Rearview mirror with buttons incorporating display

• US 6,407,468 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., LeVesque, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L
• Time in patent office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 359/838, 359/839, 362/487, 362/494
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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

Abstract

An electrochromic mirror includes housing, a rearview mirror subassembly including a reflector in the housing, and an electrical circuit with switches adapted to interact with electrical systems in the vehicle. An elongated display area is formed in a face of the housing assembly, either under, aside or above the face. Switch buttons are positioned in the display area for operating switches in the electrical circuit. Where compact display is needed along with the button, the buttons each have a visible portion with a front symbol-forming window that is light-transmissive, and further with a perimeter made of a visible material that outlines and creates a border around the symbol-forming window, and still further with an opaque outer region that contrasts to the visible material. A light source is positioned to direct light toward each window. Each light source is operably connected to the electrical circuit and the electrical circuit is configured to variably energize and de-energize the associated light source when the one switch is activated and de-activated. By this arrangement, the perimeter is visible during daylight with the light source de-activated, and the perimeter and the symbol-forming window are visible during daylight with the light source activated. Also, the symbol-forming window is visible during night when the light source is activated to a low level of light to show the switch in de-activated and is visible during night when the light source is activated to a high level of light to show that the switch is activated.

Claims

1. A mirror for a vehicle comprising

a mirror housing;

a reflector positioned in the mirror housing;

an electrical circuit including a switch coupled to the mirror housing for activating and de-activating the electrical circuit;

a sensor operably connected to the electrical circuit for sensing daylight and darkness;

a compact display on a front of the mirror housing including a button coupled to the switch to actuate the switch, the button including a face having a light-transmissive window, and further having marginal material around the window to define a border, and still further having outer material forming an outer region outside of the border, the window and the border both defining an identifying symbol for the button, and the marginal material having an appearance in daylight that contrasts visibly and noticeably with the outer material;

a light source positioned to direct light toward the window;

the electrical circuit being configured to automatically energize the light source to a first level to allow viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has de-activated the circuit, and further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a second level to allow viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has activated the circuit, and still further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a third level to allow viewing and identification when in daylight and when the switch has activated the circuit, and also the border being sharply visible due to contrast to the outer material when in the daylight to allow viewing and identification of the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.

2. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third levels are each different in brightness.

3. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned in the button.

4. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the display includes a plurality of additional buttons coupled to associated switches, each additional button having a window, a visible contrasting material forming a border around the window, and a second material covering an outer region outside of the border that contrasts to the visible contrasting material forming the border.

5. The mirror defined in claim 4, wherein the first-mentioned button and the plurality of additional buttons form an elongated array under the reflector that has a relatively small vertical dimension.

6. The mirror defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of additional buttons are positioned immediately adjacent the first-mentioned button.

7. The mirror defined in claim 6, wherein the identifying symbol of the first-mentioned button comprises a picture outline of an object related to a function of the first-mentioned button and the associated switch.

8. The mirror defined in claim 7, wherein the marginal material has a white color that, by itself, clearly shows a recognizable depiction of the identifying symbol.

9. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the button includes a front panel and a resilient wall extending from the front panel, the resilient wall operably supporting the front panel for movement between a depressed position for actuating the switch and a non-depressed position.

10. The mirror defined in claim 9, wherein the front panel and the resilient wall are integrally formed of the same material.

11. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the mirror housing defines a relatively rectangular shape when viewed from a front, and wherein the reflector and the display are also both relatively rectangular in shape.

12. The mirror defined in claim 1, including a microphone positioned adjacent the display.

13. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the face forming the window includes an undersurface having lens formed thereon to help distribute light from the light source.

14. The mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the switch includes redundant switches at the button, and wherein the button includes conductive pads on opposing sides of the button for closing the redundant switches, each redundant switch being operably connected to the circuit to actuate the circuit even when the other redundant switch is not closed.

15. The mirror defined in claim 1, including an electrochromic mirror subassembly incorporating the reflector.

16. The mirror defined in claim 15, including a printed circuit board carrying the electrical circuit, and wherein the electrical circuit includes a portion for operating the electrochromic subassembly to selectively darken the same.

17. A compact display for a mirror in a vehicle, the mirror having a mirror housing, a reflector positioned in the mirror housing, and an electrical circuit including a switch coupled to the mirror housing for activating and de-activating the electrical circuit, and a sensor operably connected to the electrical circuit for sensing daylight and darkness, the display comprising:

a button coupled to the switch to actuate the switch, the button including a face having a light-transmissive window, and further having marginal material around the window to define a border, and still further having outer material forming an outer region outside of the border, the window and the border both defining an identifying symbol for the button, and the marginal material having an appearance in daylight that contrasts visibly with the outer material; and

a light source positioned to direct light toward the window;

the electrical circuit being configured to automatically energize the light source to a first level when in darkness and when the switch has de-activated the circuit, and further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a second level when in darkness and when the switch has activated the circuit, and still further being configured to automatically energize the light source to a third level when in daylight and when the switch has activated the circuit, and also the border being visible by contrast to at least one of the outer material and the window when in the daylight to identify the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.

18. The compact display defined in claim 17, wherein the first, second, and third levels are each different in brightness.

19. A compact apparatus for a vehicle component comprising:

a housing;

a switch coupled to the housing;

a button coupled to the switch to actuate the switch, the button including a face having a light-transmissive window, and further having marginal material around the window to define a border, and still further having outer material forming an outer region outside of the border, the window and the border both defining an identifying symbol for the button, and the marginal material having an appearance in daylight that contrasts visibly with at least one of the outer material and the window when the window is not lit; and

an automatically varied light source positioned in the housing to direct light toward the window, the light source being configured to provide light sufficient for viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has de-activated the circuit, and further being configured to provide light sufficient for viewing and identification when in darkness and when the switch has activated the circuit, and still further being configured to provide light sufficient for viewing and identification when in daylight and when the switch has activated the circuit, and also the border being visible when in the daylight to identify the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.

20. A method comprising steps of:

providing a compact display including a button coupled to a switch to actuate the switch, the button including a face having a light-transmissive window, and further having marginal material around the window to define a border, and still further having outer material forming an outer region outside of the border, the window and the border both defining an identifying symbol for the button, and the marginal material having an appearance in daylight that contrasts visibly and noticeably with the outer material;

sensing darkness and automatically energizing the light source to a level sufficient for viewing and identification when the switch has de-activated a circuit;

sensing darkness and automatically energizing the light source to a level sufficient for viewing and identification when the switch has activated the circuit;

sensing daylight and automatically energizing the light source to a level sufficient for viewing and identification when the switch has activated the circuit; and

sensing daylight and reducing the energization of the light such that the border identifies the button when the switch has de-activated the circuit.