MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH SPRING-LOADED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS

摘要

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electro-optic reflective element with first and second conductive pads established at a fourth surface of the reflective element and in electrical connection to respective electrically conductive coatings of the reflective element. A back plate has first and second spring-loaded connectors disposed in passageways established through the back plate. A circuit element includes first and second conductive traces in electrical connection with the electro-optic control circuitry. With the circuit element attached at the back plate, (i) the first spring-loaded connector contacts and is biased into engagement with the first conductive pad and the first conductive trace to electrically connect the first conductive trace to the first conductive pad and (ii) the second spring-loaded connector contacts and is biased into engagement with the second conductive pad and the second conductive trace to electrically connect the second conductive trace to the second conductive pad.

主权项

1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:
an electro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween, said front substrate having a first surface and a second surface with a transparent electrically conductive coating at said second surface and in contact with said electro-optic medium, said rear substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface with an electrically conductive coating at said third surface and in contact with said electro-optic medium; a first electrically conductive element established at said fourth surface of said rear substrate and in electrical connection to said transparent electrically conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate; a second electrically conductive element established at said fourth surface of said rear substrate and in electrical connection to said electrically conductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate; a back plate attached at said reflective element, said back plate having first and second spring-loaded electrical connectors disposed in first and second passageways established through said back plate; a circuit element having electro-optic control circuitry established thereat, said circuit element having first and second electrically conductive traces in electrical connection with said electro-optic control circuitry; and wherein, with said circuit element attached at said back plate attached at said reflective element, (i) said first spring-loaded electrical connector contacts and is biased into electrical contact with said first electrically conductive element and is biased into electrical contact with said first electrically conductive trace to electrically connect said first electrically conductive trace to said first electrically conductive element and (ii) said second spring-loaded electrical connector contacts and is biased into electrical contact with said second electrically conductive element and is biased into electrical contact with said second electrically conductive trace to electrically connect said second electrically conductive trace to said second electrically conductive element.