Display in the mirror glass and process for production

• US 8,783,881 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Kliem, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Doak, Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US13/181,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20120014005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 359/839, 359/841, 359871-877, 701/49
• US Class Current: 359/843
• 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: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A display in the mirror glass is proposed, which is established in a simple way by a light module and a structured mirror surface. A process is employed that engraves the icon, which is to be shown, into the glass mirror layer with a laser beam.

Claims

1. A display in a vehicle exterior mirror with a mirror glass, which is illuminated from its rear side with luminous display elements, whereby the mirror glass comprises on its rear side a metallic layer and the metallic layer is covered with a colored layer of plastic, whereby a light module, which consists of a housing and at least one light element, is affixed directly to and oriented with the rear side of the mirror glass, wherein at least the colored layer in the region of the light module being removed in the form of at least one icon, wherein the at least one icon being inscribed at least into the colored layer, by selective removal of a portion of the colored layer from the rear side of the mirror glass with a laser beam.

2. Display according to claim 1, characterized in that the metallic mirror layer is partly removed.

3. Display according to claim 1, characterized in that the light module comprises a cover lens.

4. Display according to claim 1, characterized in that the light module covers a region of the mirror glass.

5. Display according to claim 1, characterized in that the light module comprises reflectors and/or optics.

6. Display according to claim 1, characterized in that the light module is stuck to the rear side of the mirror glass with the front sides of the housing.

7. Display according to claim 3, characterized in that the light module is completely stuck down by the cover lens.

8. A method for fabricating a display for use in a vehicle exterior mirror with a mirror glass, the method comprising the steps of:

coating a surface of the mirror glass with a reflective layer;

applying a colored layer of plastic over the reflective layer;

selectively removing a portion of the colored layer of plastic to form an icon; and

affixing a light module directly to the colored layer of plastic and the mirror glass such that the light module is aligned with the icon and emits light out therefrom and that passes the icon and the through the mirror glass.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of selectively removing a portion of the colored layer of plastic includes the step of etching the colored layer with of plastic with a laser.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of etching a portion of the reflective layer away when etching the portion of the colored layer of plastic away to form a diffuser to diffuse the light as it passes through the mirror glass.