Mirror reflective element for a vehicle

• US 20050134983A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a prismatic mirror element and a display element. The prismatic mirror element includes a wedge-shaped prism element having a front surface and a rear surface and a second element having a transflective reflector on a first surface thereof. The front surface of the prism element generally faces a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle, and the rear surface is opposite the front surface. The transflective reflector coated first surface of the second element is attached to the rear surface of the prism element via an optically matching medium. The display element is positioned to the rear of the prismatic mirror element and operates to display information through the prismatic mirror element so as to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the display element is operated to emit visible light.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a prismatic mirror element, said prismatic mirror element comprising a first element comprising a wedge-shaped prism element and having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface generally facing a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle, said rear surface being opposite said front surface;

said prismatic mirror element further comprising a second element comprising a substrate having a transflective reflector on a first surface thereof, said transflective reflector coated first surface of said second element being attached to said rear surface of said first prism element via an optically matching medium; and

at least one display element positioned to the rear of said prismatic mirror element and operable to display information through said prismatic mirror element so as to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said display element is operated so as to emit visible light.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said optically matching medium comprises an optical adhesive.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said optical adhesive comprises a fluid layer that flows onto at least one of said rear surface of said first element and said second element.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said optical adhesive comprises a pliable interlayer that is disposed onto at least one of said rear surface of said first element and said second element.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said optically matching medium comprises one of a liquid and a pliable material and substantially fills in scratches and imperfections on said rear surface of said first element when applied thereto.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index that substantially matches a refractive index of said first element.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said first element comprises a glass prism element and said optically matching medium having a refractive index that is substantially similar to the refractive index of said glass prism element.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index between approximately 1.4 and 1.6.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index between approximately 1.45 to 1.55.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index of approximately 1.52.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one layer.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one layer comprises at least one of silver, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and silver alloy.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one layer includes at least one non-metallic substantially transparent layer.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one layer is deposited on said first surface of said second element.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said rear surface of said first element is substantially planar.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said rear surface of said first element is curved, said second element conforming to said curved rear surface.

17. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a prismatic mirror element, said prismatic mirror element comprising a first wedge-shaped prism element having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface generally facing a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle, said rear surface being opposite said front surface;

said prismatic mirror element further comprising a second element comprising a substrate and having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface of said second element opposing said rear surface of said first prism element;

said prismatic mirror element further comprising a transflective reflector disposed on at least one of said rear surface of said first prism element and said front surface of said second element;

said prismatic mirror element further comprising an optically matching medium, said second element being attached to said first prism element via said optically matching medium disposed between said front surface of said second element and said rear surface of said first prism element, said optically matching medium having a refractive index that substantially matches a refractive index of said first prism element; and

said interior rearview mirror assembly further comprising at least one display element positioned to the rear of said prismatic mirror element and operable to display information through said prismatic mirror element so as to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said display element is operated so as to emit visible light.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said optically matching medium comprises an optical adhesive.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said optical adhesive comprises a fluid layer that flows onto at least one of said rear surface of said first prism element and said front surface of said second element.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said optical adhesive comprises a pliable interlayer that is disposed onto at least one of said rear surface of said first prism element and said second element.

21. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said optically matching medium comprises one of a liquid and a pliable material and substantially fills in scratches and imperfections on at least one of said rear surface of said first prism element and said front surface of said second element when applied thereto.

22. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said transflective reflector is disposed on said front surface of said second element.

23. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said first prism element comprises a glass prism element and said optically matching medium having a refractive index that is substantially similar to the refractive index of said glass prism element.

24. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index between approximately 1.4 and 1.6.

25. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index between approximately 1.45 to 1.55.

26. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said optically matching medium has a refractive index of approximately 1.52.

27. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one layer.

28. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said at least one layer comprises at least one of silver, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and silver alloy.

29. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein said at least one layer includes at least one non-metallic substantially transparent layer.

30. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said at least one layer is deposited on said first surface of said second element.

31. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said rear surface of said first prism element is substantially planar.

32. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said rear surface of said first prism element is curved, said second element conforming to said curved rear surface.