Transparent window switchable rear vision mirror

• US 7,894,117 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Finlayson
• Original Assignee: Andrew Finlayson
• Inventors: Finlayson, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Lester; Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US12/160,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 359/272, 359/296, 359/843, 359/844, 349/113, 349/193, 362/494, 362/516, 362/518
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/172 based on a suspension of orientable dipolar particles, e.g. suspended particles displays

Abstract

A transparent window switchable rear vision mirror adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle for improved road safety, said switchable window/mirror including, a film suitable for use as a light modulating unit of suspended particle device (spd) light valve, said film comprising a matrix polymer material having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium distributed within a matrix, said film characterized in that presence or lack thereof of an electric field results in the particles being aligned such that a beam of light may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed depending on the status of the electrical field applied thereto such a film; a switchable mirror device comprising a substrate and a mono layer film capable of undergoing a reversible change in light transmission or reflectance, said substrate including a film comprising a transmission metal composition; and a power supply device to provide an electrical charge to said film for use as a light modulating unit of spd and the substrate and the mono layer film, such that the application of the electric field provides for light absorbing or light reflecting functionality of a darkened characterization, and a mirror like state for the switching device.

Claims

1. A transparent window switchable rear vision mirror adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle said switchable window/mirror including:

a film being a light modulating unit of suspended particle device light valve, said film comprising a matrix polymer material having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium distributed within a matrix, said film characterized in that presence of lack thereof of an electric field results in the particles being aligned such that a beam of light may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed via said film;

a switchable mirror device comprising a substrate and a mono layer film capable of undergoing a reversible change in light transmission or reflectance, said substrate including a film comprising a transmission metal composition;

a power supply device to provide an electrical charge to said film for use as a light modulating unit of the suspended particle device and the substrate and the mono layer film, such that the application of the electric field provides for light absorbing or light reflecting functionality of a darkened characterization, and a mirror state which reflects light;

wherein the application of an electrical charge to the transparent window switchable rear vision mirror activates both said film of the light modulating the suspended particle device light valve unit and said switchable mirror device, wherein activation of said film can reflect, transmit or absorb a beam of light and said switchable mirror device can transmit or reflect light, such that the transparent window switchable rear vision mirror can assume a transparent state or a said mirror state.

2. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 1 wherein the window switchable rear vision mirror is provided as a single unit divided into at least three sections.

3. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 2 wherein one section is characterized as being the suspended particle device light valve unit.

4. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 3 wherein one section is characterized as being the substrate and the mono layer capable of undergoing reversible change in light transmittance or reflectance.

5. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 4 wherein one section is a protective film of glass.

6. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 5 further including a covering plate.

7. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 1 further including a covering plate.

8. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 2 further including a covering plate.

9. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 3 further including a covering plate.

10. The transparent window switchable rear vision mirror of claim 4 further including a covering plate.

11. A transparent window switchable rear vision mirror adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle wherein said transparent window switchable rear vision mirror comprises:

a film being a light modulating unit of suspended particle device light valves, said film comprising a matrix polymer material having droplets of a liquid light valve suspension comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a liquid suspending medium distributed within a matrix wherein in response to an electric field the particles align such that a beam of light may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed by said film;

a switchable mirror device comprising a substrate and a mono layer film capable of undergoing a reversible change in light transmission or reflectance, said substrate including a film comprising a transmission metal composition;

a power supply device capable of providing an electrical field to said film for use as a light modulating unit of said suspended particle device, the substrate and the mono layer film such that the application of the electric field provides for light absorbing or light reflecting functionality of a darkened characterization, and a mirror state for the switchable device;

wherein an electrical field applied to the transparent window switchable rear vision mirror can activate said film of the light modulating unit, the suspended particle device light valves and said switchable mirror device, wherein the suspended particle device light valves are darkened such that the transparent window switchable rear vision mirror assumes a mirror state and reflects light;

wherein in the absence of said electrical field to the transparent window switchable rear vision mirror can deactivate said film of the light modulating unit, the suspended particle device light valves and said switchable mirror device, wherein the suspended particle device light valves are cleared such that the transparent window switchable rear vision mirror assumes a transparent state.