Shaped rearview mirror assembly

• US 8,864,322 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Heintzelman, Adam R., Trombka, Autumn W., Dozeman, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Application Number:
  US13/975,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 359/273, 359/275, 359838-884
• US Class Current: 359/608
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0018 Electro-optical materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly is provided that includes a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the front substrate and the rear substrate define a cavity, a perimeter seal between the front substrate and the rear substrate, an electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity between the front substrate and the second substrate and bounded by the perimeter seal, wherein the front substrate and the second substrate have a shaped edge having continuously arcuate shape, and wherein an interface the first substrate and the second substrate is approximately 1 mm or less from an outermost portion of the rearview mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a front substrate comprising;

a first surface; and

a second surface;

a rear substrate comprising;

a third surface; and

a fourth surface;

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate define a cavity;

a perimeter seal between said front substrate and said rear substrate;

an electro-optic medium disposed in said cavity between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate have a shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape; and

wherein an interface between said front substrate and said rear substrate is approximately 1 mm or less from an outermost portion of the rearview mirror assembly.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said interface is a perimeter of said second surface and a perimeter of said third surface.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said outermost portion is an exterior portion of said mirror assembly excluding a mirror mount portion configured to attach to a windscreen of a vehicle.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said front substrate is thicker than said rear substrate.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a thickness of said rear substrate is less than approximately 85% a thickness of said front substrate.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising an edge coating at least partially covering said shaped edge of said front substrate and said rear substrate.

7. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said edge coating is an ink jet material.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said rear substrate defines at least one contact via.

9. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 8 further comprising an electrically conductive element at least partially within said contact via, wherein said electrically conductive element electrically connects with at least one of said second surface and said third surface.

10. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said contact via is a slot.

11. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said conductive element is a u-clip.

12. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a front substrate comprising;

a first surface; and

a second surface;

a rear substrate comprising;

a third surface; and

a fourth surface;

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate define a cavity;

a perimeter seal between said front substrate and said rear substrate;

an electro-optic medium disposed in said cavity between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate have a shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape; and

an edge coating at least partially covering said shaped edge of said front substrate and said rear substrate.

13. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said edge coating is substantially clear.

14. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said edge coating is at least partially opaque.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said edge coating is at least one of black, textured, and patterned.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said edge coating is an ink jet material.

17. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said rear substrate defines at least one contact via.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 17 further comprising an electrically conductive element at least partially within said contact via, wherein said electrically conductive element electrically connects with at least one of said second surface and said third surface.

19. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a front substrate comprising;

a first surface; and

a second surface;

a rear substrate comprising;

a third surface;

a fourth surface; and

wherein said rear substrate defines at least one contact via;

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate define a cavity;

a perimeter seal between said front substrate and said rear substrate;

an electro-optic medium disposed in said cavity between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein said front substrate and said substrate have a shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape; and

an electrically conductive element at least partially within said at least one contact via, wherein said electrically conductive element electrically connects with at least one of said second surface and said third surface.

20. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, further comprising an electrically conductive element at least partially within said at least one contact via, wherein said electrically conductive element electrically connects with at least one of said second surface and said third surface.