Light control circuit for vanity mirror assembly and method of manufacturing
AssigneePrince Corporation
InventorsMichael L. Lanser, Paul T. Vander Kuyl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dimming control circuit for use in an illuminated vanity mirror includes a surface formed variable resistor on a conductive circuit substrate and wiper contacts engaging the resistor. One of the resistor and wiper contacts is movably mounted to a mirror frame with the other of the resistor and wiper contacts being stationary such that the resistance can be varied to control the light intensity.
Claims16
An illuminated vanity mirror assembly including a variable resistance circuit for providing a dimming control comprising:
- a conductive electrical circuit substrate having an insulating layer of material and a resistance layer of material on at least one side of said substrate with said layer of insulating material being in direct contact with said substrate and said layer of resistance material overlaying said insulating layer and having an end extending beyond said insulating layer and in contact with said substrate;
- electrical contact means for selectively engaging said resistance material;
- means for mounting said substrate and said contact means for movement relative to each other to provide a variable resistance to said contact means;
- and
- means for electrically coupling said contact means to lamp means associated with a vanity mirror for selectively varying the intensity of light from said lamp means.
An illuminated vanity mirror assembly including an electrical circuit having a variable resistance body comprising:
- a conductive supporting substrate of relatively thin material with opposite edges formed to provide a predetermined overall thickness for said substrate;
- a layer of insulating material formed on said substrate;
- and
- a resistance layer formed on said layer of insulating material and overlying an edge of said insulating material to contact said substrate to form the body of a variable resistor.
An illuminated vanity mirror assembly including a variable resistance circuit for providing a dimming control comprising:
- a conductive supporting substrate of relatively thin material with opposite edges formed to provide a predetermined overall thickness for said substrate;
- a layer of insulating material formed on said substrate;
- a resistance layer formed on said layer of insulating material and overlying an edge of said insulating material to contact said substrate to form the body of a variable resistor;
- electrical contact means for selectively engaging said resistance material;
- means for mounting said substrate and said contact means for movement relative to each other to provide a variable resistance to said contact means;
- and
- means for electrically coupling said contact means to lamp means associated with a vanity mirror for selectively varying the intensity of light from said lamp means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.