Rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle

• US 7,209,278 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Donnelly Engineering GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R, Lawlor, Patrick J, Dowling, Patrick J, Desmond, John P
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben; Loha
• Application Number:
  US11/498,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359271-273, 359601-604, 359/607, 359/608, 359841-844, 359871-873, 362/235, 362/464, 362/492, 362/494, 340/425.5, 340/461, 340/525, 340/815.4, 340/988, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 359/265
• 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: G02F 1/153 Constructional details

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprises an electro-optic mirror unit whose reflectivity is variable in response to an electrical voltage applied thereto. At least one light sensor is included and an electrical circuit controls operation of the mirror unit in response to the at least one light sensor. The mirror unit is mounted on one side of a backplate that comprises an electrically non-conductive material comprising a conductive lead frame.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an electro-optic mirror unit whose reflectivity is variable in response to an electrical voltage applied thereto;

at least one light sensor;

an electrical circuit for controlling operation of said mirror unit in response to said at least one light sensor;

a bracket for supporting said rearview mirror assembly from an interior portion of the vehicle;

wherein said mirror unit is mounted on one side of a backplate;

wherein said backplate comprises an electrically non-conductive material comprising a conductive lead frame;

wherein said electrical circuit is mounted on the side of said backplate opposite to said one side; and

wherein said electrical circuit is electrically connected to said mirror unit by contacts extending from said lead frame out of said backplate.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said bracket connects to said mirror unit via a ball and socket pivot assembly, said ball being fixed relative to said bracket and said socket being fixed relative to said mirror unit.

3. The assembly of claim 2, said pivot assembly including a plurality of electrical contacts and counter-contacts for supplying electrical power to said electrical circuit from a vehicle electrical system external to said mirror assembly, the power provided to said electrical circuit over a range of angular movement of said mirror unit relative to said bracket.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said ball includes a convex surface, said electrical contacts being disposed at said convex surface.

5. The assembly of claim 2, including a mirror housing containing the said mirror unit, wherein said socket member is disposed on said mirror housing.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit is electrically connected to said mirror unit by spring contacts extending from the lead frame out of said backplate.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said lead frame includes a plurality of spring contacts extending from opposite edges of said backplate and making electrical contact with opposite edges of said mirror unit for allowing said electrical circuit to control the operation of said mirror unit.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic mirror unit comprises an electrochromic mirror unit.

9. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an electro-optic mirror unit whose reflectivity is variable in response to an electrical voltage applied thereto;

at least one light sensor;

an electrical circuit for controlling operation of said mirror unit in response to said at least one light sensor;

a bracket for supporting said rearview mirror assembly from an interior portion of the vehicle;

wherein said mirror unit is mounted on one side of a backplate;

wherein said backplate comprises an electrically non-conductive material comprising a conductive lead frame;

wherein said electrical circuit is mounted on the side of said backplate opposite to said one side; and

wherein said lead frame includes a plurality of spring contacts extending from opposite edges of said backplate and making electrical contact with opposite edges of said mirror unit for allowing said electrical circuit to control the operation of said mirror unit.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said bracket connects to said mirror unit via a ball and socket pivot assembly, said ball being fixed relative to said bracket and said socket being fixed relative to said mirror unit.

11. The assembly of claim 10, said pivot assembly including a plurality of electrical contacts and counter-contacts for supplying electrical power to said electrical circuit from a vehicle electrical system external to said mirror assembly, the power provided to said electrical circuit over a range of angular movement of said mirror unit relative to said bracket.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said ball includes a convex surface, said electrical contacts being disposed at said convex surface.

13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said electrical circuit is electrically connected to said mirror unit by contacts extending out of said backplate.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said contacts comprise spring contacts extending from said lead frame out of said backplate.

15. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said electrical circuit is electrically connected to said mirror unit by contacts extending from said lead frame out of said backplate.

16. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said electro-optic mirror unit comprises an electrochromic mirror unit.

17. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an electrochromic mirror unit whose reflectivity is variable in response to an electrical voltage applied thereto;

at least one light sensor;

an electrical circuit for controlling operation of said mirror unit in response to said at least one light sensor;

a bracket for supporting said rearview mirror assembly from an interior portion of the vehicle;

wherein said mirror unit is mounted on one side of a backplate;

wherein said backplate comprises an electrically non-conductive material comprising a conductive lead frame;

wherein said electrical circuit is mounted on the side of said backplate opposite to said one side;

wherein said lead frame includes a plurality of spring contacts extending from opposite edges of said backplate and making electrical contact with opposite edges of said mirror unit for allowing said electrical circuit to control the operation of said mirror unit;

wherein said bracket connects to said mirror unit via a ball and socket pivot assembly, said ball being fixed relative to said bracket and said socket being fixed relative to said mirror unit; and

wherein said electrical circuit is electrically connected to said mirror unit by contacts extending out of said backplate.

18. The assembly of claim 17, said pivot assembly including a plurality of electrical contacts and counter-contacts for supplying electrical power to said electrical circuit from a vehicle electrical system external to said mirror assembly, the power provided to said electrical circuit over a range of angular movement of said mirror unit relative to said bracket.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said contacts extending out of said backplate comprise spring contacts extending from the lead frame out of said backplate.