Display mirror assembly

• US 10,739,591 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Ethan J., Minikey, Jr., Danny L., Hamlin, Bradley R., Kern, Eric P., Fish, Jr., Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkney, Dawayne
• Application Number:
  US16/030,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20180329210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359277, 359245-247, 359254, 359242, 345 49, 345105, 345107, 248817, 438929
• 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 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a front shield having a first side and a second side. A partially reflective, partially transmissive element is mounted on the first side. A rear shield is disposed behind the front shield. A display module is mounted between the front shield and the rear shield and includes in order from the front shield: a display; an optic block; a heat sink having an edge lit PCB mounted along a top edge thereof; and a PCB. The front shield is secured to at least one component of the display module with a first retaining feature and the rear shield is secured to at least one component of the display module with a second retaining feature. A housing at least partially surrounds the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the front shield, carrier plate, display module, and rear shield.

Claims

1. A rearview system for a vehicle, the rearview system comprising:

an electro-optic element including;

a partially reflective, partially transmissive front substrate having a rounded peripheral edge, the front substrate defining a first surface and a second surface;

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

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

a control circuit configured to control and power the electro-optic element;

a mounting member operably coupled to said vehicle and to the electro-optic element, the mounting member routing wiring from said vehicle to the electro-optic element;

an imager configured to capture image data outside said vehicle, wherein a signal representative of received light is communicated from the imager to the control circuit, wherein the captured image data is evaluated by the control circuit to determine likely glare on the electro-optic element; and

a bi-modal switch operably coupled with the electro-optic element and configured to rotate the electro-optic element between on-axis and off-axis positions and also activate or deactivate a display module.

2. The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the imager is disposed on a rear portion of said vehicle.

3. The rearview system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display adjacent the rear substrate, the display including one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

4. The rearview system of claim 1, wherein an outer perimeter of the electro-optic element is frameless.

5. The rearview system of claim 1, wherein the mounting member includes a ball section disposed adjacent the rear substrate.

6. The rearview system of claim 4, wherein the ball section includes a mounting plate proximate the rear substrate.

7. A rearview system for a vehicle, the rearview system comprising:

an electro-optic element including;

a front substrate;

a rear substrate; and

an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween;

a mounting member operably coupled to said vehicle and to the electro-optic element, the mounting member routing wiring to the electro-optic element;

an imager disposed on said vehicle, wherein a signal representative of received light is communicated from the imager through the mounting member to the electro-optic element of said rearview assembly to change an opacity of the electro-optic element; and

a bi-modal switch disposed on a bottom side of the electro-optic element and configured to move the electro-optic element between on-axis and off-axis positions and also activate and deactivate a display module of said rearview system.

8. The rearview system of claim 7, wherein the imager is disposed on a rear portion of said vehicle.

9. The rearview system of claim 7, further comprising:

a display adjacent the rear substrate, the display including one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

10. The rearview system of claim 7, wherein an outer perimeter of the electro-optic element is frameless.

11. The rearview system of claim 7, wherein the mounting member includes a ball section disposed adjacent the rear substrate.

12. The rearview system of claim 11, wherein the ball section includes a mounting plate proximate the rear substrate.

13. A rearview system for a vehicle, the rearview system comprising:

a display mirror assembly including a partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the partially reflective, partially transmissive element comprising;

a front substrate;

a rear substrate; and

an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween;

a mounting member operably coupled to said vehicle and to the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the mounting member routing wiring to the partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

an imager disposed on said vehicle, wherein a signal representative of received light is communicated from the imager through the mounting member to the partially reflective, partially transmissive element of said rearview assembly to change an opacity of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

a display module disposed adjacent to the rear substrate, the display module configured to display image data captured by the imager; and

a bi-modal switch that activates and deactivates the display module and rotates the display mirror assembly relative to the mounting member.

14. The rearview system of claim 13, wherein the display module includes one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

15. The rearview system of claim 13, wherein the imager is disposed on a rear portion of said vehicle.

16. The rearview system of claim 13, wherein an outer perimeter of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element is frameless.

17. The rearview system of claim 13, wherein the mounting member includes a ball section disposed adjacent the rear substrate.

18. The rearview system of claim 17, wherein the ball section includes a mounting plate proximate the rear substrate.