US 12,240,382 B2
Frameless interior rearview mirror assembly
Darryl P. De Wind, West Olive, MI (US); Donald S. Rawlings, Caledonia, MI (US); and John T. Uken, Jenison, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/645,686.
Application 16/186,962 is a division of application No. 15/583,114, filed on May 1, 2017, granted, now 10,124,732, issued on Nov. 13, 2018.
Application 14/572,020 is a division of application No. 14/280,870, filed on May 19, 2014, granted, now 8,922,867, issued on Dec. 30, 2014.
Application 14/280,870 is a division of application No. 13/498,597, granted, now 8,730,553, issued on May 20, 2014, previously published as PCT/US2010/051741, filed on Oct. 7, 2010.
Application 14/280,870 is a division of application No. 13/265,613, granted, now 8,508,831, issued on Aug. 13, 2013, previously published as PCT/US2010/032017, filed on Apr. 22, 2010.
Application 18/645,686 is a continuation of application No. 18/456,572, filed on Aug. 28, 2023, granted, now 11,970,110.
Application 18/456,572 is a continuation of application No. 18/167,923, filed on Feb. 13, 2023, granted, now 11,738,686, issued on Aug. 29, 2023.
Application 18/167,923 is a continuation of application No. 17/662,446, filed on May 9, 2022, granted, now 11,577,648, issued on Feb. 14, 2023.
Application 17/662,446 is a continuation of application No. 15/929,570, filed on May 11, 2020, granted, now 11,325,533, issued on May 10, 2022.
Application 15/929,570 is a continuation of application No. 16/186,962, filed on Nov. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,647,258, issued on May 12, 2020.
Application 15/583,114 is a continuation of application No. 14/809,540, filed on Jul. 27, 2015, granted, now 9,637,055, issued on May 2, 2017.
Application 14/809,540 is a continuation of application No. 14/572,020, filed on Dec. 16, 2014, granted, now 9,090,212, issued on Jul. 28, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/249,300, filed on Oct. 7, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/261,839, filed on Nov. 17, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/187,112, filed on Jun. 15, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/172,022, filed on Apr. 23, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2024/0278720 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. G02F 1/1333 (2006.01); B24B 9/02 (2006.01); B24B 9/08 (2006.01); B24B 13/00 (2006.01); B24B 49/00 (2012.01); B60F 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 1/08 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); B60R 5/04 (2006.01); C03C 17/06 (2006.01); G02B 5/04 (2006.01); G02B 7/182 (2021.01); G02F 1/153 (2006.01); G02F 1/157 (2006.01); G02F 1/161 (2006.01); G02F 1/163 (2006.01); B24B 51/00 (2006.01); G02B 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 1/04 (2013.01) [B24B 9/02 (2013.01); B24B 9/08 (2013.01); B24B 13/00 (2013.01); B24B 49/00 (2013.01); B60R 1/086 (2013.01); B60R 1/088 (2013.01); B60R 1/12 (2013.01); C03C 17/06 (2013.01); G02B 5/04 (2013.01); G02B 7/182 (2013.01); G02F 1/13338 (2013.01); G02F 1/153 (2013.01); G02F 1/157 (2013.01); G02F 1/161 (2013.01); G02F 1/163 (2013.01); B24B 51/00 (2013.01); B60R 1/1207 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1223 (2013.01); C03C 2217/25 (2013.01); C03C 2218/31 (2013.01); G02B 5/08 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror head and a mounting portion;
wherein the mounting portion comprises a mounting base configured to attach the vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element that is adhered at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein the mirror head is pivotable relative to the mounting portion via at least one ball-and-socket pivot joint;
wherein the mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;
wherein, when the mirror head is moved relative to the mounting portion, the mirror reflective element and the mirror casing move in tandem with movement of the mirror casing;
wherein the mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate;
wherein the front glass substrate comprises a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side;
wherein the rear glass substrate of the mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side, and wherein the planar front side of the rear glass substrate of the mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector;
wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity between the planar rear side of the front glass substrate and the planar front side of the rear glass substrate, and wherein the electrochromic medium disposed in the interpane cavity contacts the mirror reflector of the planar front side of the rear glass substrate;
a circumferential perimeter glass edge circumscribing a periphery of the front glass substrate, the circumferential perimeter glass edge spanning a thickness dimension of the front glass substrate separating the planar front side of the front glass substrate from the planar rear side of the front glass substrate;
wherein no portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the front glass substrate;
wherein a portion of the mirror casing circumscribes the circumferential perimeter glass edge circumscribing the periphery of the front glass substrate;
wherein the portion of the mirror casing that circumscribes the circumferential perimeter glass edge circumscribing the periphery of the front glass substrate comprises a plastic molding;
wherein the plastic molding that circumscribes the periphery of the front glass substrate without overlapping the planar front side of the front glass substrate comprises an outermost part;
wherein the outermost part of the plastic molding has a radius of curvature of at least 2.5 mm;
wherein the outermost part of the plastic molding, with the mounting portion of the vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, is contactable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, with the plastic molding of the mirror casing circumscribing the circumferential perimeter glass edge of the front glass substrate, the outermost part of the plastic molding provides a curved transition between the planar front side of the mirror reflective element and another part of the mirror casing;
wherein a camera is disposed within the mirror casing behind the mirror reflective element;
wherein, with the mounting portion of the vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the camera views the driver of the equipped vehicle through the mirror reflective element;
wherein, with the mounting portion of the vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle and when the mirror head is moved by the driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust the rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head; and
wherein the camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the equipped vehicle.