Rearview mirror with integrated frame

• US 7,287,868 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Fogg, Jeremy A., Ypma, Kenton J., Rumsey, Wayne, Carter, John W., Bostwick, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US10/405,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 359871-877, 359507-514, 359601-605, 359/838
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

An electrochromic mirror includes an integrated internal plate frame with an electrochromic mirror subassembly adhered to its flat front surface, electrical components supported on a rear with the frame acting as a heat sink and EMI/RFI shield, and a back cover supported on the plate frame. The subassembly is uniformly supported across the front surface of the plate frame for good mirror impact resistance. The mirror is supported by an angularly adjustable ball-and-socket connection. In one embodiment, the ball is formed integrally on the plate frame. The present mirror is surprisingly thin, with at least 50% of the depth dimensions being less than about 3.0 centimeters.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an integrated plate frame;

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;

a circuit configured to operate the electrochromic material supported by the plate frame; and

a cover supported by the plate frame and covering at least one of a rear and edges of the plate frame.

2. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the cover encloses and covers the rear of the plate frame, and including a bezel that covers an edge of the at least one glass element of the electrochromic mirror subassembly.

3. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the electrochronic mirror subassembly is supported against a flat front surface of the plate frame.

4. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the electrochromic mirror subassembly is adhered to a flat front surface of the plate frame.

5. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the rearview mirror comprises an internal rearview mirror and including a mount operably attached to the plate frame of the mirror for adjustably supporting the mirror.

6. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the plate frame includes one of a ball section and socket for forming an adjustable connection for supporting the mirror.

7. The rearview mirror defined in claim 6, wherein the plate frame includes the ball section, with the ball section extending from a rear of the plate frame.

8. The rearview mirror defined in claim 7, including a wireway hole through the ball section.

9. The rearview mirror defined in claim 8, wherein the plate frame includes stem, and includes an aperture in stem for lateral passage of wires.

10. The rearview mirror defined in claim 6, wherein the ball section is integrally formed from material of the plate frame.

11. The rearview mirror defined in claim 6, wherein the plate frame includes an aperture for passthrough of wires.

12. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the circuit includes an electrical power-using device mounted directly to plate frame.

13. The rearview mirror defined in claim 12, wherein the plate frame acts as one of a heat sink and a ground for the electrical power-using device.

14. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the plate frame includes an aperture that forms a window, and including a display positioned in the window for viewing from a front of the mirror.

15. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, including a button mounted on the plate frame.

16. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the plate frame is made of metal.

17. The rearview mirror defined in claim 16, wherein the plate frame is made of steel.

18. The rearview mirror defined in claim 16, wherein the plate frame is made of one of deep-draw steel and magnesium.

19. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the plate frame extends at least 80% of a total width of the mirror subassembly and at least 80% of a total height of the mirror subassembly and the cover.

20. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, including an electrical device supported on the plate frame that gives off EMI/RFI emissions, and wherein the plate frame acts as an EMI/RFI shield to block the EMI/RFI emissions.

21. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the plate frame includes a wire-management structure for containing and managing wires and for assisting in the routing of the wires.

22. The rearview mirror defined in claim 21, wherein the wire-management structure includes a channel.

23. The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the cover is concavely-shaped and comprises a back cover that encloses at least a rear of the plate frame.

24.The rearview mirror defined in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape.

24. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an integrated plate frame;

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;

a circuit configured to operate the electrochromic material supported by the plate frame; and

a cover supported by the plate frame and covering at least one of a rear and edges of the plate frame;

including an electrical device supported on the plate frame that gives off EMI/RFI emissions, and wherein the plate frame acts as an EMI/RFI shield to block the EMI/RFI emissions;

wherein the plate frame includes a tab bent from the plate frame that forms an overhand over the electrical device to block the EMI/RFI emissions.

25. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance; and

electrical devices mounted to the backing plate; and

wherein the backing plate acts as a heat sink for the electrical devices.

26. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface;

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance; and

electrical devices mounted to the backing plate;

wherein at least some of the electrical devices generate EMI and RFI emissions, and wherein the backing plate acts as an EMI/RFI shield.

27. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance;

wherein the backing plate includes wire-management features for managing and locating wires and for assisting in routing the wires.

28. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance;

wherein the backing plate includes a channel formed therein.

29. A rearview mirror for vehicles comprising:

an internal metal structural backing plate having a flat front surface; and

an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and electrochromic material therebetween, the subassembly being adhered with an adhesive to and uniformly supported on the front surface of the metal backing plate for impact resistance;

wherein the backing plate includes one of a ball section and a socket for forming a ball-and-socket connection for adjustably attaching the backing plate to a support component.

30. The rearview mirror defined in claim 30, wherein the one of the ball section and the socket of the ball-and-socket connection is integrally formed from material of the backing plate.

31. A rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising;

a plate frame;

a rearview mirror subassembly including at least one glass element and electrochromic material, the rearview mirror subassembly being supported on a front of the plate frame;

a rearview mirror housing at least partially surrounding the rearview mirror subassembly; and

a mount connected to the plate frame;

wherein the rearview mirror housing does not support the rearview mirror subassembly; and

wherein the plate frame supports the rearview mirror housing.