Rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

• US 8,379,289 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Wight, David C., Kramer, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapel, Derek S
• Application Number:
  US13/470,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20120224248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1292 selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns B32B37/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0274 Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2054 Light-reflecting surface, e.g. conductors, substrates, coatings, dielectrics

Abstract

An electrochromic interior reflective element for an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear substrates and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between the front and rear substrates. The electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between a third surface of the rear substrate and a second surface of said the substrate, and the electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal. A conductive layer is disposed at a fourth surface of the rear substrate. A non-conductive layer covers a covered portion of the conductive layer and leaves an exposed portion of the conductive layer exposed. An electronic circuitry component is disposed at the fourth surface of the rear substrate. The electronic circuitry component is electrically connected to the exposed portion of the conductive layer.

Claims

1. An electrochromic interior reflective element for an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic interior reflective element comprising:

a front substrate having a first glass surface and a second glass surface;

a rear substrate having a third glass surface and a fourth glass surface;

an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third glass surface of said rear substrate and said second glass surface of said front substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal;

wherein said electrochromic interior reflective element comprises a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second glass surface of said front substrate and a mirror reflector disposed at said third glass surface of said rear substrate, wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one metallic thin film;

a conductive layer applied directly at said fourth glass surface of said rear substrate;

a non-conductive layer covering a covered portion of said conductive layer and leaving an exposed portion of said conductive layer exposed;

an electronic circuitry component disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear substrate; and

wherein said electronic circuitry component is electrically connected to said exposed portion of said conductive layer.

2. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer includes exposed busbar portions, and wherein said transparent conductive coating of said front substrate is electrically connected with one of said exposed busbar portions, and wherein said minor reflector of said rear substrate is electrically connected with another of said exposed busbar portions.

3. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a sensor, a resistor, a capacitor and a display element.

4. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a carbon ink resistor printed onto said exposed portion of said conductive layer at said fourth glass surface of said rear substrate.

5. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a display element integrally formed on said rear substrate.

6. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 5, wherein said display element comprises a liquid crystal display element.

7. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer limits shattering of said rear substrate.

8. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a proximity sensor disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said proximity sensor is operable to detect a presence of a person'"'"'s finger at or near said electrochromic interior reflective element.

9. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 8, wherein said proximity sensor is operable to detect the presence of the person'"'"'s finger at or near an icon.

10. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 8, wherein said electronic circuitry component is operable to control a display element in response to said detection of the person'"'"'s finger.

11. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 8, wherein said electronic circuitry component is operable to toggle an accessory in response to said detection of the person'"'"'s finger.

12. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 1, wherein said non-conductive layer leaves a plurality of exposed portions of said conductive layer exposed, and wherein a plurality of electronic circuitry components are disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said electronic circuitry components are electrically connected to respective exposed portions of said conductive layer.

13. An electrochromic interior reflective element for an interior rearview minor assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic interior reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having a first glass surface and a second glass surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third glass surface and a fourth glass surface;

an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third glass surface of said rear glass substrate and said second glass surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal;

wherein said electrochromic interior reflective element comprises a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second glass surface of said front glass substrate and a minor reflector disposed at said third glass surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said minor reflector comprises at least one metallic thin film;

a conductive layer applied directly at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate;

a non-conductive layer covering a covered portion of said conductive layer and leaving an exposed portion of said conductive layer exposed;

an electronic circuitry component disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a sensor, a resistor, a capacitor and a display element; and

wherein said electronic circuitry component is electrically connected to said exposed portion of said conductive layer.

14. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 13, wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a proximity sensor disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said proximity sensor is operable to detect a presence of a person'"'"'s finger at or near said electrochromic interior reflective element.

15. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 14, wherein said proximity sensor is operable to detect the presence of the person'"'"'s finger at or near an icon.

16. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 14, wherein said electronic circuitry component is operable to control a display element in response to said detection of the person'"'"'s finger.

17. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 14, wherein said electronic circuitry component is operable to toggle an accessory in response to said detection of the person'"'"'s finger.

18. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 13, wherein said non-conductive layer leaves a plurality of exposed portions of said conductive layer exposed, and wherein a plurality of electronic circuitry components are disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said electronic circuitry components are electrically connected to respective exposed portions of said conductive layer.

19. An electrochromic interior reflective element for an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic interior reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having a first glass surface and a second glass surface;

a rear glass substrate having a third glass surface and a fourth glass surface;

an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third glass surface of said rear glass substrate and said second glass surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal;

wherein said electrochromic interior reflective element comprises a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second glass surface of said front glass substrate and a mirror reflector disposed at said third glass surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one metallic thin film;

a conductive layer applied directly at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate;

a non-conductive layer covering a covered portion of said conductive layer and leaving an exposed portion of said conductive layer exposed;

an electronic circuitry component disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate;

wherein said electronic circuitry component is electrically connected to said exposed portion of said conductive layer;

wherein said electronic circuitry component comprises a proximity sensor disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said proximity sensor is operable to detect a presence of a person'"'"'s finger at or near said electrochromic interior reflective element; and

wherein said proximity sensor is operable to detect the presence of the person'"'"'s finger at or near an icon.

20. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 19, wherein said electronic circuitry component is operable to control a display element in response to said detection of the person'"'"'s finger.

21. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 19, wherein said electronic circuitry component is operable to toggle an accessory in response to said detection of the person'"'"'s finger.

22. The electrochromic interior reflective element of claim 19, wherein said non-conductive layer leaves a plurality of exposed portions of said conductive layer exposed, and wherein a plurality of electronic circuitry components are disposed at said fourth glass surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said electronic circuitry components are electrically connected to respective exposed portions of said conductive layer.