FRAMELESS INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20170232899A1
• Filed: 05/01/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Wind, Darryl P., Rawlings, Donald S., Uken, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,124,732 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 1/088 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: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror casing and a prismatic interior reflective element. The reflective element comprises a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate and extending between first and second surfaces thereof. The glass substrate has a mirror reflector established at the second surface. A front surface of the perimeter edge provides a smooth curved transition at the perimeter edge between a perimeter region of the first surface and the mirror casing. The front surface of the perimeter edge is rounded with a radius of curvature of at least about 2.5 mm. No portion of the mirror casing encompasses the first surface of the glass substrate.

Claims

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

a mirror casing;

a prismatic interior reflective element;

wherein said prismatic interior reflective element comprises a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and extending between the first and second surfaces thereof, said wedge-shaped glass substrate having a mirror reflector established at the second surface thereof, the first surface facing a driver of a vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein a front surface of the perimeter edge provides a smooth curved transition at the perimeter edge between a perimeter region of the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and said mirror casing;

said perimeter region circumscribing said wedge-shaped glass substrate;

wherein the front surface of the perimeter edge comprises a rounded curved surface disposed between the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and said mirror casing;

wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is at least 2.5 mm;

wherein no portion of said mirror casing encompasses the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate; and

wherein an outer part of the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate is co-planar with an outer part of a side wall of said mirror casing.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is uniform around the perimeter of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said prismatic interior reflective element is adhered to said mirror casing.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror casing comprises a planar attachment surface, and wherein said prismatic interior reflective element is attached at said attachment surface of said mirror casing to secure said prismatic interior reflective element to said mirror casing.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is non-uniform around the perimeter of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate comprises a thicker region and a thinner region, and wherein the radius of curvature along the thinner region of the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate is smaller than the radius of curvature along the thicker region of the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said prismatic interior reflective element comprises a user input portion, said user input portion operable to detect the presence or touch of a human finger at the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate, said user input portion comprising at least one capacitive touch sensor disposed at and behind the second surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises a plurality of capacitive touch sensors at said user input portion, and wherein circuitry of said interior rearview mirror assembly is operable to limit accidental actuation of a capacitive touch sensor that is adjacent to any one of said plurality of capacitive touch sensors.

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

a mirror casing;

a prismatic interior reflective element;

wherein said prismatic interior reflective element comprises a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and extending between the first and second surfaces thereof, said wedge-shaped glass substrate having a mirror reflector established at the second surface thereof, the first surface facing a driver of a vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein a front surface of the perimeter edge provides a smooth curved transition at the perimeter edge between a perimeter region of the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and said mirror casing;

said perimeter region circumscribing said wedge-shaped glass substrate;

wherein the front surface of the perimeter edge is rounded at least by grinding to provide a rounded curved surface disposed between the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and said mirror casing; and

wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is at least 2.5 mm.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is uniform around the perimeter of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said prismatic interior reflective element is adhered to said mirror casing.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said mirror casing comprises a planar attachment surface, and wherein said prismatic interior reflective element is attached at said attachment surface of said mirror casing to secure said prismatic interior reflective element to said mirror casing.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein no portion of said mirror casing encompasses the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is non-uniform around the perimeter of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate comprises a thicker region and a thinner region, and wherein the radius of curvature along the thinner region of the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate is smaller than the radius of curvature along the thicker region of the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said prismatic interior reflective element comprises a user input portion, said user input portion operable to detect the presence or touch of a human finger at the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate, said user input portion comprising at least one capacitive touch sensor disposed at and behind the second surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

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

a mirror casing;

a prismatic interior reflective element;

wherein said prismatic interior reflective element comprises a wedge-shaped glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and extending between the first and second surfaces thereof, said wedge-shaped glass substrate having a mirror reflector established at the second surface thereof, the first surface facing a driver of a vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein a front surface of the perimeter edge provides a smooth curved transition at the perimeter edge between a perimeter region of the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and said mirror casing;

said perimeter region circumscribing said wedge-shaped glass substrate;

wherein the front surface of the perimeter edge is rounded by grinding and polishing to provide a rounded curved surface disposed between the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate and said mirror casing;

wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is at least 2.5 mm;

wherein the radius of curvature of the front surface of the perimeter edge is uniform around the perimeter of said wedge-shaped glass substrate; and

wherein no portion of said mirror casing encompasses the first surface of said wedge-shaped glass substrate.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said prismatic interior reflective element is adhered to said mirror casing.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said mirror casing comprises a planar attachment surface, and wherein said prismatic interior reflective element is attached at said attachment surface of said mirror casing to secure said prismatic interior reflective element to said mirror casing.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein an outer part of the perimeter edge of said wedge-shaped glass substrate is co-planar with an outer part of a side wall of said mirror casing.