Interior rearview mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:
- a mirror casing;
an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at said mirror casing and comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal;
wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being closer to the driver when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle that is being normally operated by the driver;
wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat;
wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface being closer to said front substrate;
wherein said third surface of said rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat;
an electrical connector disposed at said fourth surface and in electrically conductive continuity with one of (i) said transparent conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate and (ii) said conductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate;
wherein said electrical connector comprises (i) a connector attaching portion for attaching said electrical connector at said fourth surface of said rear substrate and (ii) a conductor attaching portion for soldering or welding an electrical conductor to said electrical connector when said electrical connector is attached at said fourth surface of said rear substrate;
wherein said conductor attaching portion is spaced from the plane of said connector attaching portion and from said fourth surface of said rear substrate; and
wherein an electrical conductor is electrically connected between said electrical connector and a reflectance control that is operable to vary the reflectance of said electro-optic reflective element assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror casing and an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at the mirror casing. A second surface of a front substrate of the reflective element assembly has a transparent conductive coating established thereat and a third surface of a rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat. An electrical connector may be disposed at the fourth surface and in electrically conductive continuity with the transparent conductive coating and/or the conductive coating. The electrical connector may include a connector attaching portion for attaching at the fourth surface and a conductor attaching portion for soldering or welding an electrical conductor or wire to the electrical connector when the electrical connector is attached at the fourth surface. The conductor attaching portion is spaced from the plane of the connector attaching portion and the fourth surface of the rear substrate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror casing; an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at said mirror casing and comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being closer to the driver when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle that is being normally operated by the driver; wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface being closer to said front substrate; wherein said third surface of said rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat; an electrical connector disposed at said fourth surface and in electrically conductive continuity with one of (i) said transparent conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate and (ii) said conductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said electrical connector comprises (i) a connector attaching portion for attaching said electrical connector at said fourth surface of said rear substrate and (ii) a conductor attaching portion for soldering or welding an electrical conductor to said electrical connector when said electrical connector is attached at said fourth surface of said rear substrate; wherein said conductor attaching portion is spaced from the plane of said connector attaching portion and from said fourth surface of said rear substrate; and wherein an electrical conductor is electrically connected between said electrical connector and a reflectance control that is operable to vary the reflectance of said electro-optic reflective element assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror casing; an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at said mirror casing and comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being closer to the driver when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle that is being normally operated by the driver; wherein said front substrate has a rounded perimeter edge; wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface being closer to said front substrate; wherein said third surface of said rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat, said conductive coating comprising a mirror reflector; an electrical connector disposed at said fourth surface and in electrically conductive continuity with one of (i) said transparent conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate and (ii) said conductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said electrical connector comprises (i) a connector attaching portion for attaching said electrical connector at said fourth surface of said rear substrate and (ii) a conductor attaching portion spaced from the plane of said connector attaching portion and from said fourth surface of said rear substrate; and wherein an electrical conductor is electrically connected between said electrical connector and a reflectance control that is operable to vary the reflectance of said electro-optic reflective element assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror casing; an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at said mirror casing and comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being closer to the driver when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle that is being normally operated by the driver; wherein said front substrate has a rounded perimeter edge; wherein said rounded perimeter edge has a frosted or non-water-clear surface finish; wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface being closer to said front substrate; wherein said third surface of said rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat, said conductive coating comprising a mirror reflector; a first electrical connector in electrically conductive continuity with said transparent conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate and a second electrical connector in electrically conductive continuity with said conductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate; and wherein electrical conductors are electrically connected between said electrical connectors and a reflectance control that is operable to vary the reflectance of said electro-optic reflective element assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification