LIQUID CRYSTAL MIRROR WITH DISPLAY

• US 20110273659A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sobecki, Justin E.
• Application Number:
  US13/102,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells

Abstract

A variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly includes a front substrate, an intermediate substrate and a rear substrate, with a first liquid crystal polarization unit disposed between the rear surface of the front substrate and the front surface of the intermediate substrate and a second liquid crystal polarization unit disposed between the rear surface of the intermediate substrate and the front surface of the rear substrate. When the liquid crystal polarization units are unpowered, the reflective element assembly substantially specularly reflects light incident thereon so as to appear specularly mirror-like to a driver of the vehicle viewing the front surface of the front substrate. When the liquid crystal polarization units are electrically powered, they change from being highly specularly reflective to substantially transmitting visible light therethrough. When powered, the liquid crystal polarization units cooperate or combine to provide an anti-glare, low reflecting mirror for viewing by the vehicle driver.

Claims

1. A variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a front substrate having a front surface that generally faces a driver of a vehicle equipped with a mirror assembly that incorporates said rearview mirror reflective element assembly;

said front substrate having a rear surface opposite said front surface, wherein said rear surface of said front substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat;

an intermediate substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein said front surface of said intermediate substrate has a conductive coating disposed thereat and said rear surface of said intermediate substrate has a conductive coating disposed thereat;

a rear substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein said front surface of said rear substrate has a conductive coating disposed thereat;

a first liquid crystal polarization unit disposed between said rear surface of said front substrate and said front surface of said intermediate substrate;

a second liquid crystal polarization unit disposed between said rear surface of said intermediate substrate and said front surface of said rear substrate;

wherein said first liquid crystal polarization unit, when unpowered, functions to polarize light in a first direction and said second liquid crystal polarization unit, when unpowered, functions to polarize light in a second direction, and wherein said second direction is generally opposite said first direction;

wherein, when said first and second liquid crystal polarization units are unpowered, said reflective element assembly substantially specularly reflects light incident thereon so as to appear specularly mirror-like to the driver viewing said front surface of said front substrate when said reflective element assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when said first and second liquid crystal polarization units are electrically powered, said first and second liquid crystal polarization units change from being highly specularly reflective to substantially transmitting visible light therethrough, and wherein, when said first and second liquid crystal polarization units are electrically powered, the driver viewing said front surface essentially sees through both said first and second liquid crystal polarization units to a light absorbing layer established at said rear substrate and behind said first and second liquid crystal polarization units; and

wherein, when powered, said first and second liquid crystal polarization units cooperate or combine to provide an anti-glare, low reflecting mirror for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

2. The variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, wherein said first liquid crystal polarization unit, when unpowered, polarizes light passing therethrough in a right or left circular direction and wherein said second liquid crystal polarization unit, when unpowered, polarizes light passing therethrough in a left or right circular direction.

3. The variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly of claim 1, further comprising a display device disposed behind said rear substrate and operable to display information, wherein said first and second liquid crystal polarization units are operable to, when powered, substantially transmit light therethrough so display information emitted by said display device is viewable through said reflective element assembly by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said light absorbing layer is not established at said rear substrate in the localized area at which said display device is disposed.

4. A variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly comprising:

a front substrate having a front surface that generally faces a driver of a vehicle equipped with a mirror assembly that incorporates said rearview mirror reflective element assembly;

said front substrate having a rear surface opposite said front surface, wherein said rear surface of said front substrate has a transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat;

a rear substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein said front surface of said rear substrate has a conductive coating disposed thereat;

a liquid crystal polarization unit disposed between said rear surface of said front substrate and said front surface of said rear substrate;

wherein said liquid crystal polarization unit, when unpowered, functions to polarize light passing therethrough;

wherein, when said liquid crystal polarization unit is unpowered, said reflective element assembly substantially reflects light incident thereon so as to appear mirror-like to the driver viewing said front surface of said front substrate when said reflective element assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, when said liquid crystal polarization unit is electrically powered, said liquid crystal polarization unit changes from being highly specularly reflective to substantially transmitting visible light therethrough, and wherein, when said liquid crystal polarization unit is electrically powered, the driver viewing said front surface of said front substrate essentially sees through said liquid crystal polarization unit, and wherein, when powered, said liquid crystal polarization unit provides an anti-glare, low reflecting mirror for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

5. The variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly of claim 4, further comprising a light absorbing layer established at said rear substrate and behind said liquid crystal polarization unit.

6. The variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly of claim 5, further comprising a display device disposed behind said rear substrate and operable to display information, wherein said liquid crystal polarization unit is operable to, when powered, substantially transmit light therethrough so display information emitted by said display device is viewable through said reflective element assembly by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said light absorbing layer is not established at said rear substrate in the localized area at which said display device is disposed.

7. The variable reflectance vehicular minor reflective element assembly of claim 4, wherein said rear substrate comprises a display device operable to display information when activated, and wherein a front surface of said display device has said transparent electrically conductive coating disposed thereat.

8. The variable reflectance vehicular mirror reflective element assembly of claim 7, wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.