Vehicular rear view mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements

• US 7,477,439 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Neuman, George A., Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L., Anderson, John S., Stray, Joel A., Ypma, Kenton J., Busscher, Bradley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Jack
• Application Number:
  US11/477,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance mirror element, comprising:

an at least partially reflective coating proximate a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a first periphery area;

a second substantially transparent substrate secured in a spaced apart relation with respect to said first substantially transparent substrate, said second substantially transparent substrate comprising a second periphery area; and

a curable plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substantially transparent substrate such that radiation directed toward said plug material from said first substantially transparent substrate through said at least partially reflective material is attenuated more than radiation directed toward said plug material from said second substantially transparent substrate, wherein said mirror element is configured within a rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle and further comprising a light source positioned to project light from said second substrate through said first substantially transparent substrate.

2. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein at least one layer of material is masked to form an area void of said at least one layer of material.

3. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein at least one layer of material is etched away to form an area void of said at least one layer of material.

4. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 wherein a reflectance value associated with said first periphery area is greater than a first mirror element reflectance value associated with a minimum mirror element reflectance state and less than a second mirror element reflectance value associated with a maximum mirror element reflectance state.

5. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 4 comprising a layer of ruthenium proximate at least a portion of at least one of said substrates.

6. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 5 further comprising an epoxy proximate either said first substantially transparent substrate and, or, said second substrate, said epoxy comprising a plurality of silver flakes.

7. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 5 wherein a reflectance value associated with said first periphery area is greater than a first mirror element reflectance value associated with a minimum mirror element reflectance state and less than a second mirror element reflectance value associated with a maximum mirror element reflectance state.

8. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 7 comprising a layer of ruthenium proximate at least a portion of at least one of said substrates.

9. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 8 further comprising an epoxy proximate either said first substantially transparent substrate and, or, said second substrate, said epoxy comprising a plurality of silver flakes.

10. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 1 said first substantially transparent substrate comprising a periphery portion comprising a semi-transparent metallic glue layer proximate a second layer comprising a higher bulk reflectance than said semi-transparent metallic glue layer.

11. A variable reflectance mirror element, comprising:

an at least partially reflective coating proximate a first substantially transparent substrate comprising a first periphery area;

a second substantially transparent substrate secured in a spaced apart relation with respect to said first substantially transparent substrate, said second substantially transparent substrate comprising a second periphery area; and

a curable plug material positioned between said first substantially transparent substrate and said second substantially transparent substrate such that radiation directed toward said plug material from said first substantially transparent substrate through said at least partially reflective material is attenuated more than radiation directed toward said plug material from said second substantially transparent substrate.

12. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 11 wherein at least one layer of material is masked to form an area void of said at least one layer of material.

13. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 12 wherein at least one layer of material is etched away to form an area void of said at least one layer of material.

14. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 13 said first substantially transparent substrate comprising a periphery portion comprising a semi-transparent metallic glue layer proximate a second layer comprising a higher bulk reflectance than said semi-transparent metallic glue layer.

15. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 configured within a rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle and further comprising a light source positioned to project light from said second substrate through said first substantially transparent substrate.

16. A variable reflectance mirror element as in claim 14 further comprising an epoxy proximate either said first substantially transparent substrate and, or, said second substrate, said epoxy comprising a plurality of silver flakes.