REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20140266666A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid
• Granted Patent: US 9,327,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/475
• 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: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element having at least one glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said at least one glass substrate. The mirror assembly includes a display element disposed at the rear of the mirror reflective element and operable to emit light that is viewable through the mirror reflective element. The display element includes a printable light emitting diode. The mirror assembly may include at least one of (a) a printable electrically conductive layer at a surface of the at least one glass substrate, (b) a printable heater pad established at a rear surface of the at least one glass substrate, (c) a printable touch sensor and (d) a moldable light emitting diode element.

Claims

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

a mirror reflective element comprising at least one glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said at least one glass substrate;

a display element disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element and operable to emit light that is viewable through said mirror reflective element; and

wherein said display element comprises a printable light emitting diode.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a mirror back plate disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a three dimensional printed element and wherein said printable light emitting diode is established at said three dimensional printed element.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said three dimensional printed element comprises a polymeric material and said printable light emitting diode comprises a pattern printable transparent conductive ink established at said three dimensional printed element.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at an exterior side of a vehicle, and wherein said printable light emitting diode is established as one of (i) a printed integrated turn signal indicator and (ii) a printed integrated blind zone detection system indicator element.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at an exterior side of a vehicle.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said display element comprises a printable heater pad established at a rear surface of said at least one glass substrate.

7. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said display element comprises pattern printable transparent conductive ink established at a substrate.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said display element comprises at least one of (i) a printable electrically conductive layer at a surface of said at least one glass substrate, (ii) a printable touch sensor and (iii) a moldable light emitting diode element.

9. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a single glass substrate.

10. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said at least one glass substrate comprises front and rear substrates joined together with an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates.

11. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said display element is operable to display information for at least one of (i) a compass system of the vehicle, (ii) a driver assistance system of the vehicle, (iii) a back up assist system of the vehicle and (iv) a video display operable to display video images of image data captured by at least one camera of the vehicle.

12. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said glass substrate;

a mirror back plate disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element;

a display element disposed at said mirror back plate and operable to emit light that is viewable through said mirror reflective element;

wherein said display element comprises a printable light emitting diode that is printed at a surface of said mirror back plate; and

wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at an exterior side of a vehicle.

13. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a three dimensional printed element comprising a polymeric material and wherein said printable light emitting diode comprises a pattern printable transparent conductive ink.

14. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said printable light emitting diode is established as one of (i) a printed integrated turn signal indicator and (ii) a printed integrated blind zone detection system indicator element.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein a printable heater pad is established at a rear surface of said at least one glass substrate.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said display element is operable to provide at least one of (i) a turn signal indicator and (ii) a blind zone alert.

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

a mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said glass substrate;

a mirror back plate disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element;

a display element disposed at said mirror back plate and operable to emit light that is viewable through said mirror reflective element; and

wherein said display element comprises a printable light emitting diode that is printed at one of (i) a surface of said mirror back plate and (ii) a rear surface of said glass substrate.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a three dimensional printed element, and wherein said three dimensional printed element comprises a polymeric material and said printable light emitting diode comprises a pattern printable transparent conductive ink established at said three dimensional printed element.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said display element comprises at least one of (i) a printable electrically conductive layer at said rear surface of said at least one glass substrate, (ii) a printable touch sensor and (iii) a moldable light emitting diode element.

20. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said display element is operable to display information for at least one of (i) a compass system of the vehicle, (ii) a driver assistance system of the vehicle, (iii) a back up assist system of the vehicle and (iv) a video display operable to display video images of image data captured by at least one camera of the vehicle.