Interior rear view mirror for vehicles, preferably motor vehicles

• US 7,498,554 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visiocorp Patents S.a.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Visiocorp Patents S.a.r.l.
• Inventors: Rommel, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X
• Application Number:
  US10/541,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/208.1, 359/604, 359/601, 359/602, 340/425.5, 340/901, 340/601, 340/602
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

The invention relates to interior rear view mirrors, in the mirror housing (1) of which sensors are disposed that sit on an electronic board (13). Said rear view mirrors require substantial assembly space such that the assembly position of the sensor is limited. In order not to restrict the assembly position of the sensor, said sensor sits on a sensor board (12) that is separate from the electronic board (13). The two boards (12, 13) are interconnected by means of signals. The sensor board (12) can be embodied in a very compact manner such that the sensor located thereupon can be mounted in any appropriate position within the mirror housing (1). The interior rear view mirror is used for motor vehicles.

Claims

1. Interior rearview mirror for vehicles, comprising:

a mirror cover defining a rearward opening and a frame thereabout;

a mirror operatively secured within said mirror cover and visible through said rearward opening;

a backing plate fixedly secured to said mirror;

a drive operatively connecting said backing plate to said mirror cover and for moving said mirror with respect to said frame and said mirror cover;

an electronics circuit board secured to said mirror cover for controlling said drive;

a sensor arranged in said frame for generating signals relating to ambient conditions arriving at said interior rearview mirror from outside; and

a sensor circuit board fixedly secured to said sensor and spatially separated from said backing plate and from said electronics circuit board, and said sensor circuit board arranged in the region between said drive of said interior rearview mirror and said mirror, such that said sensor and said sensor circuit board maintain a constant orientation with respect to said frame and independent of an orientation of said mirror.

2. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit board is attached at the edge of the mirror housing.

3. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit board and the electronics circuit board are connected to one another by at least one flexible line.

4. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 3, wherein the flexible line is a conductive trace.

5. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit board is wirelessly connected by signals to the electronics circuit board.

6. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is accommodated in a receiving opening in the edge of the mirror housing.

7. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is centered on the edge of the mirror housing.

8. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an EC headlight glare sensor.

9. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the mirror housing has a frame and a cover connected therewith.

10. Interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a mirror glass, wherein said mirror is an electrochromic mirror glass.