REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRAL DISPLAY ELEMENT

• US 20020014975A1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: LANG, HEINRICH, RENNER, CHRISTOPHER, SEIBOTH, WOLFGANG
• Application Number:
  US09/304,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• 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 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A rearview mirror (2) is described, especially for motor vehicles, in which in the direction of a top view, at least one radiation emitting display element (8) is placed behind the mirror pane (6), which emits through the said mirror pane (6). The display element (8) can emit light in the visible range or in the infrared range. Said display element (8) is preferred as a light emitting diode (10) or a seven segment display. The object of the present invention can, for instance, be combined with a so-called back-up aid, whereby then the display element(s) (8) can display back-up distance data or distance codes between the tailgate and an obstruction or a target of back-up maneuvering.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror, in particular for motor vehicles, with a mirror pane (6), therein characterized, in that in the direction of a top view, behind the mirror pane (6) at least one radiation emitting display element (8) is placed, which emits radiation through the said mirror pane (6).

2. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that at least one display element (8) emits light in the visible range.

3. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that at least one display element (8) emits light in the infrared range.

4. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 1 to 3, therein characterized, in that a plurality of radiation emitting display elements (8) is assembled in groups behind the mirror pane (6).

5. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 1 to 4, therein characterized, in that the light emitting diodes (LEDs) (10, 20a, 20b, 20c) of the radiation emitting display element (8) are especially high capacity LEDs.

6. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 5, therein characterized, in that the LEDs (10, 20a, 20b, 20c) are of various colors.

7. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 1 or 2, therein characterized, in that the radiation emitting display element (8) is a seven segment display (22).

8. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 1 to 7, therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane (6) in an area in front of the display element (8) is at least partially removed.

9. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 8, therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane (6) is removed in front of the display element (8) in the form of fine lines (24), essentially parallel to one another.

10. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 8, therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane (6) is removed in front of the display element (8) in the form of individual small dots (26).

11. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 8, therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane (6) is removed by dots (26) in front of the display element (8) in the form of a surface shape (28) essentially conforming to the size of the radiation emitting surface of the display element (8).

12. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 8, therein characterized, in that in that the reflective coating of the mirror pane (6) in front of the display element (8) is removed in the form a symbol or pictogram (30, 32).

13. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 8 to 12, therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of a laser.

14. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 8 to 12, therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of an etching procedure.

15. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 8 to 12, therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of a scoring procedure.

16. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 8 to 12, therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of a sand blasting procedure.

17. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 1 to 16, therein characterized, in that the side of the mirror pane (6) proximal to the radiation emitting display element (8), with the exception of those areas of the radiation emissions (38) is covered with a coating impenetrable by light or radiation.

18. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the claims 1 to 17, therein characterized, in that the direction of the radiation from the radiation emitting display element (8) can be either angularly inclined away from an observer, or angularly inclined toward said observer.

19. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 18, therein characterized, in that the radiation direction of the radiation emitting display element (8) is directed through a lens (34) ground into the material of the mirror pane (6) or affixed thereon.