REARVIEW MIRROR WITH ILLUMINATED AREA

• US 20110211360A1
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Secanu, Florin, Erber, Andreas, Pirner, Alexander, Kuhn, Joerg
• Application Number:
  US12/852,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

The rearview mirror comprises a mirror glass, which is mounted to a carrier plate. A display unit is disposed behind the mirror glass and the carrier plate, which generates a light beam by means of an illuminant, wherein said light beam is coupled into a light conductor. The light beam is directed outward by means of a reflection free portion of the mirror glass, so that light passing through is directed towards the driver by means of the deflection optics.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for motor vehicles, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a carrier plate;

a mirror glass having a primary surface and a secondary surface, said secondary surface mounted to said carrier plate;

an illuminant disposed between said carrier plate and said secondary surface of said mirror glass for producing light;

a light conductor disposed adjacent said illuminant for receiving the light produced by said illuminant and directing it toward said secondary surface of said mirror glass, said light conductor having a coupling end for receiving the light and a decoupling end whereat the light is transmitted out of said light conductor, and a conductor body extending between said coupling and decoupling ends, said conductor body including reflection surfaces (16) extending three dimensional curved planes to facilitate the even distribution of the light as the light is transmitted through said decoupling end.

2. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conductor body includes a plurality of light conductor segments, each extending through a three dimensional curved plane.

3. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 2 including deflection optics at said decoupling end of said light conductor for deflecting the light toward a driver of the motor vehicle.

4. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said reflection surfaces extend through a reflection surface radius of curvature.

5. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said deflection surface defines a deflection radius of curvature smaller than said reflection surface radius of curvature to homogenize the light as it exits said decoupling end and is received by said deflection optics.

6. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said defection surface is disposed adjacent said secondary surface.

7. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said secondary surface of said mirror glass includes a primary reflective coating to reflect ambient light transmitted through said primary surface back through said primary surface.

8. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein a portion of said secondary surface disposed adjacent said deflective optics has a secondary reflective coating less than said primary reflective coating.