Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
First Claim
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1. A rearview assembly having a front and comprising:
- a housing structure defining an inner volume and an aperture;
an electrochromic (EC) mirror element, the EC mirror element includinga 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,wherein the EC mirror element is affixed to the housing structure at said aperture;
means for alignment of said housing and said EC mirror element; and
a circuit board in said inner volume behind the EC mirror element as viewed from the front, said circuit board containing electronic circuitry adapted to control the operation of said rearview assembly.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same.
46 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A rearview assembly having a front and comprising:
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a housing structure defining an inner volume and an aperture; 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, wherein the EC mirror element is affixed to the housing structure at said aperture; means for alignment of said housing and said EC mirror element; and a circuit board in said inner volume behind the EC mirror element as viewed from the front, said circuit board containing electronic circuitry adapted to control the operation of said rearview assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A rearview assembly comprising:
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a housing structure defining an inner volume and an aperture; 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 the 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, wherein the EC mirror element is affixed to the housing structure at said aperture; a circuit board in said inner volume behind the EC mirror element as viewed from the front, said circuit board containing electronic circuitry adapted to control the operation of said rearview assembly; and a plate between the circuit board and said EC mirror element, the plate containing means for alignment of said housing structure and said EC mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification