Light blocking apparatus for vehicle mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the mirror assembly having a mirror with a reflective surface, comprising:
- an electrically activatable material positioned at the mirror in which the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror when the electrically activatable material is in a light-blocking state, wherein the electrically activatable material comprises at least one layer of electrochromatic film;
a coupling device adapted to electrically couple, at least in part, the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source, wherein the electrical power source comprises at least one of vehicle power, a vehicle battery, and an accessory battery coupled to the vehicle battery; and
an actuator adapted to switch the electrically activatable material to the light-blocking state such that the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the vehicle mirror to reduce the observability of the vehicle mirror.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly is provided having a mirror for use in connection with a vehicle, such as a military combat vehicle. An electrically activatable material is positioned at the mirror of the vehicle. The electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror when the electrically activatable material is switched to a light-blocking state. A coupling device electrically couples the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source. An actuation device is adapted to switch the electrically activatable material of the vehicle mirror assembly to the light-blocking state in response to user operation such that the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the vehicle mirror to reduce the observability of the vehicle mirror.
-
Citations
61 Claims
-
1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the mirror assembly having a mirror with a reflective surface, comprising:
-
an electrically activatable material positioned at the mirror in which the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror when the electrically activatable material is in a light-blocking state, wherein the electrically activatable material comprises at least one layer of electrochromatic film; a coupling device adapted to electrically couple, at least in part, the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source, wherein the electrical power source comprises at least one of vehicle power, a vehicle battery, and an accessory battery coupled to the vehicle battery; and an actuator adapted to switch the electrically activatable material to the light-blocking state such that the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the vehicle mirror to reduce the observability of the vehicle mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
-
an electrically activatable mirror having an electrically activatable material in which the electrically activatable material is switchable between a light-transmissive state and a reflective state wherein, in the light-transmissive state, light is blocked after passing through the electrically activatable material such that light is not reflected off the mirror; a coupling device adapted to couple, at least in part, the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source; and an actuator adapted to prompt switching of the electrically activatable material of the mirror of the vehicle between the light-transmissive state and the reflective state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A method of blocking visible light from reflecting off a reflective surface of a mirror in a mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
-
providing an electrically activatable material at the mirror, the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror when the electrically activatable material is in a light-blocking state, wherein the electrically activatable material comprises at least one layer of electrochromatic film; coupling, at least in part, the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source, wherein the electrical power source comprises at least one of vehicle power, a vehicle battery, and an accessory battery coupled to the vehicle battery; and switching the electrically activatable material from a light-transmissive state to the light-blocking state such that, in the light-blocking state, the electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the vehicle mirror to reduce observability of the vehicle mirror. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. A method of utilizing a mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
-
providing an electrically activatable mirror having an electrically activatable material in which the electrically activatable material is switchable between a light-transmissive state and a reflective state wherein, in the light-transmissive state, light is blocked after passing through the electrically activatable material such that the light is not reflected off the mirror; coupling, at least in part, the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source; and switching the electrically activatable material of the mirror of the vehicle between the light-transmissive state and the reflective state. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
-
Specification