Electro-optic rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

• US 9,205,780 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid, Baur, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US13/020,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359601-604
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/00 Systems with reflecting surfaces, with or without refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/04 using prisms only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a front glass substrate having a transparent conductive coating established at a second surface thereof and a rear glass substrate having a metallic reflector coating established at a third surface thereof, with an electro-optic medium disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate. An electrically conductive clip is disposed along and bridges a perimeter edge of the rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductive connection to the metallic reflector coating at the third surface of the rear glass substrate. A solder joint is established at the electrically conductive clip, and the solder is decoupled from the metallic reflector coating at the third surface of the rear glass substrate.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having first and second surfaces;

a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface;

a rear glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces;

a metallic reflector coating established at said third surface;

an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said second surface of said front glass substrate faces said electro-optic medium and wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate faces said electrooptic medium;

an electrically conductive clip bridging a perimeter edge of said rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductive connection to said metallic reflector coating at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;

a solder joint established at said electrically conductive clip;

wherein said third surface has an area devoid of said metallic reflector coating and wherein said area is at a perimeter region of said rear glass substrate and adjacent to said solder joint; and

wherein solder that flows onto said third surface as said solder joint is established at said electrically conductive clip flows onto said area that is devoid of said metallic reflector coating and does not flow onto the metallic reflector coating so that solder of said solder joint is decoupled from said metallic reflector coating at said third surface of said rear glass substrate.

2. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said metallic reflector coating is removed at said area to establish said area devoid of said metallic reflector coating.

3. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive clip comprises a ribbon connector that bridges said perimeter edge of said rear glass substrate along said perimeter edge and that establishes electrical connection to said third surface metallic reflector coating along said perimeter edge and other than where the third surface is devoid of said third surface metallic reflector coating.

4. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said area is masked during deposition of said metallic reflector coating to establish said area devoid of said metallic reflector coating.

5. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein a wire is soldered to said clip at said solder joint.

6. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprises at least one of chromium and ruthenium.

7. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprises a material that has an affinity for solder flow.

8. An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having first and second surfaces;

a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface;

a rear glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces;

a metallic reflector coating established at said third surface, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprises a material that has an affinity for solder flow;

an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said second surface of said front glass substrate faces said electro-optic medium and wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate faces said electrooptic medium;

an electrically conductive clip bridging a perimeter edge of said rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductive connection to said metallic reflector coating at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;

a solder joint established at said electrically conductive clip; and

wherein said third surface has an area devoid of said metallic reflector coating and wherein said area is adjacent to said solder joint so that solder of said solder joint that flows onto said third surface during establishing of said solder joint flows onto said area that is devoid of said metallic reflector coating and does not flow onto the metallic reflector coating whereby solder of said solder joint is decoupled from said metallic reflector coating.

9. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 8, wherein at least one of (a) said area is masked during deposition of said metallic reflector coating to establish said area devoid of said metallic reflector coating and (b) said metallic reflector coating is removed at said area to establish said area devoid of said metallic reflector coating.

10. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 8, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprises at least one of chromium and ruthenium.

11. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 8, wherein a wire is soldered to said clip at said solder joint.

12. An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirror reflective element comprising:

a front glass substrate having first and second surfaces;

a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface;

a rear glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces;

a metallic reflector coating established at said third surface, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprises a material that has an affinity for solder flow;

an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, wherein said second surface of said front glass substrate faces said electrochromic medium and wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate faces said electrochromic medium;

an electrically conductive clip bridging a perimeter edge of said rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductive connection to said metallic reflector coating at said third surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said electrically conductive clip comprises a ribbon connector;

a solder joint established at said electrically conductive clip;

wherein said metallic reflector coating is removed from an area of said third surface such that said third surface area is devoid of said metallic reflector coating and wherein said area is adjacent to said solder joint;

wherein said ribbon connector establishes electrical connection to said third surface metallic reflector coating other than where the third surface metallic reflector coating is removed from said third surface;

wherein solder of said solder joint that flows onto said third surface during establishing of said solder joint flows onto said area that is devoid of said metallic reflector coating and does not flow onto the metallic reflector coating whereby solder of said solder joint is decoupled from said metallic reflector coating; and

wherein, when said exterior mirror reflective element is attached at an actuator of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirror reflective element is movable by said actuator to adjust an exterior rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly.

13. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 12, wherein said exterior mirror reflective element is at least partially encompassed by a bezel.

14. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 12, wherein a wire is soldered to said ribbon connector at said solder joint.

15. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 12, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprises at least one of chromium and ruthenium.