Electromagnetic radiation assembly

• US 7,327,321 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Muth Mirror Systems LLC (K. W. Muth)
• Original Assignee: KW Muth Company
• Inventors: Bukosky, Allen A., Todd, Daniel R., Mathieu, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US11/168,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

An electromagnetic radiation assembly is described and which includes a reflector having discrete first and second surfaces; a first electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface; and a second electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the second surface, and wherein, when energized, the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters emit visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the reflector in a fashion so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic radiation assembly, comprising:

a reflector having distinct first and second surfaces, and first and second portions;

a first electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the first portion of the reflector so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface; and

a second electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the second surface of the reflector, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the second portion of the reflector so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface.

2. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a semitransparent substrate juxtaposed relative to the reflector, and wherein the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters passes through the semitransparent substrate.

3. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a semitransparent substrate positioned near the reflector, and which passes the emitted visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation; and

a first substantially opaque substrate positioned therebetween the semitransparent substrate and the reflector, and wherein the opaque substrate defines, at least in part, a region through which the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation may pass, and wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitter is mounted on the first substantially opaque substrate and near the region which passes the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation.

4. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the semitransparent substrate has a first outside facing surface, and a second inside facing surface, and wherein the first substantially opaque substrate has a first surface which is juxtaposed relative to the second, inside facing surface of the mirror, and a second surface, and wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitter is mounted on the second surface thereof, and wherein the first surface of the reflector is positioned adjacent to the second surface of the first substrate.

5. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising:

a second substrate positioned in spaced relation relative to the second surface of the reflector, and wherein the reflector is located therebetween the first substrate, and the second substrate, and wherein the second substrate has a first surface, and a second surface, and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation assembly is mounted on the second substrate.

6. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the first portion of the reflector comprises, at least in part, a reflector pocket, and wherein the reflector pocket defines a cavity which is positioned in eccentric reflecting relation relative to the first electromagnetic radiation emitter, and wherein the reflector pocket reflects the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first electromagnetic radiation emitter in a first direction.

7. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 6, and wherein the second portion of the reflector comprises, at least in part, an aperture which allows the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation generated by the second electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough;

and a reflector facet, having a reflecting surface, is located adjacent to the aperture, and which is further positioned in spaced relation relative to the second surface of the reflector, and disposed in reflecting relation relative to the second electromagnetic radiation emitter, and wherein the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter is reflected by the reflector facet of the second portion of the reflector in a second direction.

8. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising:

a third electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface of the reflector, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected, at least in part, by the first portion of the reflector in a third direction.

9. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 8, and further comprising:

a housing borne on an overland and which defines an internal cavity, and wherein the housing further defines an aperture which allows access to the internal cavity thereof, and wherein the reflector, and the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters are received in the cavity of the housing;

a semitransparent substrate borne by the housing, and which is positioned in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture of the housing, and wherein the semitransparent substrate has a first outwardly facing surface, and an opposite, inwardly facing surface, and wherein the first surface of the reflector is positioned near the second inwardly facing surface of the semitransparent substrate, and wherein the semitransparent substrate passes the visibly discernible light emitted by the first, second and third electromagnetic radiation emitters, and wherein the visibly discernible light which is traveling in the first direction is oriented substantially laterally outwardly relative to a direction of travel of the overland vehicle, and wherein the visibly discernible light which is traveling in the second direction is oriented substantially downwardly relative to a direction of travel of the overland vehicle, and wherein the visibly discernible light which is traveling in the third direction is oriented substantially laterally inwardly relative to a direction of travel of the overland vehicle.

10. An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in claim 9, and wherein the semitransparent substrate is a semitransparent mirror which is selected from the group comprising substantially neutrally chromatic, dichroic, and electrochromic mirrors.