Vehicle rearview mirror with spotter mirror

• US 7,864,400 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: McLarty, Michael L., Cammenga, David J., Steenwyk, Brian J., Braun, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector; David N
• Application Number:
  US12/488,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/266, 359/267, 359/272, 359/864, 359/866, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details

Abstract

A mirror element comprising a front element, a rear element, electrochromic material therebetween, and a spotter optic located at the rear surface of the front element. At least a portion of the spotter optic has a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the front surface of the front element has a greater second radius of curvature. A line perpendicular to the front surface extends through both the electrochromic material and the spotter optic. A first electrode coating and a second electrode coating are activated to activate the electrochromic material in order to dim a reflection off of the mirror element. A reflective coating of the spotter optic can form a portion of the first electrode coating. The first electrode coating and the reflective coating can overlap.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror element comprising:

a front element having a first front surface and a second rear surface;

a rear element having a third front surface and a fourth rear surface;

electrochromic material located between the front element and the rear element;

a seal abutting the front element and the second element, the seal substantially surrounding the electrochromic material; and

a spotter optic in contact with the electrochromic material;

at least a portion of the spotter optic having a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the first front surface having a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being smaller than the second radius of curvature.

2. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, wherein:

the rearview mirror element has a first area not including the spotter optic and a second area including the spotter optic, the first area reflecting a first zone and the spotter optic reflecting a second zone; and

the electrochromic material is configured to reduce the first zone reflectance, but not the second zone reflectance when the electrochromic material is activated.

3. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, wherein:

wherein the spotter optic is located at the second rear surface of the front element.

4. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, wherein:

the first front surface is substantially planar.

5. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, wherein:

the rearview mirror element has a first area not including the spotter optic and a second area including the spotter optic; and

the difference between an average reflectance of the first area and an average reflectance of the second area is greater than approximately 5 percent.

6. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, wherein:

the fourth rear surface has a substantially continuous radius of curvature.

7. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, wherein:

the spotter optic comprises a convex reflective surface including a reflective material thereon.

8. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 1, further including:

reflective material on the second rear surface covering the seal to prevent observation of the seal from the first front surface;

wherein the spotter optic comprises a convex reflective surface located at the second rear surface, the convex reflective surface further having the reflective material thereon.

9. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 8, wherein:

the reflective material covering the seal and the reflective material of the convex reflective surface is contiguous.

10. An exterior rearview mirror element comprising:

a front element having a first front surface and a second rear surface;

a rear element having a third front surface and a fourth rear surface;

electrochromic material located between the front element and the rear element; and

a spotter optic located at the second rear surface of the front element, the spotter optic having a reflective coating;

at least a portion of the spotter optic having a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the first front surface having a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being smaller than the second radius of curvature;

wherein an electrical potential is applied across a first electrode coating on the second surface and a second electrode coating on the third surface changing an absorption of the electrochromic material in order to reduce a reflection off of the exterior rearview mirror element; and

wherein the reflective coating of the spotter optic forms a portion of the first electrode coating in contact with the electrochromic material.

11. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 10, wherein:

the rearview mirror element has a first area not including the spotter optic and a second area including the spotter optic, the first area reflecting a first zone and the spotter optic reflecting a second zone; and

the electrochromic material is configured to reduce the first zone reflectance, but not the second zone reflectance when the electrochromic material is activated.

12. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 10, wherein:

the first front surface is substantially planar.

13. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 10, wherein:

the rearview mirror element has a first area not including the spotter optic and a second area including the spotter optic, the first area reflecting a first zone and the spotter optic reflecting a second zone; and

the first area has a different reflectance than the second area.

14. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 10, wherein:

the fourth rear surface has a substantially continuous radius of curvature.

15. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 10, wherein:

the spotter optic comprises a convex reflective surface having the reflective coating thereon.

16. An exterior rearview mirror element comprising:

a front element having a first front surface and a second rear surface, the second rear surface having a first electrode coating thereon;

a rear element having a third front surface and a fourth rear surface, the third front surface having a second electrode coating thereon;

electrochromic material located between the front element and the rear element; and

a spotter optic located at the second rear surface of the front element, the spotter optic having a reflective coating;

at least a portion of the spotter optic having a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the first front surface having a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being smaller than the second radius of curvature;

wherein the first electrode coating and the reflective coating abut and overlap such that a line perpendicular to the first front surface of the front element extends through both the first electrode coating and the reflective coating.

17. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 16, wherein:

the rearview mirror element has a first area not including the spotter optic and a second area including the spotter optic, the first area reflecting a first zone and the spotter optic reflecting a second zone; and

the electrochromic material is configured to reduce the first zone reflectance, but not the second zone reflectance when the electrochromic material is activated.

18. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 16, wherein:

the first electrode coating and the reflective coating overlap at least 0.5 mm substantially around a perimeter of the spotter optic.

19. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 16, wherein:

the rearview mirror element has a first area not including the spotter optic and a second area including the spotter optic; and

the difference between the average reflectance of the first area and the average reflectance of the second area is greater than approximately 5 percent.

20. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 16, wherein:

the fourth rear surface has a substantially continuous radius of curvature.

21. The exterior rearview mirror element of claim 16, wherein:

the spotter optic comprises a convex reflective surface having the reflective coating thereon.