Gentex Corporation

Michael F Lisowski

Danny L Minikey, Jr

Richard T Fish, Jr

Mark R Roth

David J Cammenga

Frederick T Bauer

Bradley R Hamlin

Jason D Hallack

Peter N Rizk

William L Tonar

Steven J Veenman

Jeremy A Fogg

Henry A Luten

Nigel T Lock

Joshua D Lintz

Michael G Hendricks

Steven G Hoek

Andrew J LeVesque

Bradley A Bosma

Danny L Suman

Christian M Kemperman

Richard Allen Berry

James D Collins, Ii

Kasen Keith Anderson

Danny L Minikey

Richard T Fish

A rearview assembly for a vehicle is provided including a reflective element; an infrared illumination source configured to emit infrared light through the reflective element to illuminate a field of view; and an optical element disposed behind the reflective element and configured to direct infrared light from the infrared illumination source towards the field of view. The optical element including: a molded portion comprised of a visibly opaque material that is substantially transparent to the infrared light, the molded portion having a front surface and a rear surface; and a reflector disposed on the rear surface of the molded portion and configured to substantially reflect infrared light emitted from the illumination source that passes through the molded portion towards the field of view.

Rearview assembly for a vehicle having visibly opaque optical element for reflecting infrared light

An edge-lit rearview assembly comprising a housing; a mirror element having a perimeter and disposed within the housing; a bezel extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the mirror element; at least one circuit board; at least one light source in electrical communication with the circuit board; wherein the at least one light source is in optical communication with at least a portion of the bezel.

Rearview assembly with lighted bezel

A display mirror assembly having a mount operably coupled to a vehicle interior. The mount includes one of a ball and a socket extending forwardly therefrom. An engagement plate is pivotally coupled with the mount via the other of a ball and a socket extending rearwardly from the engagement plate. The engagement plate includes a first support member and a second support member pivotally coupled to the first support member. A carrier plate is operably coupled with the engagement plate. The carrier plate supports a rear housing on a rear portion thereof. A glass element is operably coupled with the carrier plate. A display module is configured to be turned to an on state and an off state. An actuator device is disposed on a bottom surface of the housing and is operably coupled with the glass element. The actuator device is adjustable to tilt the glass element.

Full display rearview device

Rearview mirror

A lighting module for a vehicle is disclosed. The lighting module comprises a light source configured to generate a light emission in an emission direction substantially along a forward operating direction of the vehicle. A circuit is in connection with the light source. The lighting module further comprises an optic device comprising a body forming a receiving surface. The receiving surface is configured to receive an input emission of the light emission. The optic device is configured to transmit the input emission through the body, emit a first portion of the input emission along a primary path directed toward a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and emit a second portion of the input emission along a stray light path into a light trap formed by the body and arranged substantially opposite the light extraction surface.

Indicator optic for vehicle lighting module

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises a display device defining a display surface having a display perimeter elongated along a length. The display device is in communication with a primary PCB. The primary PCB comprises a first side and an opposing second side. The first side is directed toward the display device. The assembly also comprises a heat sink in connection with the second side of the primary PCB and extending substantially coextensive with the length display perimeter.

Display mirror assembly incorporating heatsink

A display mirror assembly having a housing. An electro-optic element is disposed within the housing. A light gathering structure is operably coupled with a first side of the electro-optic element and is configured to draw ambient light from outside the housing. A display module is disposed within the housing and is operable between an on state and an off state. A light relaying structure is operably coupled with a second side of the electro-optic element and is configured to relay light from the electro-optic element to a first edge of the display module. A backlit module is disposed at a second edge of the display module.

Illuminating display with light gathering structure

A rearview device includes a housing that includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An electro-optic element is operably coupled with the first side of the housing. A rear trim bezel is disposed on the second side of the housing. A rear trim plate is operably coupled with the second side of the housing. A peripheral gap is defined between the rear trim plate and the second side of the housing. A spacing truss is disposed in the peripheral gap. The spacing truss includes first and second lateral walls extending to the rear trim bezel.

Rearview device

An imager module for a vehicle includes a support having a first side and a second side. A shroud is operably coupled with the first side. The support and the shroud define a cavity. A viewing aperture is disposed in one of the support and the shroud. An imager system is disposed in the cavity. An electrical connector is configured to provide communication with the imager system. The electrical connector is disposed outside the cavity in abutting contact with the second side of the support.

Roof mounted imager module

A blind spot detection system for a vehicle having an external rearview device including a substrate having an at least partially transmissive portion. An imaging device positioned behind the at least partially transmissive portion and including a field of view that extends through the substrate at an angle away from the vehicle in the general direction of a vehicle blind spot.

Stand alone blind spot detection system

A rearview assembly having a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle. A housing is operably connected with the mounting structure and a rearward viewing device is supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure. The rearward viewing device provides a rearward view to a vehicle driver and includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. The entire front surface of the front substrate is exposed and the entire rear substrate is positioned behind the front substrate. A concealing layer is disposed about a periphery of the rearward viewing device between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A partially optically transparent bezel is disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing, the optically transparent bezel having an edge radius greater than 2.5 mm and the optically transparent bezel being substantially flush with the front surface of the front substrate.

Clear bezel

An optical lighting assembly for use with a vehicular outside rearview mirror includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) mounted thereon. An optical device such as a light pipe is positioned adjacent to the LED for propagating light away from the LED. A mirror element includes at least one indicia where light escaping from the light pipe is used to illuminate the indicia.

Low profile optical lighting assembly for use in outside vehicle mirror and method of forming same

A rearview assembly is disclosed for use in a vehicle for providing a rearward view from the vehicle. In one example, the rearview assembly includes at least one substrate having a partially transmissive coating and a light sensor proximate the at least one substrate. The rearview assembly further includes a secondary optic. The secondary optic has a first surface facing outward toward the at least one substrate and a second surface facing inward toward the light sensor. Vertical flutes extend uniformly along the first surface and horizontal flutes extend uniformly along the second surface. The secondary optic is configured to control a field of view of the light sensor.

Low reflectance glare optic

According to another aspect of the present invention, a light system for use in a rearview mirror assembly is provided and includes a light source and a first optical element. Said first optical element has a collection optic configured to direct light received from said light source, a reflector optic in optical communication with said collection optic and configured to reflect light from said collection optic, a plurality of light steering areas configured to steer light propagating in said first optical element, and a light spreading optic configured to spread light exiting said first optical element. A second optical element is in optical communication with said first optical element and is configured to diffuse light received from said first optical element to illuminate an indicia.

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Michael F Lisowski