Optics for controlling the direction of light rays and assemblies incorporating the optics

• US 7,452,113 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., Tuttle, Darin D., Fogg, Jeremy A., Thomas, Timothy J., Walser, Jeremy A., Bonardi, Timothy A., Newton, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/128,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/498, 362540-545, 362/300, 362/301, 362/327, 362/343, 362/499, 359/841, 359/843, 359290-295
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements in controlling the direction of light rays and apparatus incorporating the improvements.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mirror element comprising at least one substrate comprising a reflective layer on at least a portion of a surface thereof; and

two differently functioning indicia formed in said reflective layer, functions of said two indicia being selected from the group consisting of a supplemental turning indicator, keyhole/door illuminator, and a side object detection indicator, wherein both of said at least two indicia are defined by one contiguous line opening through said reflective layer.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said two indicia have a symbolic meaning abstractly associated with a shape.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 configured such that when mounted on a left side of a controlled vehicle said supplemental turning indicator indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the left when an associated light source is energized.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 configured such that when mounted on a right side of a controlled vehicle said supplemental turning indicator indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the right when an associated light source is energized.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said one contiguous line is less than approximately 2.0 mm wide.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said one contiguous line is between approximately 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm wide.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein an average luminous flux density of said supplemental turning indicator is between approximately 14.0 mlm/mm² and approximately 147.0 mlm/mm².

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a mirror element comprising at least one substrate comprising a reflective layer on at least a portion of a surface thereof;

at least one indicia formed in said reflective layer, said at least one indicia defines one contiguous line having a width less than approximately 2.0 mm and opening through said reflective layer; and

at least two light sources configured to project light rays through said contiguous line.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said at least one indicia has a symbolic meaning abstractly associated with a shape.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8 configured such that when mounted on a left side of a controlled vehicle at least one indicia indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the left when an associated light source is energized.

11. An apparatus as in claim 8 configured such that when mounted on a right side of a controlled vehicle at least one indicia indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the right when an associated light source is energized.

12. An apparatus as in claim 8 comprising a supplemental turning indicator and a side object detection indicator wherein both indicators are defined by said one contiguous line.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said supplemental turning indicator is defined by a chevron shaped opening.

14. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said side object detection indicator is defined by a triangular shaped opening.

15. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said side object detection indicator is defined by a chevron shaped opening.

16. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said one contiguous line is between approximately 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm wide.

17. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein an average luminous flux density of said at least one indicia is between approximately 14.0 mlm/mm² and approximately 147.0 mlm/mm².

18. An apparatus, comprising:

an electro-optic mirror element comprising at least one substrate comprising a reflective layer on at least a portion of a surface thereof;

at least one indicia formed in said reflective layer, said at least one indicia defined by one contiguous line having a width of less than approximately 2.0 mm and opening through said reflective layer; and

at least one light source configured to project light rays through said contiguous line.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said at least one indicia has a symbolic meaning abstractly associated with a shape.

20. An apparatus as in claim 18 configured such that when mounted on a left side of a controlled vehicle at least one indicia indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the left when an associated light source is energized.

21. An apparatus as in claim 18 configured such that when mounted on a right side of a controlled vehicle at least one indicia indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the right when an associated light source is energized.

22. An apparatus as in claim 18 comprising a supplemental turning indicator and a side object detection indicator wherein both indicators are defined by said one contiguous line.

23. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said one contiguous line defines a chevron shaped opening that functions as a supplemental turning indicator.

24. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said one contiguous line defines a triangular shaped opening that functions as a side object detection indicator.

25. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said one contiguous line defines a chevron shaped opening that functions as a side object detection indicator.

26. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said contiguous line is between approximately 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm wide.

27. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein an average luminous flux density of said at least one indicia is between approximately 14.0 mlm/mm² and approximately 147.0 mlm/mm².

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a mirror element comprising at least one substrate comprising a reflective layer on at least a portion of a surface thereof;

at least one contiguous line opening through said reflective layer, said line having a width of less than approximately 2.0 mm; and

at least one light source configured to project light rays through said contiguous line substantially in a preferred direction, wherein a luminous intensity is greater than or equal to approximately 5.0 candelas.

29. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein said mirror element is an electro-optic mirror element.

30. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one LED.

31. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein said at least one contiguous line defines an indicia.

32. An apparatus as in claim 31 wherein said at least one indicia has a symbolic meaning abstractly associated with a shape.

33. An apparatus as in claim 31 configured such that when mounted on a left side of a controlled vehicle at least one indicia indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the left when an associated light source is energized.

34. An apparatus as in claim 31 configured such that when mounted on a right side of a controlled vehicle at least one indicia indicates that the controlled vehicle is about to move or is moving to the right when an associated light source is energized.