(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`14 April 2011 (14.04.2011)
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 2011/044312 Al
`ί
`«
`t
`
`(51)
`
`(21)
`
`International Patent Classification:
`B60R 1/08 (2006.01)
`
`International Application Number:
`PCT/US20 10/05 1741
`
`(22)
`
`International Filing Date:
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`7 October 2010 (07.10.2010)
`
`English
`
`English
`
`US
`US
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`61/249,300
`61/261,839
`
`7 October 2009 (07.10.2009)
`17 November 2009 (17.1 1.2009)
`
`(71) Applicant
`except US):
`(for all designated States
`MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA,
`INC.
`[US/US];
`49 W . Third St., Holland, Michigan 49423 (US).
`
`(72)
`(75)
`
`Inventors; and
`Inventors/ Applicants (for US only): DE WIND, Darryl,
`P. [US/US]; 8428 Hiawatha Drive, West Olive, Michigan
`49460 (US). RAWLINGS, Donald, S. [US/US]; 7996 A
`J Court S.E., Caledonia, Michigan 493 16 (US). UKEN,
`John, T. [US/US]; 7730 Steele Ave., Jenison, Michigan
`49428 (US).
`
`(74) Agent: FLORY, Timothy, A.; VAN DYKE, GARD
`NER, LINN & BURKHART, LLP, 285 1 Charlevoix Dr.,
`S.E., Suite 207, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 (US).
`
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ,
`CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO,
`DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
`HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP,
`KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD,
`ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI,
`NO, NZ, OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD,
`SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR,
`TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG,
`ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
`TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK,
`EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU,
`LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK,
`SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ,
`GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Declarations under Rule 4.17 :
`
`(54) Title: FRAMELESS INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
`
`[Continued on next page]
`
`(57) Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assem
`bly includes a housing (412', 5 12) and a mirror
`reflective element (414', 5 14) having a glass sub
`strate (420', 5 14). The housing includes an ele
`ment (412f, 5 12d) that protrudes beyond a rear
`surface (420b', 5 14b) of the glass substrate and
`towards the front surface (420a', 514a) of the
`glass substrate when the reflective element
`is at
`least partially received at the housing. The glass
`substrate includes a slanted rear perimeter edge-
`portion (420e', 5 14e) along a perimeter circumfer
`ence of the rear surface of the glass substrate to at
`least partially accommodate the element of the
`housing when the reflective element
`is at
`least
`partially received at the housing. The glass sub
`strate includes a beveled front perimeter
`(420c',
`5 14c) along a perimeter circumference of the
`front surface of the glass substrate. The beveled
`front perimeter of the glass substrate is exposed
`and viewable by the driver of the vehicle.
`
`i
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`w o 2011/044312 Al
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`llll
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`I I I I 1 1 III
`
`II I
`
`II I I III! I I I I III
`
`II I II
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`as to applicant's entitlement to apply for and be granted — of inventorship (Rule 4.1 7(iv))
`a patent (Rule 4.1 7(H))
`
`Published:
`
`as to the applicant's entitlement to claim the priority of
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`Magna - IPR2020-00777 - Ex. 2011 - 002
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`FRAMELESS INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.
`
`61/261,839, filed Nov. 17, 2009, and Ser. No. 61/249,300, filed Oct. 7, 2009, which are
`
`hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to the field of rearview mirror assemblies for
`
`vehicles and, more particularly, to an interior rearview mirror assembly that is adjustably
`
`mounted to an interior portion of a vehicle.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Typically, an automatically dimming electro-optic interior rearview mirror assembly,
`
`such as an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly or the like^ includes a mirror
`
`reflective element that is at least partially received in a casing, sometimes with a bezel
`
`portion of the casing snapped to or integral with the rest of the casing/housing so that the
`
`bezel portion of the casing overlaps or encompasses a perimeter edge of the reflective
`
`element and overlaps on/encroaches onto a portion or perimeter region of an outer or front
`
`surface of the reflective element (the surface facing the driver of the vehicle when the mirror
`
`assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle). The reflective element is adjustable by the
`
`driver to adjust the rearward field of view provided by the mirror reflective element.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a
`
`casing and an electro-optic reflective element (such as an electrocliromic reflective element)
`
`attached to or adhered to a surface or portion of the casing or bezel, with no bezel portion
`
`overlapping or encompassing a perimeter edge or front surface of the reflective element.
