Light diffusing signal mirror heater
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heater for a vehicle mirror assembly including a reflective element having inner and outer surfaces, and a signal indicator positioned to face and direct light toward the inner surface of said reflective element, said heater comprising:
- a heating element extending between the inner surface of said reflective element and said signal indicator, said heating element including an unobstructed area adapted to allow light from said signal indicator to pass therethrough; and
a light diffusing treatment positioned over the unobstructed area of the heating element to diffuse light passing through the heating element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heater for a lighted signal mirror assembly is disclosed. The heater delivers a diffused lighted signal to the mirror assembly. The heater also provides heating capabilities to substantially an entire reflective surface of the mirror assembly, including that portion on the reflective surface of the mirror assembly surrounding that area through which the diffused lighted signal is emitted.
180 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heater for a vehicle mirror assembly including a reflective element having inner and outer surfaces, and a signal indicator positioned to face and direct light toward the inner surface of said reflective element, said heater comprising:
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a heating element extending between the inner surface of said reflective element and said signal indicator, said heating element including an unobstructed area adapted to allow light from said signal indicator to pass therethrough; and
a light diffusing treatment positioned over the unobstructed area of the heating element to diffuse light passing through the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A heater for a vehicle mirror assembly including a reflective element having inner and outer surfaces, and a signal indicator positioned to face and direct light toward the inner surface of the reflective element, said heater comprising:
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a substrate extending between the inner surface of said reflective element and the signal indicator, said substrate including an unobstructed area adapted to allow light from the signal indicator to pass therethrough;
an electrical pattern deposited on a surface of said substrate, the electrical pattern including a first zone extending across a majority of the surface of the substrate and a second zone arranged in substantially surrounding relation relative to the unobstructed area of the substrate; and
a conductive layer deposited in operable combination with the first and second zones of the electrical pattern thereby providing heating capability across substantially the entire inner surface of the reflective element except for a portion of the inner surface of the reflective element where light from the signal indicator passes. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A heater for a vehicle mirror assembly including a reflective element having inner and outer surfaces, and a signal indicator positioned to face and direct light toward the inner surface of the reflective element, said heater comprising:
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a substrate extending between the inner surface of said reflective element and the signal indicator, said substrate including an unobstructed area adapted to allow light from the signal indicator to pass therethrough;
an electrical pattern deposited on a surface of said substrate, the electrical pattern including a first zone extending across a majority of the surface of the substrate and a second zone arranged in substantially surrounding relation relative to the unobstructed area of the substrate; and
a conductive layer deposited in operable combination with the first and second zones of the electrical pattern thereby providing heating capability across substantially the entire inner surface of the reflective element, with said conductive layer comprising a positive temperature coefficient material which is substantially impermeable to light except for a patterned opening arranged in registry with the unobstructed area of the substrate to allow light to pass therethrough; and
a light diffusing treatment positioned over the unobstructed area of the heating element to diffuse light passing through the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of assembling a heater for a vehicle mirror assembly, said method comprising the acts of:
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providing a heating element having an unobstructed area adapted to allow light to pass therethrough; and
treating the unobstructed area of the heating element to diffuse the light passing through the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification