Rearview mirror with integrated frame
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
- an integrated plate frame;
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;
a circuit configured to operate the electrochromic material supported by the plate frame; and
a cover supported by the plate frame and covering at least one of a rear and edges of the plate frame.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochromic mirror includes an integrated internal plate frame with an electrochromic mirror subassembly adhered to its flat front surface, electrical components supported on a rear with the frame acting as a heat sink and EMI/RFI shield, and a back cover supported on the plate frame. The subassembly is uniformly supported across the front surface of the plate frame for good mirror impact resistance. The mirror is supported by an angularly adjustable ball-and-socket connection. In one embodiment, the ball is formed integrally on the plate frame. The present mirror is surprisingly thin, with at least 50% of the depth dimensions being less than about 3.0 centimeters.
233 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an integrated plate frame;
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;
a circuit configured to operate the electrochromic material supported by the plate frame; and
a cover supported by the plate frame and covering at least one of a rear and edges of the plate frame. - 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)
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24. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an integrated plate frame;
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;
a circuit configured to operate the electrochromic material supported by the plate frame; and
a cover supported by the plate frame and covering at least one of a rear and edges of the plate frame;
including an electrical device supported on the plate frame that gives off EMI/RFI emissions, and wherein the plate frame acts as an EMI/RFI shield to block the EMI/RFI emissions;
wherein the plate frame includes a tab bent from the plate frame that forms an overhand over the electrical device to block the EMI/RFI emissions.
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25. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance; and
electrical devices mounted to the backing plate; and
wherein the backing plate acts as a heat sink for the electrical devices.
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26. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface;
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance; and
electrical devices mounted to the backing plate;
wherein at least some of the electrical devices generate EMI and RFI emissions, and wherein the backing plate acts as an EMI/RFI shield.
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27. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance;
wherein the backing plate includes wire-management features for managing and locating wires and for assisting in routing the wires.
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28. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance;
wherein the backing plate includes a channel formed therein.
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29. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:
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an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance;
wherein the backing plate includes one of a ball section and a socket for forming a ball-and-socket connection for adjustably attaching the backing plate to a support component.
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30. The rearview mirror defined in claim 30, wherein the one of the ball section and the socket of the ball-and-socket connection is integrally formed from material of the backing plate.
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31. A rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising;
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a plate frame;
a rearview mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the rearview mirror subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;
a rearview mirror housing at least partially surrounding the rearview mirror subassembly; and
a mount connected to the plate frame;
wherein the rearview mirror housing does not support the rearview mirror subassembly; and
wherein the plate frame supports the rearview mirror housing.
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Specification