Rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
• wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
• wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle;
• wherein said second surface is opposite said first surface and faces said electrochromic medium;
• wherein said third surface faces said electrochromic medium and said fourth surface is opposite said third surface;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector;
• a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive silver epoxy;
• an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• and
• wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
• wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
• wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector;
• a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive silver epoxy;
• an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection, wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive rail disposed at least a portion of a perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said electrical connector is connected between said electrically conductive rail and one of (i) a perimeter portion of said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) a perimeter portion of said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• and
• wherein said electrical connector is connected between said electrically conductive rail and a perimeter portion of said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate, and wherein a second electrical connector is connected between another electrically conductive rail disposed at another portion of said perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate and a perimeter portion of said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
• wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
• wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector;
• a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive silver epoxy;
• an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• and
• wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection, and wherein said electrical connector comprises a clip that clips onto an edge portion of one of (a) said front substrate and (b) said rear substrate to establish electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
• wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
• wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector;
• a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive silver epoxy;
• an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• and
• wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection, and wherein at least one electronic circuitry component is directly attached at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
• wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
• wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle;
• wherein said second surface is opposite said first surface and faces said electrochromic medium;
• wherein said third surface faces said electrochromic medium and said fourth surface is opposite said third surface;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector;
• a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises a layer of resin material disposed at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said resin material comprises an electrically conductive silver epoxy;
• wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive rail disposed at least a portion of a perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate;
• an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said electrically conductive rail and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• and
• wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection, and wherein, when said resin material is in an uncured state at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, said electrical connector contacts said uncured resin material at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said solderless electrical connection is established when said resin material cures to form said conductive trace.

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• an electrochromic reflective element comprising a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
• wherein said front glass substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface;
• wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate faces generally towards a driver of a vehicle equipped with said rearview mirror assembly when said rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted and is viewed by the driver when normally operating the vehicle;
• wherein said reflective element comprises (a) a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (b) a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrochromic medium contacts said transparent electrically conductive coating and said mirror reflector;
• a conductive trace established on said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, wherein said conductive trace comprises a layer of resin material disposed at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said resin material comprises an electrically conductive silver epoxy;
• wherein said conductive trace comprises an electrically conductive rail disposed at least a portion of a perimeter region of said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate;
• an electrical connector establishing electrical conductivity between said electrically conductive rail and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
• wherein said electrical connector connects to said conductive trace via a solderless connection, and wherein, when said resin material is in an uncured state at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, said electrical connector contacts said uncured resin material at said fourth surface of said rear glass substrate, and wherein said solderless electrical connection is established when said resin material cures to form said conductive trace;
• and
• wherein said electrical connector comprises a clip that clips onto an edge portion of one of (a) said front substrate and (b) said rear substrate to establish electrical conductivity between said conductive trace and one of (i) said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate and (ii) said mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate.