EXTERIOR MIRROR WITH HEATER PAD

• US 20160221505A1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kendall, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 9,776,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• 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: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/60 Temperature independent

Abstract

A mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element and a heater pad. The heater pad includes a heater pad substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive traces established thereat. The heater pad substrate is disposed at a rear surface of the reflective element. The electrically conductive traces may include (i) a heating trace that, (ii) first and second electro-optic control traces and/or (iii) accessory control traces. The electrically conductive traces terminate at a connector region of the heater pad substrate. An electrical connector is established at the connector region and has terminals electrically conductively connected at respective terminals of the electrically conductive traces. The electrical connector is formed as part of a back plate of the mirror reflective element assembly and is configured to electrically connect to a single wiring harness of the exterior rearview mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element operable to vary its reflectivity of light responsive to an electrical voltage applied at first and second busbars of said mirror reflective element;

a heater pad comprising a heater pad substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive traces established thereat;

wherein said heater pad substrate is disposed at a rear surface of said mirror reflective element;

a back plate, wherein said heater pad is disposed between said mirror reflective element and said back plate;

wherein said electrically conductive traces comprise (i) a heating trace that, when powered, heats said heater pad substrate and said mirror reflective element, (ii) first and second electro-optic control traces that, when electrically connected to said first and second busbars and when electrically powered, darken said mirror reflective element and (iii) at least one accessory trace that, when powered, controls an accessory of the exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said electrically conductive traces terminate at a connector region of said heater pad substrate;

an electrical connector established at said connector region and having terminals electrically conductively connected at respective terminals of said electrically conductive traces, wherein said electrical connector is configured to electrically connect to a single wiring harness of the exterior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said electrical connector is formed as part of said back plate during injection molding of said back plate.

2. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said accessory trace, when powered, controls a blind zone indicator that is disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element and that is viewable, when powered, through said mirror reflective element.

3. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 2, wherein said terminals of said electrically conductive traces comprise (i) a positive heating trace terminal, (ii) a positive electro-optic control trace terminal, (iii) a positive accessory trace terminal and (iv) a common negative terminal for the negative terminal of said heating trace, said electro-optic control traces and said accessory trace.

4. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said accessory trace, when powered, controls a turn signal indicator disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element.

5. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said accessory trace, when powered, controls a sensor disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element.

6. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said accessory trace, when powered, controls a light module disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element.

7. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said terminals of said electrical connector comprise electrically conductive elements insert molded into said electrical connector during injection molding of said back plate.

8. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector comprises a plurality of solder pads for soldering terminals of the wiring harness at respective ones thereof when said rearview mirror reflective element assembly is disposed at a mirror casing of the exterior rearview mirror assembly.

9. A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element is operable to vary its reflectivity of light responsive to an electrical voltage applied at first and second busbars of said mirror reflective element;

a heater pad comprising a heater pad substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive traces established thereat;

wherein said heater pad substrate is disposed at a rear surface of said mirror reflective element;

a back plate, wherein said heater pad is disposed between said mirror reflective element and said back plate;

wherein said electrically conductive traces comprise (i) a heating trace that, when powered, heats said heater pad substrate and said mirror reflective element, (ii) first and second electrochromic control traces that, when electrically connected to said first and second busbars and when electrically powered, darken said mirror reflective element, and (iii) at least one accessory trace that, when powered, controls an accessory of the exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said heating trace, said first and second electrochromic control traces and said at least one accessory trace terminate at a connector region of said heater pad substrate;

an electrical connector established at said connector region and having terminals electrically conductively connected at respective terminals of said heating trace, said first and second electrochromic control traces and said at least one accessory trace, wherein said electrical connector is configured to electrically connect to a single wiring harness of the exterior rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror reflective element assembly is disposed at a mirror casing of the exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said terminals of said heating trace and said first and second electrochromic control traces comprise (i) a positive heating trace terminal, (ii) a positive electrochromic control trace terminal, (iii) a positive accessory trace terminal and (iv) a common negative terminal for the negative terminal of said heating trace, said electrochromic control traces and said accessory traces; and

wherein said electrical connector is formed as part of said back plate during injection molding of said back plate.

10. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one accessory trace, when powered, controls a blind zone indicator that is disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element and that is viewable, when powered, through said mirror reflective element.

11. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one accessory trace, when powered, controls a turn signal indicator disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element and viewable, when powered, through said mirror reflective element.

12. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one accessory trace, when powered, controls a sensor disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element.

13. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 9, wherein said accessory trace, when powered, controls a light module disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element.

14. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 9, wherein said terminals of said electrical connector comprise electrically conductive elements insert molded into said electrical connector during injection molding of said back plate.

15. A rearview mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a heater pad comprising a heater pad substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive traces established thereat;

wherein said heater pad substrate is disposed at a rear surface of said mirror reflective element;

a back plate formed by injection molding, wherein said heater pad is disposed between said mirror reflective element and said back plate;

wherein said electrically conductive traces comprise (i) a heating trace that, when powered, heats said heater pad substrate and said mirror reflective element, and (ii) accessory traces that, when powered, control an accessory of said mirror reflective element assembly;

wherein said electrically conductive traces terminate at a connector region of said heater pad substrate;

an electrical connector established at said connector region and having terminals electrically conductively connected at respective terminals of said electrically conductive traces, wherein said electrical connector is configured to electrically connect to a single wiring harness of the exterior rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror reflective element assembly is disposed at a mirror casing of the exterior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said electrical connector is formed as part of said back plate during injection molding of said back plate.

16. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 15, wherein said accessory traces, when powered, control a blind zone indicator that is disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element and that is viewable, when powered, through said mirror reflective element.

17. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 15, wherein said terminals of said electrically conductive traces comprise (i) a positive heating trace terminal, (ii) a positive accessory trace terminal and (iii) a common negative terminal for the negative terminal of said heating trace and said accessory traces.

18. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 15, wherein said accessory traces, when powered, control a turn signal indicator disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element and viewable, when powered, through said mirror reflective element.

19. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 15, wherein said accessory traces, when powered, control a sensor disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element.

20. The rearview mirror reflective element assembly of claim 15, wherein said terminals of said electrical connector comprise electrically conductive elements insert molded into said electrical connector during injection molding of said back plate.