SHAPED REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20150055207A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Heintzelman, Adam R., Trombka, Autumn W., Dozeman, Gary J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,434,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0018 Electro-optical materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly is provided that includes a front substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; and a rear substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface. The rear substrate defines at least one contact via and the front substrate and the rear substrate define a cavity. The mirror assembly further includes a perimeter seal between the front substrate and the rear substrate; and an electrically conductive element at least partially within said at least one contact via that electrically connects with at least one of the second surface and the third surface. The mirror assembly also includes an electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity. In addition, the front substrate and the rear substrate each has a shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape. The shaped edges can also be formed by grinding the edges together.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

a front substrate comprising;

a first surface, and

a second surface;

a rear substrate comprising;

a third surface, and

a fourth surface,

wherein said rear substrate defines at least one contact via and said front substrate and said rear substrate define a cavity;

a perimeter seal between said front substrate and said rear substrate;

an electrically conductive element at least partially within said at least one contact via, wherein said electrically conductive element electrically connects with at least one of said second surface and said third surface; and

an electro-optic medium disposed in said cavity between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by said perimeter seal,

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate each has a shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape of the front substrate is defined from the first surface to the second surface and the shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape of the rear substrate is defined from the third surface to the fourth surface.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said contact via is a slot.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said contact via is a hole.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said conductive element is a u-clip.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said conductive element is a u-clip.

7. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the thickness of said front substrate is approximately the same as the thickness of said rear substrate.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the continuously arcuate shape has a substantially constant radius.

9. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the continuously arcuate shape has a plurality of radii.

10. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a perimeter ring disposed on the second surface, the ring located and sized to substantially hide the perimeter seal from view through said front substrate.

11. A rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

a front substrate comprising;

a first surface, and

a second surface;

a rear substrate comprising;

a third surface, and

a fourth surface,

wherein said rear substrate defines at least one contact via and said front substrate and said rear substrate define a cavity;

a perimeter seal between said front substrate and said rear substrate;

an electrically conductive element at least partially within said at least one contact via, wherein said electrically conductive element electrically connects with at least one of said second surface and said third surface; and

an electro-optic medium disposed in said cavity between said front substrate and said rear substrate and bounded by said perimeter seal,

wherein said front substrate and said rear substrate each has a shaped edge, the shaped edges characterized by a continuously arcuate shape that is formed by grinding the shaped edges together.

12. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein the shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape of the front substrate is defined from the first surface to the second surface and the shaped edge having a continuously arcuate shape of the rear substrate is defined from the third surface to the fourth surface.

13. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said contact via is a slot.

14. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said contact via is a hole.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said conductive element is a u-clip.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said conductive element is a u-clip.

17. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein the thickness of said front substrate is approximately the same as the thickness of said rear substrate.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein the continuously arcuate shape has a substantially constant radius.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein the continuously arcuate shape has a plurality of radii.

20. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a perimeter ring disposed on the second surface, the ring located and sized to substantially hide the perimeter seal from view through said front substrate.