DISPLAY MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20160159287A1
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Minikey, JR., Danny L., Fish, JR., Richard T., Berry, Richard Allen, Hallack, Jason D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,131,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• 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 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0045 being rigid plastic containers having a coating of shielding material
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0054 specially adapted for display applications

Abstract

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing and a glass element, and is configured to be turned to an on state and an off state. A peripheral support is disposed proximate a periphery of the glass element and configured to retain the glass element against the display module. The peripheral support includes a radio frequency shield integral therewith. An actuator device is disposed on a bottom surface of the housing and operably coupled with the glass element. The actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element in one direction, thereby moving the glass element to an off-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module. The actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element in another direction, thereby moving the glass element to an on-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module.

Claims

1. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a glass element operably coupled with the housing;

a display module mounted between the glass element and the housing and including a display, an optic block, and a printed circuit board, the display module being configured to be turned to an on state and an off state;

a peripheral support disposed proximate a periphery of the glass element and configured to retain the glass element against the display module, wherein the peripheral support includes a radio frequency shield integral therewith; and

an actuator device disposed on a bottom surface of the housing and operably coupled with the glass element, wherein the actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element in one direction, thereby moving the glass element to an off-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module, wherein the actuator device is also adjustable to tilt the glass element in another direction, thereby moving the glass element to an on-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module.

2. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral support includes an internally-extending peripheral wall that abuts an outer portion of the glass element.

3. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass element includes a front substrate and a rear substrate, and wherein a peripheral edge of the front substrate is exposed such that the peripheral support is positioned behind the front substrate.

4. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a chin extending downward from and integral with the peripheral support.

5. The display mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the printed circuit board is operably coupled with an external button disposed on the chin.

6. The display mirror assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a light sensor positioned in the chin of the peripheral support.

7. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass element includes a peripheral hiding layer.

8. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral support is constructed from a polymeric material and the radio frequency shield is constructed from a metallic material, and wherein the polymeric material is overmolded onto the metallic material.

9. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the display module includes a display that has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the glass element, and wherein the display is an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, or DLP display element.

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

a partially transmissive graphic overlay which provides information to a viewer regarding the field of view shown in the display mirror assembly.

11. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the display module is capable of displaying an image which provides information to a viewer regarding the field of view shown in the display mirror assembly.

12. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a distance from a peripheral edge of the display to the housing is less than 11 mm.

13. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a distance from a peripheral edge of the display to the housing is less than 6.5 mm.

14. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, a distance from a peripheral edge of the display to the housing is less than 3.0 mm.

15. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the glass element includes an electro-optic element.

16. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

a display module operably coupled with the partially reflective, partially transmissive element and configured to be turned to an on state and an off state;

a polymeric bezel disposed about a periphery of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element and configured to retain the glass element against the display module;

a radio frequency shield formed from a metallic material and securely engaged with the polymeric bezel, the radio frequency shield including an internal peripheral wall that abuts a rear of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element; and

an actuator device operably coupled with the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, wherein the actuator device is adjustable to tilt the partially reflective, partially transmissive element to an off-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module, wherein the actuator device is also adjustable to tilt the partially reflective, partially transmissive element to an on-axis position which approximately simultaneously changes the on/off state of the display module.

17. The display mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the polymeric bezel includes rearwardly-extending engagement features engaged with a forward portion of the housing.

18. The display mirror assembly of claim 16, further comprising:

a chin extending downward from and integral with the polymeric bezel.

19. The display mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the glass element includes a front substrate and a rear substrate, and wherein a peripheral edge of the front substrate is exposed such that the bezel is positioned behind the front substrate.

20. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

an electro-optic element operably coupled with the housing;

a display module mounted at least partially between the electro-optic element and the housing and operably coupled to a printed circuit board, the display module configured to be turned to an on state and an off state; and

a bezel disposed about a periphery of the glass element and configured to retain the glass element against the display module, wherein the bezel is operably coupled with a radio frequency shield disposed between the glass element and the display module.