Rear View Mirror

• US 20100259843A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Petniunas, Alexander, Forbes, James Wendell
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence

Abstract

A rear view mirror assembly is disclosed in which the mirror has a viewing section and an alignment section meeting to form a reflex angle. The alignment section is etched with a targeting image: a cross-hair or the side surface of the vehicle. When the targeting image is aligned with appropriate feature on the side of the vehicle, the reflex angle is such that the mirror is properly aligned. Also disclosed is a mirror assembly having viewing section and an alignment section with a clear protective outer layer a selective acceptance layer below the clear protective outer layer, and a colored substrate below the selective layer. When the vehicle operator can see the colored substrate through the selective acceptance layer, which transmits only normal light, the mirror is properly aligned.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an adjustable mounting structure;

a mirror having a viewing section and an alignment section, the alignment section having a visual alignment feature that may be viewed to confirm that the viewing section is properly aligned with the adjustable mounting structure wherein the visual alignment feature comprises a selective acceptance layer that reflects light in a limited field of view.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the selective acceptance layer covers an opaque colored layer.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein the selective acceptance layer and the opaque colored layer are embedded in the viewing section.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a clear protective layer over the selective acceptance layer.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the selective acceptance layer transmits light rays which are substantially normal and substantially absorbs absorbs non-normal light rays.

18. The mirror system of claim 1 wherein the acute angle is in the range of 5-45 degrees.

6. A method to provide a mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

installing a mirror adjustment mechanism onto a mirror frame, the mirror frame having a mirror mounted therein wherein the mirror has a substantially flat surface including a facet, the facet comprising a selective acceptance layer which transmits light rays which are substantially normal and absorbs non-normal light rays; and

installing the mirror frame on an outside surface of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the facet further comprises:

a clear protective outer layer on top of the selective acceptance layer.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the facet further comprises:

an opaque substrate below the selective layer.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the opaque substrate is colored.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein a plane of a surface of the mirror and a plane of the surface of the facet form an obtuse angle in the range of 135 to 175 degrees.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the facet is coupled to a surface of mirror.

13. A mirror system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a mirror;

a facet coupled to the mirror wherein the facet comprises a selective acceptance layer that reflects light in a limited field of view.

12. The method of claim 19 wherein the facet is embedded in the mirror

14. The mirror system of claim 13 wherein the facet is coupled to a surface of the mirror.

15. The mirror system of claim 13 wherein the facet is embedded into the mirror.

16. The mirror system of claim 13 wherein the facet further comprises a colored layer coupled to the selective acceptance layer.

17. The mirror system of claim 13 wherein a vector normal to a surface of the mirror and a vector aligned with the limited field at which light is reflected from the selective acceptance layer form an acute angle.

19. The mirror system of claim 13 wherein the facet further comprises a clear, protective layer over the selective acceptance layer;

the facet is embedded into the mirror, and the clear, protective layer is of nonuniform thickness such that the upper surface of the clear, protective layer is substantially coplanar with a plane of an upper surface of the mirror.

20. The mirror system of claim 13 wherein the facet further comprises an opaque, colored layer disposed below the selective acceptance layer.