Rearview mirror assembly

• US 6,000,823 A
• Filed: 10/12/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Rick, Lawlor, Patrick J., Desmond, John P., McCormack, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/169,862
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/544, 362/543, 362/135, 362/140, 362/144
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A rearview mirror for vehicles includes a mirror case, a reflective element, a support for mounting the assembly on a vehicle, at least one lamp assembly having a reflector member which substantially directs light in a predetermined direction in the vehicle, and a circuit board mounted within the mirror case and having at least one holder for holding a light source which projects into the reflector member. A lens provides shaping and directing properties for light emitting from different areas of the reflector and includes a prescription region which focuses light from the reflector member to a particular target area of the vehicle, and a second region having a prescription different from said first prescription region.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

a support for mounting said rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle;

at least one lamp assembly having a light source and a reflector member to substantially direct light in a predetermined direction in the vehicle, said reflector member having top, front, rear and side walls forming a hollow enclosure, a downwardly directed opening, an aperture extending through at least one of said walls at a position spaced from said opening, and a lens mounted over said opening;

at least one holder which holds said light source such that said light source projects into said reflector member, said holder located outside of said enclosure of said reflector member, said light source extending from said holder into said aperture and terminating within said enclosure to provide light within said hollow enclosure, said light being directed by said reflector member through said lens;

said lens including at least two regions for passing light, one of said regions being a first prescription region which focuses light directed from said reflector member to a particular target area of the vehicle, and a second region having a prescription different from said first prescription region, said lens providing shaping and directing properties for light emitting from different areas of said reflector member.

2. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lens includes a third region having a prescription different from the respective prescriptions of said first and second regions.

3. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lens includes an opaque area to reduce illumination in predetermined areas.

4. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light source is a bulb.

5. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bulb projects downwardly into said reflector member.

6. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bulb projects downwardly at an inclined angle.

7. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector member is removably mounted within said mirror case.

8. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector member has at least one resilient flange for engaging a complementary flange in said mirror case to releasably mount said reflector member in said mirror case.

9. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective element is actuatable between at least two reflective conditions.

10. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective element is an electro-optic rearview mirror element.

11. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said electro-optic rearview mirror element is an electrochromic element.

12. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein a resilient layer abuts a rear surface of said electrochromic element.

13. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein said resilient layer comprises a layer of foam material adhered to a rear surface of said electrochromic element.

14. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 13 wherein said foam material has an adhesive rear surface.

15. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lamp assembly is disposed in a bottom region of the mirror case.

16. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including A first and a second lamp assembly.

17. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first and second lamp assemblies comprise a driver'"'"'s side lamp assembly and a passenger side lamp assembly, respectively.

18. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 17 including a circuit board;

said circuit board having a first electrical switch for controlling the reflective condition of said reflective element and second and third electrical switches for controlling driver'"'"'s side and passenger side lamp assemblies.

19. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector member comprises a metalised reflector member.

20. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

a support for mounting said rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle;

at least one lamp assembly having a light source and a reflector member to substantially direct light in a predetermined direction in the vehicle;

a circuit board having mounted thereon at least one switch;

at least one holder which holds said light source such that said light source projects into said reflector member; and

a lens including at least two regions for passing light, one of said regions being a first prescription region which focuses light directed from said reflector member to a particular target area of the vehicle, and a second region having a prescription different from said first prescription region, said lens providing shaping and directing properties for light emitting from different areas of said reflector member.

21. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 20 wherein said reflective element having has a variable reflective condition;

said circuit board containing an electric circuit for controlling said reflective condition of said reflective element.

22. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

said reflective element being an electro-optic rearview mirror element comprising an electrochromic element;

a resilient layer of foam material abutting and adhered to a rear surface of said electrochromic element, said foam material having an adhesive rear surface;

a support for mounting said rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle;

at least one lamp assembly having a light source and a reflector member to substantially direct light in a predetermined direction in the vehicle;

a circuit board having an electrical circuit for controlling the reflective condition of said electrochromic element, said circuit board being attached to said adhesive rear surface;

at least one holder which holds said light source such that said light source projects into said reflector member; and

a lens including at least two regions for passing light, one of said regions being a first prescription region which focuses light directed from said reflector member to a particular target area of the vehicle, and a second region having a prescription different from said first prescription region, said lens providing shaping and directing properties for light emitting from different areas of said reflector member.

23. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror case including an electro-optic reflective element;

a support for mounting said rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle;

at least one lamp assembly having a light source and a reflector member to substantially direct light in a predetermined direction in the vehicle;

a circuit board and an electrical spring contact to electrically connect said circuit board to said reflective element;

at least one holder which holds said light source such that said light source projects into said reflector member; and

a lens including at least two regions for passing light, one of said regions being a first prescription region which focuses light directed from said reflector member to a particular target area of the vehicle, and a second region having a prescription different from said first prescription region, said lens providing shaping and directing properties for light emitting from different areas of said reflector member.

24. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 23 including a flat electrical terminal on said circuit board;

said spring contact abutting said flat electrical terminal on said circuit board.

25. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror case including an electro-optic reflective element;

a support for mounting said rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle;

a circuit board mounted within said mirror case;

an electrical spring contact to electrically connect said circuit board to said electro-optic reflective element.

26. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 25 including a flat electrical terminal on said circuit board;

said spring contact abutting said flat electrical terminal on said circuit board.

27. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 25 wherein said electro-optic reflective element is actuatable between at least two reflective conditions.

28. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 27 wherein said electro-optic rearview mirror element is an electrochromic element.

29. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 25 wherein said electro-optic reflective element has a variable reflective condition;

said circuit board containing an electrical circuit for controlling said reflective condition of said electro-optic reflective element.

30. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 including at least one lamp assembly having a light source and a reflective member to substantially direct light in a predetermined direction in the vehicle.

31. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 30 wherein said reflector member has an aperture for receiving said light source.

32. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 31 wherein said light source is a bulb.

33. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 32 wherein said bulb projects downwardly into said reflector member.

34. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 33 wherein said bulb projects downwardly at an inclined angle.

35. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 30 wherein said circuit board has at least one switch mounted thereon.

36. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 30 including a first and a second lamp assembly.

37. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 36 wherein said first and second lamp assemblies comprise a driver'"'"'s side lamp assembly and a passenger side lamp assembly, respectively.

38. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 37 wherein said circuit board has a first electrical switch for controlling said electro-optic reflective element and second and third electrical switches for controlling said driver'"'"'s side and passenger side lamp assemblies.

39. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 25 wherein a resilient layer abuts a rear surface of said electro-optic reflective element.