Vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
- an interior rearview mirror casing;
an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear substrates;
wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface;
said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat;
wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate;
wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive layer;
wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal;
wherein at least a portion of said front substrate extends beyond a corresponding portion of said rear substrate to establish a ledge at least partially along the periphery of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element;
wherein no part of said rear substrate extends beyond any part of said front substrate;
wherein a first electrical connection is made to said transparent electrically conductive coating and a second electrical connection is made to said at least one electrically conductive layer of said mirror reflector;
wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a concealing layer disposed along a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said concealing layer substantially conceals the presence of said perimeter seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; and
said interior rearview mirror casing comprising a bezel-less interior rearview mirror casing where no portion of said interior rearview mirror casing overlaps said first surface of said front substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and an electrochromic mirror reflective element. At least a portion of a front substrate of the reflective element extends beyond a corresponding portion of a rear substrate of the reflective element to establish a ledge at least partially along the periphery of the reflective element, with no part of the rear substrate extending beyond any part of the front substrate. Electrical connections are made to conductive coatings or layers at the front and rear substrates. The electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element includes a concealing layer disposed along a perimeter border region to conceal the presence of the perimeter seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The mirror casing provides a bezel-less mirror casing where no portion of the mirror casing overlaps the first surface of the front substrate.
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Citations
123 Claims
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1. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror casing; an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear substrates; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive layer; wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein at least a portion of said front substrate extends beyond a corresponding portion of said rear substrate to establish a ledge at least partially along the periphery of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element; wherein no part of said rear substrate extends beyond any part of said front substrate; wherein a first electrical connection is made to said transparent electrically conductive coating and a second electrical connection is made to said at least one electrically conductive layer of said mirror reflector; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a concealing layer disposed along a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said concealing layer substantially conceals the presence of said perimeter seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; and said interior rearview mirror casing comprising a bezel-less interior rearview mirror casing where no portion of said interior rearview mirror casing overlaps said first surface of said front substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a interior rearview mirror casing; an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear substrates; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive layer; wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein at least a portion of said front substrate extends beyond a corresponding portion of said rear substrate to establish a ledge at least partially along the periphery of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element; wherein no part of said rear substrate extends beyond any part of said front substrate; wherein a first electrical connection is made to said transparent electrically conductive coating and a second electrical connection is made to said at least one electrically conductive layer of said mirror reflector; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a concealing layer disposed along a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said concealing layer substantially conceals the presence of said perimeter seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; said interior rearview mirror casing comprising a bezel-less interior rearview mirror casing where no portion of said interior rearview mirror casing overlaps said first surface of said front substrate; and said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an element generally disposed at said ledge, wherein said element comprises a molding formed of a polymeric material. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a interior rearview mirror casing; an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched between said front and rear substrates; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive layer; wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein at least a portion of said front substrate extends beyond a corresponding portion of said rear substrate to establish a ledge at least partially along the periphery of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element; wherein no part of said rear substrate extends beyond any part of said front substrate; wherein a first electrical connection is made to said transparent electrically conductive coating and a second electrical connection is made to said at least one electrically conductive layer of said mirror reflector; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a concealing layer disposed along a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said concealing layer substantially conceals the presence of said perimeter seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a vacuum deposited metal film, and wherein said vacuum deposited metal film comprises at least one of silver and a silver alloy; and an element generally disposed at said ledge, wherein said element comprises a molding formed of a polymeric material and wherein said molding comprises a portion of said interior rearview mirror casing. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive metal layer; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromically-active region; said electrochromically-active region comprising an electrochromic medium disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a perimeter band disposed along and around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said perimeter band generally conceals the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; a sensor region outboard of said electrochromically-active region and between said perimeter seal and a perimeter edge of said front substrate; and wherein at least one touch sensor is disposed behind said front substrate at said sensor region, and wherein said at least one touch sensor is operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said first surface of said front substrate at said sensor region. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive metal layer; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromically-active region; said electrochromically-active region comprising an electrochromic medium disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a perimeter band disposed along and around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said perimeter band generally conceals the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; a sensor region outboard of said electrochromically-active region and between said perimeter seal and a perimeter edge of said front substrate; wherein a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor are disposed behind said front substrate at said sensor region, and wherein said first and second touch sensors are operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said first surface of said front substrate at respective locations at said sensor region; wherein said first touch sensor comprises a first capacitive touch sensor and wherein said second touch sensor comprises a second capacitive touch sensor, and wherein said first capacitive touch sensor is adjacent said second capacitive touch sensor; wherein, at said sensor region, a perimeter edge of said rear substrate local said sensor region is recessed compared to a corresponding perimeter edge of said front substrate in order to establish an overhang region; and wherein said first capacitive touch sensor and said second capacitive touch sensor are disposed at said overhang region and are rearward of said front substrate. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive metal layer; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromically-active region; said electrochromically-active region comprising an electrochromic medium disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a perimeter reflective band disposed along and around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said perimeter reflective band generally conceals the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; a sensor region outboard of said electrochromically-active region and between said perimeter seal and a perimeter edge of said front substrate; and wherein a capacitive touch sensor is disposed at said sensor region, and wherein said capacitive touch sensor is operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said sensor region. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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107. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive metal layer; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromically-active region; said electrochromically-active region comprising an electrochromic medium disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a perimeter reflective band disposed along and around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said perimeter reflective band generally conceals the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said front substrate comprises a glass substrate and wherein said front glass substrate comprises a first perimeter edge circumferentially at its first surface and a second perimeter edge circumferentially at its second surface, and wherein at least said first perimeter edge is rounded; a sensor region outboard of said electrochromically-active region and between said perimeter seal and a perimeter edge of said front substrate; and wherein a touch sensor is disposed at said sensor region, and wherein said touch sensor is operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said sensor region. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111)
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112. A variable reflectance vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear substrate; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one electrically conductive metal layer; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromically-active region; said electrochromically-active region comprising an electrochromic medium disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element comprises a perimeter band disposed along and around a perimeter border region of said second surface of said front substrate, and wherein said perimeter band generally conceals the presence of said perimeter seal from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle and when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle and viewing said first surface of said front substrate of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element of said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly; a sensor region outboard of said electrochromically-active region and between said perimeter seal and a perimeter edge of said front substrate; wherein at least a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor are disposed at said sensor region, and wherein said first touch sensor is operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said sensor region and wherein said second touch sensor is operable to sense a touch or proximity of a user'"'"'s finger at said sensor region; and wherein, with said vehicular electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, said sensor region is at a lower region of said electrochromic interior rearview mirror reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123)
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Specification