Rearview assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12257952-B2
Application number	US-202217812209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2022
Priority date	Jul 15, 2021
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A rearview assembly is disclosed. The rearview assembly may comprise an electro-optic element, a display element, and/or a sensor. The electro-optic element may comprise first and second substrates, an electro-optic medium, and a spectral filter. The first and second substrates may be disposed in a substantially spaced apart relationship and may have first and second edges, respectively. The electro-optic medium is disposed between the first and second substrates. The spectral filter may be substantially opaque in appearance and disposed in a peripheral manner on the first substrate. Additionally, the first and second substrates have a substantial miss-match where a line bisecting the first substrate does not bisect the second substrate. The display element is operable to display a digital image. The sensor is operable to sense a condition and generate a signal based thereon. Additionally, the sensor may be optically aligned with the miss-match.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rearview assembly comprising:
an electro-optic element comprising:
a first substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a first edge;
a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second edge, the second substrate disposed in a first direction in a substantially spaced apart relationship relative the first substrate such that the second and third surfaces face one another;
an electro-optic medium disposed between the first and second substrates; and
a spectral filter disposed in a peripheral manner on the second surface, the spectral filter having a substantially opaque appearance to a user;
wherein the first and second substrates have at least one substantial miss-match such that at a miss-match a line extending in the first direction bisects the first substrate but not the second substrate;

a display element disposed in the first direction relative the electro-optic element, the display element operable to display a digital image having a field rearward or to the side relative a vehicle; and
a sensor operable to sense a condition and generate a signal based thereon, the sensor optically aligned with a first miss-match.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a camera operable to image an occupant of the vehicle.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor occupies a space that would otherwise be occupied by the second substrate if not for the first miss-match.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein one miss-match is located at a bottom corner of the rearview assembly.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has a width and a height substantially greater than that of the display element.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spectral filter has a width that is substantially greater when in alignment with the miss-match.

7. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spectral filter extends across a substantial entirety of the miss-match.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first miss-match is aligned with a bottom corner of the rearview assembly as viewed under normal operating conditions.

9. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spectral filter comprises an aperture aligned with the camera.

10. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display element does not extend beyond the second substrate.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a touchscreen user interface substantially aligned with a second miss-match.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein a controller is operable to perform at least one of a biometric authentication, driver monitoring, and occupant monitoring operation based, at least in part, on the signal.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the miss-match is caused by at least part of the second edge being substantially inboard relative the first edge.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the miss-match is defined, at least in part, by a recess in the second substrate.

15. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic medium is electrochromic.

16. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the display has a display area defined by the digital image; and
the display area is substantially aligned with the second substrate.

17. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
The display has a display area defined by the digital image; and
The display area has a width and a height less than that of the first substrate.

18. The rearview assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second substates have two substantial miss-matches.

19. The rearview assembly of claim 18 , wherein the two substantial miss-matches mirror one another.

Assignees

• Gentex Corp

Inventors

• Lundy Eric S
• Roth Mark R
• Lock Nigel T

Classifications

• G02F1/133509

  Filters, e.g. light shielding masks · CPC title

• G02F2203/055

  wavelength filtering · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title

• G02F1/13338

  Input devices, e.g. touch panels · CPC title

• G02F1/153

  Constructional details · CPC title