Extended field of view exterior mirror element for vehicle

• US 9,340,161 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kakalec, Kimberly N
• Application Number:
  US14/556,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• 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: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• 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

An extended field of view exterior mirror element suitable for use in a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly includes a reflective single glass element having a substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and a curved outboard reflective glass portion. The substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion has a radius of curvature greater than at least approximately 12,000 millimeters and provides a first primary field of view rearward of the vehicle that subtends an angle that is not greater than approximately 20 degrees with respect to the driver-side of the vehicle. The curved outboard reflective glass portion provides a second auxiliary field of view rearward of the vehicle that encompasses a blind spot of the substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion. The reflective single glass element includes a demarcation that generally demarcates the substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion from the curved outboard reflective glass portion.

Claims

1. An extended field of view exterior mirror element suitable for use in a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly on a vehicle, said extended field of view exterior mirror element comprising:

a reflective single glass element comprising a substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and a curved outboard reflective glass portion;

said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion having a radius of curvature greater than at least approximately 12,000 millimeters;

wherein said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides a first primary field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly equipped with said extended field of view exterior mirror element;

wherein said reflective single glass element comprises a rear substrate of a laminate-type electrochromic exterior mirror element and wherein said laminate-type electrochromic mirror element comprises a front glass substrate that is joined to and is spaced from said rear substrate by a perimeter seal;

wherein said front substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate and said rear substrate and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein a reflective perimeter coating is disposed at the perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate and wherein said reflective perimeter coating is configured and dimensioned to hide the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a viewer viewing through said front glass substrate when said electrochromic exterior mirror element is used on the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when joined together and spaced apart by said perimeter seal, no part of said rear substrate protrudes beyond any part of said front glass substrate;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides to a driver of the equipped vehicle a rearward field of view that subtends an angle that is not greater than approximately 20 degrees with respect to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said curved outboard reflective glass portion provides a second auxiliary field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second auxiliary rearward field of view encompasses a blind spot of said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion in a side lane adjacent the driver-side of the equipped vehicle at which said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached;

wherein said curved outboard reflective glass portion curves from said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion to an outermost most curved region of said rear substrate;

wherein the radius of curvature of said curved outboard reflective glass portion decreases as said curved outboard reflective glass portion curves from said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion to said outermost most curved region of said rear substrate;

wherein said exterior mirror element comprises a demarcation that generally demarcates said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion from said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein a reflective metallic layer commonly coats said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said curved outboard reflective glass portion is farther from the driver-side of the equipped vehicle than is said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion; and

wherein said exterior mirror element is disposed at a mirror backing plate element and wherein said mirror backing plate element is adapted for attachment at an electrically-operable actuator and wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said mirror backing plate element is movable by said electrically-operable actuator and wherein movement of said mirror backing plate element by said actuator simultaneously and similarly moves said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and said curved outboard reflective glass portion.

2. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein the glass thickness of said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion is less than approximately 0.8 millimeters and greater than approximately 0.3 millimeters and wherein the glass thickness of said curved outboard reflective glass portion is less than approximately 0.8 millimeters and greater than approximately 0.3 millimeters.

3. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein the overall rearward field of view of said exterior mirror element is less than approximately 45 degrees relative to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle.

4. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 3, wherein the overall rearward field of view of said exterior mirror element is at least approximately 25 degrees relative to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle.

5. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, comprising a heater element operable to demist/deice the outmost surface of said exterior mirror element when said exterior mirror element is disposed at said mirror backing plate element and when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached and operated at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle.

6. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein said reflective metallic layer comprises at least one of (i) chromium, (ii) titanium, (iii) rhodium, (iv) a metal alloy, (v) a nickel alloy, (vi) aluminum and (vii) silver.

7. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein said rear substrate comprises an outer first surface and an inner second surface and wherein said reflective metallic layer is disposed at said outer first surface.

8. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides to the driver of the equipped vehicle a rearward field of view that subtends an angle that is not greater than approximately 15 degrees with respect to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle.

9. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein said demarcation is disposed at the region of said exterior mirror element generally where said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion of said rear substrate ends and said curved outboard reflective glass portion of said rear substrate begins, and wherein said demarcation comprises at least one of (i) a line, (ii) interspaced dots, (iii) dashes and (iv) spots.

10. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein said demarcation has a thickness in the range from about 0.5 millimeters to about 3 millimeters and wherein said demarcation is at least one of (i) darkly colored and (ii) black.

11. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 1, wherein at least one radius of curvature of said curved outboard reflective glass portion lies in the range between about 4,000 millimeters and about 100 millimeters.

