Reflection controllable view mirror device for motor vehicle or the like

• US 4,603,946 A
• Filed: 09/22/1983
• Issued: 08/05/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki-Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Nakaho, Junichi, Kato, Shigeru, Shibahara, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, B. S.
• Application Number:
  US06/534,604
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 350/331 R, 350/338, 350/279, 350/278, 350/283, 350/355
• US Class Current: 349/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

A reflection controllable view mirror device having an electro-optical assembly which changes its optical transmittance to vary quantity of light passing therethrough in accordance with the magnitude of the applied voltage, a control circuit to control the transmittance at a value so as to ensure predetermined uniform reflection under circumstances permitting transmittance to deviate from inherent one because of deterioration or the like. Another control circuit is provided to control to ensure the inherent transmittance for predetermined reflection under the same circumstances.

Claims

1. A reflection controllable rear view mirror device having an electro-optical means, the transmittance of which varies in accordance with voltage applied thereto to change a quantity of light passing therethrough, and a mirror means mounted on the electro-optical means for reflecting said light, comprising:

(A) a photo-sensitive means for simultaneously receiving both light passing through the electro-optical means and light, the quantity of which is not varied by the electro-optical means,

said photo-sensitive means producing electric signals, the magnitude of which signals correspond with the summation of the light passing through the electro-optical means and the light, the quantity of which is not varied by the electro-optical means, and

(B) a control circuit for controlling voltage applied to the electro-optical means so that the magnitude of the electric signals produced by the photo-sensitive means may become equal to a predetermined value.

2. A reflection controllable rear view mirror device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the photo-sensitive means comprises a first photo-sensor for receiving the light passing through the electro-optical means and a second photo-sensor for receiving the light, the quantity of which is not varied by the electro optical means.

3. A reflection controllable rear view mirror device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the output of the photo-sensitive means is gained as the summation of the output produced by the first and second photo-sensors.

4. A reflection controllable rear view mirror device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photo-sensitive means comprises an optical fiber for guiding to a photo-sensor the light, the quantity of which is not varied by the electro-optical means.

5. A reflection controllable rear view mirror device comprising

(A) an electro-optical means the optical transmittance of which varies in accordance with voltage applied thereto;

(B) a mirror means mounted on the electro-optical means for reflecting light passing therethrough and a photo-sensing portion provided adjacent to the mirror means for allowing light to pass therethrough;

(C) a photo-sensitive means for receiving light passing through the photo-sensing portion;

(D) a calculator circuit for modifying a differential to become a desired value, said differential being produced as a result of varying the output voltage of the photo-sensitive means by alternately applying a reference voltage and a tentatively-set voltage to the photo-sensing portion;

(E) a means for setting the quantity of light passing through the electro-optical means;

(F) a circuit means including a differential amplifier for comparing the reference voltage (V₁₇) produced by the means for setting with an output voltage (V₄₀) from the calculator circuit to vary the voltage applied to the electro-optical means so that the quantity of light may become equal to the predetermined value of the voltage (V₁₇); and

(G) a corrector means for converting the quantity of light falling onto the outer surface of the electro-optical means into electric signals to control the predetermined value of the voltage (V₁₇) in accordance with said electric signals so that the transmittance of the electro-optical means may decrease with the increase of the quantity of light falling onto the outer surface of the electro-optical means.