VEHICULAR SIGNAL MIRROR
First Claim
1. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
- a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a semitransparent mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light transmission through said reflective mirror element is at least about 3% visible light transmission;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element and wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its transmission of visible light incident upon the rear side of said reflective mirror element;
said semitransparent mirror reflector comprising a metal thin film layer; and
at least one of (a) a turn signal light display that emits visible light upon actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element, said turn signal light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said turn signal light display passes through said metal thin film layer of said semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said turn signal light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said turn signal light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element and (b) a blind-spot indicator light display that emits visible light upon a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said blind-spot indicator light display, said blind-spot indicator light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said blind-spot indicator light display passes through said metal thin film layer of said semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said blind-spot indicator light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular signal mirror includes a reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector on a light-transmitting substrate. The visible light reflectance is at least about 40% for visible light incident upon the front side of the reflective mirror element. A turn signal light display and/or a blind-spot indicator light display is disposed to the rear of the reflective mirror element and configured so that the light emitted by the light display passes through the reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element. The light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with the light display placed behind, and emitting light through, the reflective mirror element.
154 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a semitransparent mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light transmission through said reflective mirror element is at least about 3% visible light transmission;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element and wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its transmission of visible light incident upon the rear side of said reflective mirror element;
said semitransparent mirror reflector comprising a metal thin film layer; and
at least one of (a) a turn signal light display that emits visible light upon actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element, said turn signal light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said turn signal light display passes through said metal thin film layer of said semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said turn signal light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said turn signal light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element and (b) a blind-spot indicator light display that emits visible light upon a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said blind-spot indicator light display, said blind-spot indicator light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said blind-spot indicator light display passes through said metal thin film layer of said semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said blind-spot indicator light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a semitransparent mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light transmission through said reflective mirror element is at least about 3% visible light transmission;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
said semitransparent mirror reflector comprising a metal thin film layer;
a signal display;
wherein said signal display comprises at least one light emitting diode;
said signal display emitting visible light upon at least one of (a) actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element and (b) a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element;
said signal display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said signal display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said signal display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 80 foot lamberts as measured with said signal display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element;
wherein, when not emitting light, the disposition of said signal display to the rear of said reflective mirror element is not substantially distinguishable to the driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element comprises a vehicular exterior rearview reflective mirror element;
wherein said metal thin film layer is undercoated with an undercoating layer and wherein at least one of (a) said undercoating coating layer comprises another metal thin film layer, (b) said undercoating coating layer comprises another metal thin film layer of visible light reflectance lower than that of said metal thin film layer, (c) said undercoating layer comprises a transparent electrically conductive metal oxide layer, (d) said undercoating layer comprising a transparent electrically conductive indium tin oxide layer having a layer thickness of at least about 50 angstroms and (e) said undercoating layer comprising a transparent electrically conductive indium tin oxide layer having a layer thickness of at least about 50 angstroms and less than about 300 angstroms;
wherein said metal thin film layer has a layer thickness of at least about 200 angstroms and a reflectivity of at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident thereon; and
wherein said metal thin film layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, molybdenum, titanium, chromium, silver, nickel and iron. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
a turn signal light display that emits visible light upon actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element, said turn signal light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said turn signal light display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said turn signal light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 60 foot lamberts as measured with said turn signal light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element;
a blind-spot indicator light display that emits visible light upon a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said blind-spot indicator light display, said blind-spot indicator light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said blind-spot indicator light display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 60 foot lamberts as measured with said blind-spot indicator light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element comprises a vehicular exterior rearview reflective mirror element;
wherein said light-transmitting substrate comprises a glass substrate; and
wherein said turn signal light display comprises at least one light emitting diode and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display comprises at least one light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
a signal display;
wherein said signal display comprises at least one light emitting diode;
said signal display emitting visible light upon at least one of (a) actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element and (b) a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element;
said signal display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said signal display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said signal display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said signal display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element comprises a vehicular exterior rearview reflective mirror element;
wherein said light-transmitting substrate comprises a glass substrate; and
wherein said mirror reflector comprises at least one of (a) a metal thin film layer, (b) an elemental semiconductor thin film layer and (c) a metal thin film layer combined with at least one metal oxide thin film layer. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
a signal display;
wherein said signal display comprises at least one light emitting diode;
said signal display emitting visible light upon at least one of (a) actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element and (b) a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element;
said signal display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said signal display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said signal display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said signal display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element comprises a vehicular exterior rearview reflective mirror element;
wherein said light-transmitting substrate comprises a glass substrate; and
wherein said mirror reflector comprises a metal thin film layer combined with at least one metal oxide thin film layer, said combination of said metal thin film layer with said at least one metal oxide thin film layer forming a stack of thin film layers. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a semitransparent mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light transmission through said reflective mirror element is at least about 3% visible light transmission;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
said semitransparent mirror reflector comprising a metal thin film layer;
at least one of (a) a turn signal light display that emits visible light upon actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element, said turn signal light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said turn signal light display passes through said metal thin film layer of said semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said turn signal light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said turn signal light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element and (b) a blind-spot indicator light display that emits visible light upon a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said blind-spot indicator light display, said blind-spot indicator light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said blind-spot indicator light display passes through said metal thin film layer of said semitransparent mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said blind-spot indicator light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element; and
wherein said mirror reflector comprises a metal thin film layer combined with at least one metal oxide thin film layer, said combination of said metal thin film layer with said at least one metal oxide thin film layer forming a stack of thin film layers, said stack of thin film layers comprising at least one transparent electrically conductive layer undercoating said metal thin film layer and at least one transparent electrically conductive layer overcoating said metal thin film layer. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a semitransparent mirror reflector on a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light transmission through said reflective mirror element is at least about 3% visible light transmission;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
a turn signal light display that emits visible light upon actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element, said turn signal light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said turn signal light display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said turn signal light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said turn signal light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element and wherein said turn signal light display comprises at least one light emitting diode that spectrally selectively emits light when powered;
a blind-spot indicator light display that emits visible light upon a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said blind-spot indicator light display, said blind-spot indicator light display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said blind-spot indicator light display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 30 foot lamberts as measured with said blind-spot indicator light display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element and wherein said blind-spot indicator light display comprises at least one light emitting diode that spectrally selectively emits light when powered; and
wherein light transmission through said reflective mirror element is at least partially spectrally selective. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A signal mirror for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate;
wherein visible light reflectance by said reflective mirror element is at least about 40% visible light reflectance for visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element does not exhibit substantial spectral selectivity in its reflectance of visible light incident upon the front side of said reflective mirror element;
a signal display;
wherein said signal display comprises at least one light emitting diode;
said signal display emitting visible light upon at least one of (a) actuation of a turn signal by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element and (b) a detection by a blind-spot detector that is part of a vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element;
said signal display disposed to the rear of the rear side of said reflective mirror element and configured so that said light emitted by said signal display passes through said reflective mirror element to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said signal display exhibits, when electrically powered and when operated in the vehicle during day time driving conditions, a display luminance of at least about 80 foot lamberts as measured with said signal display placed behind, and emitting light through, said reflective mirror element;
wherein said reflective mirror element comprises a vehicular exterior rearview reflective mirror element;
wherein said light-transmitting substrate comprises a glass substrate;
wherein said mirror reflector comprises a metal thin film layer;
wherein said metal thin film layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, palladium, platinum, molybdenum, titanium, chromium, silver, nickel and iron; and
wherein said metal thin film layer is formed by sputtering in a vacuum deposition process. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification