Rearview mirror having tilting structure

• US 10,632,920 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kong, Nak Kyoung, Park, Jong Min, Lee, Ki Hong, Lim, Keun Sig, Kim, Chang Ju, Kim, Yong Hwan, Choi, Su Young, Kim, Won Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US15/814,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20180370437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

Abstract

A rearview mirror having a tilting structure configured for securing a rear view through a display device by tilting an upper housing may include: a lower housing configured to be fixed to a windshield glass; an upper housing configured to be positioned at an opening portion of the lower housing; a mirror portion configured to be positioned at a rear surface of the upper housing; and a display device configured to be positioned at a rear surface of the mirror portion, in which the mirror portion and the display device are fixed to the upper housing, and the upper housing is tilted based on a first end portion to provide a rear view through the display device.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror apparatus having a tilting structure, comprising:

a lower housing fixed to a windshield glass;

an upper housing disposed at an opening portion of the lower housing;

a mirror portion disposed at a rear surface of the upper housing; and

a display device disposed at a rear surface of the mirror portion,

wherein the mirror portion and the display device are fixed to the upper housing, and the upper housing is formed to be tilted at a predetermined angle based on a hinge portion disposed at a first end portion at which the upper housing and the lower housing contact each other

wherein the tilted upper housing is configured to contact with a switch portion to control an On or Off state of the display device.

2. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower housing includes a button portion disposed at a first end portion of the lower housing, the upper housing includes an insertion portion disposed at the upper housing to correspond to the button portion so that the button portion is inserted, and the button portion is released from the insertion portion so that the upper housing is tilted.

3. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 2, further including:

the switch portion disposed below the inserted button portion to control an On or off state of the display device, wherein, when the button portion is inserted to tilt the upper housing, the switch portion is switched to turn on the display device.

4. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 2, wherein the button portion and the insertion portion have a snap-fit coupling structure.

5. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper housing further includes a locking groove so that the button portion is fixed to an internal surface of the upper housing when the upper housing is tilted so that a first end portion thereof is drawn out.

6. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1, further including:

an elastic member disposed at the hinge portion, wherein the elastic member provides a rotational force so that the upper housing maintains a closed state.

7. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a mounting guide portion fixing the lower housing to the windshield glass.

8. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 7, wherein the windshield glass and the lower housing are coupled with the mounting guide portion through a ball bearing, respectively.

9. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a controller configured to control an image output of the display device.

10. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim, 9, wherein the controller is configured to output an image photographed by a camera disposed at an external side of a vehicle in the display device, and to correct the image output in the display device to provide a same view as a rear view provided through the mirror portion.

11. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mirror portion is configured by an electronic chromic mirror (ECM).

12. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the upper housing is tilted, a reflection rate control function of the ECM is released.

13. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge portion includes a rotation shaft disposed at the lower housing, and the first end portion of the upper housing is fixed to the rotation shaft.