Mirror assembly for a vehicle

• US 10,286,845 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gomez Timoneda, David, Lorival, Frederic, Lopez Galera, Robert, Biosca Yuste, Oriol
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G
• Application Number:
  US15/456,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 359871
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/083 Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 29/00 Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/023 comprising movable attenuating elements, e.g. neutral density filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13718 based on a change of the texture state of a cholesteric liquid crystal

Abstract

A mirror assembly for a vehicle comprises a switchable reflective element that can change between a high reflection state and a low reflection state. The mirror assembly also includes a controller communicating with the switchable reflective element, the controller being able to change the switchable reflective element between a high reflection state and a low reflection state. The mirror assembly further includes a housing configured for attachment to the vehicle and housing at least the switchable reflective element.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a switchable reflective element, that can change between a high reflection state and a low reflection state, the switchable reflective element comprises a plurality of individual switchable reflective elements each configured to change only between the high reflection state and the low reflection state, and wherein the plurality of individual switchable reflective elements are arranged in parallel to one-another to obtain intermediate reflection states between the high reflection state and the low reflection state of the switchable reflective element;

a controller communicating with the switchable reflective element, the controller being able to change the switchable reflective element between the high reflection state and the low reflection state;

a housing configured for attachment to the vehicle and housing at least the switchable reflective element;

at least one ambient light sensor for sensing an ambient light level and producing an ambient light signal representative of the sensed ambient light level, the ambient light sensor also communicating with the controller, the controller comparing the ambient light signal with a threshold value such that;

when the ambient light signal exceeds the threshold value the controller automatically switches the switchable reflective element to the low reflection state, and

when the ambient light signal does not exceed the threshold value the controller automatically switches the switchable reflective element to the high reflection state; and

a user interface adapted to provide manual switching between the high and low reflection states overriding and independent of the automatic switching.

2. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the high reflection state has a reflectivity greater than 40%, the low reflection state has a reflectivity of less than 10%, and the low reflection state has a transmissivity greater than 80%.

3. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the high and low reflection states of the switchable reflective element can be regulated by the controller to obtain the intermediate reflection states between the high reflection state and the low reflection state.

4. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ambient light sensor is two ambient light sensors, such that one ambient light sensor senses an ambient light level inside the vehicle and the other ambient light sensor senses an ambient light level outside the vehicle.

5. The mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein the user interface is located on the housing of the mirror assembly.

6. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, additionally comprising a display positioned behind the switchable reflective element and being visible through the switchable reflective element, the display being able to change between an activated display mode and a deactivated mirror mode and communicating with the controller, such that the display can be in the mirror mode when the switchable reflective element is in the high reflection state and in the display mode when the switchable reflective element is in the low reflection state.

7. The mirror assembly according to claim 6, additionally comprising an actuator for moving the switchable reflective element between a first position and a second position, the second position being tilted with respect to the first position.

8. The mirror assembly according to claim 7, wherein the actuator also moves the display together with the switchable reflective element.

9. The mirror assembly according to claim 8, wherein the actuator is configured to activate and deactivate the switchable reflective element and the display at the same time.

10. The mirror assembly according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

a mounting means extending between and engaged to the vehicle and the housing; and

an actuator adapted to tilt the switchable reflective element with respect to the mounting means, and between a first position and a second position.

11. A mirror assembly adapted to be installed in a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:

a plurality of switchable reflective elements, each configured to change between a high reflection state and a low reflection state;

a plurality of glass layers, with each glass layer being separated from an adjacent glass layer of the plurality of glass layers by a respective one of the plurality of switchable reflective elements; and

a controller communicating with each one of the plurality of switchable reflective elements, and configured to effect change of each one of the plurality of switchable reflective elements between a high reflection state and a low reflection state.