Auto dimming vehicle mirror

• US 20040169930A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Inventors: Munir, Kash, Gilbert, Robert William
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

A vehicle mirror assembly comprising a reflective element (21) for reflecting incident light (I), the reflective element (21) having a viewable side, a means (20) for varying the intensity of light (I) reflected from the viewable side, a photo-electrical power cell (35) for powering the means (20) for varying the intensity of reflected light (I) and a control means (40) for controlling the means (20) for varying the intensity of reflected light (I) in response to ambient light (A) conditions, wherein, in use, the intensity of the light (I) reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light (Λ) conditions. In other embodiments a power storage means is defined, for providing intermittent power to power the means (20) for varying the intensity of light (I) reflected, the power being supplied by the photo-electric power cell (35).

Claims

1. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting incident light, the reflective element having a viewable side;

a means for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side;

a photo-electrical power cell for powering the means for varying the intensity of reflected light; and

a control means for controlling the means for varying the intensity of reflected light in response to ambient light conditions,

wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions.

2. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the photo-electrical power cell is arranged and constructed to utilise the incident light from a following vehicle'"'"'s headlight to produce sufficient real-time power to power the means for varying the intensity of light reflected.

3. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

4. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel comprises a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

5. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

6. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 4 further comprising an incident light directional element arranged and constructed to exclude incident light from reaching the photo-electrical power cell where the angle of incidence of the incident light falls outside of preset angles.

7. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the incident light directional element comprises a directional filter.

8. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the incident light directional element comprises a Fresnel lens.

9. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control means comprises an ambient light directional element and a photo-electrical switching device, the ambient light directional element arranged and constructed to pass the ambient light to the photo-electrical switching device only where the angle of incidence of the ambient light falls within a preset range.

10. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ambient light directional element comprises a directional filter.

11. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ambient light directional element comprises a Fresnel lens.

12. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting incident light, the reflective element having a viewable side;

a means for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side;

a power storage means for providing intermittent power to power the means for varying the intensity of light reflected;

a photo-electrical power cell for supplying power to the power storage means; and

a control means for controlling the means for varying the intensity of reflected light in response to ambient light conditions,

wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions.

13. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

14. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel comprises a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

15. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

16. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the control means comprises an ambient light directional element and a photo-electrical switching device, the ambient light directional element arranged and constructed to pass the ambient light to the photo-electrical switching device only where the angle of incidence of the ambient light falls within a preset range.

17. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the ambient light directional element comprises a directional filter.

18. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the ambient light directional element comprises a Fresnel lens.

25. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

26. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel comprises a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

27. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

19. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting incident light, the reflective element having a viewable side;

a means for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side, the means for varying the intensity of light overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element;

a transparent photo-electrical power cell for powering the means for varying the intensity of reflected light, the power cell overlaying the means for varying the intensity of light; and

a control means for controlling the means for varying the intensity of reflected light in response to ambient light conditions,

wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions.

20. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein the photo-electrical power cell is arranged and constructed to utilise the incident light from a following vehicle'"'"'s headlight to produce sufficient real-time power to power the means for varying the intensity of light reflected.

21. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises an electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel, the sheet or panel overlaying the viewable side of the reflective element.

22. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electrically dimmable light transmitting sheet or panel comprises a gel or liquid containing suspended particles or crystals.

23. A vehicle mirror assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein the means for varying the intensity of light comprises the reflective element, the reflectiveness of the reflective element being electrically variable.

24. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting incident light, the reflective element having a viewable side;

a means for varying the intensity of light reflected from the viewable side;

a power storage means for providing intermittent power to power the means for varying the intensity of light reflected;

a transparent photo-electrical power cell for powering the means for varying the intensity of reflected light, the power cell overlaying the means for varying the intensity of light; and

a control means for controlling the means for varying the intensity of reflected light in response to ambient light conditions,

wherein, in use, the intensity of the light reflected from the viewable side is reduced in low ambient light conditions.