MIRROR ELEMENT FOR VEHICLE

• US 20150334354A1
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uken, John T., De Wind, Darryl P., Huizen, Gregory A.
• Application Number:
  US14/712,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A visor assembly for a vehicle includes a visor element configured to pivotally attach at an interior portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a non-use position, where the visor is disposed along a roof of the vehicle, and a use position, where the visor element is disposed at least partially along a windshield of the vehicle. A vanity mirror reflective element includes a glass mirror substrate and a mirror reflector coating. The vanity mirror reflective element is disposed at the visor element so as to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the visor element is pivoted to the use position. The mirror substrate has a rounded perimeter edge that is exposed at the visor element and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the visor element is pivotally attached at the interior portion of the vehicle and in the use position.

Claims

1. A visor assembly for a vehicle, said visor assembly comprising:

a visor element configured to pivotally attach at an interior portion of a vehicle, wherein said visor element, when attached at the interior portion of the vehicle, is pivotable between a non-use position, where the visor is disposed along a roof of the vehicle, and a use position, where the visor element is disposed at least partially along the windshield of the vehicle;

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

wherein said vanity mirror reflective element is disposed at said visor element of the vehicle so as to be viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said visor element is pivoted to the use position; and

wherein said glass mirror substrate has a rounded perimeter edge that is exposed at said visor element and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when said visor element is pivotally attached at the interior portion of the vehicle and in the use position.

2. The visor assembly of claim 1, comprising at least one illumination source disposed behind said vanity mirror reflective element and, when said at least one illumination source is activated, illumination emitted by said at least one illumination source is viewable through said vanity mirror reflective element.

3. The visor assembly of claim 2, comprising a user input for controlling said at least one illumination source.

4. The visor assembly of claim 3, wherein said user input comprises a touch sensor disposed behind said glass mirror substrate and operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said glass mirror substrate.

5. The visor assembly of claim 4, wherein said user input is operable to adjust an intensity of said at least one illumination source responsive to a determined movement of the user'"'"'s finger across a portion of said glass mirror substrate.

6. The visor assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass mirror substrate is partially recessed at said visor element.

7. The visor assembly of claim 1, wherein said rounded perimeter edge protrudes at least partially from a surface of said visor element.

8. The visor assembly of claim 1, wherein said rounded perimeter edge of said glass mirror substrate has a polished water-clear surface finish.

9. The visor assembly of claim 1, wherein said rounded perimeter edge of said glass mirror substrate has a frosted or non-water-clear surface finish.

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

a mirror mount configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a pivot element of said mirror mount, said mirror head comprising a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror head comprises a reduced profile mirror casing having a thickness dimension between a front generally planar surface of said mirror reflective element and a rear surface of a generally central region of said mirror casing, and wherein said thickness dimension is less than about 20 mm;

a circuit board having circuitry associated with at least one accessory of said mirror head of interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said circuit board is disposed in said mirror mount and wherein wiring passes through said pivot element to electrically connect said at least one accessory to said circuitry.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said thickness dimension is less than about 15 mm.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said accessory comprises a camera having a field of view through said mirror casing and through a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said accessory comprises a camera having a field of view through said reflective element and in a rearward direction with respect to the equipped vehicle.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said reflective element comprises a variable reflectance electro-optic reflective element and wherein said accessory comprises an electro-optic mirror dimming feature, and wherein said circuitry includes circuit elements for controlling said electro-optic mirror dimming feature of said variable reflectance electro-optic reflective element.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein a camera is disposed at said circuit board and has a field of view through a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said mirror mount is configured to attach at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said mirror mount is configured to attach at a header portion of the equipped vehicle.

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

a mirror mount configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

a mirror head pivotally mounted at a pivot element of said mirror mount, said mirror head comprising a mirror casing and a variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror head comprises a reduced profile mirror casing having a thickness dimension between a front generally planar surface of said variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element and a rear surface of a generally central region of said mirror casing, and wherein said thickness dimension is less than about 25 mm;

a circuit board disposed in said mirror mount;

wherein said circuit board includes circuitry and wherein said circuitry is associated with said variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element;

wherein wiring passes through said pivot element to electrically connect said circuitry to terminals of said variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element; and

wherein said circuitry is associated with a camera disposed at said mirror mount.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein one of (i) said camera has a field of view through a windshield of the equipped vehicle and (ii) said camera has a field of view rearward and views over an upper portion of said mirror head.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said thickness dimension is less than about 20 mm.