Vehicular mirror with heater circuit module

• US 8,173,936 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• 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:
  US12/979,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20110120983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 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 reflective element assembly is associated with at least two functional elements, each functional element including at least one functional element electrical contact. The reflective element assembly has a reflective element and reflective element carrier. A power distributor is disposed between the reflective element and the carrier, and includes an integrated heater and power distribution element, a support member having a reverse face and an obverse face, an array of electrically-conductive tracings, and a plurality of discrete electrical contacts points for electrical coupling of the array with the at least two functional elements. At least one of the plurality of discrete electrical contacts points is adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact point of a first functional element, and at least one functional element electrical contact point of a second functional element. The power distributor has a singular module connection.

Claims

1. A reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly associated with at least two functional elements each including at least one functional element electrical contact, and comprising:

a reflective element having a reverse face and an obverse face, and a reflective element carrier;

a power distributor disposed between said reflective element and said reflective element carrier, said power distributor including

an integrated heater and power distribution element;

a support member having a reverse face and an obverse face;

an array of electrically-conductive tracings; and

a plurality of discrete electrical contacts for electrical coupling of said array of electrically-conductive tracings with said at least two functional elements;

at least one of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact of a first functional element; and

at least one of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact of a second functional element;

wherein said power distributor comprises a singular module connection.

2. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first functional element comprises an indicator.

3. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second functional element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

4. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor.

5. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein, when said power distributor is disposed between said reflective element and said reflective element carrier, said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor is nearer said reverse face of said reflective element than is said reverse face of said support member.

6. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said power distributor comprises a power supply harness interconnected with said support member.

7. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said power supply harness carries a single ground lead for electrical communication with an electrically-conductive common portion of said array of electrically-conductive tracings.

8. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said power supply harness extends from said reverse face of said support member of said power distributor.

9. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor.

10. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said power supply harness couples through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor.

11. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said singular module connection is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and said power supply harness couples through said support element with said singular module connection.

12. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said power supply harness terminates in an electrical connector for cooperative communication with a vehicle wire harness.

13. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said power supply harness terminates in a plug connector.

14. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein (a) a first portion of said array of electrically-conductive tracings and a first portion of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts comprise electrically-conductive common tracings that terminate in discrete electrical common contacts, and (b) a second portion of said array of electrically-conductive tracings and a second portion of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts comprise electrically-conductive power tracings that terminate in discrete electrical power contacts.

15. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein (a) a first portion of said array of electrically-conductive tracings and a first portion of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts comprise an electrically-conductive common tracing terminating in a first electrical contact, and (b) a second portion of said array of electrically-conductive tracings and a second portion of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts comprise an electrically-conductive power tracing terminating in a second electrical contact that is separate and spaced away from said first electrical contact.

16. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein (a) said first functional element comprises a turn signal indicator, said electrically-conductive common tracing comprises a turn signal indicator common tracing, and said electrically-conductive power tracing comprises a turn signal indicator power tracing, and (b) said second functional element comprises an electrochromic reflective element, said electrically-conductive common tracing comprises an electrochromic reflective element common tracing, and said electrically-conductive power tracing comprises an electrochromic reflective element power tracing.

17. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein (a) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (b) said power supply harness couples through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor to said singular module connection at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (c) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive common lead electrically coupled with tracings of said array, and (d) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive power lead electrically coupled with tracings of said array.

18. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein (a) said singular module connection is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (b) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (c) said power supply harness couples through said support element with said singular module connection at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (d) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive common lead electrically coupled with tracings of said array, and (e) said array of electrically-conductive tracings comprises heater tracings, and (f) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive power lead electrically coupled with said heater tracings.

19. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings comprises heater tracings, and said second functional element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

20. A reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly associated with at least two functional elements each including at least one functional element electrical contact, and comprising:

a reflective element having a reverse face and an obverse face, and a reflective element carrier;

a power distributor disposed between said reflective element and said reflective element carrier, said power distributor including

an integrated heater and power distribution element;

a support member having a reverse face and an obverse face;

an array of electrically-conductive tracings; and

a plurality of discrete electrical contacts for electrical coupling of said array of electrically-conductive tracings with said at least two functional elements;

at least one of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact of a first functional element; and

at least one of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact of a second functional element;

wherein said power distributor comprises a power supply harness interconnected with said support member;

wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor; and

wherein said power supply harness couples through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor.

21. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first functional element comprises an indicator, said second functional element comprises an electrochromic reflective element, and said array of electrically-conductive tracings comprises heater tracings.

22. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein said power supply harness couples through said support element with a singular module connection.

23. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein (a) said array of electrically-conductive tracings and said plurality of discrete electrical contacts comprise an electrically-conductive common tracing that terminates in a first electrical contact, and (b) said array of electrically-conductive tracings and said plurality of discrete electrical contacts comprise an electrically-conductive power tracing that terminates in a second electrical contact that is separate and spaced away from said first electrical contact, and (c) one of (i) said first functional element comprises an indicator, and said common tracing comprises an indicator common tracing, and said power tracing comprises an indicator power tracing, and (ii) said second functional element comprises an electrochromic reflective element, and said common tracing comprises an electrochromic reflective element common tracing, and said power tracing comprises an electrochromic reflective element power tracing.

24. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein (a) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (b) said power supply harness couples through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor to a singular module connection at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (c) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive common lead electrically coupled with tracings of said array and wherein said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive power lead electrically coupled with tracings of said array.

25. A reflective element assembly in accordance with claim 20 wherein (a) a singular module connection is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (b) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (c) said power supply harness couples through said support element with said singular module connection at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (d) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive common lead electrically coupled with tracings of said array, and (e) said array of electrically-conductive tracings comprises heater tracings, and (f) said singular module connection comprises an electrically-conductive power lead electrically coupled with said heater tracings.

26. A reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly associated with at least two functional elements each including at least one functional element electrical contact, and comprising:

an electrochromic reflective element having a reverse face and an obverse face, and a reflective element carrier;

a power distributor disposed between said electrochromic reflective element and said reflective element carrier, said power distributor including

an integrated heater and power distribution element;

a support member having a reverse face and an obverse face;

an array of electrically-conductive tracings; and

a plurality of discrete electrical contacts for electrical coupling of said array of electrically-conductive tracings with said at least two functional elements;

wherein said array of electrically-conductive tracings comprises heater tracings;

at least one of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact of a first functional element;

at least one of said plurality of discrete electrical contacts adapted for electrical communication with at least one functional element electrical contact of a second functional element, said second functional element comprising said electrochromic reflective element;

wherein at least one of (a) said power distributor comprises a power supply harness interconnected with said support member, (b) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, (c) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor and a power supply harness couples through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, (d) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor and coupling is made through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor, and (e) said array of electrically-conductive tracings is carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor and coupling is made through said support element with said array of electrically-conductive tracings carried at said obverse face of said support member of said power distributor to a singular module connection.