Head section for a rear view device

• US 10,744,947 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Andreas, Schmierer, Arne, Field, Simon David, Lettis, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mcnichols, Eret C
• Application Number:
  US15/607,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20170267179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 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 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/37 specially adapted for signal lamps

Abstract

A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle includes a casing means including at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle, at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section, a first rear view means for displaying an area of the motor vehicle, and a second rear view means for displaying a second area of the motor vehicle, where the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means includes a combined, single-piece component, and where the lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating.

Claims

1. A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a casing means comprising at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle;

at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section;

a first rear view means for displaying a first side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction; and

a second rear view means for displaying a second side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction,

wherein the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means forming a combined, single-piece component,

wherein the lid section comprises a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating in the region of the combined, single-piece component for providing the second rear view means where the second rear view means is a reflective element,

wherein the housing section includes at least one light window, and wherein the electronic unit has a lighting unit arranged in the hollow area and comprises at least one printed circuit board and at least one lamp suited for emitting light through the light window,

wherein the housing section comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, and wherein the first housing part is a plastic part which is immediately adjacent to the hollow area and has a coloring which is essentially opaque or non-translucent, and wherein the first housing part comprises an opening in the area of the light window, and

wherein the second housing part of the housing section is a plastic part that is arranged in such a manner that the second housing part overlays a surface of the first housing part which faces away from the hollow area, and is essentially translucent or transparent in the area of the light window,

wherein the second housing part covers an outermost surface of the first housing part so that light emitted from the lighting unit is configured to first exit the opening of the first housing part then pass through the second housing part.

2. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the housing section and the lid section seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area, or wherein the housing section, the lid section and the first rear view means seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area.

3. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the lid section further comprises a first rear view means section for supporting the first rear view means.

4. The head section according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the first rear view means section is at least one of flat, curved and convex shaped.

5. The head section according to claim 3, wherein the first rear view means comprises at least one of a coating, a chromium-based reflective coating, a reflective element, a display means, a screen, an LED screen and an LCD screen.

6. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the second rear view means is a spotter mirror providing a wider field of view than the first rear view means.

7. The head section according to claim 1, wherein the lid section provides a multi-function backing plate comprising the second rear view means section and a first rear view means section.

8. The head section according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the coating comprises an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

9. The head section according to claim 8, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.

10. The head section according to claim 9, wherein the atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

11. The head section according to claim 9, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

12. The head section according to claim 8, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

13. The head section according to claim 8, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

14. The head section according to claim 8, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is titanium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

15. The head section according to claim 8, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is cobalt, and wherein the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

16. The head section according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the coating has a thickness of at least one of 200 nm or less, 100 nm or less, in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm, and about 60 nm.

17. A rear view device for a motor vehicle with the head section according to claim 1.

18. A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a casing means comprising at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle;

at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section;

a first rear view means for displaying a first side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction; and

a second rear view means for displaying a second side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction,

wherein the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means forming a combined, single-piece component,

wherein the lid section comprises a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating in the region of the combined, single-piece component for providing the second rear view means where the second rear view means is a reflective element,

wherein the at least one electronic unit is arranged without housing in the hollow area,

wherein the housing section comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part comprising an opening,

wherein the second housing part covers an outermost surface of the first housing part so that light emitted from the electronic unit is configured to first exit the opening of the first housing part then pass through the second housing part.

19. The head section according to claim 18, wherein the housing section and the lid section seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area, or wherein the housing section, the lid section and the first rear view means seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area.

20. The head section according to claim 18, wherein the lid section further comprises a first rear view means section for supporting the first rear view means.

21. The head section according to claim 20, wherein the surface of the first rear view means section is at least one of flat, curved and convex shaped.

22. The head section according to claim 20, wherein the first rear view means comprises at least one of a coating, a chromium-based reflective coating, a reflective element, a display means, a screen, an LED screen and an LCD screen.

23. The head section according to claim 18, wherein the second rear view means is a spotter mirror providing a wider field of view than the first rear view means.

24. The head section according to claim 18, wherein the lid section provides a multi-function backing plate comprising the second rear view means section and a first rear view means section.

25. The head section according to claim 18, wherein the coating comprises an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

26. The head section according to claim 25, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.

27. The head section according to claim 26, wherein the atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

28. The head section according to claim 26, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

29. The head section according to claim 25, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

30. The head section according to claim 25, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

31. The head section according to claim 25, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is titanium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

32. The head section according to claim 25, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is cobalt, and wherein the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

33. The head section according to claim 18, wherein the coating has a thickness of at least one of 200 nm or less, 100 nm or less, in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm, and about 60 nm.

34. A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a casing means comprising at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle;

at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section;

a first rear view means for displaying a first side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction; and

a second rear view means for displaying a second side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction,

wherein the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means forming a combined, single-piece component,

wherein the lid section comprises a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating in the region of the combined, single-piece component for providing the second rear view means where the second rear view means is a reflective element, and

wherein the housing section and the lid section seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area, or wherein the housing section, the lid section and the first rear view means seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area,

wherein the housing section comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part comprising an opening,

wherein the second housing part covers an outermost surface of the first housing part so that light emitted from the electronic unit is configured to first exit the opening of the first housing part then pass through the second housing part.

35. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the housing section and the lid section seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area, or wherein the housing section, the lid section and the first rear view means seal the hollow area of the head section from an outside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area.

36. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the lid section further comprises a first rear view means section for supporting the first rear view means.

37. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the surface of the first rear view means section is at least one of flat, curved and convex shaped.

38. The head section according to claim 36, wherein the first rear view means comprises at least one of a coating, a chromium-based reflective coating, a reflective element, a display means, a screen, an LED screen and an LCD screen.

39. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the second rear view means is a spotter mirror providing a wider field of view than the first rear view means.

40. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the lid section provides a multi-function backing plate comprising the second rear view means section and a first rear view means section.

41. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the coating comprises an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

42. The head section according to claim 41, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.

43. The head section according to claim 42, wherein the atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

44. The head section according to claim 42, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

45. The head section according to claim 41, wherein the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

46. The head section according to claim 41, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

47. The head section according to claim 41, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is titanium, and wherein the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

48. The head section according to claim 41, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is cobalt, and wherein the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

49. The head section according to claim 34, wherein the coating has a thickness of at least one of 200 nm or less, 100 nm or less, in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm, and about 60 nm.