# US 12,005,839 B2 · Vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly

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- Number: US 12,005,839 B2
- Document ID: US12005839B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/046,981
- Filed: 2022-10-17
- Published: 2023-04-13
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2009-04-23
- Assignees: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
- Applicants: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
- Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind; Michael J. Baur; Timothy G. Perkins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005839B2

## CPC

- B60R 1/04: mounted inside vehicle {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)}
- B24B 9/02: characterised by a special design with respect to properties of materials specific to articles to be ground
- B24B 9/08: of glass
- B24B 13/00: Machines or devices designed for grinding or polishing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape on other work; Accessories therefor (edging optical work, e.g. lenses, prisms B24B9/14)
- B24B 49/00: Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation (B24B33/06, B24B37/005 take precedence; if applicable to other machine tools, B23Q15/00 - B23Q17/00 take precedence)
- B60R 1/086: {using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors}
- B60R 1/088: {using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors}
- B60R 1/12: Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
- C03C 17/06: with metals (C03C17/34, C03C17/44 take precedence)
- G02B 5/04: Prisms
- G02B 7/182: for mirrors
- G02F 1/13338: {Input devices, e.g. touch panels}
- G02F 1/153: Constructional details
- G02F 1/157: Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
- G02F 1/161: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
- G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
- B24B 51/00: Arrangements for automatic control of a series of individual steps in grinding a workpiece (if applicable to other machine tools, G05B takes precedence)
- B60R 1/1207: {with lamps; with turn indicators}
- B60R 2001/1223: {with sensors or transducers}
- B60R 2001/1253: {with cameras, video cameras or video screens}
- C03C 2217/25: Metals
- C03C 2218/31: Pre-treatment
- G02B 5/08: Mirrors {(vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08)}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure, a plastic mirror casing, and a mirror reflective element having a glass substrate. The glass substrate includes a periphery surface extending between a planar first surface and a planar second surface and spanning a thickness dimension of the glass substrate. The mirror casing includes a central mounting portion and spaced apart attachment portions. The mirror reflective element is adhesively attached the spaced apart attachment portions. The central mounting portion includes a first pivot element and the mounting structure includes a second pivot element, the first pivot element and the second pivot element forming a pivot joint. The periphery surface of the glass substrate includes a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side wall of the mirror casing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mounting structure configured to attach at an interior surface of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly;
a mirror casing formed via a plastic injection molding process;
a mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate;
wherein the glass substrate has a planar first surface and a planar second surface separated from the planar first surface by a thickness dimension of the glass substrate;
wherein the glass substrate comprises a periphery surface extending between the planar first surface and the planar second surface and spanning the thickness dimension of the glass substrate, the planar first surface facing a driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein the mirror casing comprises a central mounting portion and spaced apart attachment portions that are all formed during the plastic injection molding process that forms the mirror casing;
wherein the mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at the spaced apart attachment portions;
wherein the central mounting portion includes a first pivot element, and wherein the mounting structure includes a second pivot element, and wherein the first pivot element and the second pivot element form a pivot joint;
wherein the periphery surface of the glass substrate comprises a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side wall of the mirror casing; and
wherein no part of the mirror casing encroaches onto the planar first surface of the glass substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the curved outer surface of the glass substrate is contactable by and is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart attachment portions of the mirror casing include front surfaces of a rear wall of the mirror casing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein rear surfaces of the rear wall are exposed at the rear of the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the rear surfaces of the rear wall comprise a decorative pattern.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart attachment portions are attached at the mirror reflective element via double-sided adhesive tape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the adhesive tape at the spaced apart attachment portions functions as an anti-scatter element at the rear of the mirror reflective element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element comprising a rear glass substrate spaced apart from the glass substrate by a perimeter seal, wherein an electro-optic medium is sandwiched between the glass substrate and the rear glass substrate and bounded by the perimeter seal, and wherein a transparent electrically conductive coating is disposed at the planar second surface and is in contact with the electro-optic medium, and wherein the rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, and wherein the third surface of the rear glass substrate is coated with a mirror reflector, and wherein the mirror reflector is in contact with the electro-optic medium.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein no part of the rear glass substrate extends beyond any corresponding edge of the glass substrate, and wherein the rear glass substrate is received at and circumscribed by the side wall of the mirror casing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the curved outer surface of the glass substrate is contactable by and is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the glass substrate has a perimeter band established along a perimeter border region of the planar second surface of the glass substrate to render covert the perimeter seal to a person viewing the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein the perimeter band comprises a reflective perimeter band.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror reflective element comprises a prismatic mirror reflective element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a central cavity exists between the central mounting portion and the mirror reflective element.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pivot element is insert molded at the central mounting portion of the mirror casing.