`
`According to an aspect of the present invention, an interior rearview mirror assembly
`
`for a vehicle includes a mirror holder/casing/housing/shroud/cap
`
`and an interior rearview
`
`mirror reflective element. The reflective element comprises a glass substrate having a front
`
`surface and a rear surface. The reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at
`
`a surface of the mirror reflective element other than the front surface of the glass substrate
`
`(and forming or establishing a mirror reflecting surface of the reflective element). The front
`
`surface of the glass substrate generally faces the driver of the vehicle when the interior
`
`rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle. The mirror holder/casing/
`
`l
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`housing/shroud/cap at least partially receives/accommodates the mirror reflective element
`
`therein and the mirror holder/casing/ housing/shroud/cap comprises an element that protrudes
`
`beyond the rear surface of the glass substrate and towards the front surface of said glass
`
`substrate in order to enclose the reflecting surface of the reflective element in the mirror
`
`holder/casing/housing/shroud/cap when the mirror reflective element is at least partially
`
`received in the mirror holder. The glass substrate has a slanted rear perimeter edge-portion
`
`(formed such as by grinding or ablation) along the perimeter circumference of the rear
`
`surface of the glass substrate to accommodate the element of the mirror holder/casing/
`
`housing/shroud/cap and the glass substrate has a beveled front perimeter along the perimeter
`
`circumference of the front surface of the glass substrate. The beveled circumferential front
`
`perimeter is exposed to, is contactable by, and is viewable by, the driver of the vehicle when
`
`the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
`
`The mirror holder encloses the mirror reflector and the reflecting surface of the mirror
`
`reflective element when the mirror reflective element is at least partially received in the
`
`mirror holder/casing/housing/shroud/cap. Optionally, the circumferential beveled outboard
`
`or front perimeter of the glass substrate may have a radius of curvature of at least about 2.5
`
`mm other than at the generally planar (flat) surface that constitutes the rest of the first or front
`
`surface of the glass substrate. Optionally, the beveled outboard or front perimeter of the glass
`
`substrate provides a convex-curved transition between the generally planar or flat front
`
`surface of the glass substrate and a side wall of the mirror holder/casing/housing/sliroud/cap.
`
`Optionally, the formed or slanted rear or inboard perimeter edge-portion of the glass substrate
`
`is formed or slanted or angled or curved or chamfered to correspond to a formed or slanted or
`
`angled or curved or chamfered element established at the mirror
`
`holder/casing/housing/shroud/cap .
`
`Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise a prismatic mirror reflective
`
`element and the reflecting surface of the mirror reflective element comprises the rear surface
`
`of the glass substrate. Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise an electro-
`
`optic reflective element and the glass substrate comprises the front substrate of the electro-
`
`optic reflective element and the reflecting surface comprises a surface of a rear substrate of
`
`the electro-optic reflective element.
`
`According to another aspect of the present invention, an interior rearview mirror
`
`assembly for a vehicle comprises a casing and an electro-optic reflective element. The
`
`reflective element comprises a front substrate having a front or first surface (the surface that
`
`generally faces the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the
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`vehicle) and a rear or second surface opposite the front surface, and a rear substrate having a
`
`front or third surface and a rear or fourth surface, with an electro-optic medium (such as an
`
`electrocliromic medium) disposed between the second or rear surface of the front substrate
`
`and the third or front surface of the rear substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal. The
`
`second surface has a transparent electrically conductive coating established thereat. The front
`
`substrate has a substantially opaque perimeter band circumferentially established around and
`
`disposed at its periphery border region (such as along a perimeter region of the second
`
`surface of the front substrate) to hide or conceal the perimeter seal of the reflective element.
`
`The third surface of the rear substrate (i.e., the surface that opposes the second surface of the
`
`front substrate and with the electro-optic medium disposed therebetween) may have a
`
`reflective mirror reflector coated or established thereat. The rear or fourth surface of the
`
`reflective element is attached, such as adhered, to a mounting plate or attachment plate or the
`
`like (that may include a pivot connection for attaching to a mounting structure for mounting
`
`the mirror assembly at an interior portion of the vehicle), or to a mounting surface or portion
`
`of the casing or bezel (where the casing may include a pivot connection for attaching to a
`
`mounting structure for mounting the mirror assembly at an interior portion of the vehicle) or
`
`the like. When the reflective element is attached at the casing or bezel, the bezel
`
`encompasses the perimeter edge of the front substrate of the reflective element, but does
`
`extend over or encompass the perimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element.