12. An extended field of view exterior mirror element suitable for use in a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly on a vehicle, said extended field of view exterior mirror element comprising:

a reflective single glass element comprising a substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and a curved outboard reflective glass portion;

said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion having a radius of curvature greater than at least approximately 12,000 millimeters;

wherein said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides a first primary field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly equipped with said extended field of view exterior mirror element;

wherein said reflective single glass element comprises a rear substrate of a laminate-type electrochromic exterior mirror element and wherein said laminate-type electrochromic mirror element comprises a front glass substrate that is joined to and is spaced from said rear substrate by a perimeter seal;

wherein said front glass substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate and said rear substrate and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein a reflective perimeter coating is disposed at the perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate and wherein said reflective perimeter coating is configured and dimensioned to hide the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a viewer viewing through said front glass substrate when said electrochromic exterior mirror element is used on the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when joined together and spaced apart by said perimeter seal, no part of said rear substrate protrudes beyond any part of said front glass substrate;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides to a driver of the equipped vehicle a rearward field of view that subtends an angle that is not greater than approximately 20 degrees with respect to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said curved outboard reflective glass portion provides a second auxiliary field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second auxiliary rearward field of view encompasses a blind spot of said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion in a side lane adjacent the driver-side of the equipped vehicle at which said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached;

wherein said curved outboard reflective glass portion curves from said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion to an outermost most curved region of said rear substrate;

wherein the radius of curvature of said curved outboard reflective glass portion decreases as said curved outboard reflective glass portion curves from said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion to said outermost most curved region of said rear substrate;

wherein said exterior mirror element comprises a demarcation that generally demarcates said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion from said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein a reflective metallic layer commonly coats said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said curved outboard reflective glass portion is farther from the driver-side of the equipped vehicle than is said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion;

wherein said exterior mirror element is disposed at a mirror backing plate element and wherein said mirror backing plate element is adapted for attachment at an electrically-operable actuator and wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said mirror backing plate element is movable by said electrically-operable actuator and wherein movement of said mirror backing plate element by said actuator simultaneously and similarly moves said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein at least one radius of curvature of said curved outboard reflective glass portion lies in the range between about 4,000 millimeters and about 100 millimeters; and

wherein the overall rearward field of view of said exterior mirror element is less than approximately 45 degrees relative to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle.

13. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 12, wherein said reflective metallic layer comprises at least one of (i) chromium, (ii) titanium, (iii) rhodium, (iv) a metal alloy, (v) a nickel alloy, (vi) aluminum and (vii) silver.

14. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 13, wherein said rear substrate comprises an outer first surface and an inner second surface and wherein said reflective metallic layer is disposed at said outer first surface.

15. An extended field of view exterior mirror element suitable for use in a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly on a vehicle, said extended field of view exterior mirror element comprising:

a reflective single glass element comprising a substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and a curved outboard reflective glass portion;

said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion having a radius of curvature greater than at least approximately 12,000 millimeters;

wherein said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides a first primary field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with a driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly equipped with said extended field of view exterior mirror element;

wherein said reflective single glass element comprises a rear substrate of a laminate-type electrochromic exterior mirror element and wherein said laminate-type electrochromic mirror element comprises a front glass substrate that is joined to and is spaced from said rear substrate by a perimeter seal;

wherein said front substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate and said rear substrate and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by said perimeter seal;

wherein a reflective perimeter coating is disposed at the perimeter region of said second surface of said front glass substrate and wherein said reflective perimeter coating is configured and dimensioned to hide the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a viewer viewing through said front glass substrate when said electrochromic exterior mirror element is used on the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when joined together and spaced apart by said perimeter seal, no part of said rear substrate protrudes beyond any part of said front glass substrate;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion provides to a driver of the equipped vehicle a rearward field of view that subtends an angle that is not greater than approximately 20 degrees with respect to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said curved outboard reflective glass portion provides a second auxiliary field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second auxiliary rearward field of view encompasses a blind spot of said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion in a side lane adjacent the driver-side of the equipped vehicle at which said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached;

wherein said curved outboard reflective glass portion curves from said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion to an outermost most curved region of said rear substrate;

wherein the radius of curvature of said curved outboard reflective glass portion decreases as said curved outboard reflective glass portion curves from said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion to said outermost most curved region of said rear substrate;

wherein said exterior mirror element comprises a demarcation that generally demarcates said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion from said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein a reflective metallic layer commonly coats said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said curved outboard reflective glass portion is farther from the driver-side of the equipped vehicle than is said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion;

wherein said exterior mirror element is disposed at a mirror backing plate element and wherein said mirror backing plate element is adapted for attachment at an electrically-operable actuator and wherein, when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle, said mirror backing plate element is movable by said electrically-operable actuator and wherein movement of said mirror backing plate element by said actuator simultaneously and similarly moves said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion and said curved outboard reflective glass portion;

wherein the overall rearward field of view of said exterior mirror element is less than approximately 45 degrees relative to the driver-side of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said reflective metallic layer comprises at least one of (i) chromium, (ii) titanium, (iii) rhodium, (iv) a metal alloy, (v) a nickel alloy, (vi) aluminum and (vii) silver.

16. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 15, wherein said demarcation is disposed at the region of said exterior mirror element generally where said substantially flat inboard reflective glass portion ends and said curved outboard reflective glass portion begins, and wherein said demarcation has a thickness in the range from about 0.5 millimeters to about 3 millimeters, and wherein said demarcation comprises at least one of (i) a line, (ii) interspaced dots, (iii) dashes and (iv) spots.

17. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 16, comprising a heater element operable to demist/deice the outmost surface of said exterior mirror element when said exterior mirror element is disposed at said mirror backing plate element and when said driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly is attached and operated at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle.

18. The extended field of view exterior mirror element of claim 17, wherein at least one radius of curvature of said curved outboard reflective glass portion lies in the range between about 4,000 millimeters and about 100 millimeters.