Auto dimming vehicle mirror

• US 7,607,788 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Robert William, Munir, Kash
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US11/986,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 359237-324, 359601-615
• US Class Current: 359/608
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

A vehicle mirror assembly comprising a reflective element for reflecting incident light, the reflective element having a viewable side, a dimming element for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side, a photo-electric power cell for powering the dimming element for varying the intensity of reflected light and a controller for controlling the dimming element in response to ambient light conditions, wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions. In other embodiments a power source is defined, for providing interment power to power the dimming element for varying the intensity of light reflected, the power being supplied by the photo-electric power cell.

Claims

1. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element having a viewable side configured to reflect a portion of incident light and allowing a remaining portion of incident light to pass through said reflective element;

a dimming element for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side;

a power source for providing intermittent power to power the dimming element;

a photo-electrical power cell arranged behind said reflective element for energizing the power source and storing power generated from said remaining portion of incident light passing through said reflective element; and

a controller for controlling the dimming element in response to ambient light conditions,

wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions.

2. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimming element has an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

3. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel has a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

4. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller has an ambient light directional element and a photo-electrical switching device, the ambient light directional element arranged and constructed to pass the ambient light to the photo-electrical switching device only where the angle of incidence of the ambient light falls within a preset range.

5. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ambient light directional element comprises a directional filter.

6. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ambient light directional element comprises a Fresnel lens.

7. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimming element has the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

8. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element having a viewable side configured to reflect a portion of incident light and allowing a remaining portion of incident light to pass through said reflective element;

a dimming element for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side;

a battery for selectively providing power to the dimming element;

a photo-electrical power cell arranged behind said reflective element for powering the dimming element and storing power generated from said remaining portion of incident light passing through said reflective element in the battery; and

a controller for controlling the dimming element in response to ambient light conditions,

wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions.

9. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dimming element has an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

10. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel comprises a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

11. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the dimming element has the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

12. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element having a viewable side configured to reflect a portion of incident light and allowing a remaining portion of incident light to pass through said reflective element;

a dimming element for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side of the reflective element, wherein the dimming element overlays the viewable side of the reflective element;

a transparent photo-electrical power cell arranged in front of behind said reflective element overlaying the dimming element for powering the dimming element and storing power generated from said remaining portion of incident light passing through said reflective element;

a controller for controlling the dimming element in response to ambient light conditions;

a photo-electrical switching device; and

a directional element for allowing ambient light having an angle of incidence falling within a preset range with respect to the reflective element to reach the photoelectrical switching device, and for preventing ambient light having an angle of incidence falling outside the preset range with respect to the reflective element to reach the photo-electrical switching device,

wherein the power supplied from the photoelectrical power cell to the dimming element is reduced as a result of ambient light reaching the photo-electrical switching device.

13. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the photo-electrical power cell is adapted to utilize the incident light from a vehicle'"'"'s headlight to produce sufficient real-time power for the dimming element.

14. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the dimming element has an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

15. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel has a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

16. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the dimming element has the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

17. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the directional element comprises an ambient light directional filter.