US 7,599,108 B2Granted

Interior rearview mirror assembly

AssigneeDonnelly Corporation

InventorsPatrick J. Lawlor, Niall R. Lynam, John P. Desmond, Patrick J. Dowling

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle includes a bezel and a mirror element located behind the bezel and viewable through an opening formed by the bezel. A backplate, formed by molding and having a first pivot element integrally formed on a side thereof, is securely fixed to a rear portion of the mirror element by direct attachment at least at a central region of the mirror element. A support bracket for attaching the interior rearview mirror assembly to a portion of the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a second pivot element that connects with the first pivot element of the backplate to form a pivot joint that enables angular adjustment by the driver of the rearward field of view provided by the mirror element. Circuitry is supported by the backplate and a housing, principally serving as a cosmetic shroud, connects with the bezel.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a bezel;
a mirror element having a front portion that is viewed by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said mirror element having a rear portion that is opposite to said front portion;
said rear portion having a central region that is generally midway between the leftmost region of said mirror element and the rightmost region of said mirror element;
said mirror element located behind said bezel and viewable though an opening formed by said bezel;
a backplate;
said backplate having a first side and a second side, said second side being opposite said first side;
said backplate formed by molding and having a first pivot element integrally formed at said second side;
said first side of said backplate being generally planar and wherein said first side of said backplate is securely fixed to said rear portion of said mirror element by direct attachment to said rear portion of said mirror element;
said first side of said backplate directly attaching to said rear portion of said mirror element at least at said central region of said rear portion of said mirror element;
a support bracket for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to a portion of the interior cabin of the vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said bracket having a first end and a second end;
said first end of said bracket adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said second end of said bracket comprising a second pivot element;
wherein said first pivot element of said backplate connects with said second pivot element of said bracket to form a pivot joint that enables angular adjustment, by the driver of the equipped vehicle, of the rearward field of view provided by said mirror element;
wherein circuitry is supported by said backplate at said second side of said backplate;
and
a housing;
said housing connecting with said bezel and principally serving as a cosmetic shroud.

16 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a bezel;
a mirror element having a front portion that is viewed by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said mirror element having a rear portion that is opposite to said front portion;
said rear portion having a central region that is generally midway between the leftmost region of said mirror element and the rightmost region of said mirror element;
said mirror element located behind said bezel and viewable through an opening formed by said bezel;
a backplate;
said backplate having a first side and a second side, said second side being opposite said first side;
said backplate formed by molding a polymer resin and having a first pivot element integrally formed at said second side;
said first side of said backplate being generally planar and wherein said first side of said backplate is securely fixed to said rear portion of said mirror element by direct attachment to said rear portion of said mirror element;
said first side of said backplate directly attaching to said rear portion of said mirror element at least at said central region of said rear portion of said mirror element;
a support bracket for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to a portion of the interior cabin of the vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said bracket having a first end and a second end;
said first end of said bracket adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said second end of said bracket comprising a second pivot element;
wherein said first pivot element of said backplate connects with said second pivot element of said bracket to form a ball and socket pivot joint that enables angular adjustment, by the driver of the equipped vehicle, of the rearward field of view provided by said mirror element;
wherein circuitry is supported by said backplate at said second side of said backplate;
wherein said mirror element comprises an electrochromic transflective mirror element having two glass substrates and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;
wherein said circuitry is configured to electrically operate said electrochromic transflective mirror element, said circuitry including at least one light sensor;
and
a housing;
said housing connecting with said bezel and principally serving as a cosmetic shroud.

18 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a bezel;
a mirror element having a front portion that is viewed by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said mirror element having a rear portion that is opposite to said front portion;
said rear portion having a central region that is generally midway between the leftmost region of said mirror element and the rightmost region of said mirror element;
said mirror element located behind said bezel and viewable through an opening formed by said bezel;
a backplate;
said backplate having a first side and a second side, said second side being opposite said first side;
said backplate formed by molding a polymer resin and having a first pivot element integrally formed at said second side;
said first side of said backplate being generally planar and wherein said first side of said backplate is securely fixed to said rear portion of said mirror element by direct attachment to said rear portion of said mirror element;
said first side of said backplate directly attaching to said rear portion of said mirror element at least at said central region of said rear portion of said mirror element;
a support bracket for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to a portion of the interior cabin of the vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said bracket having a first end and a second end;
said first end of said bracket adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said second end of said bracket comprising a second pivot element;
wherein said first pivot element of said backplate connects with said second pivot element of said bracket to form a ball and socket pivot joint that enables angular adjustment, by the driver of the equipped vehicle, of the rearward field of view provided by said mirror element;
wherein a wireway is provided through said pivot joint;
wherein circuitry is supported by said backplate at said second side of said backplate;
wherein said mirror element comprises an electrochromic mirror element having a front and a rear glass substrate and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween;
wherein said rear glass substrate comprises a reflective layer disposed thereon;
wherein said circuitry is configured to electrically operate said electrochromic mirror element;
wherein said circuitry comprise at least one light sensor;
wherein wiring providing electrical power to said circuitry passes through said wireway;
and
a housing;
said housing connecting with said bezel and principally serving as a cosmetic shroud.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/957,939Filed 17 Dec 2007 · continuation
Priority: IE S2002/031426 Apr 2002
Published: US 2008/0180780 A131 Jul 2008
Granted: 6 Oct 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G02F 1/153
Based on an electrochromic effect: constructional details
B60R 1/04
Rear-view mirror arrangements: mounted inside vehicle
B60R 1/088
Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors: using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or…
G02F
Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light by modification of

Family

PCT/IE03/00059Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Apr 2003
Application11/498,420Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Aug 2006
Application11/738,649Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Apr 2007
US 2008/0180780 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Jul 2008
US 7,310,178 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,209,278 B2Parent of this continuation
Application10/512,206Parent of this continuation
US 7,110,156 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2005/0174622 A1Published application
US 2007/0008604 A1Published application
US 2007/0188844 A1Published application
US 7,599,108 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.