Illuminating display with light gathering structure

• US 10,025,138 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, II, James D., Lisowski, Michael F., Veenman, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US15/615,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20170351128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 362494
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/003 by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133618 for ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/15 based on an electrochromic effect

Abstract

A display mirror assembly having a housing. An electro-optic element is disposed within the housing. A light gathering structure is operably coupled with a first side of the electro-optic element and is configured to draw ambient light from outside the housing. A display module is disposed within the housing and is operable between an on state and an off state. A light relaying structure is operably coupled with a second side of the electro-optic element and is configured to relay light from the electro-optic element to a first edge of the display module. A backlit module is disposed at a second edge of the display module.

Claims

1. A display mirror assembly comprising:

a housing;

an electro-optic element disposed within the housing;

a light gathering structure operably coupled with a first side of the electro-optic element and configured to draw ambient light from outside the housing;

a display module disposed within the housing and operable between an on state and an off state;

a light relaying structure operably coupled with a second side of the electro-optic element and configured to relay light from the electro-optic element to a first edge of the display module; and

a backlit module disposed at a second edge of the display module.

2. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light gathering structure and the light relaying structure includes a fiber optic cable.

3. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the electro-optic element is an electrochromic element.

4. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the display module is one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

5. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the light relaying structure diffuses light from the electro-optic element and distributes the light to a first edge of the display module.

6. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the backlit module includes an LED backlit module proximate a second edge of the display module.

7. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared filter that filters light received by the light gathering structure.

8. A rearview device comprising:

a housing defining a forward opening;

a light restricting device disposed within the housing;

a light gathering structure operably coupled with a first side of the light restricting device and configured to draw ambient light from outside the housing;

a display module disposed within the housing and configured to display an image toward the forward opening; and

a light relaying structure operably coupled with a second side of the light restricting device and configured to relay light to the display module, the light relaying structure being disposed between the forward opening and the display module.

9. The rearview device of claim 8, wherein the light restricting device includes an electrochromic element.

10. The rearview device of claim 8, wherein the display module is one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

11. The rearview device of claim 8, wherein the light relaying structure diffuses light from the electro-optic element and distributes the light to a first edge of the display module.

12. The rearview device of claim 8, further comprising:

an LED backlit module proximate a second edge of the display module.

13. The rearview device of claim 8, further comprising:

an infrared filter that filters light received by the light gathering structure.

14. A rearview device comprising:

a housing defining a forward opening;

a light restricting device disposed within the housing and including an electro-optic element;

an external fiber optic element operably coupled with a first side of the light restricting device and configured to draw ambient light from outside the housing;

a display module disposed within the housing; and

an internal fiber optic element operably coupled with a second side of the light restricting device and configured to relay light from the electro-optic element to the display module, wherein the electro-optic element is disposed between the forward opening and the display module.

15. The rearview device of claim 14, wherein the electro-optic element is a partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

16. The rearview device of claim 14, wherein the electro-optic element is an electrochromic element.

17. The rearview device of claim 14, wherein the display module is one of an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, and DLP display element.

18. The rearview device of claim 14, wherein the internal fiber optic element diffuses light from the electro-optic element and distributes the light to a first edge of the display module.

19. The rearview device of claim 14, further comprising:

a backlit module disposed at a second edge of the display module.