Heated mirror

• US 20030223136A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Inventors: Dumont, Daniel, Duroux, Bernard, Bade, Yves
• Granted Patent: US 6,834,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/883
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A heated mirror is provided. The mirror includes a plastic or glass substrate. A contact surface is provided for receiving a resistive heating layer. A plurality of spaced electrodes are electrically coupled to the resistive heating layer for inducing a current in the resistive heating layer to heat the mirror assembly. the substrate is polished in the direction of current flow through the resistive layer. The assembly may also include a separate reflective layer.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substrate including a contact surface;

a resistive heating layer disposed on said contact surface of said substrate;

a plurality of spaced electrodes attached to said resistive heating layer, said spaced electrodes adapted to induce a current through said resistive heating layer between said electrodes; and

wherein

said substrate is polished in the direction of current flow between said electrodes.

2. A mirror as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a reflective layer disposed on said substrate.

3. A mirror as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a metal strip.

4. A mirror as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a negative temperature coefficient material attached to said substrate, said electrodes disposed on said negative temperature coefficient material.

5. A mirror as set forth in claim 3 wherein said electrodes are connected to an electrical power source.

6. A mirror as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a reflective layer disposed on said resistive layer.

7. A mirror as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a metal strip.

8. A mirror as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a negative temperature coefficient material attached to said substrate, said electrodes disposed on said negative temperature coefficient material.

9. A mirror as set forth in claim 7 wherein said electrodes are connected to an electrical power source.

10. A mirror as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resistive heating layer includes a reflective surface.

11. A mirror as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a metal strip.

12. A mirror as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a negative temperature coefficient material attached to said substrate, said electrodes disposed on said negative temperature coefficient material.

13. A mirror as set forth in claim 11 wherein said electrodes are connected to an electrical power source.

14. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate comprising a plastic mirror body.

15. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate comprising a glass mirror body.

16. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substrate including a contact surface;

a reflective layer disposed on said contact surface;

a resistive heating layer disposed on said reflective layer;

a plurality of spaced electrodes attached to said resistive heating layer, said spaced electrodes adapted to induce a current through said resistive heating layer between said electrodes; and

wherein

said substrate is polished in the direction of current flow between said electrodes.

17. A mirror as set forth in claim 16 wherein said substrate comprises a plastic mirror body.

18. A mirror as set forth in claim 16 wherein said substrate comprises a glass mirror body.

19. A mirror assembly comprising:

a plastic body defining front and rear surfaces;

a resistive heating layer disposed on said rear surface of said plastic body;

a reflective surface disposed on said front surface of said plastic body; and

a plurality of spaced electrodes secured to said heating layer, said spaced electrodes adapted to induce a current through said heating layer between said electrodes.

20. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a metal strip.

21. A mirror as set forth in claim 20 further comprising a negative temperature coefficient material attached to said substrate, said electrodes disposed on said negative temperature coefficient material.

22. A mirror as set forth in claim 20 wherein said plastic body includes a plurality of integral electrode supports, said electrodes connected to said electrode supports.

23. A mirror as set forth in claim 20 wherein said electrodes are connected to an electrical power source.

24. A mirror assembly comprising:

a plastic body defining front and rear surfaces;

a resistive heating layer disposed on said front surface of said plastic body;

a reflective surface disposed on said heating layer; and

a plurality of spaced electrodes secured to said heating layer, said spaced electrodes adapted to induce a current through said heating layer between said electrodes.

25. A mirror as set forth in claim 24 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a metal strip.

26. A mirror as set forth in claim 25 further comprising a negative temperature coefficient material attached to said substrate, said electrodes disposed on said negative temperature coefficient material.

27. A mirror as set forth in claim 25 wherein said plastic body includes a plurality of integral electrode supports, said electrodes connected to said electrode supports.

28. A mirror as set forth in claim 25 wherein said electrodes are connected to an electrical power source.

29. A method of constructing a mirror comprising the steps of:

obtaining a substrate having front and rear surfaces;

polishing a contact surface of the plastic body in one direction for current flow;

depositing a resistive heating layer on said contact surface of said substrate; and

attaching a plurality of spaced electrodes to said heating layer, said spaced electrodes adapted to induce a current through said heating layer between said electrodes and in the direction of the polishing of the contact surface.

30. A method as set forth in claim 29 further comprising the step of depositing a reflective coating on the opposite surface of the substrate.

31. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the substrate is formed of plastic.