The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 09, 2001
Filed:
May. 13, 1999
Wayne J. Rumsey, Holland, MI (US);
John W. Carter, Holland, MI (US);
Kenton J. Ypma, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Bradley L. Northman, Belmont, MI (US);
Frederick T. Bauer, Holland, MI (US);
Mark W. Durnwald, Holland, MI (US);
Gentex Corporation, Zeeland, MI (US);
Abstract
A mirror includes an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear transparent elements, a layer of electrochromic material associated with the front and rear transparent elements, and a reflective layer, a portion of the reflective layer defining an opening. An indicia panel is located proximate the mirror subassembly and covers the opening, and one or more light sources are positioned to pass light through the indicia panel and the opening of the electrochromic mirror subassembly to illuminate detailed symbols and information on the indicia panel. The indicia panel is adhered to the mirror subassembly, and a housing and a mating bezel are configured to receive the mirror subassembly. The indicia panel includes a pair of apertured locator tabs, and the bezel includes protrusions that engage the apertured locator tabs to accurately locate the indicia panel and the mirror subassembly and also a printed circuit board in the housing. A foam light seal is located between the printed circuit board and the indicia panel and is shaped to sealingly engage the printed circuit board and the indicia panel to prevent light leakage around the indicia panel. Where multiple light sources are used to illuminate different areas on the indicia panel, the foam light seal defines multiple windows engaging the indicia panel for containing light as each window is illuminated. The housing and the bezel snap together and are shaped to compress together the mirror subassembly, the indicia panel, the printed circuit board, and the light seal, thus compressing the light seal to assure good contact by the light seal.