Inductive power connection/data transfer for electro-optic mirror

• US 10,451,837 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Faber, Nolan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carruth, Jennifer D.
• Application Number:
  US15/629,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20170363840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a rearview device having at least one of a display module and a mirror. A mount operably couples the rearview device to an inside surface of a windscreen of the vehicle. An at least partially translucent connector is operably coupled with the vehicle and abuts a portion of the windscreen. The connector includes an induction pad removably coupled with the rearview device and is configured to supply power and data to the rearview device.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a rearview device including at least one of a display module and a mirror;

a mount operably coupling the rearview device to a windscreen of said vehicle;

an at least partially translucent connector operably coupled with the vehicle and abutting a portion of the windscreen, the at least partially translucent connector including a connector induction pad removably coupled with the rearview device and configured to supply power and data to the rearview device; and

a complementary induction pad configured to engage the connector induction pad, wherein the connector induction pad and the complementary induction pad are magnetically coupled.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least partially translucent connector extends from the rearview device to a headliner of said vehicle.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the complementary induction pad is at least partially translucent.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the windscreen includes interior and exterior glass substrates, and wherein the at least partially translucent connector extends between the interior and exterior glass substrates.

5. A rearview assembly comprising:

a rearview device including a display module configured to display a view outside a vehicle;

a mount operably coupling the rearview device to a windscreen of the vehicle; and

a thin ribbon connector operably coupled with the vehicle and abutting a portion of the windscreen, the thin ribbon connector including a connector induction pad removably coupled with the rearview device and configured to supply at least one of power and data thereto, wherein a complementary induction pad is configured to engage the connector induction pad, and wherein at least one of the connector induction pad and the complementary induction pad is at least partially translucent.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 5, wherein the thin ribbon connector extends from the rearview device to a headliner of said vehicle.

7. The rearview assembly of claim 5, wherein the connector induction pad and the complementary induction pad are magnetically coupled.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 5, wherein the connector induction pad and the complementary induction pad each include an interface region having a generally circular profile.

9. The rearview assembly of claim 5, wherein the windscreen includes interior and exterior glass substrates, and wherein the thin ribbon connector extends between the interior and exterior glass substrates.

10. A rearview assembly comprising:

a rearview device including at least one of a display module and a mirror;

a mount operably coupling the rearview device to a windscreen of a vehicle; and

a power and data connector operably coupled with the vehicle and including a thin ribbon cable and a connector induction pad removably coupled with the rearview device, wherein the thin ribbon cable includes one of a wire and fiber-optic substrate configured to relay data to the rearview device.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein the rearview device includes a complementary induction pad configured to engage the connector induction pad.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one of the connector induction pad and the complementary induction pad is at least partially translucent.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein the windscreen includes interior and exterior glass substrates, and wherein the power and data connector extends between the interior and exterior glass substrates.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein the power and data connector is configured to provide power and data to the rearview device in relation to at least one of headlight dimming functionality, display module functionality, and imager system functionality.