Outside automatic rearview mirror for automotive vehicles

• US 5,448,397 A
• Filed: 10/29/1993
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tonar, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/142,875
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 359/267, 359/272, 359/275, 359/603, 359/604, 359/608, 359/839, 359/265, 359/601, 359/614, 359/605, 359/270, 359/271, 250/200, 250/206
• US Class Current: 359/272
• 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

Abstract

An automatic electrochromic rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, the mirror being particularly adapted for use as an outside rearview mirror and incorporating improved means enabling the mirror to survive, over a relatively long useful life, extreme environmental conditions, such as extreme heat and/or cold, ultraviolet light exposure, alternate wetting, freezing and thawing conditions, exposure to salt spray and other corrosive conditions as well as high pressure sprays such as may be encountered in car wash facilities. Mirrors embodying the present invention may be manufactured and assembled with a minimum of breakage of glass components and/or rupture of sealing components during the manufacturing and assembly operations, and also incorporate improved means for increasing the efficiency of heating elements which may be utilized for defrosting purposes.

Claims

1. An automatic rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, a pair of planar, parallel, spaced elements defining a chamber therebetween, one of said elements being transparent, the confronting sides of said elements each being coated with a layer of electrically conductive material, said chamber being substantially filled with a solution of reversibly variable transmittance in contact with said electrically conductive layers, the other of said elements having a reflective layer of high reflectance material on the side thereof remote from the electrically conductive material, said reflective layer reflecting, through said solution and the transparent element, light which reaches said reflective layer after passing through the solution and through the transparent element, bezel means having a substantially flat surface thereon extending around and covering the periphery of the exposed surface of said transparent element on the side thereof opposite the conductive layer, spring clip means providing electrical connections to each of said electrically conductive layers, first sealing means sealing the periphery of said chamber, second sealing means sealing the flat surface of said bezel to said exposed side of said transparent element to create a vessel, and third sealing means filling the vessel and encapsulating said clip means and the peripheral edge portions of said elements adjacent said clip means.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including electrical heater means fixed to said reflective layer in sealing engagement therewith.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including a back member having a substantially flat central support portion and a peripheral wall portion integrally joined to said central portion by a bight portion, and means adhesively connecting spaced areas of said central support portion to said heater means.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, said bezel means including a circumferentially extending skirt overlying said peripheral wall portion of said back member.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, said bezel means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs on the side thereof confronting said transparent element, said ribs having substantially line contact with the end surfaces of the peripheral wall portion of said back member, said encapsulating sealing means being disposed intermediate said ribs.

6. An automatic outside rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, a pair of planar, parallel, spaced glass elements defining a chamber therebetween, one of said glass elements being transparent, the confronting sides of said elements each being coated with a layer of electrically conductive material, said chamber being substantially filled with a solution of reversibly variable transmittance in contact with said electrically conductive layers, the other of said elements having a reflective layer of high reflectance material on the side thereof opposite the electrically conductive material, said reflective layer reflecting, through said solution and the transparent element, light which reaches said reflective layer after passing through the solution and through the transparent element, bezel means having a substantially flat surface thereon extending entirely around and covering the marginal periphery of the exposed surface of said transparent element on the side thereof opposite the conductive layer, spring clip means providing electrical connections to each of said electrically conductive layers, first sealing means sealing the periphery of said chamber, second sealing means sealing the flat surface of said bezel to said exposed side of said transparent element to create a vessel, and third sealing means filling the vessel and encapsulating the peripheral edge portions of said elements adjacent said clip means.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 including a back member having a substantially flat central support portion and a peripheral wall portion integrally joined to said central portion, said bezel means including a circumferentially extending skirt overlying said peripheral wall portion of said back member.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, said bezel means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs on the side thereof confronting said transparent element, said ribs having substantially line contact with the end surfaces of the peripheral wall portion of said back member, said encapsulating sealing means being disposed intermediate said ribs.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 including electrical heater means fixed to said reflective layer in sealing engagement therewith.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 8, said clip means being coated on the sides thereof in contact with said conductive layers.

11. An electronically dimming rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced elements defining a chamber therebetween, one of said elements being transparent, the confronting sides of said elements each including a layer of electrically conductive material, said chamber containing a reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said electrically conductive layers, the other of said elements including reflecting means for reflecting, through said medium and the transparent element, light which reaches said reflecting means after passing through the medium and through the transparent element, bezel means having a surface thereon extending around and covering the periphery of the exposed surface of said transparent element on the side thereof opposite the conductive layer, current bus means providing high conductance electrical connections to each of said electrically conductive layers, first sealing means sealing the periphery of said chamber, second sealing means sealing the surface of said bezel to said exposed side of said transparent element to create a vessel, and third sealing means filling the vessel and encapsulating said current bus means and the peripheral edge portions of said elements adjacent said current bus means.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11 including electrical heater means fixed to said other element in sealing engagement therewith.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 including a back member having a central support portion and a peripheral portion integrally joined to said central portion by a connecting portion, and means adhesively connecting said back member to the rear portion of the mirror.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, said bezel means including a circumferentially extending skirt overlying said peripheral wall portion of said back member.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 14, said bezel means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs on the side thereof confronting said transparent element, said encapsulating sealing means being disposed intermediate said ribs.

16. An electronically dimming outside rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced elements defining a chamber therebetween, one of said elements being transparent, the confronting sides of said elements each being coated with a layer of electrically conductive material, said chamber being substantially filled with a medium of reversibly variable transmittance in contact with said electrically conductive layers, the other of said elements having a reflective layer of high reflectance material, said reflective layer reflecting, through said medium and the transparent element, light which reaches said reflective layer after passing through the medium and through the transparent element, bezel means having a surface thereon extending entirely around and covering the marginal periphery of the exposed surface of said transparent element on the side thereof opposite the conductive layer, current bus means providing high conductance electrical connections to each of said electrically conductive layers, first sealing means sealing the periphery of said chamber, second sealing means sealing the surface of said bezel to said exposed side of said transparent element to create a vessel, and third sealing means filling the vessel and encapsulating the peripheral edge portions of said elements adjacent said current bus means.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 16 including a back member having a central support portion and a peripheral portion integrally joined to said central portion, said bezel means including a circumferentially extending skirt overlying said peripheral portion of said back member.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 17, said bezel means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs on the side thereof confronting said transparent element, said encapsulating sealing means being disposed intermediate said ribs.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 including electrical heater means fixed to said reflective layer in sealing engagement therewith.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 18, whereon said current bus means is a metal clip, said metal clip being coated on the sides thereof in contact with said conductive layers.