`
`Optionally, a perimeter portion of the rear substrate may be cutaway and/or the front
`
`substrate may overhang or extend beyond a corresponding perimeter portion of the rear
`
`substrate, and one or more capacitive switches or sensors may be established at the cutaway
`
`or overhang region. The transparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface
`
`may be laser etched or otherwise etched or scribed or locally removed to provide a switch
`
`portion at the overhang region that is electrically isolated from the rest of the transparent
`
`electrically conductive coating at the second surface of the front substrate. An electrical lead
`
`or wiring or trace may be electrically connected between circuitry within the mirror assembly
`
`and the electrically isolated transparent electrically conductive coating at the overhang region
`
`to detect the presence or touch of a person's finger at the switch region or overhang region.
`
`These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention
`
`will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the
`
`drawings.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an interior rearview mirror assembly in accordance with
`
`the present invention;
`
`FIG. 2 is an upper plan view of the interior rearview mirror assembly of FIG. 1;
`
`FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the interior rearview mirror assembly of FIG. 1;
`
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the interior rearview mirror assembly taken along the line
`
`A-A in FIG. 1;
`
`FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the area B in FIG. 4;
`
`FIG. 6 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of another interior rearview mirror
`
`assembly in accordance with the present invention;
`
`FIG. 7 is a front elevation of an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly of
`
`the present invention;
`
`FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly,
`
`taken along the line A-A in FIG. 7;
`
`FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the area B in FIG. 7A;
`
`FIGS. 8A-E are enlarged views of the lower edge of other electrochromic interior
`
`rearview mirror assemblies of the present invention;
`
`FIG. 9 is a front elevation of a prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly of the
`
`present invention;
`
`FIG. 9A is a sectional view of the prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly, taken
`
`along the line A-A in FIG. 9;
`
`FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of the area B in FIG. 9A;
`
`FIGS. 10A-E are enlarged views of the lower edge of other prismatic interior rearview
`
`mirror assemblies of the present invention;
`
`FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another interior rearview mirror assembly
`
`of the present invention;
`
`FIG. 12 is a schematic of a touch sensor system suitable for use in an interior rearview
`
`mirror assembly of the present invention;
`
`FIG. 13 is a schematic of a touch sensor system suitable for use in an interior rearview
`
`mirror assembly of the present invention;
`
`FIG. 14 is a graph of the voltages applied over time by the system of FIG. 13;
`
`FIG. 15 is a graph of a timer count over time by the system of FIG. 13;
`
`FIG. 16 is a graph of voltage over time for the touch sensor system of FIG. 13;
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`FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a control process of the user inputs of the interior rearview
`
`mirror assembly of FIG. 11;
`
`FIG. 18 is a front elevation of another interior rearview mirror assembly of the present
`
`invention;
`
`FIG.
`
`is a front elevation of another interior rearview mirror assembly of the present
`
`invention; and
`
`FIGS. 20A-N are sectional views of other interior rearview mirror assemblies of the
`
`present invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, an
`
`interior rearview mirror assembly 10 for a vehicle includes a mirror casing or housing or
`
`shroud or cap or holder 1 , a reflective element 1 positioned at a front portion of the mirror
`
`casing 1 and a bezel or front casing portion 16 disposed around a periphery of the reflective
`
`element. Mirror assembly 10 is adjustably mounted to an interior portion of a vehicle (such
`
`as to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield or a headliner of a vehicle or the like) via a
`
`mounting structure or mounting configuration or assembly 18. The bezel portion 16 receives
`
`the reflective element therein and encompasses the perimeter edges of the reflective element
`
`14 and attaches to the non-bezel portion of the mirror casing 12, such as via snapping or
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`otherwise attaching to a forward perimeter edge region 12a of mirror casing 12. As can be
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`seen in FIG. 4, the bezel portion 1 does not overlap or encompass the perimeter regions of
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`the front surface of the reflective element 14, so as to provide flush or generally coplanar
`
`surfaces across the front of the bezel portion and the front surface of the reflective element, as
`
`discussed below.
`
`Reflective element 14 may comprise an electro-optic (such as electrochromic)
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`reflective element or may comprise a prismatic or wedge-shaped reflective element.
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`Reflective element 14 includes a front substrate 20 having a front or first surface 20a (the
`
`surface that generally faces the driver of a vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally
`
`mounted in the vehicle) and a rear or second surface 20b opposite the front surface 20a, and a
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`rear substrate 22 having a front or third surface 22a and a rear or fourth surface 22b opposite
`
`the front surface 22a, with an electro-optic medium disposed between the second surface 20b
`
`and the third surface 22a and bounded by a perimeter seal of the reflective element (such as is
`
`known in the electrochromic mirror art). The second surface 20a has a transparent
`
`conductive coating established thereat, while the third surface 22a has a conductive coating
`
`(such as a metallic reflector coating for a third surface reflector mirror element or such as a
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`transparent conductive coating for a fourth surface reflector mirror element) established
`
`thereat.
`
`Reflective element 14 includes an opaque or substantially opaque or hiding perimeter
`
`layer or coating or band 23 (FIG. 1) disposed around a perimeter edge region of the front
`
`substrate 20 (such as at a perimeter region of the rear or second surface 20b of the front
`
`substrate) to conceal or hide or the perimeter seal from viewing by the driver of the vehicle
`
`when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle. Such a hiding layer or
`
`perimeter band may be reflective or not reflective and may utilize aspects of the perimeter
`
`bands and mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,066,112; 7,626,749; 7,274,501;
`
`7,184,190; and/or 7,255,451, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US20 10/0320 17, filed Apr.
`
`22, 2010, and/or U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published
`
`Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, which are hereby incorporated herein
`
`by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the perimeter band may comprise a
`
`chrome/chromium coating or metallic coating and/or may comprise a chrome/chromium or
`
`metallic coating that has a reduced reflectance, such as by using an oxidized chrome coating
`
`or chromium oxide coating or "black chrome" coating or the like (such as by utilizing aspects
`
`of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, which are
`
`hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). Optionally, other opaque or
`
`substantially opaque coatings or bands may be implemented while remaining within the spirit
`
`and scope of the present invention.
`
`The reflective element 14 and mirror casing 1 are adjustable relative to the mounting
`
`arm or pivot assembly 18 to adjust the driver's rearward field of view when the mirror
`
`assembly is normally mounted at or in the vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a socket or
`
`pivot mount 24 that may receive a ball member of a mounting arm of the pivot assembly or
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`mounting structure 18, such as a double pivot or double ball mounting structure or a single
`
`pivot or single ball mounting structure or the like (such as a pivot mounting assembly of the
`
`types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,593,565; 6,690,268; 6,540,193; 4,936,533;
`
`5,820,097; 5,100,095; 7,249,860; 6,877,709; 6,329,925; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; and/or
`
`6,483,438, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and
`
`published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, and/or PCT Application
`
`No. PCT/US2010/028130, filed Mar. 22, 2010, which are hereby incorporated herein by
`
`reference in their entireties). The mounting assembly may have a ball or socket element
`
`mounted to or attached to or established at a mirror attachment plate or backing plate (which
`
`may optionally include or incorporate circuitry thereat or thereon) that is attached at the rear
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`surface of the mirror reflective element (optionally with a mirror casing disposed over or
`
`receiving the attachment plate or with a cap portion of a mirror assembly attaching to the
`
`backing plate or the like, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,289,037, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), or
`
`the mounting assembly may have a ball or socket element mounted to or attached to or
`
`established at a portion of the mirror casing (or to an attachment element disposed at or in the
`
`mirror casing), where the ball or socket or pivot joint element pivotally attaches to a
`
`mounting arm or mounting structure that attaches to an interior portion of the vehicle, such as
`
`an inner surface of the vehicle windshield or the like.
`
`In the illustrated embodiment, mounting assembly 18 comprises a single-ball or
`
`single-pivot mounting assembly whereby the reflective element and casing are adjustable
`
`relative to the vehicle windshield (or other interior portion of the vehicle) about a single pivot
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`joint. Mounting assembly 8 includes a base portion or mounting base 26 and a mounting
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`arm 28, with the reflective element 14 and mirror casing 12 pivotally mounted at ball end 28a
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`of mounting arm 28 about a mirror ball pivot joint (such as a ball and socket joint or the like
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`that allows for a driver of the vehicle to which mirror assembly 10 is mounted to adjust the
`
`reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view of the driver). Optionally, the
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`mounting assembly may comprise other types of mounting configurations, such as a double-
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`ball or double-pivot mounting configuration or the like, while remaining within the spirit and
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`scope of the present invention.
