IP Library Granted Patent US 12,508,992
Granted Patent B2
US 12,508,992 · App. 18/892,659 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly with micro-LED display

Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen (Hudsonville, MI); Eric Peterson (West Olive, MI)
Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
B60R1/12B60K35/223B60K35/28B60R1/04H01L25/0753B60K35/22B60K35/60B60K2360/1523B60K2360/23B60K2360/332B60K2360/779B60R2001/1215B60R2300/8046
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,508,992
App. No.
18/892,659
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support. A mirror reflective element of the mirror head includes a reflective region defined by a mirror reflector that is viewable by a driver of a vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. A video display device includes a display screen that is operable to display video images. The display screen includes a plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at electrically conductive traces of a circuit element. A width dimension of individual micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and a length dimension of individual micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns. Current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is less than 4 mA. The video display device is operable to display at the display screen video images derived from image data captured by a camera of the vehicle.

Claims (85)

1 . A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support;

wherein the mirror support is configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of a vehicle;

wherein the mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;

wherein the mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween, and wherein the front substrate has a first surface and a second surface and the rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, the second surface and the third surface opposing the electro-optic medium;

wherein the mirror reflective element has a mirror reflector disposed at the rear substrate;

wherein the mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by the mirror reflector that, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, is viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element;

a video display device, wherein the video display device comprises a display screen that, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, is operable to display video images viewable by the driver of the vehicle;

wherein the display screen comprises a plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a circuit element;

wherein the micro-LEDs are disposed at electrically conductive traces of the circuit element;

wherein a width dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and wherein a length dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns;

wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is less than 4 mA;

wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, the video display device is operable to display at the display screen video images derived from image data captured by a camera of the vehicle; and

wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, and when the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device is viewed by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

2 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circuit element comprises a flexible circuit element.

3 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flexible circuit element comprises a flexible polyimide film.

4 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flexible circuit element comprises a flexible polyethylene terephthalate film.

5 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises at least 1,300 micro-LEDs disposed at the circuit element.

6 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the width dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns, and wherein the length dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns.

7 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the micro-LEDs are disposed at printed silver traces of the circuit element.

8 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the micro-LEDs are disposed at copper traces of the circuit element.

9 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the circuit element is at least micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

10 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the circuit element is at least micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

11 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the circuit element is at least 30 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

12 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display screen comprises a diffuser.

13 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the diffuser comprises a plurality of layers of diffuser film, and wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers of diffuser film comprises a phosphor conversion film.

14 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mirror reflector is disposed at the third surface of the rear substrate of the mirror reflective element.

15 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough.

16 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15 , wherein the display screen is disposed behind the mirror reflective element, and wherein the display screen occupies at least 75 percent of the reflective region of the mirror reflective element.

17 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16 , wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, and when the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

18 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 0.75 mA.

19 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 1 mA and less than 2.5 mA.

20 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 1.25 mA and less than 1.75 mA.

21 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the vehicle comprises an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle.

22 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises a plurality of pixelate RGB micro-LEDs.

23 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in parallel.

24 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs are connected in series.

25 . A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support;

wherein the mirror support is configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein the mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;

wherein the mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween, and wherein the front substrate has a first surface and a second surface and the rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, the second surface and the third surface opposing the electrochromic medium;

wherein the mirror reflective element has a mirror reflector disposed at the third surface of the rear substrate;

wherein the mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by the mirror reflector that, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the vehicle, is viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element;

a video display device, wherein the video display device comprises a display screen that, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the vehicle, is operable to display video images viewable by the driver of the vehicle;

wherein the display screen comprises a plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a circuit element;

wherein the micro-LEDs are disposed at electrically conductive traces of the circuit element;

wherein a width dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and wherein a length dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns;

wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 0.75 mA and is less than 4 mA;

wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the vehicle, the video display device is operable to display at the display screen video images derived from image data captured by a camera of the vehicle; and

wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the vehicle, and when the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device is viewed by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

26 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein the circuit element comprises a flexible circuit element.

27 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises at least 1,300 micro-LEDs disposed at the circuit element.

28 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein the width dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns, and wherein the length dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns.

29 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the circuit element is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

30 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein the mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough.

31 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 30 , wherein the display screen is disposed behind the mirror reflective element, and wherein the display screen occupies at least 75 percent of the reflective region of the mirror reflective element.

32 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 31 , wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the vehicle, and when the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

33 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 1 mA and less than 2.5 mA.

34 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 25 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 1.25 mA and less than 1.75 mA.

35 . A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support;

wherein the mirror support is configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of a vehicle;

wherein the mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;

wherein the mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween, and wherein the front substrate has a first surface and a second surface and the rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, the second surface and the third surface opposing the electro-optic medium;

wherein the mirror reflective element has a mirror reflector disposed at the third surface of the rear substrate;

wherein the mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough;

wherein the mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by the mirror reflector that, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, is viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element;

a video display device, wherein the video display device comprises a display screen that, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, is operable to display video images viewable by the driver of the vehicle;

wherein the display screen comprises a plurality of micro-LEDs disposed at a circuit element;

wherein the micro-LEDs are disposed at electrically conductive traces of the circuit element;

wherein a width dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns, and wherein a length dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is less than 500 microns;

wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is less than 4 mA;

wherein the display screen is disposed behind the mirror reflective element;

wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, the video display device is operable to display at the display screen video images derived from image data captured by a camera of the vehicle; and

wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, and when the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the mirror reflective element for viewing by the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

36 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein the circuit element comprises a flexible circuit element.

