Abstract:
An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head with a mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element includes a transflective mirror reflector. A video display screen is disposed behind the mirror reflective element and is operable for displaying video images viewable through the transflective mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element. When not operated to display video images, the presence of the video display screen behind the mirror reflective element is rendered covert by the transflective mirror reflector. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mechanism operable to change the orientation of the mirror reflective element relative to the vehicle driver. The mechanism operates to flip the orientation of the mirror reflective element between a first position that is tilted towards the vehicle driver and a second position that is tilted away from the vehicle driver.
Abstract:
A vision system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at an interior surface of the vehicle and having a mirror head and a reflective element. The mirror head is adjustably mounted at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle and is adjustable to adjust a rearward view of a driver of the vehicle viewing said reflective element. A display device is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle remote from the interior rearview mirror assembly. The mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via the reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by the display device via the reflective element.
Abstract:
An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror casing and an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at the mirror casing. The front substrate of the reflective element has a first surface and a second surface and a perimeter edge between the first and second surfaces. The second surface of the front substrate has a transparent conductive coating established thereat. The rear substrate of the reflective element has a third surface and a fourth surface and a perimeter edge between the third and fourth surfaces. The third surface of the rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat. With the electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at the mirror casing, the perimeter edges of both the front and rear substrates are exterior the mirror casing and provide a curved transition between the first surface of the front substrate and an outer surface of the mirror casing.
Abstract:
A rearview vision system for a vehicle includes a reflective element disposed at a driver or passenger side portion of a vehicle and a camera disposed at or near the reflective element and having a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of the reflective element. The camera and the reflective element are disposed at the side portion of the vehicle so that images of the scene occurring to the side and rear of the vehicle are reflected off of the reflective element and viewed by the camera. The camera captures image data for display of images by a display device that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when normally operating the vehicle so as to provide the driver with a generally sideward and rearward field of view.
Abstract:
A method for making electrical connection to a mirror reflective element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween and in contact with a transparent conductive coating and a third surface reflector. A metallic electrical connector is provided that includes an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion. An electrical wire is inserted in the wire receiving portion such that at least one tang of the wire receiving portion engages the electrical wire to secure the electrical wire in the wire receiving portion and to make electrically-conductive connection with the electrical wire. The attachment portion is attached at the front or rear substrate to attach the electrical connector at the mirror reflective element such that the attachment portion electrically conductively connects to the transparent conductive coating or the third surface reflector.
Abstract:
An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head with a mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element includes a transflective mirror reflector. A video display screen is disposed behind the mirror reflective element and is operable for displaying video images viewable through the transflective mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element. When not operated to display video images, the presence of the video display screen behind the mirror reflective element is rendered covert by the transflective mirror reflector. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mechanism operable to change the orientation of the mirror reflective element relative to the vehicle driver. The mechanism operates to flip the orientation of the mirror reflective element between a first position that is tilted towards the vehicle driver and a second position that is tilted away from the vehicle driver.
Abstract:
A method of making a mirror substrate for an interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes providing a glass substrate having a generally planar front surface, a generally planar rear surface and a circumferential perimeter edge about a periphery of said glass substrate and extending between the front and rear surfaces. A grinding wheel is moved around the periphery of a front perimeter portion of the glass substrate while rotating the grinding wheel to establish a ground generally rounded surface about and around the glass substrate periphery. A polishing wheel is moved around the glass substrate periphery while rotating the polishing wheel to establish a polished generally rounded surface about and around the glass substrate periphery. The polished generally rounded surface provides a smooth transition between the generally planar front surface of the glass substrate and a rear portion of the circumferential perimeter edge of the glass substrate.
Abstract:
An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element. The mirror casing is a unitarily molded mirror casing having at least one attachment surface. The prismatic reflective element includes a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate. A mirror reflector is established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. The perimeter edge of said glass substrate has a generally rounded surface disposed between the front surface and the mirror casing. The prismatic reflective element is attached at the attachment surface of the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the glass substrate is exposed to and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
Abstract:
A mirror reflective element assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing, a reflective element, an auxiliary wide angle element and a back plate. The auxiliary wide angle element is disposed at the rear surface of a mirror substrate. A back plate mounting structure may establish a space at the mirror actuator that is sufficient for a portion of the auxiliary wide angle element to be disposed between a rear surface of the reflective element and the mirror actuator. The back plate may have at least one sealing element at least partially around a perimeter region of a wide angle element receiving portion of the back plate, and the sealing element may engage the rear surface of the mirror substrate when the back plate is attached to the reflective element and may limit intrusion of adhesive between the back plate and the mirror substrate.
Abstract:
An accessory system for a vehicle includes an electronics module disposed at an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle and a mirror head having an electro-optic reflective element. The mirror head is pivotally attached at the electronics module. Control circuitry is disposed in the electronics module. When the mirror head is pivotally attached at the electronics module, the control circuitry is electrically connected to the electro-optic reflective element of the mirror head. The control circuitry is at least operable to control the dimming of the electro-optic reflective element responsive to at least one photosensor. The control circuitry may be associated with at least one other function or system of the vehicle.