Modular light source/electronics and automotive rearview assemblies using the same
First Claim
1. An automotive rearview assembly having a front, the assembly comprising:
- a housing;
a transflective electrochromic (EC) mirror element disposed within the housing; and
a light source disposed within the housing behind the mirror element with respect to the front, the light source including;
a first light emitter adapted to emit light along a first axis;
a lightguide having an extent, a planar portion, and first and second light-guiding surfaces, the lightguide being in optical communication with the first light emitter and configured to outcouple light channeled by the lightguide through the first light-guiding surface, the first and second light-guiding surfaces forming a curve configured to communicate light along a second axis;
a second light emitter operable to transmit light through the first and second light guiding surfaces of the planar portion of the lightguide; and
a liquid-crystal display (LCD) disposed between the first light-guiding surface and the EC mirror element, the LCD having a liquid-crystal (LC) layer oriented to be substantially parallel to the first light-guiding surface,wherein the light source further includes a segmented LC-cell in optical communication with the LCD, the segmented LC-cell being disposed between the LCD and the EC mirror element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular rearview assembly comprising a light source illuminating the mirror system within the housing of the assembly. The light source is a layered structure including generally co-extensive optical elements such as a light-guiding element that accepts light from light emitters and distributes this light along an area that is not transverse with respect to a display of the assembly. Light distributed and outcoupled through the light-guiding element illuminates the whole display, while radiation from other emitters may traverse the light-guiding element in order to highlight respectively corresponding segments of the display. The display may be configured in a spatially-segmented fashion to increase brightness of displayed indicia.
32 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An automotive rearview assembly having a front, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; a transflective electrochromic (EC) mirror element disposed within the housing; and a light source disposed within the housing behind the mirror element with respect to the front, the light source including; a first light emitter adapted to emit light along a first axis; a lightguide having an extent, a planar portion, and first and second light-guiding surfaces, the lightguide being in optical communication with the first light emitter and configured to outcouple light channeled by the lightguide through the first light-guiding surface, the first and second light-guiding surfaces forming a curve configured to communicate light along a second axis;
a second light emitter operable to transmit light through the first and second light guiding surfaces of the planar portion of the lightguide; anda liquid-crystal display (LCD) disposed between the first light-guiding surface and the EC mirror element, the LCD having a liquid-crystal (LC) layer oriented to be substantially parallel to the first light-guiding surface, wherein the light source further includes a segmented LC-cell in optical communication with the LCD, the segmented LC-cell being disposed between the LCD and the EC mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An automotive rearview assembly having a front, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; a mirror element disposed within the housing; a light source disposed within the housing behind the mirror element with respect to the front, the light source including; a plurality of light emitters configured to form an array of emitters, the plurality of light emitters adapted to emit light along corresponding parallel axes that define a light-emitting plane; a lightguide having an extent, a planar portion, and first and second light-guiding surfaces, the lightguide being in optical communication with the array of emitters and configured to outcouple light channeled by the lightguide through the first light-guiding surface, the first and second light-guiding surfaces forming a curve configured to direct the light in a direction perpendicular to the light emitting plane, wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitters is configured to transmit light through the first and second light guiding surfaces of the planar portion of the lightguide; and a liquid-crystal display (LCD) having a liquid-crystal (LC) layer disposed between the lightguide and the mirror element and parallel to the light-emitting plane; and a light-source electronic circuitry adapted to provide power to and control an operation of the light emitters and the LCD, the light-source electronic circuitry disposed on an electronic printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned on the side of the second light-guiding surface such that an area of projection of the electronic PCB onto the light-emitting plane does not differ from an area of projection of the LCD onto the light-emitting plane by more than about 50 percent, wherein the light source further includes a segmented LC-cell in optical communication with the LCD, the segmented LC-cell being disposed between the LCD and the mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An automotive rearview assembly having a front, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; an EC mirror element disposed within the housing; a light source disposed within the housing behind the mirror element with respect to the front, the light source including; a plurality of light emitters configured to form an array of emitters and further configured to emit light along corresponding axes that define a light-emitting plane; a coupling elbow in optical communication with a portion of the array of emitters and operable to channel the light in a direction transverse to the light-emitting plane; a lightguide having an extent, a planar portion, and first and second light-guiding surfaces, the lightguide being in optical communication with coupling elbow and adapted to outcouple light channeled by the lightguide through the first light-guiding surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitters is configured to transmit light through the first and second light guiding surfaces of the planar portion of the lightguide; and a liquid-crystal display (LCD) having a liquid-crystal (LC) layer disposed between the lightguide and the EC mirror element in parallel to the light-emitting plane; a reflector positioned adjacent to a second light-guiding surface; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the lightguide and the EC mirror element, the reflective polarizer being in optical communication with the reflector, wherein the light source further includes a segmented LC-cell in optical communication with the LCD, the segmented LC-cell being disposed between the LCD and the mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An automotive rearview assembly having a front, the assembly comprising:
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a housing; a mirror element secured within the housing; and a light source disposed within the housing behind the mirror element with respect to the front, the light source including; a first light emitter configured to emit light along a first axis; a second light emitter configured to emit light along a second axis parallel to the first axis; a lightguide having a planar portion and first and second light-guiding surfaces, the lightguide being in optical communication with the first light emitter and the second light emitter and configured to outcouple light channeled by the lightguide through the first light-guiding surface a third light emitter operable to transmit light through the first and second light guiding surfaces of the planar portion of the lightguide; and a liquid-crystal display (LCD) disposed between the first light-guiding surface and the mirror element, the LCD having a liquid-crystal (LC) layer oriented parallel to the first light-guiding surface, wherein the light source further includes a segmented LC-cell in optical communication with the LCD, the segmented LC-cell being disposed between the LCD and the mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification