Electrochromic rearview mirror assembly incorporating a display/signal light
First Claim
1. A vehicle information display assembly, comprising:
- a light source positioned behind a transflective reflector with respect to a viewer; and
a controller configured to generate a light source control signal as a function of light rays originating from said light source and light rays reflected by said reflector.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic mirror having a variable reflectivity, a glare sensor for sensing levels of light directed towards the front element from the rear of the vehicle, an ambient sensor for sensing levels of ambient light, a display positioned behind the partially transmissive, partially reflective portion of the reflector for displaying information therethrough; and a control circuit coupled to the sensors and the display. The control circuit determines whether daytime or nighttime conditions are present as a function of the ambient light level sensed by the ambient sensor. During daytime conditions, the control circuit responds to light levels sensed by the glare sensor to control a contrast ratio of light originating from the display and light reflecting from the partially transmissive, partially reflective area of the reflector.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A vehicle information display assembly, comprising:
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a light source positioned behind a transflective reflector with respect to a viewer; and
a controller configured to generate a light source control signal as a function of light rays originating from said light source and light rays reflected by said reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A vehicle information display assembly, comprising:
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a light source positioned behind a transflective reflector with respect to a viewer; and
a controller configured to receive a light level signal, said controller is further configured to generate a light source control signal as a function of light rays originating from said light source and light rays reflected by said reflector when said light level signal is above a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle information display assembly, comprising:
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a light source positioned behind a transflective reflector with respect to a viewer; and
a controller configured to control a ratio of light rays originating from said light source with respect to light rays reflected by said reflector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle information display assembly, comprising:
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a light source positioned behind a variable reflectance transflective reflective element with respect to a viewer; and
a controller configured to control a ratio of light rays originating from said light source with respect to light rays reflected by said reflector by controlling either;
a light source brightness, a reflective element reflectance, or both a light source brightness and a reflective element reflectance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle information display assembly, comprising:
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a light source positioned behind a variable reflectance transflective element; and
a controller configured to receive a light level signal, said controller is further configured to determine when said light level signal is above a threshold and to generate a light source control signal as a function of either;
a light source brightness, a reflective element reflectance, or both a light source brightness and a reflective element reflectance;
when said light level signal is above said threshold. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A reflective element, comprising:
a reversible electrochemical reflective layer and a substantially transparent electrically conductive layer, wherein said substantially transparent electrically conductive layer has a thickness that is equal to an odd integer times the desired wavelength of light at which said substantially transparent electrically conductive layer is to be optimized divided by four. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A mirror assembly, comprising:
a reflective element comprising a reversible electrochemical reflective layer and a substantially transparent electrically conductive layer, wherein said substantially transparent electrically conductive layer has a thickness that is equal to an odd integer times the desired wavelength of light at which said substantially transparent electrically conductive layer is to be optimized divided by four.
Specification