Vehicular mirror with heater circuit module

• US 7,858,905 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rawlings, Don S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US11/779,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/219
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

A vehicular mirror system includes an exterior mirror assembly having a reflective element for providing a rearward view to an occupant of a vehicle and a power distributor for distributing power from a single electrical power connector to a plurality of functional elements associated with the reflective element. The power distributor has a plurality of electrical leads corresponding to each functional element of the plurality of functional elements; the plurality of functional elements includes at least two functional elements selected from the group consisting of a dimming device, a heater, and a turn signal. The power distributor has at least one power lead for operative connection of the power distributor to an onboard power supply of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular mirror system comprising:

a reflective element assembly including a reflective element for providing a rearward view to an occupant of a vehicle, and a power distributor associated with said reflective element;

at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator;

said power distributor characterized by an array of electrically-conductive tracings incorporated into a planar reflective element support member and coincident with said reflective element, said electrically-conductive tracings including a singular module connection and at least one pair of contact points for distributing electric power to at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator; and

a singular power supply connector, said singular power supply connector and said singular module connection coupled to define a singular power supply assembly for providing electric power from a remote power supply to said electrically-conductive tracings and said at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator;

wherein said at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator can be selectively coupled with said power distributor by aligning said at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator for electrical contact with said at least one pair of contact points; and

wherein electric power can be selectively provided to said array of electrically conductive tracings for both powering said array and powering said at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator through said singular power supply assembly.

2. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said singular power supply connector is interconnected with an onboard power supply of said vehicle.

3. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said singular power supply connector includes a ribbon cable.

4. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings abuts said reflective element.

5. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power distributor includes a planar member having a periphery in register with said periphery of said reflective element.

6. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings conforms to an effective imaging area of said reflective element, and wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings is operatively connected to a first one of a plurality of electrical leads.

7. A vehicular mirror system comprising:

a reflective element assembly, including a reflective element having a selected perimetric configuration, and a planar electric power distributor coincident with said reflective element;

at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator;

said power distributor characterized by electrically-conductive tracings distributed as a planar array of heating elements coincident with said selected perimetric configuration; and

said electrically-conductive tracings including at least one pair of contact points associated with at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator for distributing electric power to at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator;

wherein said power distributor can concurrently heat said reflective element and distribute power to said at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator from a singular power supply assembly characterized by a singular power supply connector and a singular module connection.

8. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said singular power supply connector is interconnected with an onboard power supply of said vehicle.

9. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said singular power supply connector includes a ribbon cable.

10. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said at least one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator abuts said reflective element.

11. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 7,

wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings conforms to an effective imaging area of said reflective element, and wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings is operatively connected to a first one of a plurality of electrical leads.

12. A vehicle mirror system comprising:

a reflective element support member supporting a reflective element;

a generally planar power distributor support member supporting a power distributor including an array of electrically-conductive tracings incorporated into said planar reflective element support member; and

a generally planar reflective element carrier supporting said reflective element support member and said power distributor support member in stratified disposition;

said power distributor including first electric circuitry, second electric circuitry, and third electric circuitry, said first circuitry, second circuitry, and third circuitry can include contact points for selectively providing electric power to first, second, and third functional elements, respectively;

a power supply for coupling with said power distributor to provide electric power thereto;

a power supply harness coupled with said power supply and terminating in a singular power supply connector;

a singular module connection associated with said power distributor for coupling with said singular power supply connector for providing electric power to said first circuitry, said second circuitry, and said third circuitry;

said first circuitry extending continuously from said singular module connection;

said second circuitry extending continuously from said singular module connection to said second contact points; and

said third circuitry extending continuously from said singular module connection to said third contact points;

wherein when said power distributor support member is interlaid with said reflective element support member and said reflective element carrier, said second functional element is placed in electrical contact with said power distributor, and said third functional element is placed in electrical contact with said power distributor.

13. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said second functional element includes one of an electrochromic dimming element and a turn signal indicator.

14. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said turn signal indicator abuts said reflective element.

15. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said second functional element includes a turn signal indicator.

16. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said turn signal indicator abuts said reflective element.

17. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said first functional element includes said array of electrically conductive tracings.

18. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 12,

wherein said power distributor includes a planar member having a periphery in register with a periphery of said reflective element.

19. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings conforms to an effective imaging area of said reflective element, and wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings is operatively connected to a first one of a plurality of electrical leads.

20. A vehicle mirror system comprising:

a reflective element;

a power distributor including an array of electrically-conductive tracings associated with said reflective element; and

a reflective element carrier supporting said reflective element and said power distributor in stratified disposition;

said power distributor including first electric circuitry, second electric circuitry, and third electric circuitry, said first, second, and third circuitry can include contact points for selectively providing electric power to first, second, and third functional elements, respectively;

a power supply for coupling with said power distributor to provide electric power thereto;

a power supply harness coupled with said power supply and terminating in a singular power supply connector;

a singular module connection associated with said power distributor for coupling with said singular power supply connector for providing electric power to

said first, second, and third circuitry through a singular electrical connection;

said first circuitry and said singular module connection can define a first continuous circuit;

said second circuitry extends from said singular module connection to said second contact points, and said second circuitry, said singular module connection, said second contact points, and said second functional element, can define a second continuous circuit independent of said first continuous circuit; and

said third circuitry extends from said singular module connection to said third contact points, and said third circuitry, said singular module connection, said third contact points, and said third functional element, can define a third continuous circuit independent of said first and second continuous circuits;

wherein coupling of said singular power supply connector with said singular module connection defines a singular electrical coupling for distributing electric power throughout said power distributor for energizing said first continuous circuit, for providing electric power for energizing said second continuous circuit, and for providing electric power for energizing said third continuous circuit.

21. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 20, wherein said power distributor includes a planar member having a periphery in register with a periphery of said reflective element.