US 12,257,951 B2
Interior rearview device with human machine interface and vehicle therewith
Andreas Herrmann, Stuttgart (DE)
Assigned to Motherson Innovations Company Limited, London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/626,596
Filed by MOTHERSON INNOVATIONS COMPANY LIMITED, London (GB)
PCT Filed Jul. 23, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/070782
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 12, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/018722, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 120 382.1 (DE), filed on Jul. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242313 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 1/12 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01); G02B 7/182 (2021.01)
CPC B60R 1/12 (2013.01) [G02B 6/006 (2013.01); G02B 6/0068 (2013.01); G02B 7/182 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1223 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An interior rearview device adapted for use with a motor vehicle, comprising:
a rearview element comprising at least one of a reflective element or a display element;
a bezel surrounding the rearview element and being surrounded by a housing;
a mount assembly configured to attach the housing to the vehicle; and
a human machine interface (HMI) for controlling at least one function of the interior rearview device, with the HMI comprising at least one time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, between the housing and the rearview element, and at least a part of the bezel,
wherein the bezel comprises a transparent or translucent substrate provided with a reflective coating, with at least one region of reduced thickness of the reflective coating being provided on the substrate and covering at least one virtual button or key, and
wherein the at least one virtual button or key is hidden by the at least one region of reduced thickness of the reflective coating until the at least one light source is lit, and
wherein the at least one virtual button or key provides at least one logo, sign, mark, icon or information on a function to be actuated via the HMI.