Mirror with lighting system and sunvisor

• US 20050135087A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Yoshio, Harada, Masayuki, Mita, Yasuya, Hieda, Masato, Funada, Mari
• Application Number:
  US11/015,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/135
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/008 comprising a mirror hand or pocket mirrors A45D42/00; handbags or purses with mirrors A45C15/04
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/04 Pocket or handbag mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/16 with other suspending or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/02 Mirrors used as equipment hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors A45D42/00; optical viewing means for vehicles B60R1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A mirror with lighting system includes a plurality of organic electroluminescent elements arranged adjacent to one another. A light emission switching device selects one of a full light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, a partial light emission state where some of the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, and a non-light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements do not emit light. Therefore, the mirror with lighting system has great light intensity without an external lighting when being used as a lighting system as compared to when being used as a mirror, and permits the entire surface to be used as a mirror when the environment is bright.

Claims

1. A mirror with lighting system, the mirror comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an organic electroluminescent device formed on the transparent substrate, the organic electroluminescent device including a plurality of organic electroluminescent elements arranged adjacent to one another;

a light emission switching device for selecting one of a full light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, a partial light emission state where some of the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, and a non-light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements do not emit light; and

a light reflective portion, wherein the entire surface of the light reflective portion functions as a mirror when the non-light emission state is selected.

2. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the organic electroluminescent device includes the light reflective portion.

3. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light reflective portion is located opposite to the transparent substrate with respect to the organic electroluminescent device.

4. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein part of the light reflective portion corresponding to the organic electroluminescent elements that do not emit light functions as a mirror, and the organic electroluminescent elements that do not emit light in the partial light emission state are located adjacent to one another.

5. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of organic electroluminescent elements are arranged to form a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and at least some of the organic electroluminescent elements are arranged along the opposing rims of the transparent substrate.

6. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of organic electroluminescent elements are arranged to form a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and at least some of the organic electroluminescent elements are arranged along one of the rims, which extend in a longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate.

7. The mirror according to claim 1, further comprising an applied voltage changing member, which changes the voltage applied to the organic electroluminescent elements.

8. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the mirror is a vanity mirror located on a sunvisor of an automobile.

9. The mirror according to claim 8, wherein the mirror is attached to the sunvisor of the automobile such that the mirror can be detached.

10. The mirror according to claim 8, wherein the organic electroluminescent elements are supplied with electricity from a power source for accessories of the automobile, and

some of the organic electroluminescent elements, which simultaneously emit light and are arranged in the same column, are electrically connected in series.

11. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein the organic electroluminescent elements emit white light.

12. A mirror with lighting system, the mirror comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a first electrode formed on the transparent substrate;

an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the first electrode;

a second electrode formed on the organic electroluminescent layer, and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode has a plurality of electrode portions, which are discontinuous;

a light emission switching device for selecting one of a full light emission state where portions of the organic electroluminescent layer corresponding to all the electrode portions emit light, a partial light emission state where portions of the organic electroluminescent layer corresponding to some of the electrode portions emit light, and a non-light emission state where the entire organic electroluminescent layer does not emit light; and

a light reflective portion, wherein the entire surface of the light reflective portion functions as a mirror when the non-light emission state is selected.

13. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the second electrode includes the light reflective portion.

14. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the light reflective portion is located opposite to the transparent substrate with respect to the second electrode.

15. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the organic electroluminescent layer has a plurality of organic electroluminescent layer portions, which are discontinuous.

16. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each have the plurality of electrode portions, which are discontinuous.

17. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein parts of the light reflective portion corresponding to portions of the organic electroluminescent layer that do not emit light in the partial light emission state function as a mirror and are located adjacent to one another.

18. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrode portions are arranged to form a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and at least some of the electrode portions are arranged along the opposing rims of the transparent substrate.

19. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrode portions are arranged to form a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and at least some of the electrode portions are arranged along one of the rims, which extend in a longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate.

20. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein the mirror is a vanity mirror located on a sunvisor of an automobile.

21. The mirror according to claim 20, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are supplied with electricity from a power source for accessories of the automobile, and

some of the electrode portions, which simultaneously emit light and are arranged in the same column, are electrically connected in series.

22. A mirror with lighting system, the mirror comprising:

a plurality of panels, each panel including a transparent substrate and an organic electroluminescent device located on the transparent substrate, and the panels are arranged such that the end faces of the transparent substrates face one another;

a light emission switching device for selecting one of a full light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent devices emit light, a partial light emission state where some of the organic electroluminescent devices emit light, and a non-light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent devices do not emit light; and

a light reflective portion, wherein the entire surface of the light reflective portion functions as a mirror when the non-light emission state is selected.

23. A sunvisor of an automobile having a vanity mirror, the vanity mirror comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an organic electroluminescent device formed on the transparent substrate, the organic electroluminescent device including a plurality of organic electroluminescent elements arranged adjacent to one another;

a light emission switching device for selecting one of a full light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, a partial light emission state where some of the organic electroluminescent elements emit light, and a non-light emission state where all the organic electroluminescent elements do not emit light; and

a light reflective portion, wherein the entire surface of the light reflective portion functions as a mirror when the non-light emission state is selected.