US 11,945,370 B2
Rearview assembly with piezo vibration dampening
Eric S. Lundy, Holland, MI (US)
Assigned to GENTEX CORPORATION, Zeeland, MI (US)
Filed by GENTEX CORPORATION, Zeeland, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/242,732.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,610, filed on May 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0339680 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B60R 1/08 (2006.01); B60R 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); G02F 1/1333 (2006.01); G02F 1/137 (2006.01); G02F 1/157 (2006.01); H10N 30/30 (2023.01); H10N 30/80 (2023.01); H10N 30/88 (2023.01)
CPC B60R 1/088 (2013.01) [B60R 1/04 (2013.01); B60R 1/12 (2013.01); G02F 1/13338 (2013.01); G02F 1/13756 (2021.01); G02F 1/157 (2013.01); H10N 30/302 (2023.02); H10N 30/802 (2023.02); H10N 30/88 (2023.02); B60R 2001/1215 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1223 (2013.01); G02F 2203/09 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rearview assembly comprising:
a sub-assembly whose components are physically coupled and vibrate substantially synchronously, the sub-assembly comprising a reflective element;
an array of piezo-electric sensors coupled to the sub-assembly such that they vibrate substantially synchronously, the array comprising at least one piezo-electric sensor in each of an x, y, and z direction, each piezo-electric sensor operable to output:
a first signal based, at least in part, on sensing a first vibration, and
a second vibration in response to receiving a second signal; and
a controller communicatively connected to the array of piezo-electric sensors, the controller operable, for each of the piezo-electric sensors, to:
receive the first signal,
generate the second signal based, at least in part, on the first signal, the second signal determining the second vibration, the second vibration substantially out of phase with the first vibration, and
communicate the second signal to the piezo-electric sensor;
wherein the second vibration is operable to substantially dampen the first vibration.
 
11. A rearview assembly comprising:
a sub-assembly whose components are physically coupled and vibrate substantially synchronously, the sub-assembly comprising a display element, the display element operable to receive and display an image of a scene rearward a vehicle;
an array of piezo-electric sensors coupled to the sub-assembly such that they vibrate substantially synchronously, the array comprising at least one piezo-electric sensor in each of an x, y, and z direction, each piezo-electric sensor operable to output:
a first signal based, at least in part, on sensing a first vibration, and
a second vibration in response to receiving a second signal; and
a controller communicatively connected to the array of piezo-electric sensors, the controller operable, for each of the piezo-electric sensors, to:
receive the first signal,
generate the second signal based, at least in part, on the first signal, the second signal determining the second vibration, the second vibration substantially out of phase with the first vibration, and
communicate the second signal to the piezo-electric sensor;
wherein the second vibration is operable to substantially dampen the first vibration.