US 6,087,953 · Granted 2000-07-11
The Mirror That Talks to Drivers: Donnelly's Windshield Display
Imagine a rearview mirror that isn't just for looking behind you—it's also a tiny information screen that can show you important stuff like temperature, fuel level, or navigation hints. This patent covers how to mount both a mirror and a display screen on the same bracket, and how to make it snap off safely in a crash.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a vehicle rearview mirror assembly that combines a rigid mirror support (the stay) with an integrated information display positioned right next to where the mirror sits. What's protected here is the specific mounting arrangement: a breakaway mount that lets the whole assembly (mirror plus display) detach safely from the windshield or header when impact occurs, plus the housing design that hides the light source or electronics behind the display while keeping it removable for repairs.
Why it matters
This patent arrived at a critical moment in automotive design, when carmakers wanted to pack more information and features into the driver's line of sight without adding clutter. By integrating a display into the rearview mirror assembly itself, Donnelly created a space-efficient solution that could deliver real-time vehicle data while maintaining the safety mechanism of a breakaway mount. This kind of packaging innovation helped establish the rearview mirror as a hub for vehicle intelligence rather than just a reflective surface.
Real-world use
When you glance in your rearview mirror during a night drive and see a digital temperature reading or fuel-economy display appearing right next to the reflected road behind you, you're experiencing the integrated display concept this patent pioneered.
Original USPTO abstract
A rearview mirror support and information display assembly for vehicles includes a rigid mirror stay preferably having a mirror support for an independently adjustable rearview mirror and a breakaway mount which releasably couples the stay and any supported rearview mirror to a windshield mounted button or a header mounted base such that the entire assembly is released on impact. An information display is positioned on the assembly adjacent the position of a rearview mirror when supported thereon to convey information to the vehicle driver/occupants. Preferably, the display is mounted in a housing which conceals a light source or other emitter for the display, the housing being removably secured to the mirror stay to allow servicing and access to a concealed wire passageway.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,087,953
- Filing date
- 1998-02-18
- Grant date
- 2000-07-11
- Assignee
- Donnelly Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- DELINE; JONATHAN E., LYNAM; NIALL R.
- CPC class
- B60R1/04
Want to file your own patent?
If you're designing a new in-vehicle display or mounting system, check our free scanner to see what existing patents might already claim the territory you're eyeing.
Free patentability scan