Light emitting mirror bezel

• US 10,766,423 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2019
• Issued: 09/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited (Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited (Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Andreas, Lettis, Andrew, Scott-Collins, Callum, Smith, Gary, Rehill, Graham, Little, Andrew Brian, Toone, Ian Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diaz, Jose M
• Application Number:
  US16/569,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20200001792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A rearview device including a housing, a bezel and a rearview element used for vehicles. In one embodiment the bezel includes a transparent or chrome-based coating as to allow one or more lighting assemblies positioned in or beneath the bezel to illuminate the surrounding and provide different functions to the driver or other persons. For example, different indicator functions can be provided. Different electronic means may be placed in or beneath the bezel to optimize the used space inside the rearview device.

Claims

1. A multi-function rearview device for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to the vehicle and to be moveable relative to the vehicle;

a rearview element comprising at least one of a reflective element, a camera and a display element;

a bezel formed at an outer portion of the multi-function rearview device surrounding the rearview element, with the rearview element being attached to at least one of the bezel and the housing;

an interior space being formed within the bezel; and

at least one of one or more light assemblies and one or more electronic means being positioned at least partly within the interior space of the bezel,

wherein the multi-function device is functionally connected to an actuator, and the actuator is positioned outside the housing and moves the multi-function device entirely including the housing, and not only the rearview element, and

wherein the bezel is made of a plastic substrate which is at least one of colored, surface finished, transparent and coated, with the bezel being transparent and including a chromium-based coating, making the one or more light assemblies beneath the bezel hidden until lit.

2. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein at least one of

the bezel is coated and a coating of the bezel is at least one of a decorative coating, an advanced surface technology surface coating, and a spectrally controlling system, and

the bezel is formed or molded from a polymeric substrate.

3. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the chromium-based coating is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from hexagonally close-packed transition metals, and the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

4. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein at least one of

the one or more light assemblies provide at least one or more light function indications selected from the group consisting of direction indicator, approach light, strong braking signal, emergency braking signal, logo light, puddle light, Human Machine Interface (HMI), Blind Spot Indicator (BSI), charging indicator status, vehicle mode, sports mode, economy mode, autonomous drive mode, sleep mode, vehicle locked, vehicle stolen, warning signals, temperature or weather indicator, traffic light signal, fuel status, emergency indications for emergency vehicles including a police vehicle, doctor vehicle, ambulance, or traffic maintenance, vehicle communication, handshake, connection indicator, hazard lights side marker indication and/or a parking light indication, and

the one or more light assemblies each comprise at least one of:

a printed circuit board;

a light emitting diode;

an integrated lens;

self-charging illuminating material;

a flexible circuit board;

a bulb; and

a lamp.

5. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the one or more light assemblies comprises only one light assembly, wherein at least one of

the light assembly is configured to direct light to different positions of the bezel, and

the light assembly is configured to direct light with different characteristics to different positions of the bezel for providing different light function indications.

6. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the one or more light assemblies comprises a plurality of light assemblies configured to direct light with different characteristics to different positions of the bezel for providing different light function indications, wherein at least one of

the different light characteristics are determined by at least one of light color, light intensity and light pulse length,

the different positions of the bezel comprise at least a position on the bezel above the rearview element, a position on the bezel below the rearview element, a position on the bezel facing the vehicle, and a position on the bezel not facing the vehicle, and

the plurality of light assemblies comprises four light assemblies, a first light assembly positioned within the interior space of the bezel above the rearview device, a second light assembly positioned within the interior space of the bezel below the rearview device, a third light assembly positioned within the interior space of the bezel at a position on the bezel facing the vehicle, and a fourth light assembly positioned within the interior space of the bezel at a position not facing the vehicle.

7. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more light assemblies is placed directly on a plastic part of the bezel without using a printed circuit board, or by using a surface mount, over mold, conductive material, or printed material.

8. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein at least one of a conductor track, the electronic means and the one or more light assemblies is directly applied to the bezel by at least one of injection molding (MID), a conductive foil, and laser direct structuring.

9. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein at least one of

the one or more light assemblies comprise an LED holder with an integrated connector which can be clipped into the interior space of the bezel,

the one or more light assemblies comprise

at least one light source unit with at least one wire and not having a printed circuit board;

a housing unit supporting the light source unit and being provided with means suited for at least one of holding and connecting; and

sealing means,

the one or more light assemblies comprise a light source comprising at least one of an LED light, a light tape, a printed lighting, an optical light guide, a lamp, an illuminating charging material, a charging cell, a solar powered cell, and a battery.

10. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the one or more light assemblies are configured to direct a plurality of different color lights to an entire surface of the bezel so that the entire bezel can have one color at a time, and are configured to provide a plurality of different color lights to different zones of the bezel so that different zones of the bezel can have different colors at a time.

11. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the housing, the reflective element, and the bezel are integrally formed so that the multi-function device is sealed from an outside environment to protect against dust, water, or humidity.

12. The multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising a light diffuser positioned within the interior space of the bezel.

13. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the multi-function device is functionally connected to the actuator by self-docking or direct contact.

14. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein at least one of

the actuator is configured for at least one of a rotational movement and a translatory movement, and

the actuator determines a light output of the one or more light assemblies, in particular using a LIN or CAN connectivity.

15. The multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising a foot suited to be fixed to the vehicle and relative to which the housing with the bezel is moveable, the foot providing at least one spherical seat for the housing.

16. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper part and a lower part, and the bezel is attached to both parts.

17. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein at least one of

the bezel is secured, glued, removably attached, or clipped to the housing, and

the bezel is attached together with at least one of the one or more light assemblies and the electronic means to the housing.

18. The multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising a connection to a control unit of the vehicle to control at least one of the one or more light assemblies, the display element, an actuator, a camera controller, or a cleaning device.

19. The multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor wherein the output of the sensor controls at least one of the one or more light assemblies, a display, and an actuator, wherein at least one of

the sensor is a camera, and

the sensor is a light sensor for controlling multiple light intensities or light brightness.

20. The multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of

at least one of a heater and a wiper for the rearview element;

and

auto dimming elements.

21. The multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the electronic means is connected to at least one of the one or more light assemblies, the display element, an actuator, a sensor, a camera, a heater and a wiper, and the electronic means and the bezel form a unit.

22. The multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible circuit comprising the one or more light elements, the one or more light elements being directly attached to the flexible circuit.

23. The multi-function device of claim 22, wherein at least one of

the flexible circuit further comprises a single connector controlling unit configured to control the one or more light elements and to receive an external connector;

the flexible circuit further comprises an integrated heating pad configured to heat the rearview element;

the flexible circuit further comprises an integrated temperature sensor;

the flexible circuit further comprises at least one of an integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communication unit and an antenna; and

the flexible circuit further comprises an integrated heating pad configured to heat the rearview element and bends around a slot formed in the bezel.

24. The multi-function device of claim 22, wherein the bezel comprises a light receiving portion which is configured to receive a light for functioning as a side turn indicator.

25. The multi-function rearview device of claim 22, wherein at least one of

the one or more light elements are at least two light elements which are configured to project different colored lights for providing different functions;

and

the one or more light elements are at least four light elements which are configured to project different colored lights for providing different functions.

26. The multi-function device of claim 25, wherein the different functions provided comprise at least one function selected from the group consisting of direction indicator, approach light, strong braking signal, emergency braking signal, logo light, puddle light, Human Machine Interface (HMI), Blind Spot Indicator (BSI), charging indicator status, vehicle mode, sports mode, economy mode, autonomous drive mode, sleep mode, vehicle locked, vehicle stolen, warning signals, temperature or weather indicator, traffic light signal, fuel status, emergency indications for emergency vehicles including a police vehicle, doctor vehicle, ambulance, or traffic maintenance, vehicle communication, handshake, connection indicator, hazard lights, side marker indication, and a parking light indication.