37 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein the plurality of micro-LEDs comprises at least 1,300 micro-LEDs disposed at the circuit element.

38 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein the width dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns, and wherein the length dimension of individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs is greater than 75 microns.

39 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein packing density of micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs at the circuit element is at least 10 micro-LEDs per square centimeter.

40 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 39 , wherein the display screen occupies at least 75 percent of the reflective region of the mirror reflective element.

41 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 0.75 mA.

42 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 1 mA and less than 2.5 mA.

43 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein current passed by individual micro-LEDs of the plurality of micro-LEDs when operated is greater than 1.25 mA and less than 1.75 mA.

44 . The vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 , wherein the interior portion of the vehicle comprises an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 18456575 · Aug 28, 2023
Continuation 18155151 · Jan 17, 2023
Continuation 17809927 · Jun 30, 2022
Continuation 17446855 · Sep 3, 2021
Continuation 16640750
Provisional Application 62549101 · Aug 23, 2017
Related Publication 20250010797A1 · Jan 9, 2025
References Cited (101)
US 1949138A · Bell · 1934 [cited by applicant]
US 5497305A · Pastrick et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5668663A · Varaprasad et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5671996A · Bos et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5938321A · Bos et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6086229A · Pastrick · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6139172A · Bos et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6149287A · Pastrick et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6152590A · Furst et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6176602B1 · Pastrick et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6276821B1 · Pastrick et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6280069B1 · Pastrick et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6416208B2 · Pastrick et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6445287B1 · Schofield et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6568839B1 · Pastrick et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6690268B2 · Schofield et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6919796B2 · Boddy et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7195381B2 · Lynam et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7255451B2 · McCabe et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7289037B2 · Uken et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7338177B2 · Lynam · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7360932B2 · Uken et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7581859B2 · Lynam · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7855755B2 · Weller et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7944371B2 · Foote et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8049640B2 · Uken et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8058977B2 · Lynam · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8142059B2 · Higgins-Luthman et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8277059B2 · McCabe et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8333492B2 · Dingman et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8367844B2 · Sulzer-Mosse et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8376595B2 · Higgins-Luthman · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8508831B2 · De Wind et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8529108B2 · Uken et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8696179B2 · Pastrick · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8730553B2 · De Wind et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8764256B2 · Foote et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8786401B2 · Sobecki et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9000466B1 · Aldaz et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9041806B2 · Baur et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9057875B2 · Fish, Jr. et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9091409B2 · Hu et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9126525B2 · Lynam et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9174578B2 · Uken et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9205780B2 · Habibi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9246311B1 · Raring et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9280202B2 · Gieseke et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9290970B2 · De Wind et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9346403B2 · Uken et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9487144B2 · Blank et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9520695B2 · Hsu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9598016B2 · Blank et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9659498B2 · Kendall et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9762880B2 · Pflug · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9834153B2 · Gupta et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9900522B2 · Lu · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10046706B2 · Larson et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10421404B2 · Larson et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10442360B2 · LaCross et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11110864B2 · Huizen et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11377034B2 · Huizen et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11560094B2 · Huizen et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11738688B2 · Huizen et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 12097803B2 · Huizen et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20050195488A1 · McCabe et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20080211735A1 · Balcerzak et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090015736A1 · Weller et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090296190A1 · Anderson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100097469A1 · Blank et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100165437A1 · Tonar et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120007102A1 · Feezell et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120162427A1 · Lynam · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130300294A1 · Jungwirth · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140022390A1 · Blank et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140175481A1 · Tischler · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140175492A1 · Steranka et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140332828A1 · Hasenoehrl et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140340510A1 · Ihlenburg et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140347488A1 · Tazaki et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150022664A1 · Pflug et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150232034A1 · Weller et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160082890A1 · Habibi et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160104818A1 · Chang · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160276195A1 · Huska et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160375833A1 · Larson · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170053901A1 · Huska et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170088055A1 · Cammenga et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170167703A1 · Cok · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170217367A1 · Pflug et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170327044A1 · Baur · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170355312A1 · Habibi et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180009374A1 · Kim et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180182940A1 · Yamamoto et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180251069A1 · LaCross et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180348574A1 · Lin et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190146297A1 · Lynam et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190341423A1 · Diana et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210313496A1 · Kanaya · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007053710 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 18, 2018 from corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/US2018/047675. [cited by applicant]
Hurni et al., “Bulk GaN Flip-chip Violet Light-Emitting Diodes with Optimized Efficiency for High-Power Operation”, Applied Physics Letters, vol. 106, 2015, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]