Focusing mirrors having variable reflective properties

• US 20030007240A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Vision Optics LLC
• Original Assignee: e-Vision, LLC (New Smart Optics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Duston, Dwight P., Kokonaski, William, Katzman, Youval
• Granted Patent: US 6,927,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/319
• 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: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0694 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/292 by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31

Abstract

A mirror assembly including an active lens and a reflective surface. The mirror assembly may change its refractive index when a voltage is applied to the active lens, thereby changing the field of view in the lens. Exemplary applications include a blind spot system in a motor vehicle, in which, upon sensing another vehicle in a driver'"'"'s blind spot, the mirror assembly changes the driver'"'"'s field of view to include the blind spot. Additional applications include a magnifying mirror for shaving or applying cosmetics.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising:

a non-opaque variable index material alterable between at least two different indices of refraction; and

a reflective surface in optical communication with the variable index material, the reflective surface positioned to reflect radiation waves passing through the non-opaque variable index material.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the variable index material is at least partially located within an optically transmissive container.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein the optically transmissive container defines a void containing at least part of the variable index material.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the index of refraction of the variable index material is altered when the variable index material is exposed to an electrical stimulus.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

At least one activation layer, the activation layer in communication with the variable index material.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein the activation layer contains a plurality of individually addressable regions.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein the individually addressable regions are activated by activation voltages.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 7 wherein the index of refraction of the variable index material associated with an individually addressable region of the plurality of individually addressable regions varies with the magnitude of the applied activation voltage.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein the individually addressable regions form concentric loops.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein the individually addressable regions form an array of pixelated regions.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein the individually addressable regions are hexagonally shaped .

12. The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein a contained filament or heating layer is activated to generate thermal energy.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein the activation layer is located within an optically transmissive container.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the void in the optically transmissive container forms the shape of a lens.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein a surface of the void in the optically transmissive container defines a patterned cross-sectional profile.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 15 wherein the patterned cross-sectional profile forms a Fresnel lens.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein an outside surface of the optically transmissive container defines a concave or convex lens

18. The mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a diffractive pattern layer, the diffractive pattern layer in optical communication with the variable index material.

20. The mirror system of claim 19 further comprising:

a sensor, the sensor in communication with the controller, the controller adapted to influence the index of refraction of the variable index material in response to signals received from the sensor.

21. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the sensor is calibrated to detect the location of a nearby motor vehicle.

22. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the controller is adapted to generate a signal to modify the index of refraction of the variable index material to be greater than the index of refraction of the optically transmissive container when it receives a signal from the sensor indicating the detection of a nearby motor vehicle.

23. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the controller is located within a carrier motor vehicle and wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the sensing range of the sensor using a characteristic of a driver of the carrier motor vehicle.

24. The mirror system of claim 23 wherein the characteristic of the driver includes one of the driver'"'"'s height of eye, the driver'"'"'s seat position, and the driver'"'"'s mirror setting.

25. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the controller is located within a carrier motor vehicle and wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the calibration of the sensor based upon the speed of the carrier motor vehicle.

26. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the sensor is in communication with a turning indicator of the carrier motor vehicle.

27. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the sensor is in communication with the steering wheel of the carrier motor vehicle.

28. The mirror system of claim 19 further comprising:

a sound generator, the sound generator in communication with the controller.

29. The mirror system of claim 28 wherein the controller is adapted to activate the sound generator when the controller receives a signal from the sensor regarding the location of a nearby motor vehicle.

30. The mirror system of claim 19 further comprising a warning light in communication with the controller.

31. The mirror system of claim 30 wherein the controller is adapted to activate the warning light when the controller receives a signal from the sensor regarding the location of a nearby motor vehicle.

32. The mirror system of claim 31 wherein control signals generated by the controller may be overridden by a manual override.

33. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein the sensor is positioned to detect the location of an individual.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the object is a motor vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the material is located in a mirror of a carrier motor vehicle.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the signal is generated by a controller located in a carrier motor vehicle.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

sensing the position of a driver of a carrier motor vehicle; and

sensing the speed of the carrier motor vehicle.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

sensing a turn signal of a carrier motor vehicle.

19. A mirror system comprising:

an optically transmissive container;

a variable index material in optical communication with the optically transmissive container, the variable index material alterable between at least two different indices of refraction;

a reflective surface in optical communication with the variable index material; and

a controller, the controller influencing the index of refraction of the variable index material.

34. A method of modifying the reflective properties of a mirror assembly comprising:

sensing the presence of an object;

generating a signal; and

exposing a material to an electromagnetic field in order to modify the material'"'"'s index of refraction.

40. A machine readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a processor, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive indication of the presence of an object;

generate a signal; and

transmit the signal to a material to modify the material'"'"'s index of refraction.

41. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein the processor further:

receives a turn signal; and

generates the signal based on the turn signal.

42. The machine readable medium of claim 40, wherein the processor further:

switches to a manual mode of operation when a user triggers a manual override; and

generates the signal when the user sends a manual command to modify the material'"'"'s index of refraction.