Mirror reflective element sub-assembly for exterior rearview mirror of a vehicle

摘要

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic mirror reflective element and a heater pad disposed at a fourth surface of the rear substrate, with the heater pad having a substantially non-light transmitting portion and a light transmitting portion. A mirror back plate is disposed at said heater pad and has a plate portion having a rear plate surface and having a front plate surface facing the heater pad. The mirror back plate has a first structure at the rear plate surface that is configured to attach at an actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly. An indicator element is disposed at a second structure at the rear plate surface of the mirror back plate. The indicator element, when its light source is activated, emits light through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through the mirror reflective element.

主权项

1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween; wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface; said second surface of said front substrate having a transparent electrically conductive layer disposed thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface; a mirror reflector disposed at at least a portion of a surface of said rear substrate; wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavity established between said third surface of said rear substrate and said second surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal; a heater pad disposed at said fourth surface of said rear substrate, wherein said heater pad comprises a substantially non-light transmitting portion and a light transmitting portion; a mirror back plate disposed at said heater pad, said mirror back plate comprising a plate portion having a front plate surface facing said heater pad and a rear plate surface rearward of and spaced from said front plate surface by a thickness dimension of said plate portion of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror back plate comprises a first structure at said rear plate surface, wherein said first structure is configured to attach at an actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror back plate comprises a second structure at said rear plate surface; wherein said mirror back plate is formed by injection molding and wherein said first structure, said second structure and said plate portion of said mirror back plate are formed during injection molding of said mirror back plate; an indicator element having a light source that is activatable to emit light; wherein said indicator element is disposed at said second structure of said mirror back plate; wherein said indicator element, when said light source is activated, emits light through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said mirror reflective element; and wherein said indicator element and said second structure are configured so that light emitted by said indicator element, when said light source is activated and when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at an exterior rearview mirror of a vehicle, exits said mirror back plate and said mirror reflective element sub-assembly so as to be principally viewed by a driver of the vehicle.