Exterior mirror with spotter mirror

• US 9,216,691 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baur, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US14/187,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20140240811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 359/263, 359/265, 359/267, 359/273, 359/512, 359/854, 359/864, 359/866, 359/868, 359/872, 362/294, 362/300, 362/373, 362/459, 362/494, 362/800, 340/425.5, 340/903
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior 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 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• 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 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• 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

Abstract

A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element having a principal mirror and an auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror. A curved recess is established at a spotter portion of a rear surface of a glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A spotter mirror reflector coating is established at at least a portion of the curved recess to establish the auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror. A principal mirror reflector coating is established at a surface of the mirror reflective element to establish the principal mirror. A portion of the curved recess is substantially not coated with the spotter mirror reflector coating or a portion of the spotter mirror reflector coating is at least partially hidden from view of a person viewing the front of the mirror reflective element by a coating of the mirror reflective element.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element,

said mirror reflective element comprising a principal mirror and an auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror; and

a generally circular curved recess established at a spotter portion of a rear surface of a glass substrate of said mirror reflective element, wherein said curved recess comprises a concave recess established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein a spotter mirror reflector coating is established at at least a portion of said curved recess to establish said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror;

wherein a principal mirror reflector coating is established at a front surface of said mirror reflective element to establish said principal mirror; and

wherein one of (i) a portion of said curved recess is substantially not coated with said spotter mirror reflector coating and (ii) a portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating at said curved recess is at least partially hidden from view of a person viewing the front of said mirror reflective element by an overlapping portion of said principal mirror reflector coating.

2. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating at said curved recess is at least partially hidden from view of a person viewing the front of said mirror reflective element by an overlapping portion of said principal mirror reflector coating.

3. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 2, wherein said principal mirror reflector coating is established at a front or first surface of said glass substrate and wherein said portion of said curved recess is at least partially hidden by said principal mirror reflector coating.

4. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 2, wherein said portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating at said curved recess is at least partially hidden from view of a person viewing the front of said mirror reflective element by an opaque coating established at a front surface of said mirror reflective element.

5. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a single glass substrate and wherein said principal mirror reflector coating is established at a front surface of said single glass substrate.

6. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of said curved recess is substantially not coated with said spotter mirror reflector coating.

7. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said glass substrate comprises a front glass substrate of said electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said electro-optic mirror reflective element further comprises a rear glass substrate and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front glass substrate and said rear glass substrate, and wherein said principal mirror reflector coating is established at a front surface of said rear glass substrate.

8. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 7, wherein a portion of said curved recess is substantially not coated with said spotter mirror reflector coating.

9. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 7, wherein a demarcation is established at least partially around said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror, and wherein said demarcation is established at least in part by a transparent region of said front glass substrate that is devoid of said spotter mirror reflector coating.

10. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 9, wherein said demarcation is established by an opaque coating at a surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said opaque coating is different than said principal mirror reflector coating.

11. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein a demarcation is established at least partially around said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror.

12. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 11, wherein said demarcation is established by a transparent region of said glass substrate that is devoid of said principal mirror reflector coating and said spotter mirror reflector coating.

13. A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element comprising a generally planar glass substrate,

said mirror reflective element comprising a principal mirror and an auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror and

a generally circular curved recess established at a spotter portion of a rear surface of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element, wherein said curved recess comprises a concave recess established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein a spotter mirror reflector coating is established at said curved recess to establish said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror;

wherein a principal mirror reflector coating is established at a front surface of said glass substrate to establish said principal mirror;

wherein a portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating at said curved recess is at least partially hidden from view of a person viewing the front of said mirror reflective element by a coating of said mirror reflective element; and

wherein said portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating is less than or equal to about half of said spotter mirror reflector coating at said curved recess.

14. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 13, wherein said portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating comprises an inboard portion of said spotter mirror reflector coating.

15. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 13, wherein a demarcation is established at least partially around said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror.

16. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 15, wherein said demarcation is established by a transparent region of said glass substrate that is devoid of said principal mirror reflector coating and said spotter mirror reflector coating.

17. A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element comprising a generally planar glass substrate,

said mirror reflective element comprising a principal mirror and an auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror and

a generally circular curved recess established at a spotter portion of a rear surface of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element, wherein said curved recess comprises a concave recess established at said rear surface of said glass substrate;

wherein a spotter mirror reflector coating is established at said curved recess to establish said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror;

wherein a principal mirror reflector coating is established at a front surface of said glass substrate to establish said principal mirror;

wherein a portion of said curved recess is substantially not coated with said spotter mirror reflector coating; and

wherein said portion of said curved recess is less than or equal to about half of said curved recess.

18. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 17, wherein said portion of said curved recess comprises an inboard portion of said curved recess.

19. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 17, wherein a demarcation is established at least partially around said auxiliary wide angle spotter mirror.

20. The mirror reflective element assembly of claim 19, wherein said demarcation is established by a transparent region of said glass substrate that is devoid of said principal mirror reflector coating and said spotter mirror reflector coating.