Modular rearview mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, a protective housing supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, and a support bracket assembly extending from the carrier plate through the housing, wherein the support bracket assembly is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle and support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate, and wherein the electronic component unit includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle rearview mirror comprises a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, and a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate. A protective housing is supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate. A support bracket assembly extends from the carrier plate through the housing to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle. The electronic component unit preferably includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing. In another embodiment, an RF antenna is connected to circuitry included in the electronic component, the antenna preferably being mounted in the support bracket assembly. In yet another embodiment, a visual display is provided for displaying information provided by the electronic component unit.
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Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, a protective housing supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, and a support bracket assembly extending from the carrier plate through the housing, wherein the support bracket assembly is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle and support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate, and wherein the electronic component unit includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing.
- 11. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror, an electronic component unit, a protective housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit, an RF antenna connected to the electronic component unit, and a support bracket assembly adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle, wherein the RF antenna is mounted in the support bracket assembly, and wherein the electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror is mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, the protective housing being supported by the carrier plate and the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate, whereby the support bracket assembly is adapted to support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate.
- 20. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror, an electronic component unit, a protective housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit, an RF antenna connected to the electronic component unit, and a support bracket assembly adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle, the mirror assembly further including a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit, wherein the visual display is visible through an aperture in the front of the housing, the electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display, and the electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror is mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, the protective housing being supported by the carrier plate and the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate, whereby the support bracket assembly is adapted to support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate.
- 22. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, a protective housing supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, and a support bracket assembly extending from the carrier plate through the housing, wherein the support bracket assembly is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle and support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate, wherein the electronic component unit includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing, and wherein the electronic component unit includes electronic toll collection (ETC) circuitry connected to the card reader.
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24. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, a protective housing supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, and a support bracket assembly extending from the carrier plate through the housing, wherein the support bracket assembly is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle and support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate, wherein the electronic component unit includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing, and wherein the housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of the mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to the bezel and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, one of the bezel and the case being mounted to the carrier plate.
- 25. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror, an electronic component unit, a protective housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit, an RF antenna connected to the electronic component unit, and a support bracket assembly adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle, the mirror assembly further including a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit, wherein the electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror is mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, the protective housing being supported by the carrier plate and the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate, whereby the support bracket assembly is adapted to support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate.
Specification