Signaling assembly

• US 20080024864A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: KW Muth Company
• Original Assignee: KW Muth Company
• Inventors: Alberti, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US11/495,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/515
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A signaling assembly is described and which includes a semitransparent mirror formed of a glass substrate formed of neodymium oxide doped glass and which absorbs, at least in part, a predetermined band of yellow light, and which further defines a region through which visible light may pass; and an emitter of visible light is positioned adjacent to the semitransparent mirror and which, when energized, emits visible light which passes through the region of the semitransparent mirror which passes visible light to form a visibly discernible signal.

Claims

1. A signaling assembly, comprising:

a semitransparent mirror formed of a glass substrate having a mirror coating, and wherein the glass substrate substantially absorbs a predetermined band of yellow light, and which further defines a region through which visible light may pass; and

an emitter of visible light positioned adjacent to the semitransparent mirror and which, when energized, emits visible light which passes through the region of the semitransparent mirror which passes visible light to form a visibly discernible signal.

2. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the mirror coating comprises:

a primary region which reflects visible light, and a secondary region adjacent thereto, and which is ablated, in part, to completely remove the mirror coating, and which further passes visible light, while simultaneously reflecting visible light, and wherein the average reflectance of the primary and secondary regions is greater than about 50%, and wherein at viewing distances of greater that about 4 feet, under normal ambient lighting conditions, the primary and secondary regions are not normally discernible.

3. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the emitter of visible light is positioned adjacent to the secondary region, and which emits visible light which is passed by the secondary region to form a visibly discernible signal.

4. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the secondary region includes at least one substantially elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation which is formed in the mirror coating, and which allows the emitted visible light to pass therethrough.

5. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation reflects, on average, greater than about 50% of visible light.

6. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation has a major and a minor axis, and is further defined by a plurality of ablated lines which facilitate the transmission of the emitted visible light, provided by the emitter of visible light in a direction principally along the major axis thereof.

7. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 6, and wherein the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation has a first elliptically shaped zone, and a second zone which is adjacent thereto, and wherein the first elliptically shaped zone is formed of a plurality of curved substantially concentrically oriented ablated lines, and wherein the first elliptically shaped zone has a major axis which is substantially normal relative to the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation, and a minor axis which is substantially coaxially aligned relative thereto.

8. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 7, and wherein the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation has a length dimension, and wherein the minor dimension of the first elliptically shaped zone has a length dimension which is less than about 50% of the length dimension of the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation.

9. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 7, and wherein the second zone is defined by a plurality of spaced, arcuately shaped ablated lines, and wherein the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation substantially bisects each of the arcuately shaped ablated lines.

10. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the first elliptically shaped zone has a geometric center which is positioned along the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation, and wherein the second zone is defined by a plurality of spaced, arcuately shaped ablated lines which are oriented so as to be substantially bisected by the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation, and wherein the ablated lines forming, the first and second zones of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation each have a diminishing width dimension when measured along the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation in a direction extending from the geometric center through the second zone.

11. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation has a length dimension of less than about 10 millimeters, and the minor axis has a length dimension of less than about 8 millimeters.

12. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the secondary region of the mirror coating has a plurality of spaced light transmitting ablations which are positioned in a spaced predetermined geometric pattern, one relative to the others.

13. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the semitransparent mirror is mounted in a mirror housing which is affixed to an overland vehicle, and wherein the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation principally passes light which is produced by the emitter of visible light in a direction which is horizontally laterally outwardly relative to the direction of movement of the overland vehicle.

14. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 12, and wherein the distance of separation between the arcuately shaped ablated lines forming the second zone increase When measured along the major axis of the elliptically shaped light transmitting ablation, and in a direction extending from the first zone and through the second zone.

15. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 14, and wherein the plurality of arcuately shaped ablated lines forming the second zone are substantially continuous, and wherein the concentrically oriented ablated lines are discontinuous.

16. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the visible light which is produced by the emitter of visible light includes the band of yellow light which is substantially absorbed by the semitransparent mirror.

17. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the visible light which is produced by the emitter of visible light does not include the band of yellow light which is substantially absorbed by the semitransparent mirror.

18. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the glass substrate has an effective concentration of neodymium oxide.

19. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 18, and wherein the effective concentration of the neodymium oxide renders the semitransparent mirror substantially blue in appearance when viewed under artificial lighting conditions.

20. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the semitransparent mirror has a forward and a rearward facing surface, and wherein a polarizing filter is borne by the rearward facing surface of the semitransparent mirror, and which absorbs the predetermined band of yellow light to further reduce the amount of yellow light which is reflected by the semitransparent mirror.

21. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 20, and wherein the rearward facing surface of the semitransparent mirror has a surface area, and wherein the polarizing film covers substantially the entire rearward facing surface area of the semitransparent mirror.

22. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 20, and wherein the rearward facing surface of the semitransparent mirror has a surface area, and wherein the polarizing film covers only a portion of the rearward facing surface area of the semitransparent surface area.

23. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 22, and wherein the polarizing film does not cover the secondary region of the semitransparent mirror through which the visible light passes.

24. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the signaling assembly is mounted on an overland vehicle and is used, at least in part, by an operator of the overland vehicle to view regions which are located laterally outwardly, and rearwardly of the overland vehicle, and wherein the predetermined band of yellow light, when reflected, forms at least in part, glare which diminishes the operator'"'"'s view of the regions which are located laterally outwardly and rearwardly of the overland vehicle, and wherein the semitransparent mirror reduces the amount of glare experienced by the operator when a source of artificial light, having the predetermined band of yellow light, is reflected by the semitransparent mirror, and into the eyes of the operator.

25. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 24, and wherein the semitransparent mirror comprises an electrochromic mirror.

26. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 25, and wherein the semitransparent mirror has a forward and a rearward facing surface, and further comprises:

a circuit substrate which rests thereagainst the rearward facing surface of the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the emitter of visible light is mounted on the circuit substrate, and wherein the circuit substrate defines a region through which visible light may pass, and which is substantially aligned with the secondary region in the semitransparent mirror which passes visible light; and

a reflector oriented in covering, substantially eccentric reflecting relation relative to the emitter of visible light and which reflects the emitted visible light through both the region defined by the circuit substrate, and the secondary region of the semitransparent mirror which passes visible light to form the visibly discernible signal.

27. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the semitransparent mirror has a forward and a rearward facing surface, and further comprises:

a circuit substrate which is positioned in spaced relation relative to the rearward facing surface of the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the emitter of visible light is mounted on the circuit substrate.

28. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the predetermined band of yellow light has a bandwidth of less than about 35 nanometers, and a wavelength which lies predominately within the range of about 565 to about 598 nanometers, and wherein the emitter of visible light emits visible light which is passed by semitransparent mirror, and which has a bandwidth of at least equal to the bandwidth of the yellow light, and which has wavelengths which lie in the range of about 400 to about 770 nanometers.

29. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 28, and wherein the semitransparent mirror simultaneously reflects and passes a band of visible light which has a bandwidth of greater than about 150 nanometers, while simultaneously substantially absorbing the yellow light which lies in the narrow band having the bandwidth of less than about 35 nanometers.

30. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 29, and wherein the semitransparent mirror absorbs greater than about 80% of the yellow light.

31. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 29, and wherein the semitransparent mirror has a forward and rearward facing surface, and wherein a polarizing filter is borne by the rearwardly facing surface, and which absorbs an amount of yellow light which is passed by the glass substrate, and wherein the glass substrate, alone, absorbs less than about 50% of the yellow light, and the polarizing film, alone, absorbs less than about 30% of the yellow light.

32. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 31, and wherein the polarizing film does not cover the region of the semitransparent mirror which passes visible light.

33. A signaling assembly, comprising:

a semitransparent mirror formed of a dichroic neodymium oxide doped glass substrate having a forward facing, and an opposite rearward facing surface, and a neutrally chromatic reflective layer positioned on the rearward facing surface thereof, and wherein the semitransparent mirror defines a primary region which reflects less than about 20% of a source of visible light having a first portion with wavelengths of about 565 to about 598 nanometers, and a bandwidth of less than about 35 nanometers, and greater than about 50% of a second portion of the visible light having wavelengths which lie within a range of about 400 to about 700 nanometers, and further having a bandwidth of greater than about twice the bandwidth of the first portion of the source of visible light, and which strikes the forward facing surface thereof, and wherein the semitransparent mirror further defines a secondary region, which is adjacent to the primary region, and which passes less than about 20% of the visible light having a wavelength of about 565 to about 598 nanometers, and greater than about 70% of the second portion of the visible light; and

an emitter of visible light positioned in light transmitting relation relative to the rearward facing surface of the dichroic neodymium oxide doped glass substrate, and adjacent to the secondary region thereof, and wherein the emitter of visible light, when energized, emits the second portion of the visible light which is passed by the secondary region, and which forms a visibly discernible signal when viewed at a distance from the forward facing surface.

34. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 33, and wherein the dichroic neodymium doped glass substrate has a neodymium oxide concentration which imparts a blue color to the glass substrate when it is viewed under artificial lighting conditions.

35. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 33, and wherein the dichroic neodymium doped glass substrate has a neodymium oxide concentration which imparts a red color to the glass substrate when it is viewed under artificial lighting conditions.

36. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 33, and further comprising:

a polarizing filter positioned therebetween the rearward facing surface of the neodymium oxide doped glass substrate, and the reflective coating, and wherein the polarizing filter absorbs visible light having wavelengths of about 565 to about 598 nanometers.

37. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 33, and wherein the semitransparent mirror comprises an electrochromic mirror.

38. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 33, and wherein the neutrally chromatic reflective layer is completely removed to define, at least in part, the secondary region of the semitransparent mirror.

39. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 33, and further comprising:

a polarizing film disposed in covering relation relative to the rearward facing surface of the dichroic neodymium oxide doped glass substrate, and wherein the polarizing film absorbs visible light having wavelengths of about 565 to about 598 nanometers.

40. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 39, and wherein the polarizing film covers substantially the entire surface area of the rearward facing surface of the dichroic neodymium oxide doped glass substrate.

41. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 39, and wherein the polarizing film only covers the secondary region of the semitransparent mirror.

42. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 39, and wherein the polarizing film only covers the primary region of the semitransparent mirror.

43. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 39, and wherein the concentration of the neodymium oxide in the dichroic neodymium oxide doped glass substrate renders the glass blue in appearance when viewed under artificial lighting conditions.

44. A signaling assembly, comprising:

an enclosure defining an aperture;

a dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror borne by the enclosure and positioned in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture, and wherein the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror reflects and passes a broad band of visible light while simultaneously absorbing, at least in part, a predetermined narrow band of yellow light; and

an emitter of visible light borne by the enclosure and emitting visible light within the broad band of visible light which is passed by the dichroic neodymium doped semitransparent mirror.

45. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 44, and wherein the broad band of visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror lies within a range of 400 to about 700 nanometers, and has a bandwidth at least equal to the bandwidth of the yellow light which is absorbed by the neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror.

46. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 44, and wherein the broad band of visible light produced by the emitter of visible light includes the band of yellow light which is absorbed by the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror.

47. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 44, and wherein the broad band of visible light emitted by the emitter does not include the band of yellow light which is absorbed by the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror.

48. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 44, and wherein the broad band of visible light which is reflected and passed by the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror is greater than about 150 nanometers.

49. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 44, and further comprising:

a polarizing filter positioned therebetween the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror and the emitter of visible light, and wherein the polarizing filter absorbs, at least in part, the band of yellow light which is absorbed by the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror.

50. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 49, and wherein the dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror absorbs a preponderance of the narrow band of yellow light.

51. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 50, and wherein dichroic neodymium oxide doped semitransparent mirror appears blue when viewed under artificial light.

52. A signaling assembly, comprising:

a dichroic semitransparent mirror which absorbs a narrow band of visible light while simultaneously reflecting a broad band of visible light; and

an emitter of visible light positioned adjacent to the dichroic semitransparent mirror, and which emits light which is passed by the dichroic semitransparent mirror.

53. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 52, and wherein the narrow band of visible light which is absorbed is less than about 50 nanometers in width.

54. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 52, and wherein the broad band of visible light which is reflected by the dichroic semitransparent mirror is greater than 50 nanometers in width.

55. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 52, and wherein the dichroic semitransparent mirror has a mirror coating which is substantially neutrally chromatic.

56. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 55, and wherein the neutrally chromatic mirror coating is ablated to define a region through which the visible light provided by the emitter may pass therethrough.

57. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 56, and wherein at viewing distances of greater than 4 feet, the ablated region of dichroic semitransparent mirror is not normally discernable.

58. A signaling assembly as claimed in claim 52, and wherein the dichroic semitransparent mirror is formed of a neodymium oxide doped glass substrate which substantially absorbs yellow light, and passes all remaining bands of visible light, and a substantially neutrally chromatic mirror coating borne by the neodymium oxide doped glass substrate, and which is effective for reflecting the bands of visible light which is not absorbed by the neodymium oxide doped glass substrate.