Multi-layered back reflecting mirror

• US 4,805,989 A
• Filed: 09/18/1987
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Nakajima, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US07/098,346
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 350/164, 350/166, 350/642, 350/276 R, 350/278, 350/276 SL, 350/277
• US Class Current: 359/584
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/083 Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3417 all coatings being oxide coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0833 comprising inorganic materials only

Abstract

A multi-layered back reflecting mirror having a dielectric multi-layered coating on oen side of a glass or plastic transparent substrate which is further overlaid with a light-absorbing layer. The dielectric multi-layered coating is composed of four to eight dielectric layers laminated one on top of another having alternately differing refractive indices. At least one of these dielectric layers has an optical thickness of λ₀ /2 (λ₀ is the wavelength of light used as the reference measurement for design purposes) and each of the remaining dielectric layers has an optical thickness of λ₀ /4. The mirror has a relative reflection minimum for visible light in the range of 480 to 550 nonometers.

Claims

1. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror having a dielectric multi-layered coating on one side of a glass or plastic transparent substrate which is further overlaid with a light-absorbing layer, said dielectric multi-layered coating being composed of four to eight dielectric layers laminated one on top of another having alternately differing refractive indices, at least one of said dielectric layers having an optical thickness of λ

₀ /2, wherein λ

₀ is the wavelength of light used as the reference measurement for design purposes, each of the remaining dielectric layers has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4, and said mirror has a relative reflection minimum for visible light in a range of 480 to 550 nanometers.

2. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (1) wherein the dielectric multi-layered coating is composed of five or six dielectric layers.

3. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (2) wherein the dielectric multi-layered coating is composed of dielectric layers which are formed on one side of the transparent substrate in the order, as seen from the substrate side, of an H layer, a 2L layer, an H layer, an L layer and an H layer, or in the order of an H layer, an L layer, an H layer, a 2L layer and an H layer, the H layer being a high-refractive index layer that is made of a material having a high refractive index of 1.9-2.4 and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4, the 2H layer being a high-refractive index layer that is made of a material having a high refractive index of 1.9-2.4 and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /2, the L layer being a low-refractive index layer that is made of a material having a low refractive index of 1.3-1.8 and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4, and the 2L layer being a low-refractive index layer that is made of a material having a low refractive index of 1.3-1.8 and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /2.

4. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (3) where the 2L layer is a combination layer in which a low-refractive index layer (L₁ layer) that is made of a low-refractive index material and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4 is combined with another low-refractive index material and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4.

5. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (2) wherein the dielectric multi-layered coating is composed of dielectric layers that are formed on one side of the transparent substrate in the order of the 2H layer, L layer, H layer, L layer and 2H layer.

6. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (5) wherein one or both of the two 2H layers is a combination layer in which a high-refractive index layer (H₁ layer) that is made of a high-refractive index material and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4 is combined with another high-refractive index layer (H₂ layer) that is made of another high-refractive index material and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4.

7. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (2) wherein the dielectric multi-layered coating is composed of dielectric layers that are formed on one side of the transparent substrate in the order of the 2H layer, L layer, H layer, L layer and H layer or in the order of the H layer, L layer, H layer, L layer and 2H layer.

8. A multi-layered back reflecting mirror according to claim (7) wherein the 2H layer is a combination layer in which a high-refractive index layer (H₁ layer) that is made of a high-refractive index material and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4 is combined with another high-refractive index layer (H₂ layer) that is made of another high-refractive index material and which has an optical thickness of λ

₀ /4.