TRANSPARENT WINDOW SWITCHABLE REAR VISION MIRROR

• US 20090046346A1
• Filed: 01/15/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Finlayson
• Original Assignee: Andrew Finlayson
• Inventors: Finlayson, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/275
• 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: G02F 1/172 based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays

Abstract

A transparent window switchable rear vision mirror adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle for improved road safety, said switchable window/mirror including, a film suitable for use as a light modulating unit of suspended particle device (spd) light valve, said film comprising a matrix polymer material having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium distributed within a matrix, said film characterized in that presence or lack thereof of an electric field results in the particles being aligned such that a beam of light may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed depending on the status of the electrical field applied thereto such a film; a switchable mirror device comprising a substrate and a mono layer film capable of undergoing a reversible change in light transmission or reflectance, said substrate including a film comprising a transmission metal composition; and a power supply device to provide an electrical charge to said film for use as a light modulating unit of spd and the substrate and the mono layer film, such that the application of the electric field provides for light absorbing or light reflecting functionality of a darkened characterization, and a mirror like state for the switching device.

Claims

1. A transparent window switchable rear vision mirror adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle for improved road safety, said switchable window/mirror including:

a film suitable for use as a light modulating unit of suspended particle device (spd) light valve, said film comprising a matrix polymer material having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium distributed within a matrix, said film characterized in that presence or lack thereof of an electric field results in the particles being aligned such that a beam of light may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed depending on the status of the electrical field applied thereto such a film;

a switchable mirror device comprising a substrate and a mono layer film capable of undergoing a reversible change in light transmission or reflectance, said substrate including a film comprising a transmission metal composition;

a power supply device to provide an electrical charge to said film for use as a light modulating unit of spd and the substrate and the mono layer film, such that the application of the electric field provides for light absorbing or light reflecting functionality of a darkened characterization, and a mirror like state for the switching device.

2. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 1 wherein the window switchable rear vision mirror is provided as a single unit or piece divided into at least three sections.

3. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 2 wherein one section is characterized as being the conventional spd light valve unit.

4. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 2 wherein one section is characterised with a substrate and a mono layer capable of undergoing reversible change in light transmittance or reflectance.

5. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 2 wherein one section is characterized of protective film of glass to improve the sturdiness and the usable life cycle of the product.

6. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 5 further including a covering plate.

7. (canceled)