Rearview mirror with buttons incorporating display

• US 6,420,800 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., LeVesque, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/632,470
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 359/838, 359/839, 362/487, 362/494
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

An electrochromic mirror includes a housing, a rearview mirror subassembly including a reflector in the housing, and an electrical circuit with switches adapted to interact with electrical systems in the vehicle. An elongated display area is formed in a face of the housing assembly, either under, aside or above the face. Switch buttons are positioned in the display area for operating switches in the electrical circuit. A compact display is incorporated into a face of the buttons. Specifically, a center region forms a symbol. A border is formed around the center region, and a third region is formed around the border. One of the center region, the border, and the outer region is light-transmissive, and the other two regions contrast in color. A light source is positioned to direct light toward the button face. Each light source is operably connected to the electrical circuit and the electrical circuit is configured to variably energize and de-energize the associated light source when the one switch is activated and de-activated. By this arrangement, the button is visible and identified during daylight and during night with the light source activated or de-activated.

Claims

1. A mirror for a vehicle comprising

a mirror housing;

a reflector positioned in the mirror housing;

an electrical circuit including a switch coupled to the mirror housing for activating and deactivating the electrical circuit;

a sensor operably connected to the electrical circuit for sensing daylight and darkness;

a compact display on a front of the mirror housing including a button coupled to the switch to actuate the switch, the button including a face having a symbol-defining center area, and further having marginal area around the window to define a border, and still further having outer material forming an outer region outside of the border, the center area and the marginal area both defining an identifying symbol for the button, one of the marginal area and the center area having an appearance in daylight that contrasts visibly and noticeably with the outer material, and the other of the marginal area and the center area forming a light-transmissive window; and

a light source positioned to direct light toward the window;

the electrical circuit being configured to automatically energize the light source to a first level to allow viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has de-activated the circuit, and further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a second level to allow viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has activated the circuit, and still further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a third level to allow viewing and identification when in daylight and when the switch has activated the circuit, and also the one of the border and the center area being sharply visible due to contrast to the outer material when in the daylight to allow viewing and identification of the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.

2. The compact display defined in claim 1, wherein the button incorporates a resilient flexible base that operably supports the button for movement between a switch-depressed position for actuating the switch and a rest position.

3. In compact display for a mirror in a vehicle, the mirror having a mirror housing, a reflector positioned in the mirror housing, and an electrical circuit including a switch coupled to the mirror housing for activating and de-activating the electrical circuit, and a sensor operably connected to the electrical circuit for sensing daylight and darkness, the display comprising:

a button coupled to the switch to actuate the switch, the button including a first material in a first area forming a symbol, a second material in a second area forming an outline around the symbol, and a third material in a third area outside of the outline, the third material contrasting visibly with one of the first and second materials for good viewing even at dusk, and the other of the first and second materials being light-transmitting to form a window;

a light source positioned to direct light toward the window;

the electrical circuit being configured to automatically energize the light source to a first level when in darkness and when the switch has de-activated the circuit, and further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a second level when in darkness and when the switch has activated the circuit, and still further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a third level when in daylight and when the switch has activated the circuit, and also the border being visible by contrast to at least one of the outer material and the window when in the daylight to identify the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.

4. The compact display defined in claim 3, wherein the first material is translucent.

5. The compact display defined in claim 3, wherein the second material is translucent.

6. The compact display defined in claim 5, wherein the first material is one of green and amber in color.

7. The compact display defined in claim 3, wherein the button incorporates a resilient flexible base that operably supports the button for movement between a switch-depressed position for actuating the switch and a rest position.

8. A compact apparatus for a vehicle component comprising:

a housing;

a switch coupled to the housing;

a button coupled to the switch to actuate the switch, the button including a face having a first material in a first region in the shape of a symbol, a second material forming a border around the symbol, and still further having a third material in an outer region outside of the border, the first and second materials both defining an identifying symbol for the button, one of the first, second and third materials having an appearance in daylight that contrasts visibly with at least one of the other two materials when the window is not lit, and at least one of the other two materials being translucent; and

an automatically varied light source positioned in the housing to direct light toward the window, the light source being configured to provide light sufficient for viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has de-activated the circuit, and further being configured to provide light sufficient for viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has activated the circuit, and still further being configured to provide light sufficient for viewing and identification when in daylight and when the switch has activated the circuit, and also one of the first region and the border being visible when in the daylight to identify the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.

9. The compact apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein one of the first, second, and third materials is amber in color.

10. The compact apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the first material is amber.

11. The compact apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the second material is amber.

12. The compact apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the third material is one of green and amber.

13. The compact apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the first material is translucent.

14. The compact apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the second material is translucent.

15. The compact apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the third material is translucent.