MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A prismatic reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle, said prismatic reflective element assembly comprising:
- a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate;
a transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
a backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein display information emitted by said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen passes through said transflective reflector and said prismatic substrate for viewing by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein light incident on said forward facing surface and passing through said prismatic substrate to be incident on said transflective reflector exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate; and
wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reflective element assembly includes a transparent substrate having forward and rearward surfaces. A transflective reflector is disposed at a surface of the substrate and the transflective reflector includes at least one thin film layer. A display element is disposed behind the substrate and is operable to emit display information that passes through the transflective reflector and the substrate for viewing by a person viewing the forward surface. Light incident on the forward surface of the substrate and passing through the substrate to be incident on the transflective reflector may exhibit a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing the forward surface of the substrate. The transflective reflector may include a plurality of thin film layers, wherein the refractive indices and physical thicknesses of the individual layers may be selected to limit a tinting effect and/or a color interference effect.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A prismatic reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle, said prismatic reflective element assembly comprising:
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a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate;
a transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
a backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein display information emitted by said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen passes through said transflective reflector and said prismatic substrate for viewing by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein light incident on said forward facing surface and passing through said prismatic substrate to be incident on said transflective reflector exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate; and
wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A prismatic reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle, said prismatic reflective element assembly comprising:
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a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate;
a transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
a backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
at least one of (a) a protective element disposed over said transflective reflector and (b) a light adjusting element between said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen and said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein display information emitted by said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen passes through said transflective reflector and said prismatic substrate for viewing by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate; and
wherein light incident on said forward facing surface and passing through said prismatic substrate to be incident on said transflective reflector exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate; and
wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A prismatic mirror system of a vehicle, said prismatic mirror system comprising:
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a prismatic reflective element assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle, said prismatic reflective element assembly comprising a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate;
wherein said prismatic reflective element assembly comprises a transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
a backlit video display disposed behind said transflective reflector disposed at said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein display information emitted by said backlit video display screen passes through said transflective reflector and said prismatic substrate for viewing by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein light incident on said forward facing surface and passing through said prismatic substrate to be incident on said transflective reflector exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forward facing surface of said prismatic substrate;
wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough; and
wherein said backlit video display is operable to emit said display information in response to the vehicle being shifted into a forward or reverse gear.
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14. A reflective element assembly for a rearview mirror of a vehicle, said reflective element assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element having at least one substrate, said mirror reflective element comprising one of (a) a prismatic reflective element assembly having a transparent prismatic substrate having a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface and at an angle relative thereto so as to form a wedge-shaped substrate, and (b) an electrochromic reflective element assembly having front and rear substrates with an electrochromic medium established therebetween;
said mirror reflective element having a transflective reflector disposed at one of (a) said rearward facing surface of said prismatic substrate, and (b) a forward facing surface of said rear substrate of said electrochromic reflective element, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
a backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen disposed behind a rearmost surface of said at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element;
at least one of (a) a protective element disposed over said transflective reflector and (b) a light adjusting element between said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen and said rearmost surface of said at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element;
wherein display information emitted by said backlit active matrix liquid crystal display screen passes through said mirror reflective element for viewing by a person viewing a forwardmost surface of said at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element; and
wherein light incident on said forwardmost surface and passing through at least one substrate of said mirror reflective element to be incident on said transflective reflector exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectant characteristic as viewed by a person viewing said forwardmost surface of said mirror reflective element; and
wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 10 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming a mirror reflective element assembly for a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a front substrate and a rear substrate, wherein said rear substrate has a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface generally opposed said forward facing surface;
disposing a transflective reflector at said forward facing surface of said rear substrate, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least one sputtered thin film layer;
joining said front and rear substrates with a perimeter seal;
establishing an electro-optic medium in a cavity between said front and rear substrates and bounded by said perimeter seal, said transflective reflector opposing said electro-optic medium when said front and rear substrates are joined and said electro-optic medium is established in said cavity;
providing a display element behind said mirror substrate, said display element operable to emit display information through said substrates and through said transflective reflector for viewing by a person viewing said front substrate; and
providing means for reducing washout of said display information in high ambient conditions.
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Specification