Rearview/display mirror assembly

• US 20030227689A1
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exon Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsiao, Shun-Hsiang, Chen, Kuei-Hung, Su, Wen-Wei, Wu, Hsien-Jen
• Granted Patent: US 6,916,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A mirror assembly for optional rearview and display includes a specific material of a reflective layer. The reflective layer is made of a multi-layer film such as SiO₂/metal/SiO₂ or TiO₂/metal/TiO₂, and preferably has a transmittance of 15%˜60%. Accordingly, the driver can see the objects at his side on the mirror via the reflection of the reflective layer as well as the active information provided by the display behind the mirror. The active information includes speed information, turning information and/or backing-up information.

Claims

1. A rearview/display mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror for showing thereon an image of an object and/or an active information to be observed by a user;

a multi-film reflective layer provided at a side of said mirror opposite to the user to allow said image of said object at the same side as the user to be reflected and shown on said mirror; and

a display for providing said active information, disposed at a side of said multi-film reflective layer opposite to said mirror, the light emitted therefrom partially penetrating through said multi-film reflective layer to have said active information shown on said mirror.

2. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said multi-film reflective layer is a composite layer of metal and silicon dioxide.

3. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 2 wherein the multi-film reflective layer is a silicon dioxide/metal/silicon dioxide composite layer.

4. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 3 wherein said metal in the multi-film layer is selected from aluminum, silver or chromium.

5. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said multi-film reflective layer is a composite layer of metal and titanium dioxide.

6. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 5 wherein the multi-film reflective layer is a titanium dioxide/metal/titanium dioxide composite layer.

7. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 6 wherein said metal in the multi-film layer is selected from aluminum, silver or chromium.

8. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said multi-film reflective layer has a transmittance of 15%-60%.

9. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said display is a planar display.

10. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 9 wherein said display is one selected from a group consisting of a thin-film electro-luminescence (EL) display, a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD).

11. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 9 wherein said display is a digit planar display.

12. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 11 wherein said display is a thin-film seven-segment display.

13. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a light-absorbing background, disposed at a side of said reflective layer opposite to said mirror for absorbing the external light penetrating through said reflective layer so as to avoid the interruption with the display of said image of said object on said mirror.

14. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 being a vehicular rearview mirror.

15. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said active information includes a rear clearance informed by back-warning radar, speed, revolving rate, heading direction, turning indication, door safety check, illumination check, temperature, UV index, stereo volume, radio channel and/or telephone number.

16. A rearview/display mirror assembly, comprising:

a rearview mirror for showing thereon an image of an object at the same side as a driver to be observed by the driver;

a display disposed at the back of the rearview mirror, and emitting light penetrating through the rearview mirror to provide an active information to be observed by the driver;

a metal/silicon dioxide composite layer disposed between said rearview mirror and said display, and having a transmittance of 15%˜

60%; and

a light-absorbing background disposed at a side of said metal/silicon dioxide composite layer opposite to said rearview mirror for absorbing the external light penetrating through said metal/silicon dioxide composite layer.

17. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 16 wherein said metal in said metal/silicon dioxide composite layer is selected from aluminum, silver or chromium.

18. A rearview/display mirror assembly, comprising:

a rearview mirror for showing thereon an image of an object at the same side as a driver to be observed by the driver;

a display disposed at the back of the rearview mirror, and emitting light penetrating through the rearview mirror to provide an active information to be observed by the driver;

a metal/titanium dioxide composite layer disposed between said rearview mirror and said display, and having a transmittance of 15%˜

60%; and

a light-absorbing background disposed at a side of said metal/silicon dioxide composite layer opposite to said rearview mirror for absorbing the external light penetrating through said metal/titanium dioxide composite layer.

19. The rearview/display mirror assembly according to claim 18 wherein said metal in said metal/titanium dioxide composite layer is selected from aluminum, silver or chromium.