LIGHT-EMITTING DISPLAY DEVICE-EQUIPPED REAR-VIEW MIRROR

• US 20090244740A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: TAKAYANAGI, Shinya, NAKAMURA, Masatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0833 comprising inorganic materials only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/26 Reflecting filters G02B5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

Interference of light is prevented from occurring in a rear-view mirror incorporating a light-emitting display device where a dark color mask member is arranged behind a mirror element. A mirror element is formed by forming a semi-transmissive reflective film on one surface of a transparent substrate. On a back surface of the mirror element, a dark color mask member is arranged. An opening a is formed in the dark color mask member. Behind the mirror element, a light-emitting display device is arranged facing the opening. A protrusion forming a spacer is formed on the entire peripheral edge of a front surface of the dark color mask member. The spacer provides a clearance gap between the semi-transmissive reflective film and the dark color mask member.

Claims

1. A light-emitting display device-equipped rear-view mirror comprising:

a mirror element having a semi-transmissive reflective film on one surface of a transparent substrate;

a dark color mask member having an opening in a surface thereof, the mask member being arranged facing an entire region excluding a region facing the opening or a relevant region excluding the region facing the opening, of a back surface of the mirror element, at least a front surface of the mask member being of a dark color; and

a spacer arranged between the transparent substrate and the dark color mask member and providing a clearance gap between the transparent substrate and the dark color mask member; and

a light-emitting display device arranged at a position behind the mirror element, with a display surface facing the opening of the dark color mask member, wherein

a distance provided by the clearance gap between the transparent substrate and the dark color mask member is set to a distance that prevents interference of light from occurring between light reflected by the back surface of the mirror element and light reflected by the front surface of the dark color mask member.

2. The light-emitting display device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the distance provided by the clearance gap is no less than 0.3 mm and no more than 5 mm.

3. The light-emitting display device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is formed of a protrusion protruding from a peripheral edge of a surface of the dark color mask member facing the mirror element.

4. The light-emitting display device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein an arithmetic average roughness Ra of the front surface of the dark color mask member facing the mirror element is no more than 0.6 μ

m.

5. The light-emitting display device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the semi-transmissive reflective film is formed of a dielectric multilayer film.

6. The light-emitting display device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein a reflection peak wavelength in a visible light range of the mirror element is set to from 430 nm to 630 nm, preferably, from 500 nm to 550 nm.