MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100188193A1
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Uken, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.710
• 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 includes a mirror reflective element having a front surface, a rear surface and a reflector. A display element is disposed to the rear of the rear surface and is operable to emit light when actuated, the emitted light passing through the mirror reflective element to be viewable to a driver of the vehicle. A garage door opener device is included in the rearview mirror assembly, which includes at least one user actuatable input device associated with operation of the garage door opener device. Actuation of at least one user actuatable input device causes the display element to provide a visual indication to the driver viewing the front surface, when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle, of at least one of (i) operation of the garage door opener device and (ii) coding the garage door opener device.

Claims

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

a mirror reflective element having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface being viewable by and directed generally toward a driver of the vehicle when said mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle;

said mirror reflective element comprising a transflective reflector;

a display element disposed to the rear of said rear surface of said mirror reflective element of said rearview mirror assembly, said display element operable to emit light when actuated, wherein said emitted light is viewable through said transflective reflector by a driver of the vehicle when normally operating the vehicle;

said rearview mirror assembly including at least one user actuatable input device associated with operation of a garage door opener device, wherein said at least one user actuatable input device is disposed at a bezel portion of said rearview mirror assembly;

wherein an actuation of at least one user actuatable input device causes said display element to provide a visual indication to the driver viewing said front surface of said mirror reflective element, when said mirror assembly is normally installed in the vehicle, of at least one of (i) operation of said garage door opener device and (ii) coding said garage door opener device; and

wherein said display element, when actuated, forms a visual icon viewable by that driver that is indicative of a garage door opener.