Mirror assemblies incorporating variable index of refraction materials

• US 20060262383A1
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dwight P. Duston, Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski, Youval Katzman
• Original Assignee: Dwight P. Duston, Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski, Youval Katzman
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Duston, Dwight P., Kokonaski, William, Katzman, Youval
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0694 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/292 by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31

Abstract

A mirror assembly including an active lens and a reflective surface. The mirror assembly may change its refractive index when a voltage is applied to the active lens, thereby changing the field of view in the lens. Exemplary applications include a blind spot system in a motor vehicle, in which, upon sensing another vehicle in a driver'"'"'s blind spot, the mirror assembly changes the driver'"'"'s field of view to include the blind spot. Additional applications include a magnifying mirror for shaving or applying cosmetics.

Claims

1. A method for focusing an image, comprising:

providing a mirrored device having both a reflective surface and a focusing element, the focusing element having a plurality of pixelated regions; and

changing an index of refraction of the focusing element to focus an image for an observer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

applying an electrical stimulus to the pixelated regions to change the index of refraction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the index of refraction to compensate for an aberration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reducing the size of the focused image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enlarging the size of the focused image.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the observer with a first image on a first focal plane and with a second image on a second focal plane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the focal point of the image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the focal plane of the image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pixelated regions are individually addressable.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying an electrical stimulus to one or more of the individually addressable pixelated regions.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying different electrical stimuli to different subsets of the individually addressable pixelated regions.

12. A method for redirecting light, comprising:

providing a mirror assembly having both a reflective surface and a light refracting material, the light refracting material having a plurality of pixelated regions; and

changing an index of refraction of the light refracting material.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing comprises:

applying a stimulus to the pixelated regions to change the index of refraction.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the index of refraction to compensate for an aberration.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the pixelated regions are individually addressable.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

applying a stimulus to one or more of the individually addressable pixelated regions.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

applying different stimuli to different subsets of the individually addressable pixelated regions.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the index of refraction to redirect the light.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the index of refraction to redirect one or more rays of the light.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing comprises:

changing the index of refraction to refract the light from a first line of travel to a second line of travel.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

redirecting the light to a new line of travel.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

redirecting different rays of the light to different lines of travel.

23. A mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective surface; and

a light refracting material in optical communication with the reflective surface, the light refracting material having a plurality of pixelated regions and a changeable index of refraction.

24. The mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein the pixelated regions are individually addressable.

25. The mirror assembly of claim 23, further comprising:

a stimuli source to apply a stimulus to the pixelated regions to change the index of refraction.

26. The mirror assembly of claim 23 to redirect light.