Modular rearview mirror assembly

• US 7,362,237 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Donnelly Engineering GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Garrett, Coady, Lawlor, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US11/693,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.49, 340/815.5, 340/901, 359/838, 359871-872, 359/602, 359/605, 359/265, 359/267, 235379-380, 235/384, 705/13, 362/494
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly including 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 electronic component unit may be mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror may be mounted on the other face of said carrier plate, with the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate. The electronic component unit may be adapted to receive information via the RF antenna and may display such information on a visual display.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror;

an electronic component unit;

a protective housing exposing said mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing said electronic component unit;

an RF antenna connected to said electronic component unit;

a support bracket assembly adapted to mount said mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle;

wherein said electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and said mirror is mounted on the other face of said carrier plate, said support bracket assembly extending through said housing from said carrier plate;

a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit; and

wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

2. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said visual display is visible through an aperture in the front of said housing.

3. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive traffic information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

4. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

5. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

6. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of said mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to said bezel and enclosing said electronic component unit and said carrier plate, one of said bezel and said case being mounted to said carrier plate.

7. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element.

8. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 7, wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element is operable to reduce the amount of reflected light in response to a control unit of said mirror assembly.

9. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support bracket assembly comprises said RF antenna.

10. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror;

an electronic component unit;

a protective housing exposing said mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing said electronic component unit;

an RF antenna connected to said electronic component unit;

a support bracket assembly adapted to mount said mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle;

wherein said electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and said mirror is mounted on the other face of said carrier plate, said support bracket assembly extending through said housing from said carrier plate; and

wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive information via the RF antenna.

11. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 10, wherein said housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of said mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to said bezel and enclosing said electronic component unit and said carrier plate, one of said bezel and said case being mounted to said carrier plate.

12. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 10 further comprising a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit.

13. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said visual display is visible through an aperture in the front of said housing.

14. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive traffic information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

15. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

16. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via said RF antenna and display such information on said visual display.

17. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 10, wherein said mirror comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element that is operable to reduce the amount of reflected light in response to a control unit of said mirror assembly.

18. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 10, wherein said support bracket assembly comprises said RF antenna.

19. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror, said mirror comprising an electrochromic mirror;

an electronic component unit;

a protective housing exposing said mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing said electronic component unit;

an RF antenna connected to said electronic component unit;

a support bracket assembly adapted to mount said mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle;

wherein said support bracket assembly comprises said RF antenna;

wherein said electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and said mirror is mounted on the other face of said carrier plate, said support bracket assembly extending through said housing from said carrier plate;

wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to receive information via said RF antenna; and

a visual display for displaying said information provided by said electronic component unit.

20. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 19, wherein said electronic component unit is adapted to at least one of (i) receive traffic information via said RF antenna and (ii) receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via said RF antenna.