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 electrochromic (EC) mirror element, the 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 substrate having a ring of substantially opaque 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;
at least one auxiliary device behind the EC mirror element adapted to deliver light through the EC mirror element towards the front;
electronic circuitry operably cooperated with the EC mirror element and configured to control an operation of the at least one auxiliary device; and
a user interface (UI) configured to activate said electronic circuitry.
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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
25 Claims
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1. A rearview assembly having a front and comprising:
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a electrochromic (EC) mirror element, the 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 substrate having a ring of substantially opaque 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; at least one auxiliary device behind the EC mirror element adapted to deliver light through the EC mirror element towards the front; electronic circuitry operably cooperated with the EC mirror element and configured to control an operation of the at least one auxiliary device; and a user interface (UI) configured to activate said electronic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicular rearview assembly having a front and a front peripheral portion, the assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic (EC) mirror element including a first glass substrate having first and second surfaces, the first surface configured as an outer surface of the EC mirror element and corresponding to the front of the assembly, the second surface carrying a transparent electrically-conductive layer thereon; a second glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces, the third surface carrying a reflective electrically-conductive thin-film stack thereon, wherein the first and second substrates are disposed in a spaced-apart and parallel relationship with the second and third surfaces facing each other and an EC medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal; a mounting element adapted to support the EC mirror element, the mounting element having an extended portion that is positioned behind and along the EC mirror element; a housing shell configured to mechanically engage the mounting element; an electronic circuitry disposed behind the mounting element inside the housing shell; a user interface (UI) including a component configured to activate the electronic circuitry; and an indicator associated with said component, wherein a surface of the first substrate that is internal to the EC mirror element carries a peripheral ring of material established around a perimeter thereof and configured to conceal the perimeter seal; wherein the electronic circuitry is operable to register a user input applied to the UI and is adapted to trigger, in response to such input, at least one auxiliary device associated with the rearview assembly; and wherein the front peripheral portion of the assembly has an annular region with a radius of curvature of greater than 2.5 mm, the annular region defined around the circumference of the front peripheral portion and observable from the front of the assembly. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification