. A vehicle rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing;

a mirror plate mountable to the mirror housing; and

a multi-layer heating and antenna element secured to a surface of the mirror plate and including a heating foil layer adjacent the surface for heating the mirror plate, a conducting layer adjacent the heating foil layer for providing a heating current to the heating foil layer, an antenna layer, and at least one insulating layer between the conducting layer and the antenna layer for insulating the antenna layer from the conducting layer.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the multi-layer heating and antenna element further includes a conductive protective layer and two insulating layers, the multi-layer heating and antenna element being arranged in the following order:

the heating foil layer, the conducting layer, a first of the two insulating layers, the conductive protective layer, a second of the two insulating layers, and the antenna layer.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the conductive protective layer is electrically grounded via a conductive connector.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the antenna layer is a stamped layer.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the antenna layer is a laminated layer.

12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the antenna layer is a printed layer.

13. A multi-layer heating and antenna element for mounting to a mirror plate of a vehicle rear view mirror assembly, the element comprising:

a heating foil layer secured to a surface of the mirror plate for heating the mirror plate;

a conducting layer adjacent the heating foil layer for providing a heating current to the heating foil layer;

an antenna layer; and

and at least one insulating layer between the conducting layer and the antenna layer for insulating the antenna layer from the conducting layer.

14. The element of claim 13, further including a conductive protective layer and two insulating layers, the multi-layer heating and antenna element being arranged in the following order:

the heating foil layer, the conducting layer, a first of the two insulating layers, the conductive protective layer, a second of the two insulating layers, and the antenna layer.

15. The element of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer is a stamped layer.

16. The element of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer is a laminated layer.

17. The element of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer is a printed layer.

18. A rear view mirror assembly mountable to a mirror housing, the assembly comprising:

a mirror carrier plate having a first and a second surface;

a mirror plate secured to the mirror carrier plate;

a heating foil disposed between the first surface of the mirror carrier plate and the mirror plate for heating the mirror plate; and

an antenna secured to and disposed along the second surface of the mirror carrier plate.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the mirror carrier plate defines at least one opening through which at least one connection clip for providing electrical connection to the heating foil extends.

20. The assembly of claim 18, further including at least one connection clip for providing electrical connection to the antenna.

21. The assembly of claim 18, further including an insulating covering disposed atop the antenna.

22. A rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing;

a mirror carrier plate secured to the mirror housing and having a first and second surface;

a mirror plate secured to the mirror carrier plate;

a heating foil disposed between the first surface of the mirror carrier plate and the mirror plate for heating the mirror plate; and

an antenna secured to and disposed along the second surface of the mirror carrier plate.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the mirror carrier plate defines at least one opening through which at least one connection clip for providing electrical connection to the heating foil extends.

24. The assembly of claim 22, further including at least one connection clip for providing electrical connection to the antenna.

25. The assembly of claim 22, further including an insulating covering disposed atop the antenna.