Exterior reflective mirror element for a vehicle rearview mirror assembly

• US 7,643,200 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anoop, Allemand, Pierr-Marc, Varaprasad, Desaraju V., Dornan, Craig A., Zhao, Mingtang, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector; David N
• Application Number:
  US12/061,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/603, 359/838, 359/844, 359/871, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10697 being cross-linked
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/40 Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1007 Non-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1011 Condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1014 bridged by heteroatoms, e.g. N, P, Si or B
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1029 containing one nitrogen atom as the heteroatom
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1033 with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1037 with sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1503 caused by oxidation-reduction reactions in organic liquid solutions, e.g. viologen solutions
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1516 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15165 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1502 complementary cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/15145 the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1518 : Ferrocene compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/58 : Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/022 : polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24785 : including layer embodying mechanically interengaged strands, strand portions or strand-like strips [e.g., weave, knit, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 : Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31649 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 : Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0419 : By distorting within elastic limit

Abstract

An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.

Claims

1. An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior reflective mirror element comprising:

a transparent glass substrate having a reflector disposed on a surface thereof;

wherein said reflector comprises at least one metallic reflective layer;

a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said substrate;

said visual indicator display being part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior reflective mirror element, and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said substrate to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of said exterior reflective mirror element;

wherein said first indicator comprises a first light source at said first location; and

wherein a first portion of said at least one metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of said exterior reflective mirror element at said first location.

2. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metallic reflective layer comprises chromium.

3. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metallic reflective layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, titanium, gold, chromium, silver and steel.

4. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metallic reflective layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of palladium, chromium and silver.

5. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said light source of said visual indicator display comprises at least one light emitting diode.

6. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said at least one metallic reflective layer is removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish a highly transmissive first portion of said exterior reflective mirror element at said first location and wherein a second portion of said at least one metallic reflective layer is removed by laser scribing at a second location in order to establish a highly transmissive second portion of said exterior reflective mirror element at said second location.

7. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 6, wherein another visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of said substrate at a second location, said another visual indicator display being part of a turn signaling system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said another visual indicator display is actuated to emit light upon actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle and wherein light emitted by said another visual indicator display passes through said substrate at said second location.

8. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of light emitted upon actuation of said visual indicator display is modulated in accordance with the light level surrounding the equipped vehicle as sensed by a light sensor.

9. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said visual indicator display comprises an icon indicative of detection by a blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle.

10. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a rear substrate of an electrochromic reflective mirror element.

11. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 10, wherein said electrochromic reflective mirror element comprises an electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film, said electrochromic cross-linked solid polymeric film formed from an electrochromic monomer composition, said electrochromic monomer composition including at least one cathodic electrochromic compound.

12. An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior reflective mirror element comprising:

a transparent glass substrate having a reflector disposed on a surface thereof;

wherein said reflector comprises at least one metallic reflective layer;

a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said substrate;

said visual indicator display being part of a display system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior reflective mirror element and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a control of the equipped vehicle;

wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said second substrate to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of said exterior reflective mirror element;

wherein said first indicator comprises a first light source at said first location;

wherein a first portion of said at least one metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of said exterior reflective mirror element at said first location; and

wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least one light emitting diode.

13. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 12, wherein said at least one metallic reflective layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, titanium, gold, chromium, silver and steel.

14. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 12, wherein said visual indicator display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

15. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 14, wherein said first portion of said at least one metallic reflective layer is removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish a highly transmissive first portion of said exterior reflective mirror element at said first location.

16. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 15, wherein said visual indicator display is part of a blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said control comprises a control of said blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle.

17. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 16, wherein said visual indicator display comprises an icon indicative of detection by the blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle.

18. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 17, wherein the intensity of light emitted upon actuation of said visual indicator display is modulated in accordance with the light level surrounding the equipped vehicle as sensed by a light sensor.

19. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 16, wherein another visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of said substrate, said another visual indicator display being part of a turn signaling system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said another visual indicator display is actuated to emit light upon actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle and wherein light emitted by said another visual indicator display passes through said substrate.

20. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 19, wherein said substrate comprises a rear substrate of an electrochromic reflective mirror element and wherein said electrochromic reflective mirror element comprises an electrochromic cross-linked polymeric solid film, said electrochromic cross-linked solid polymeric film formed from an electrochromic monomer composition, said electrochromic monomer composition including at least one cathodic electrochromic compound.

21. An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior reflective mirror element comprising:

a transparent glass substrate having a reflector disposed on a surface thereof;

wherein said reflector comprises at least one metallic reflective layer;

a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said substrate;

said visual indicator display being part of a display system of the vehicle equipped with said exterior reflective mirror element and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a control of the equipped vehicle;

wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said substrate to be viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least one light emitting diode at a first location to the rear of said exterior reflective mirror element; and

wherein a first portion of said at least one metallic reflective layer is removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish a highly transmissive first portion of said exterior reflective mirror element at said first location.

22. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 21, wherein the intensity of light emitted upon actuation of said visual indicator display is adjusted in accordance with the light level surrounding the equipped vehicle as sensed by a light sensor.

23. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 21, wherein said visual indicator display is part of a blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said control comprises a control of a blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein another visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of said substrate, said another visual indicator display being part of a turn signaling system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said another visual indicator display is actuated to emit light upon actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle and wherein light emitted by said another visual indicator display passes through said substrate.

24. The exterior reflective mirror element according to claim 23, wherein said visual indicator display comprises an icon indicative of detection by a blind spot detection and display system of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle.