Dual state mirror assembly

• US 5,798,881 A
• Filed: 11/14/1995
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazurek, Niel, Theodore J. Zammit
• Original Assignee: Mazurek, Niel, Theodore J. Zammit
• Inventors: Mazurek, Niel, Zammit, Theodore J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US08/557,456
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 359/872, 359/873, 359/875, 359/877, 359/603, 359/604, 359/605, 359/608, 359/583, 359/581, 359/584, 359/585, 359/609, 359/589, 359/614, 248/474, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/478, 248/479, 248/480, 248/489, 248/495
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/087 with remote or automatic control means

Abstract

A dual state mirror assembly for use with motor vehicles includes a housing having an open front for receiving an outer substrate to form an enclosure. The outer substrate has a surface coated with a thin metal film to act as a beam splitter. An inner substrate having a reflective front surface is mounted within the enclosure so that in a first position, the inner substrate is in direct contact with the outer substrate, to produce a single bright reflected image, and so that in a second position, the inner substrate is placed at an angle with respect to the outer substrate, to provide a dimmed image and to minimize glare.

Claims

1. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:

a housing having an open front;

a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface coated with material for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; and

a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which the front surface of the second substrate is in direct contact with the first substrate, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and

means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the first substrate is a coated glass plate.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein a surface of the glass plate includes a thin metal film coating.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the thin metal film coating includes a reflective metal selected from the group consisting of indium, tin, aluminum, chrome, nickel, oxides and combinations thereof.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the thin metal film coating has a reflectance value of from 10% to 30%.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein the thin metal film coating has a transmissivity value of from 60% to 80%.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6 having a reflectance value of about 15% and a transmissivity value of about 75%.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the thin metal film coating is applied to the glass plate in regions having different reflectance and transmissivity values.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the thin metal film coating is formed on an inside surface of the glass plate.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 9 which further includes a protective transparent coating applied to the thin metal film coating.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 9 which further includes an anti-reflective coating on an outside surface of the glass plate.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 3 having a plurality of thin metal film coatings.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the second substrate is a plate material selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic and metal, coated with a thin film.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein the thin film coating has a reflectance value of from 60% to 95%.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein the thin film coating has a reflectance value of about 90%.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein the thin film coating is applied to the glass plate in regions having different reflectance and transmissivity values.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing has an aerodynamic shape.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the angle formed between the first substrate and the second substrate is from 20 degrees to 40 degrees.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 18 wherein the angle is about 35 degrees.

20. The mirror assembly of claim 1 which further comprises an electric heating element contained within the housing.

21. The mirror assembly of claim 20 wherein the electric heating element is associated with the second substrate.

22. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the moving means operates responsive to a solenoid.

23. The mirror assembly of claim 22 wherein the solenoid is a push-type, cylindrical solenoid operable responsive to an applied DC voltage.

24. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the moving means operates to rotate the second substrate relative to the first substrate, about a pivot point corresponding to contiguous lateral edges of the first substrate and the second substrate.

25. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the moving means comprises:

a support assembly for receiving the second substrate and including an arm extending along the support assembly;

a locking assembly including a mounting bracket having an end which is pivotally connected to an end of the arm of the support assembly, and a sliding bracket attached to the mounting bracket to slide along the length of the mounting bracket;

an actuator including a pivot pin for engaging an aperture formed in the sliding bracket of the locking assembly, and an aperture formed in the arm of the support assembly; and

a spring attached to and extending between the mounting bracket and the sliding bracket of the locking assembly.

26. The mirror assembly of claim 25 which further includes a locking bracket attached to and extending from the support assembly, and a roller bearing attached to the mounting bracket of the locking assembly, for engaging a lateral edge of the locking bracket.

27. The mirror assembly of claim 26 wherein the lateral edge of the locking bracket includes a bevelled portion for engaging the roller bearing to lock the moving means in an open position.

28. The mirror assembly of claim 25 which further includes a pivot connecting the support assembly and the arm, and springs extending between the support assembly and the arm on opposing sides of the pivot.

29. The mirror assembly of claim 25 which further includes means attached to the mounting bracket and engaging the actuator, for moving the actuator in a longitudinal direction along the mounting bracket.

30. The mirror assembly of claim 29 wherein the moving means is a solenoid.

31. The mirror assembly of claim 30 which further includes means for operating the solenoid in a first mode, for initiating operation of the moving means, and in a second mode, for locking the moving means in a position such that the second substrate remains in contact with the first substrate.

32. The mirror assembly of claim 31 wherein the first mode includes operating the solenoid at an increased voltage and at an about 10% duty cycle.

33. The mirror assembly of claim 32 wherein the second mode includes operating the solenoid at a decreased voltage and at an about 100% duty cycle.

45. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the moving means automatically causes the second substrate to move to the first position upon electrical failure of the mirror assembly.

46. The mirror assembly of claim 45 wherein the moving means comprises one or more actuators for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position and one or more springs for automatically moving the second substrate to the first position upon electrical failure of the one or more actuators.

47. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the first substrate and second substrate are convex in shape.

48. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises self-leveling means for ensuring that the second substrate is parallel to the first substrate in the first position.

49. The mirror assembly of claim 48, wherein the self-leveling means comprises two independent arms holding the second substrate and adapted to pivot the second substrate about a first leveling axis and further adapted to pivot the second substrate about a second leveling axis substantially perpendicular to the first leveling axis.

34. A tandem mirror assembly for avoiding double images comprising:

a housing having an open front;

an at least partially transparent substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing;

a reflective substrate mounted within the enclosure and positioned in direct contact with the at least partially transparent substrate; and

means for rotating the reflective substrate about a lateral edge of the reflective substrate, and relative to the at least partially transparent substrate.

35. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:

a first substrate having a surface coated with material for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; and

a second substrate including a reflective front surface, for movement between a first position in which the front surface of the second substrate is in direct contact with the first substrate, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image.

36. An apparatus for controlling a dual state mirror including a first substrate having a surface for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface, and a second substrate including a reflective surface, for movement between a first position in which the front surface of the second substrate is adjacent to the first substrate, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image, the apparatus comprising:

a support assembly for receiving the second substrate and including an arm extending along the support assembly;

a locking assembly including a mounting bracket having an end which is pivotally connected to an end of the arm of the support assembly, and a sliding bracket attached to the mounting bracket to slide along the length of the mounting bracket;

an actuator including a pivot pin for engaging an aperture formed in the sliding bracket of the locking assembly, and an aperture formed in the arm of the support assembly; and

a spring attached to and extending between the mounting bracket and the sliding bracket of the locking assembly.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 which further includes a locking bracket attached to and extending from the support assembly, and a roller bearing attached to the mounting bracket of the locking assembly, for engaging a lateral edge of the locking bracket.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the lateral edge of the locking bracket includes a bevelled portion for engaging the roller bearing to lock the moving means in an open position.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 which further includes a pivot connecting the support assembly and the arm, and springs extending between the support assembly and the arm on opposing sides of the pivot.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 which further includes means attached to the mounting bracket and engaging the actuator, for moving the actuator in a longitudinal direction along the mounting bracket.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the moving means is a solenoid.

42. The mirror assembly of claim 41 which further includes means for operating the solenoid in a first mode, for initiating operation of the moving means, and in a second mode, for locking the moving means in a position such that the second substrate remains in contact with the first substrate.

43. The mirror assembly of claim 42 wherein the first mode includes operating the solenoid at an increased voltage and at an about 10% duty cycle.

44. The mirror assembly of claim 43 wherein the second mode includes operating the solenoid at a decreased voltage and at an about 100% duty cycle.

50. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:

a housing having an open front;

a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; and

a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which the front surface of the second substrate is in direct contact with the first substrate, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and

means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position.

51. The mirror assembly of claim 50, wherein the moving means automatically causes the second substrate to move to the first position upon electrical failure of the mirror assembly.

52. The mirror assembly of claim 51, wherein the moving means comprises one or more actuators for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position and one or more springs for automatically moving the second substrate to the first position upon electrical failure of the one or more actuators.

53. The mirror assembly of claim 50, wherein the first substrate and second substrate are convex in shape.

54. The mirror assembly of claim 50, wherein the moving means comprises self-leveling means for ensuring that the second substrate is parallel to the first substrate in the first position.

55. The mirror assembly of claim 54, wherein the self-leveling means comprises two independent arms holding the second substrate and adapted to pivot the second substrate about a first leveling axis and further adapted to pivot the second substrate about a second leveling axis substantially perpendicular to the first leveling axis.

56. The mirror assembly of claim 50, wherein the second substrate has a thin film coating for reflecting light incident on the second substrate.

57. The mirror assembly of claim 56, wherein the thin film coating is applied in regions having different reflectance and transmissivity values.