Modular rearview mirror assembly

• US 20050152052A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Donnelly Engineering GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly Electronics Naas Limited
• Inventors: Garret, Coady, Lawlor, Patrick J
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror comprises a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, and a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate. A protective housing is supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate. A support bracket assembly extends from the carrier plate through the housing to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle. The electronic component unit preferably includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing. In another embodiment, an RF antenna is connected to circuitry included in the electronic component, the antenna preferably being mounted in the support bracket assembly. In yet another embodiment, a visual display is provided for displaying information provided by the electronic component unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a carrier plate, an electronic component unit mounted on one face of the carrier plate, a mirror mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, a protective housing supported by the carrier plate, the housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, and a support bracket assembly extending from the carrier plate through the housing, wherein the support bracket assembly is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle and support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate, and wherein the electronic component unit includes a card reader having a card slot exposed by the housing.

2. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an external surface with a window therein, the carrier plate has an externally visible surface portion partially occluding the window and providing a card introduction surface, and the card slot is immediately adjacent the card introduction surface, whereby the leading edge of a card slidably moved along the card introduction surface of the carrier plate is guided to the card slot.

3. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein the electronic component unit includes electronics toll collection (ETC) circuitry connected to the card reader.

4. A review mirror assembly according to claim 3, further including an RF antenna connected to the ETC circuitry.

5. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 4, wherein the RF antenna is mounted in the support bracket assembly.

6. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 5, further including a visual display for displaying electronic toll collection (ETC) information.

7. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 6, wherein the visual display is driven by circuitry mounted on the carrier plate and is visible through an aperture in the front of the housing.

8. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of the mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to the bezel and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, one of the bezel and the case being mounted to the carrier plate.

22. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component unit includes electronics toll collection (ETC) circuitry connected to the card reader.

23. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 22, further including a visual display for displaying electronic toll collection (ETC) information.

24. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of the mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to the bezel and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, one of the bezel and the case being mounted to the carrier plate.

9. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror, an electronic component unit, a protective housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit, an RF antenna connected to the electronic component unit, and a support bracket assembly adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle, wherein the RF antenna is mounted in the support bracket assembly.

10. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly according to claim 9, wherein the electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror is mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, the protective housing being supported by the carrier plate and the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate, whereby the support bracket assembly is adapted to support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate.

11. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of the mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to the bezel and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, one of the bezel and the case being mounted to the carrier plate.

12. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 11, further including a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit.

13. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein the visual display is visible through an aperture in the front of the housing.

14. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive traffic information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

15. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 14, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

25. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 9, further including a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit.

26. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive traffic information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

27. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

16. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror, an electronic component unit, a protective housing exposing the mirror through a viewing aperture and enclosing the electronic component unit, an RF antenna connected to the electronic component unit, and a support bracket assembly adapted to mount the mirror assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle, the mirror assembly further including a visual display for displaying information provided by said electronic component unit.

17. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the visual display is visible through an aperture in the front of the housing.

18. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive traffic information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

19. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 18, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

20. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly according to claim 19, wherein the electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror is mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, the protective housing being supported by the carrier plate and the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate, whereby the support bracket assembly is adapted to support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate.

21. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 20, wherein the housing comprises a bezel surrounding the periphery of the mirror to define the viewing aperture and a case connected to the bezel and enclosing the electronic component unit and carrier plate, one of the bezel and the case being mounted to the carrier plate.

28. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive traffic information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

29. A rearview mirror assembly according to claim 16 wherein the electronic component unit is adapted to receive electronic toll collection (ETC) information via the RF antenna and display such information on the visual display.

30. A vehicle rearview mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the electronic component unit is mounted on one face of a carrier plate and the mirror is mounted on the other face of the carrier plate, the protective housing being supported by the carrier plate and the support bracket assembly extending through the housing from the carrier plate, whereby the support bracket assembly is adapted to support the weight of the assembly via the carrier plate.