Mirror having a portion in the form of an information provider

• US 20020015226A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mirror Image AG
• Original Assignee: Mirror Image AG
• Inventors: Rottcher, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/12 using a transparent mirror or other light reflecting surface transparent to transmitted light whereby a sign, symbol, picture or other is visible only when illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/00 Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/90 Mirror that has changing effect

Abstract

In a mirror (10) with a non-reflective portion (26) provided within its reflective mirror surface (22) as an information provider the portion is transparent and is backed by a display. The display has a moving image or has a colored image representation. Preferably at least one loudspeaker is connected to the display behind the mirror surface (22). That loudspeaker can also be connected to an input device.

Claims

1. A mirror with a non-reflective portion provided within its reflective surface as an information provider, characterized in that at least a portion (26) of the mirror surface (22) is transparent for seeing therethrough and is backed by a display (28).

2. A mirror as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the display (28) is provided with a moving image.

3. A mirror as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the display (28) is provided with a colored image representation.

4. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 3 characterized by a flat image display (28) or a flat screen.

5. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterized by a display (28) employing TFT or plasmas technologies.

6. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterized by a display (28) with hologram.

7. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 6 characterized in that behind the mirror surface (22) at least one loudspeaker (38) is connected to the display (28).

8. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 7 characterized in that behind the mirror surface (22) at least one loudspeaker (38) is connected to an input device.

9. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 8 characterized in that the display (28) is connected to an input device (50).

10. A mirror as set forth in claim 9 characterized by an external input device (50).

11. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 10 characterized in that the mirror surface (22) is part of a mirror insert (20) which is associated with a frame (12), forming a mirror interior (40).

12. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 10 characterized in that the mirror surface (22) is part of a mirror attachment (21) and same is fitted onto a frame (12) to form a mirror interior (40).

13. A mirror as set forth in claim 11 or claim 12 characterized by a frame (12) which delimits the mirror interior (40) and which is connected to the mirror surface (22).

14. A mirror as set forth in claim 13 characterized in that the frame (12) is composed of channel profile members (14, 14_q) whose width (b) determines the depth of the mirror interior (40).

15. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 14 characterized in that the display (28) is secured to the frame (17), possibly to strut means (19) which are associated with the frame.

16. A mirror as set forth in claim 7 or claim 8 and claim 13 characterized in that the loudspeaker (38) is associated with a perforated region (42) of the frame (12).

17. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 16 characterized by a radio receiver module for the image data.

18. A mirror as set forth in one of claims 1 through 17 characterized by an integrated remote operating means for volume control, in particular an infra-red operating means.