`
`In the illustrated embodiment, mounting base 2 is attached to an interior surface of a
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`vehicle windshield (such as to a mounting button or attachment element adhered to the
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`interior surface of the vehicle windshield). The mounting base may be mounted to a
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`mounting button or attachment element at the vehicle windshield via a breakaway mounting
`
`construction, such as by utilizing aspects of the mounting constructions described in U.S. Pat.
`
`Nos. 5,820,097 and/or 5,100,095, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
`
`entireties. Mounting arm 28 may comprise a molded (such as injection molded) polymeric
`
`mounting arm o may be otherwise formed, depending on the particular application of the
`
`mirror assembly (and may utilize aspects of the mounting assemblies described in U.S. Pat.
`
`Nos. 6,318,870; 6,593,565; 6,690,268; 6,540,193; 4,936,533; 5,820,097; 5,100,095;
`
`7,249,860; 6,877,709; 6,329,925; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; and/or 6,483,438, and/or U.S. patent
`
`application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat.
`
`Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US20 10/028 130, filed Mar.
`
`22, 201 0, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).
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`Mirror casing 12 comprises a plastic or polymeric molded casing that may attach to
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`the pivot socket 24 via any suitable manner. The casing may comprise any suitable casing
`
`construction, and has a forward perimeter edge or attachment portion 12a for attaching to the
`
`bezel portion 16, as discussed below. Optionally, the mirror casing may have at least one
`
`generally planar front attachment surface or panel or wall for attaching to the reflective
`
`element, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in PCT Application
`
`No. PCT/US20 10/0320 7, filed Apr. 22, 2010, which is hereby incorporated herein by
`
`reference in its entirety. Optionally, the mirror casing may include cap portions that may
`
`include one or more accessories, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies
`
`described in U.S. Pat, No. 7,289,037, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
`
`entirety.
`
`Bezel portion 16 comprises a plastic or polymeric molded bezel portion that has a
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`rearward perimeter attachment portion 16a (that opposes the mirror casing when the bezel
`
`portion is attached to the mirror casing and that faces generally forwardly in the forward
`
`direction of travel of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the
`
`vehicle) that attaches to the forward or front edge region 12a of the mirror casing 12 via any
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`suitable manner, such as via a snap connection or welding or screwing or heat staking or
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`adhering or the like. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, bezel portion 16 includes a perimeter
`
`portion or element 16b that has an outer curved front surface 16c that provides a smooth or
`
`curved transition surface (such as a convex-curved transition surface) between a side wall
`
`16d of the perimeter portion 16b of bezel portion 16 (which is generally coplanar or generally
`
`flush with the side wall 12b of the mirror casing 12 when the bezel portion 1 is attached to
`
`the mirror casing) and the front surface 20a of the reflective element 14. Thus, the bezel
`
`portion 16 does not encompass the front surface 20a of the reflective element such that the
`
`entire front surface 20a of the reflective element 14 is exposed and viewable by the driver of
`
`a vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
`
`In the illustrated embodiment, the radius of curvature of the curved surface 16c of
`
`bezel portion 16 is about 2.5 mm, but may be greater than or less than this dimension
`
`depending on the particular application of the reflective element and mirror casing of the
`
`miiTor assembly (such as, for example, a radius of curvature of about 3 mm or thereabouts).
`
`Typically, it is desired to have at least a 2.5 mm radius of curvature at the perimeter edges of
`
`a mirror assembly (typically at a bezel of a conventional mirror assembly) to meet the
`
`minimum safety standards for head impact with the mirror, such as during a sudden stop or
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`collision of the equipped vehicle. Homologation radius approval may be achieved using a
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`continuation of the glass plane into the bezel radius.
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`As shown in FIG. 4, the bezel portion 6 may be formed with a generally planar
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`attachment panel or surface 16e that is disposed rearward of the perimeter bezel portion 16b.
