Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rearview assembly having a front and comprising:
- an electrochromic (EC) mirror element, the EC mirror element including;
a first substrate having a first surface corresponding to the front, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a rounded edge configured to improve durability of the first substrate, the second surface having a ring of spectral filter material disposed circumferentially around a perimeter of the second surface;
a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface, the second substrate being smaller than the first substrate and disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with respect to the first substrate such that a perimeter of the second substrate is concealed behind the first substrate the second and third surfaces defining a gap therebetween; and
an EC medium in said gap; and
a moveable mirror-element-supporting assembly mechanically cooperated with the mirror element and configured to support the mirror-element, said assembly includinga substantially rigid portion extending along a back of the mirror element, anda peripheral portion integrated with the substantially rigid portion, configured to extend from the substantially rigid portion towards the front such as to keep the rounded edge observable and to conceal the edge surface of the second substrate.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A rearview assembly having a front and comprising:
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an electrochromic (EC) mirror element, the EC mirror element including; a first substrate having a first surface corresponding to the front, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a rounded edge configured to improve durability of the first substrate, the second surface having a ring of spectral filter material disposed circumferentially around a perimeter of the second surface; a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and an edge surface, the second substrate being smaller than the first substrate and disposed in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship with respect to the first substrate such that a perimeter of the second substrate is concealed behind the first substrate the second and third surfaces defining a gap therebetween; and an EC medium in said gap; and a moveable mirror-element-supporting assembly mechanically cooperated with the mirror element and configured to support the mirror-element, said assembly including a substantially rigid portion extending along a back of the mirror element, and a peripheral portion integrated with the substantially rigid portion, configured to extend from the substantially rigid portion towards the front such as to keep the rounded edge observable and to conceal the edge surface of the second substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicular rearview assembly having a front and a front peripheral portion, the assembly comprising:
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an EC mirror element including a front substrate, the front substrate having a first surface that is unobstructingly observable from the front, a rounded edge, and a second surface carrying the first and second electrically-conductive coatings in a peripheral region thereof, the first and second electrically-conductive coatings being electrically separated from one another with a separation area, the first electrically-conductive coating including a ring of opaque material disposed around a perimeter of the second substrate; and a rear substrate behind the first substrate as viewed from the front, the rear substrate having a third surface, an edge surface, and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and further having a reflective thin-film stack deposited on a surface thereof; a mounting element adapted to support the EC mirror element; a housing shell defining an inner volume and an aperture corresponding to the front, the housing shell being configured to mechanically engage the mounting element; an electronic circuitry disposed behind the mirror element inside the housing shell; and a user interface (UI) in operable communication with said electronic circuitry, the UI containing triggering elements configured to be observable and reachable from the front, the triggering elements corresponding to at least one auxiliary device associated with the rearview assembly, wherein the electronic circuitry is operable to trigger, in response to an input applied to the UI, the at least one auxiliary device, and wherein said reflecting thin-film stack includes an electrically-conductive layer that is extended over the edge surface of the EC mirror element through an electrically-conductive member to said electronic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification