Vehicular mirror with heater circuit module

• US 7,244,912 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly Mirrors North America, LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rawlings, Don S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US10/711,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 219/202, 219/203, 219/219, 219/522, 219/544, 219/548, 359/265, 359/871
• US Class Current: 219/219
• 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

A vehicular mirror system includes an exterior mirror assembly having a reflective element for providing a rearward view to an occupant of a vehicle and a power distributor for distributing power from a single electrical power connector to a plurality of functional elements associated with the reflective element. The power distributor has a plurality of electrical leads corresponding to each functional element of the plurality of functional elements; the plurality of functional elements includes at least two functional elements selected from the group consisting of a dimming device, a heater and a turn signal. The power distributor has at least one power lead for operative connection of the power distributor to an onboard power supply of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular mirror system comprising:

an exterior mirror assembly, said mirror assembly including a reflective element for providing a rearward view to an occupant of the vehicle, the reflective element comprising an electrochromic dimming element and at least one dimming element contact for providing electric power to the electrochromic dimming element;

a support member for supporting the reflective element, the support member comprising at least a heater tracing for heating the reflective element and at least one selectively located electric power contact; and

a power distributor coupled with the support member for distributing power from a single electrical power connector to the at least one selectively located electric power contact and the heater tracing;

said power distributor comprising a plurality of electrical leads corresponding to each of the electrochromic dimming element and the heater tracing;

wherein the at least one selectively located electric power contact is coupled with the at least one dimming element contact when the support member is brought into aligned contact with the reflective element so that power is selectively provided to the electrochromic mirror dimming element and the heater tracing.

2. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical power connector is adapted to be interconnected with an onboard power supply of the vehicle.

3. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the electrical power connector comprises a ribbon cable.

4. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the exterior mirror assembly further comprises a turn signal.

5. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heater tracing comprises an array of conductive elements which abut the reflective element.

6. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the turn signal abuts the reflective element.

7. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power distributor comprises a planar member having a periphery in register with the periphery of at least one of a reflective element carrier and the reflective element.

8. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heater tracing comprises an array of conductive material associated with the power distributor and corresponding to an effective imaging area of the reflective element, and wherein the array of conductive material is operatively connected to a first one of the plurality of electrical leads.

9. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the power distributor comprises a second one of the plurality of electrical leads operatively interconnected to the turn signal.

10. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the second one of the plurality of electrical leads is operatively interconnected to the turn signal via an array of conductive material associated with the power distributor.

11. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the power distributor comprises a third one of the plurality of electrical leads operatively interconnected to the electrochromic dimming element.

12. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the third one of the plurality of electrical leads is operatively interconnected to the electrochromic dimming element via an array of conductive material associated with the power distributor.

13. A vehicular mirror system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the electrical power connector operatively interconnects the first, second, and third electrical leads with the onboard power supply of the vehicle.