ELECTRONIC MIRROR WITH AN ENHANCED SWITCH-ABLE LENS SYSTEM

• US 20190086723A1
• Filed: 09/20/2017
• Published: 03/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Weindorf, Paul Fredrick Luther
• Application Number:
  US15/710,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20190086723A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 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 1/11 Anti-reflection coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133502 Antiglare, refractive index matching layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133562 on the viewer side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133567 on the back side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/139 based on orientation effects in which the liquid crystal remains transparent

Abstract

An electronic-mirror (e-mirror) system is disclosed herein. The system includes a backlit display configured to present content; a first reflective polarizer layer overlapping the backlit display; an air gap layer introduced between the backlit display and the first reflective polarizer; a rotator cell layer directly overlapping the first reflective polarizer; a second reflective polarizer directly overlapping the rotator cell; a switch-able polarizer directly overlapping the second reflective polarizer; and a lens directly overlapping the switch-able polarizer. Also included herein is an index matched interface and front anti-reflective film, thereby allowing the e-mirror to be both in the states of a reflective and electronic display mode without requiring a toggling towards a low luminance surface.

Claims

1. An electronic-mirror (e-mirror) system, comprising:

a backlit display configured to present content;

a first reflective polarizer layer overlapping the backlit display;

an air gap layer introduced between the backlit display and the first reflective polarizer;

a rotator cell layer directly overlapping the first reflective polarizer;

a second reflective polarizer directly overlapping the rotator cell;

a switch-able polarizer directly overlapping the second reflective polarizer; and

a lens directly overlapping the switch-able polarizer.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the backlit display, the rotator cell layer and the switch-able polarizer are electrically coupled to a controllable voltage source, and in response to the backlit display being turned on, the controllable voltage source being configured to apply a voltage.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotator cell layer is defined as an electronically controlled wave plate.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lens is defined as a front glass with antireflective coating.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a first antireflective layer physically in abutment with the backlit display on a surface opposing the air gap, a second antireflective layer physically in abutment with first reflective layer on a surface opposing the air gap.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is a reflective surface, and the second zone is a digital electronic screen.

6. An electronic-mirror (e-mirror) system, comprising:

a backlit display configured to present content;

a first reflective polarizer layer overlapping the backlit display;

an optical adhesive layer introduced between the backlit display and the first reflective polarizer, the optical adhesive layer covering a whole surface of the backlit display viewable through a lens;

a rotator cell layer directly overlapping the first reflective polarizer;

a second reflective polarizer directly overlapping the rotator cell;

a switch-able polarizer directly overlapping the second reflective polarizer; and

the lens directly overlapping the switch-able polarizer.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the backlit display, the rotator cell layer and the switch-able polarizer are electrically coupled to a controllable voltage source, and in response to the backlit display being turned on, the controllable voltage source being configured to apply a voltage.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the rotator cell layer is defined as an electronically controlled wave plate.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the lens is defined as a front glass with antireflective coating.

11. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is a reflective surface, and the second zone is a digital electronic screen.