Rearview mirror constructed for efficient assembly
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly comprising:
- an electrochromic mirror component including first electrical conductors operably connected to the electrochromic mirror component;
an electrically-operated second component associated with the electrochromic mirror component and that includes second electrical conductors operably connected to the electrically-operated second component;
a first connector, said first and second electrical conductors operably connected to said first connector; and
a primary wire bundle configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror component and to the electrically-operated second component, the primary wire bundle including a main connector, the first connector engaging and electrically connected to the main connector, whereby the primary wire bundle is configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror component and to the electrically-operated second component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.
302 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror component including first electrical conductors operably connected to the electrochromic mirror component;
an electrically-operated second component associated with the electrochromic mirror component and that includes second electrical conductors operably connected to the electrically-operated second component;
a first connector, said first and second electrical conductors operably connected to said first connector; and
a primary wire bundle configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror component and to the electrically-operated second component, the primary wire bundle including a main connector, the first connector engaging and electrically connected to the main connector, whereby the primary wire bundle is configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror component and to the electrically-operated second component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly including a panel-shaped carrier;
first and second electrically-operated components associated with the mirror subassembly and including first and second connectors, respectively; and
a primary wire bundle extending from and configured to communicate power to the first and second components, the primary wire bundle including a main connector, the first and second connectors engaging and electrically directly connected to the main connector, whereby the primary wire bundle and the first and second connectors are configured to communicate power to the first and second components.
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13. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly; and
a heater positioned relative to the mirror subassembly for heating the mirror subassembly, the heater including a first connector on one portion of the heater that is adapted for connection to a power source and a second connector on another portion of the heater with an electrical conductor extending through and across the heater and connecting the first and second connectors, whereby electrical energy can be communicated by the electrical conductor to different portions of the heater for operating an electrically-operated component associated with the mirror subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly;
a heater positioned relative to the mirror subassembly for heating the mirror subassembly, the heater being multi-layered and including a polymeric layer of light-transmitting material and including another layer of opaque material with at least one aperture therein for letting light pass through at least a portion of the light-transmitting material; and
a light source directing light at the portion, whereby the portion diffuses the light so that the light passing therethrough is uniformly distributed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A mirror comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a panel-shaped carrier with flanges defining a pocket;
a printed circuit board positioned in the pocket; and
a releasable retainer releasably retaining the printed circuit board in the pocket. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An exterior rearview mirror comprising:
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a mirror subassembly including a panel-shaped carrier;
a printed circuit board attached to the panel-shaped carrier, the printed circuit board including light-generating devices positioned behind the mirror subassembly to generate a visible turn signal and including at least a portion of a circuit for controlling the light-generating devices; and
a retainer securing the printed circuit board to the mirror subassembly without using a separate housing for the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing and a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, said mirror subassembly comprising:
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and an electrochromic layer adapted to provide controlled darkening of reflected images, and further including a panel-shaped carrier with a front surface shaped to uniformly support the rear glass element, the panel-shaped carrier including a plurality of resilient retainers arranged in a circle and extending rearwardly from the panel-shaped carrier and engaging the adjustable mount and further including a continuous hoop-shaped wall extending around and spaced radially from the plurality of resilient retainers, the hoop-shaped wall extending from the rear surface and supporting an area around and proximate a base of the plurality of resilient retainers. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing and a power angle adjustment device attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, said mirror subassembly comprising:
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and an electrochromic layer adapted to provide controlled darkening of reflected images, and further including a panel-shaped carrier with a front surface shaped to uniformly support the rear glass element, the panel-shaped carrier including a plurality of resilient retainers arranged in a circle and extending rearwardly from the panel-shaped carrier and engaging the adjustable mount, the retainers and adjustable mount being configured to positively engage for secure retention but also configured to provide an insertion attachment force of less than 50 pounds force (222 N) during assembly of the panel-shaped carrier to the power pack. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing including an arm adapting the housing for attachment to a vehicle in a position outside of the vehicle and a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, said mirror subassembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror;
a carrier for the electrochromic mirror, the carrier including a panel-like surface supporting the electrochromic mirror and including retainers adapted for engaging the adjustable mount, the carrier including a plurality of apertures inboard of a perimeter of the carrier but outboard of a perimeter of the electrochromic mirror; and
a bezel with a plurality of resilient hooks that extend past the perimeter of the electrochromic mirror and into the plurality of apertures.
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60. A mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror component including first electrical conductors operably connected to the electrochromic mirror component;
an electrically-operated second component associated with the electrochromic mirror component and that includes second electrical conductors operably connected to the electrically-operated second component; and
a common connector, said first and second electrical conductors operably connected to said common connector, wherein said common connector is configured for engaging and electrically connecting to a main connector of a primary wire bundle, which supplies power to the electrochromic mirror component and to the electrically-operated second component. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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62. A mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror component including first electrical conductors operably connected to the electrochromic mirror component;
an electrically-operated second component associated with the electrochromic mirror component and that includes second electrical conductor operably connected to the electrically-operated second component; and
an electrically-operated third component associated with the electrochromic mirror component and that includes second electrical conductors operably connected to the electrically-operated second component; and
a common connector, wherein at least two of said first, second, and third electrical conductors are operably connected to said common connector, wherein said common connector is configured for engaging and electrically connecting to a main connector of a primary wire bundle, which supplies power to at least two of the electrochromic mirror component, the electrically-operated second component, and the electrically-operated third component.
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Specification