Rearview mirror for a vehicle

• US 20050270789A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Donnelly GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Lueftner, Robert I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A rearview mirror (01) for a vehicle with a partly transparent reflective element (03) for observing the traffic behind has at least one signaling mechanism with light-emitting lighting device (05, 07) provided on the rear side of the reflective element (03). The light of the signaling mechanism is radiated at a specific angle of radiation in a predominant direction (13, 14), so that the lighting strength on the front side of the reflective element (03) depends on the viewing angle relative to the predominant direction (13, 14). An optical convergent lens (11), which collects the light signals of the lighting device (05, 07) and deflects them in the direction of the predominant direction (13, 14), is arranged between the lighting device (05, 07) and the reflective element (03).

Claims

1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, the rearview mirror comprising:

a reflective element for observing the traffic behind;

a signaling mechanism with light-emitting lighting means provided on a rear side of the reflective element, the light of the signaling mechanism radiating at a specific angle of radiation in a predominant direction so that the lighting strength on the front side of the reflective element depends on the viewing angle relative to the predominant direction; and

an optical convergent lens, which collects the light signals of the lighting means and deflects them in the direction of the predominant direction, the optical convergent lens being arranged between the lighting means and the reflective element.

2. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting lighting means is designed as a semiconductor component forming a light-emitting semiconductor diode.

3. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convergent lens is configured rotationally symmetrically to an optical central axis.

4. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 3, wherein the extension of the optical central axis of the convergent lens does not run through the center point of the lighting means.

5. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convergent lens has a lenticular or domed outside.

6. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical convergent lens comprises several convergent lenses formed by plural lenticular or domed shapings on the outside of a transparent plate.

7. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein arranged between the lighting means and the reflective element is an opaque masking element, which has openings in the region of the convergent lenses.

8. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism radiates light including red light, in the predominant direction, so that maximum illumination strength is achieved when the front side of the reflective element is viewed from the driving position.

9. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism radiates light including yellow light, in the predominant direction, so that maximum illumination strength is achieved when the front side of the reflective element is viewed from a position behind the vehicle and/or to the side of the vehicle.

10. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein several substantially point lighting means are arranged along the contours of a warning and/or reference signal on the rear side of the reflective element.

11. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning and/or reference signal is in the form of an arrow and/or triangle and/or stroke.

12. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brightness of the light radiated by the signaling mechanism can be changed depending on the measuring result of a sensor, with which the lighting ratios can be measured in the surrounding area.

13. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 11, wherein the brightness of the light radiated by the signaling mechanism is in the region of over 1500 cd/m² by day.

14. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 11, wherein the brightness of the light radiated by the signaling mechanism is in the region of 100 to 300 cd/m² by night.

15. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rearview mirror is designed as an outside rearview mirror.

16. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rearview mirror is designed as an internal rearview mirror.

17. A vehicle rearview mirror comprising:

a reflective element for the driver to observe traffic behind the vehicle;

a signaling mechanism with a light-emitting element provided on a rear side of the reflective element, the light of the signaling mechanism radiating at a specific angle of radiation in a predominant direction so that a lighting strength, as viewed from the front side of the reflective element, depends on the viewing angle relative to the predominant direction; and

an optical convergent lens, which collects the light of the lighting element and deflects some of the light into the direction of the predominant direction, the optical convergent lens being arranged between the lighting element and the reflective element.

18. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lighting element is a light-emitting semiconductor diode and the convergent lens is configured rotationally symmetrically to an optical central axis that does not run through the center point of the lighting element.

19. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 17, said optical convergent lens and several additional convergent lenses are formed by plural lenticular or domed shapings on the outside of a transparent plate and said lighting element is a light-emitting semiconductor diode arranged with several additional light-emitting semiconductor diodes relative to said lenses.

20. The rearview mirror as claimed in claim 19, further comprising an opaque masking element arranged between said light-emitting semiconductor diodes and the reflective element said openings being in the region of the convergent lenses.