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`For example, the attachment panel 16e may extend at least substantially across the length and
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`width dimensions of the perimeter portion 16b of bezel portion 16 to provide an attachment
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`panel for attachment of the reflective element 14 to the bezel portion 6 . The reflective
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`element may be received into the bezel portion (such as in a partial pocket formed by the
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`perimeter portion and the attachment panel) and attached or adhered (such as via a two-sided
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`tape 29 or the like) or snapped to the attachment panel, whereby the front surface of the
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`reflective element is generally coplanar or flush with the front surface of the perimeter bezel
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`portion. Optionally, the bezel portion may comprise an injected molded plastic or polymeric
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`bezel portion, with the attachment panel 16e integrally or unitarily molded with the perimeter
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`portion 16b of the bezel portion, or the attachment panel may be formed separately from and
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`attached to the perimeter portion, or the bezel portion may comprise a stamped metallic bezel
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`portion or may be an otherwise formed plastic or polymeric or metallic bezel portion, while
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`remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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`The reflective element 14 thus may be readily received in the bezel portion and
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`attached to the front surface of the attachment panel 16e of bezel portion 16. Optionally, for
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`example, the reflective element 1 may be attached via an adhesive tape, such as a double-
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`sided adhesive tape disposed between the rear surface 22b of reflective element 14 and the
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`front surface of the attachment panel 6e of bezel portion 16. The reflective element 14 thus
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`may be fixedly attached to the bezel portion and the bezel portion and reflective element sub¬
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`assembly may be attached to the mirror casing as a unit and may be pivoted with the mirror
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`casing 12 relative to the mounting assembly 18 to adjust the rearward field of view to the
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`driver of the vehicle. When the reflective element 14 is attached to the attachment surface of
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`the attachment panel 16e of bezel portion 16, the perimeter forward edges or regions of the
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`perimeter portion 16b of bezel portion 16 are generally flush or coplanar with the front
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`surface 20a of reflective element 14, and when the bezel portion 16 is attached to the forward
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`edge portions 12a of mirror casing 12, the side wall 16d of bezel portion is generally flush or
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`coplanar with the side wall 12b of mirror casing 12. The rear glass substrate of the reflective
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`element thus may be attached to the attachment panel using a back plate construction similar
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`to attachment of an exterior rearview mirror reflective element to an exterior rearview mirror
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`back plate (and utilizing aspects known in the exterior rearview mirror art).
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`When the glass reflective element rear substrate is attached to the attachment panel of
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`the bezel portion, the attachment panel functions like an attachment plate or back plate of an
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`exterior rearview mirror assembly and provides impact resistance and enhanced image
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`stability to the reflective element. Optionally, it is envisioned that a ball stud or ball member
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`or pivot member may be attached to or formed with the bezel portion and attachment panel to
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`further enhance the image stability provided by the mirror reflective element when the mirror
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`assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and when the vehicle is driven along a road. In
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`such an application, the reflective element may be directly attached to the attachment panel
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`and ball stud configuration and thus reduces vibration of the reflective element during vehicle
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`operation.
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`Optionally, it is envisioned that the bezel portion and the mirror casing may be
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`unitarily or integrally formed, such as via injection molding or the like. The mirror reflective
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`element may then be received in the front opening or bezel portion of the unitary mirror
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`casing and bezel and may be attached to an attachment panel of the mirror casing and bezel.
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`Optionally, the mirror casing and bezel maybe formed utilizing aspects of the mirror
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`assemblies described in PCT Application No. PCT/US20 10/0320 17, filed Apr. 22, 2010,
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`which s hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and may have at least one
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`generally planar front attachment surface or panel or wall for attaching to the reflective
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`element when the reflective element is received in or through the front opening or bezel
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`portion of the mirror casing and bezel structure.
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`Although shown and described as being adhesively attached to the attachment surface
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`of the bezel portion, it is envisioned that the reflective element may be otherwise attached to
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`the bezel portion, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For
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`example, the reflective element may include or may be adhered to a back plate structure that
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`includes attachment elements for connecting to corresponding attachment elements of the
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`bezel portion or mirror casing. For example, the back plate may include flexible tabs
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`extending therefrom that flex to engage and snap to corresponding slots and tabs at the bezel
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`portion and/or mirror casing to secure the reflective element to the bezel portion and/or
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`mirror casing. The reflective element thus may be attached to the bezel portion and/or mirror
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`casing via other suitable attachment means while the bezel portion does not encompass or
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`overlap the perimeter edge region of the front surface of the reflective element.
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`Electrical connection to the reflective element (such as to the transparent electrically
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`conductive coating at the second surface of the front substrate and to the electrically
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`conductive coating at the third surface of the rear substrate) may be made via connectors or
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`Magna - IPR2020-00777 - Ex. 2011 - 012
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`contacts established between circuitry of the mirror assembly and the respective electrically
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`conductive coatings. Because the bezel portion does not overlap or encompass the front
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`surface of the reflective element, the bezel portion substantially abuts the perimeter edge
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`dimension of the front substrate of the reflective element to provide a finished appearance to
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`the mirror assembly, and thus an electrode clip may not be suitable for electrically connecting