Vehicular outside rearview assembly

• US 10,730,436 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Hamlin, Bradley R., Lock, Nigel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washington, Tamara Y.
• Application Number:
  US15/858,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20180186292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15 based on an electrochromic effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/56 Substrates having a particular shape, e.g. non-rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A rearview assembly includes a housing having a front defining an opening. An external band extends laterally about a rear of the housing. A turn signal is defined in the external band. An electro-optic device includes a front substrate defining a first surface and a second surface. A rear substrate defines a third surface and a fourth surface. An electro-optic medium is disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A peripheral seal contains the electro-optic medium between the front substrate and the rear substrate. An imager is adjacent the electro-optic device. A viewing window is disposed on an outboard corner of the electro-optic device. The imager is in optical communication with the viewing window.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly comprising:

a housing having a front defining an opening;

a carrier secured to the housing, the carrier comprising a first imager viewing region and a first aperture;

an electro-optic device secured to the carrier, the electro-optic device including;

a front substrate defining a first surface and a second surface;

a rear substrate defining a third surface and a fourth surface;

an electro-optic medium disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate;

a peripheral seal containing the electro-optic medium between the front substrate and the rear substrate;

a graphic proximate to the second surface, the graphic including an indicia;

a second imager viewing region comprising;

a portion of the front substrate; and

a recess in the rear substrate, the recess comprising an area where the second substrate would otherwise be present;

an imager operable to collect image data through the first and second viewing regions and disposed rearward relative the front substrate; and

a light source operable to emit light though the first aperture and the electro-optic device in optical communication with the indicia.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear substrate defines a recess at the second imager viewing region.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 2, wherein the peripheral seal follows at least a portion of a perimeter of the recess.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the graphic is disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the indicia communicates information to a driver, the indicia disposed above the imager second viewing region.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the graphic extends about a periphery of the second imager viewing region.

7. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the front substrate is at least partially reflective at the second imager viewing region, to at least partially conceal the imager.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the imager includes a field of view that covers a blind spot zone of a vehicle.

9. A rearview assembly comprising:

a housing having a front defining an opening;

a carrier disposed within and secured to the housing, the carrier comprising an aperture;

an electro-optic secured to the carrier, the electro-optic comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate, the electro-optic device having a first region and a second region, the first region operable between a darkened state and a clear state, wherein the rear substrate does not extend into the second region;

an imager disposed rearward, relative the electro-optic device and operable to collect image data, wherein the imager is in optical communication with the second region; and

a light source operable to emit light through the aperture and the electro-optic at the second region.

10. The rearview assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a graphic disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate of the electro-optic device.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the graphic includes indicia that communicates information to a driver the indicia disposed above the imager; and

the light source is operable to illuminate the indicia.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein the graphic extends about a periphery of the second region.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein the front substrate is at least partially reflective at the second region, to at least partially conceal the imager.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 9, wherein the imager includes a field of view that covers a blind spot zone of a vehicle.

15. An external rearview assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a carrier secured to and disposed within the housing, the carrier comprising a first recess;

an electro-optic secured to the carrier plate, the electro-optic device including a front substrate and a rear substrate wherein the rear substrate defines a second recess and at the second recess, a portion of the front substrate is present and an area that would otherwise be occupied by the rear substrate is present, the second recess disposed on an outboard corner of the electro-optic device; and

an imager disposed rearward the electro-optic device and carrier, the imager operable to collect image data through;

the carrier at the first recess; and

the electro-optic device at the second recess of the rear substrate.

16. The external rearview assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a turn signal defined in an external band.

17. The external rearview assembly of claim 16, wherein the turn signal includes a plurality of linearly aligned light emitting diodes.

18. The external rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein the imager includes a field of view that covers a blind spot zone of a vehicle.

19. The external rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein a graphic includes indicia that communicates information to a driver and which is disposed above the imager.

20. The external rearview assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a light source;

wherein;

the carrier further comprises an aperture, and

the light source is operable to operable to emit light through the carrier at the aperture and the electro-optic at the second recess.