US 12,246,647 B2
Vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly with heatsink
Austen C. Peterson, Hudsonville, MI (US); Anthony J. LaCross, Hastings, MI (US); Jason A. Durfee, Troy, MI (US); and Joel W. Stiverson, Grand Blanc, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/739,528.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/508,516, filed on Jun. 16, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0416835 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 1/00 (2022.01); B60R 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); H05K 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 1/04 (2013.01) [B60R 1/12 (2013.01); H05K 7/2029 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror head adjustable about a mounting structure, wherein the mounting structure is configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of an interior cabin of a vehicle;
wherein the mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;
an electronic component accommodated within an interior cavity of the mirror head;
a heatsink assembly accommodated by the mirror head;
wherein the heatsink assembly comprises (i) a first portion that is thermally coupled to the electronic component, (ii) a second portion that extends away from the first portion and away from the electronic component, (iii) a chamber extending between an inner surface of the first portion and an inner surface of the second portion and (iv) a phase-changing refrigerant within the chamber;
wherein, when the electronic component is electrically operated and generates heat within the interior cavity of the mirror head, the first portion of the heatsink assembly draws heat away from the electronic component;
wherein, with the phase-changing refrigerant in a liquid phase and responsive to heating of the first portion of the heatsink assembly, the phase-changing refrigerant draws heat from the first portion of the heatsink assembly by changing from the liquid phase to a gaseous phase;
wherein, with the phase-changing refrigerant in the gaseous phase, the phase-changing refrigerant flows within the chamber and along the second portion of the heatsink assembly and condenses at the inner surface of the second portion of the heatsink assembly to transfer heat to the second portion of the heatsink assembly; and
wherein heat is dissipated from the second portion of the heatsink assembly to exterior the mirror head.