Mirror system with remotely actuated continuously variable reflectant mirrors
First Claim
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1. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
- a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity;
a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element;
a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element at a comfort level that is a function of ambient light levels, said level of reflectivity being selected from a continuously variable first range of reflectivity values,a user operable second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable by a user in order to cause said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is greater than said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and
wherein said control returns the level of reflectivity of said reflective element to the level of reflectivity established by said first input device upon deactuation of said second input device.
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Abstract
A light transmitting system for a vehicle includes a window or mirror with variable transmittance. A first input device, which may comprise a user adjustable device or an ambient light sensor, provides a comfort setting. A second input device, which overrides the first, may be operated manually, or by the vehicle engaging reverse gear or switching on headlights, to increase or decrease the reflectivity and transmittance of mirror and window embodiments respectively. Where a mirror is used, a third input device, which may comprise a photosensor, may be actuated to provide lower reflectivity when experiencing glare.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element at a comfort level that is a function of ambient light levels, said level of reflectivity being selected from a continuously variable first range of reflectivity values, a user operable second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable by a user in order to cause said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is greater than said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said control returns the level of reflectivity of said reflective element to the level of reflectivity established by said first input device upon deactuation of said second input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable in order to cause said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is greater than said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; wherein said control returns the level of reflectivity of said reflective element to said first level upon deactuation of said second input device; and current limiting means for controlling the rate of change of reflectance of said reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. The rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable in order to cause said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is less than said first level, wherein actuation of said second user input device selectively overrides said first user input device when actuated; a third input device for said control that is selectively actuatable in order to cause said control to establish a third level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is greater than said first level, wherein actuation of said third input device selectively overrides said first and second input devices when actuated; and wherein said control returns the level of reflectivity of said reflective element upon deactuation of said third input device to the one of said first and second levels that existed upon actuation of said third input device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element from a continuously variable first range of reflectivity values; a user-actuatable second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable by a user in order to cause said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is greater than said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said reflective element changes reflectivity from said first to said second levels at a faster rate than from said second to said first levels in order to provide a rapid bleach to a high reflective state. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable in order to cause said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is greater than said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said reflective element changes reflectivity from said first to said second levels at a faster rate than from said second to said first levels, wherein said reflective element has a range of reflectivity values, and wherein said first input device is adapted to causing said control to establish said first level from a second range of reflectivity values that is more narrow than said range of reflectivity of said reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A light transmitting window system for a vehicle comprising;
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a light transmitting window having a controllable variable level of light attenuation; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of attenuation of said transmitting window; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of attenuation of said transmitting window from a continuously variable range of attenuation values; a user operable second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable by a user in order to cause said control to establish a second level of attenuation of said transmitting window that has a predetermined relationship to said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said control returns the level of attenuation of said transmitting window to said first level upon deactuation of said second input device. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A light transmitting system for a vehicle comprising:
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a light transmitting element having a controllable variable level of light attenuation; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of attenuation of said transmitting element; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of attenuation of said transmitting element, wherein said transmitting element has a range of attenuation values and wherein said first input device is adapted to causing said control to establish said first level from a second range of attenuation values that is more narrow than said range of attenuation of said transmitting element; a second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable in order to cause said control to establish a second level of attenuation of said transmitting element that has a predetermined relationship to said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said control returns the level of attenuation of said transmitting element to said first level upon deactuation of said second input device. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A light transmitting system for a vehicle comprising:
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a light transmitting window having a controllable variable level of light attenuation; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of attenuation of said transmitting window; a first input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of attenuation of said transmitting window, said first input device being an ambient light sensor and wherein said control establishes a level of attenuation of said transmitting window that increases for increasing levels of ambient light; a second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable in order to cause said control to establish a second level of attenuation of said transmitting window that has a predetermined relationship to said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said control returns the level of attenuation of said transmitting window to said first level upon deactuation of said second input device. - View Dependent Claims (76)
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77. A light transmitting system for a vehicle comprising:
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a light transmitting element having a controllable level of light attenuation that is variable over a given range of values; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of attenuation of said transmitting element; a user operable first input device for said control that is manually manipulable for causing said control to establish a first level of attenuation of said transmitting element from a continuously variable range of attenuation values within and narrower than said given range of values; a user operable second input device for said control that is selectively actuatable by a user in order to cause said control to establish a second level of attenuation of said transmitting element that has a predetermined relationship to said first level, wherein actuation of said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and wherein said control returns the level of attenuation of said transmitting element too said first level upon deactuation of said second input device. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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Specification