Vehicle mirror system with vehicle heading sensor assembly

• US 6,648,478 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US10/229,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604, 359/605, 359/603, 359/601, 359/871, 359/872, 359/265, 359/267, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 250/205, 250/216, 250/208.1, 250/214.R
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/148 Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a rearview mirror assembly having an electro-optic reflective element, a support for attaching the reflective element to a portion of the vehicle and a control. The reflective element is movable with respect to the support. The control is for establishing a reflective level of the reflective element and for determining a heading of the vehicle. The control includes a first circuit assembly and a second circuit assembly interconnected by at least one wire between the first and second circuit assemblies. The first circuit assembly is mounted to be movable with movement of the reflective element. The second circuit assembly is mounted substantially fixed at the support.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror system, comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing for housing an electro-optic reflective element, a support for attaching said mirror casing to a portion of a vehicle, said mirror casing pivotally attaching to said support wherein said mirror casing that houses said reflective element is moveable with respect to said support and a control for establishing a reflectance level of said reflective element and for determining a heading of the vehicle;

said control comprising a first circuit assembly and a second circuit assembly that are electrically interconnected, wherein said first circuit assembly is mounted to be moveable with movement of said mirror casing whereby movement of said first circuit assembly is substantially separate from said support, and said second circuit assembly is mounted substantially fixed at said support, said second circuit assembly being substantially separate from movement of said mirror casing, and said second circuit assembly including a vehicle heading sensor.

2. The mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are built from a common circuit board.

3. The mirror system in claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises one of an interior mirror assembly and an exterior mirror assembly.

4. The mirror system in claim 2 wherein said support comprises a ball mount having a ball and wherein said second circuit assembly is mounted at said ball.

5. The mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by at least one wire bonded between said first and second circuit assemblies.

6. The mirror system in claim 5 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by ball-and-stitch bonding between said first and second circuit assemblies.

7. The mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by a ribbon cable.

8. The mirror system in claim 1 wherein said heading sensor comprises a two-axis compass sensor.

9. The mirror assembly in claim 1 including an opening in said first circuit assembly that is greater than or substantially equal to a size of said second circuit assembly.

10. The mirror assembly in claim 9 wherein said second circuit assembly is generally juxtaposed with said opening in said first circuit assembly.

11. The mirror assembly in claim 9 wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises one of an interior mirror assembly and an exterior mirror assembly.

12. The mirror assembly in claim 9 wherein said support comprises a ball mount having a ball and wherein said second circuit assembly is mounted at said ball.

13. The mirror assembly in claim 9 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by at least one wire bonded between said first and second circuit assemblies.

14. The mirror assembly in claim 13 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by ball-and-stitch bonding between said first and second circuit assemblies.

15. The mirror assembly in claim 9 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by a ribbon cable.

16. The mirror assembly in claim 9 wherein said heading sensor comprises a two-axis compass sensor.

17. The mirror assembly in claim 1 wherein said support comprises a ball mount having a ball and wherein said second circuit assembly is mounted at said ball.

18. The mirror assembly in claim 17 wherein said ball mount comprises a single ball mount.

19. The mirror assembly in claim 17 wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises one of an interior mirror assembly and an exterior mirror assembly.

20. The mirror assembly in claim 17 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by at least one wire bonded between said first and second circuit assemblies.

21. The mirror assembly in claim 20 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by ball-and-stitch bonding between said first and second circuit assemblies.

22. The mirror assembly in claim 17 wherein said first and second circuit assemblies are interconnected by a ribbon cable.

23. The mirror assembly in claim 17 wherein said heading sensor comprises a two-axis compass sensor.