Electrochromic rearview mirror incorporating a third surface partially transmissive reflector
First Claim
1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
a mirror element mounted in said housing;
a graphic compass display positioned in said housing, wherein said graphic compass display comprises;
a plurality of substantially non-opaque regions defining a plurality of graphic compass indicia symbols, wherein said graphic compass indicia symbols include at least the letters N, E, S and W; and
at least four light sources positioned in said housing, each light source selectively projects light through the non-opaque region associated with a respective one of said letters and through said mirror elements; and
a compass circuit mounted in said housing for selectively activating said light sources so as to illuminate one of said letters and display the vehicle'"'"'s current heading.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive electrochromic mirror may be used in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly having a light source positioned behind the electrochromic mirror for selectively projecting light through the mirror. The electrochromic mirror includes front and rear spaced elements each having front and rear surfaces and being sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, a layer of transparent conductive material disposed on the rear surface of the front element, an electrochromic material is contained within the chamber, and a second electrode overlies the front surface of the rear element in contact with the electrochromic material. The second electrode includes a layer of reflective material and a partially transmissive coating of and is disposed over substantially all of the front surface of the rear element. The second electrode further includes a region in front of the light source that is at least partially transmissive.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
a mirror element mounted in said housing;
a graphic compass display positioned in said housing, wherein said graphic compass display comprises;
a plurality of substantially non-opaque regions defining a plurality of graphic compass indicia symbols, wherein said graphic compass indicia symbols include at least the letters N, E, S and W; and
at least four light sources positioned in said housing, each light source selectively projects light through the non-opaque region associated with a respective one of said letters and through said mirror elements; and
a compass circuit mounted in said housing for selectively activating said light sources so as to illuminate one of said letters and display the vehicle'"'"'s current heading. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 65, 66)
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28. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing;
a mirror element disposed in said housing and including at least one substantially transparent substrate having a coating applied to at least one surface; and
at least one graphic compass display positioned in said housing, wherein said coating is at least partially reflective, and wherein said at least one display comprises;
at least one indicia panel at least partially formed in said coating, said indicia panel including a first region and at least one second region having a higher transmittance than said first region, said second region defines an indicia symbol; and
at least one light source positioned in said housing to transmit light through said second region of said indicia panel to selectively display at least one the indicia symbol. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing;
a mirror element disposed in said housing and including at least one substantially transparent substrate having a reflective coating applied to at least one surface;
at least one graphic compass display positioned in said housing, said at least one display comprises;
at least one indicia panel, said indicia panel including at least a first region and at least one second region defining at least one indicia symbol, and at least one light source positioned in said housing to transmit light through said second region of said indicia panel to selectively display the indicia symbol;
a light sensor for sensing a light level; and
a control coupled to said light sensor for automatically varying the intensity of said at least one light source as a function of the sensed light level. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 67)
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Specification