Vehicle mirror system with light piping element

• US 20050259309A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,198,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• 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 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element and, preferably, at least a first and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction. The system further includes a light piping element that pipes light to the first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which the second photo-sensor is exposed. The first photo-sensor comprises a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation. A spectral filter is disposed in front of the first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident thereat. The spectral filter preferably comprises at least one of a) a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region; and b) an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction;

said mirror assembly comprising a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which said second photo-sensor is exposed;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter comprising at least one chosen from;

(a) a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region; and

(b) an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

21. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said first photo-sensor is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode and a CMOS photo-sensor.

22. The rearview mirror system in claim 21 wherein said second photo-sensor is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode and a CMOS photo-sensor.

23. The rearview mirror system in claim 22 wherein said light piping element comprises an optical plastic.

24. The rearview mirror system in claim 23 wherein said optical plastic comprises an acrylic.

25. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly.

26. The rearview mirror system in claim 25 wherein said light piping element exposes said first photo-sensor to light passing through a vehicle windshield.

27. The rearview mirror system in claim 25 wherein said light piping element exposes said first photo-sensor to light from another vehicle approaching from the rear of the vehicle to which the interior rearview mirror is attached.

28. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said spectral filter comprises an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

29. The rearview mirror system in claim 28 wherein said infrared attenuating dye is disposed in a light transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.

30. The rearview mirror system in claim 28 wherein said infrared attenuating dye is disposed in said light piping element.

31. The rearview mirror system in claim 28 wherein said infrared attenuating dye comprises an inorganic material.

32. The rearview mirror system in claim 31 wherein said inorganic material comprises a nickel complex.

33. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said first photo-sensor comprises a photo-transistor.

34. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said first photo-sensor comprises a photo-diode.

35. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said first photo-sensor and said second photo-sensor comprise a photo-transistor.

36. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said first photo-sensor and said second photo-sensor comprise a photo-diode.

37. The rearview mirror system in claim 20 wherein said spectral filter comprises a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region.

38. The rearview mirror system in claim 37 wherein said filter element comprises a near-infrared attenuating dye incorporated in an optical polymer.

39. The rearview mirror system in claim 38 wherein said optical polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic, a polystyrene, an acrylate, a polyester, CR39 and a COC polyolefin.

40. The rearview mirror system in claim 28 wherein said polymer material comprises a light-transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.

41. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

said semiconductor photo-sensor comprising one of a photo-diode and a photo-transistor;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter comprising a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region;

said filter element comprising a near-infrared attenuating dye incorporated in an optical polymer; and

wherein said optical polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic, a polystyrene, an acrylate, a polyester, CR39 and a COC polyolefin.

42. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

said semiconductor photo-sensor comprising one chosen from a photo-diode and a photo-transistor;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter comprising an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material; and

wherein said polymer material comprises a light-transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.