### Claim 16

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mounting structure configured to attach at an interior surface of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly;
a mirror casing formed via a plastic injection molding process;
an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate spaced apart from the front glass substrate by a perimeter seal, wherein an electrochromic medium is sandwiched between the front glass substrate and the rear glass substrate and bounded by the perimeter seal;
wherein the front glass substrate has a planar first surface and a planar second surface separated from the planar first surface by a thickness dimension of the front glass substrate, and wherein a transparent electrically conductive coating is disposed at the planar second surface and is in contact with the electrochromic medium;
wherein the rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface separated from the third surface by a thickness dimension of the rear glass substrate, and wherein an electrically conductive coating is disposed at the third surface of the rear glass substrate and is in contact with the electrochromic medium;
wherein the front glass substrate comprises a periphery surface extending between the planar first surface and the planar second surface and spanning the thickness dimension of the front glass substrate, the planar first surface facing a driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein the mirror casing comprises a central mounting portion and spaced apart attachment portions that are all formed during the plastic injection molding process that forms the mirror casing;
wherein the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at the spaced apart attachment portions;
wherein the central mounting portion includes a first pivot element, and wherein the mounting structure includes a second pivot element, and wherein the first pivot element and the second pivot element form a pivot joint;
wherein the periphery surface of the front glass substrate comprises a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the front glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side wall of the mirror casing;
wherein the curved outer surface of the front glass substrate is contactable by and is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle; and
wherein no part of the mirror casing encroaches onto the planar first surface of the front glass substrate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the spaced apart attachment portions of the mirror casing include front surfaces of a rear wall of the mirror casing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein rear surfaces of the rear wall are exposed at the rear of the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein the rear surfaces of the rear wall comprise a decorative pattern.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the spaced apart attachment portions are attached at the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element via double-sided adhesive tape.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein the adhesive tape at the spaced apart attachment portions functions as an anti-scatter element at the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein no part of the rear glass substrate extends beyond any corresponding edge of the front glass substrate, and wherein the rear glass substrate is received at and circumscribed by the side wall of the mirror casing.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the front glass substrate has a perimeter band established along a perimeter border region of the planar second surface of the front glass substrate to render covert the perimeter seal to a person viewing the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein the perimeter band comprises a reflective perimeter band.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive coating disposed at the third surface of the rear glass substrate comprises a mirror reflector.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the first pivot element is insert molded at the central mounting portion of the mirror casing.

### Claim 27

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mounting structure configured to attach at an interior surface of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly;
a mirror casing formed via a plastic injection molding process;
a prismatic mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate;
wherein the glass substrate has a planar first surface and a planar second surface separated from the planar first surface by a thickness dimension of the glass substrate, and wherein the glass substrate is wedge-shaped with the planar first surface being non-parallel to the planar second surface;
wherein the glass substrate comprises a periphery surface extending between the planar first surface and the planar second surface and spanning the thickness dimension of the glass substrate, the planar first surface facing a driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein the mirror casing comprises a central mounting portion and spaced apart attachment portions that are all formed during the plastic injection molding process that forms the mirror casing;
wherein the prismatic mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at the spaced apart attachment portions;
wherein the central mounting portion includes a first pivot element, and wherein the mounting structure includes a second pivot element, and wherein the first pivot element and the second pivot element form a pivot joint;
wherein the periphery surface of the glass substrate comprises a curved outer surface that provides a rounded transition between the planar first surface of the glass substrate and a less-curved outer surface of a side wall of the mirror casing;
wherein the curved outer surface of the glass substrate is contactable by and is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle; and
wherein no part of the mirror casing encroaches onto the planar first surface of the glass substrate.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the spaced apart attachment portions of the mirror casing include front surfaces of a rear wall of the mirror casing.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein rear surfaces of the rear wall are exposed at the rear of the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein the rear surfaces of the rear wall comprise a decorative pattern.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the spaced apart attachment portions are attached at the prismatic mirror reflective element via double-sided adhesive tape.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 31, wherein the adhesive tape at the spaced apart attachment portions functions as an anti-scatter element at the rear of the prismatic mirror reflective element.

### Claim 33 (depends on 27)

The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the first pivot element is insert molded at the central mounting portion of the mirror casing.