Gentex Corporation

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Snyder, Mark A.

Bonardi, Timothy A.

Braun, Randall S.

Beute, Randall J.

Randall S Braun

Timothy A Bonardi

Randall J Beute

John K Roberts

Bradley L Busscher

Kenton J Ypma

Daniel J Bostwick

Wayne M Jordan

Edward L DeNave

Gregory A Bosch

David J Cammenga

Bradley L Northman

Brian J Steenwyk

Michael L McLarty

Edward F Bulgajewski

Mark A Snyder

Timothy A Norris

An exterior rearview mirror element including a front element having a first front surface and a second rear surface. A cross-section of the second rear surface defines a first line. A rear element includes a third front surface and a fourth rear surface. Electrochromic material is located between the front element and the rear element. A spotter optic is located in the second rear surface of the front element. A cross-section of the spotter optic defines a second line. A transition region is disposed between the spotter optic and the second rear surface of the front element. A distance from a surface of the transition region to an intersection of the first line and the second line is between about 0.001 mm and 0.034 mm. At least a portion of the spotter optic includes a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the first front surface includes a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being smaller than the second radius of curvature.

Vehicle rearview mirror with spotter mirror

A mirror element comprising a front element, a rear element, electrochromic material therebetween, and a spotter optic located at the rear surface of the front element. At least a portion of the spotter optic has a first radius of curvature and at least a portion of the front surface of the front element has a greater second radius of curvature. A line perpendicular to the front surface extends through both the electrochromic material and the spotter optic. A first electrode coating and a second electrode coating are activated to activate the electrochromic material in order to dim a reflection off of the mirror element. A reflective coating of the spotter optic can form a portion of the first electrode coating. The first electrode coating and the reflective coating can overlap.

A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.

Rearview mirror constructed for efficient assembly

A rearview mirror assembly of the present invention includes a circuit board disposed behind the mirror. The circuit board may be a flexible circuit board and may include an LED mounted to project light through a transparent window in the flexible circuit board and through the mirror. The flexible circuit board may function as a mirror heater and may include conductive paths for connection to the LED and/or electrodes of an electrochromic mirror. The LED may include an LED chip mounted directly on the circuit board and encapsulated thereon by an encapsulant.

Rearview mirror assembly construction

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Randall S Braun