Dazzle-free mirror with photocell in a non-dazzle-free portion

• US 4,721,364 A
• Filed: 08/09/1985
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Itoh, Hiroshi, Fukada, Tsuyoshi, Suzuki, Yasutoshi, Ohmi, Shinya, Hara, Kunihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, David
• Application Number:
  US06/767,799
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 350/338, 350/334, 350/331 R, 350/344, 350/278-283
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1822 comprising means for aligning the optical axis G02B7/1821 takes precedence

Abstract

A dazzle-free reflection mirror, which may be used as an inner mirror or an outer mirror of a vehicle, has an electro-optical element of which transparency is changed by applying an electric field thereto in order to effectuate a dazzle-free operation. The dazzle-free reflection mirror comprises a dazzle-free portion to effectuate the dazzle-free operation at a lower part of the mirror surface and a non-dazzle-free portion not to effectuate the dazzle-free operation at the rest part of the mirror surface. The dazzle-free portion shields light from following-vehicle headlights at night so that the driver feels no glaring. The non-dazzle-free portion clearly images a rear view so that the driver can see an appearance of the following vehicle.

Claims

1. A dazzle-free reflection mirror having a mirror surface, comprising:

an electro-optical element of which transparency is changed by applying an electric field thereto extending over a lower portion of said mirror surface to be dazzle-free, a remaining portion of said mirror surface being non-dazzle-free;

means for reflecting light provided behind said electro-optical element and said non-dazzle-free portion, at least the portion of said reflection means provided behind said non-dazzle-free portion being a translucent mirror layer passing a part of incident light therethrough;

means, provided behind said translucent mirror layer, for detecting light incident through said non-dazzle-free portion and said translucent mirror layer; and

means for applying an electric field to said electro-optical element to effectuate the dazzle-free operation of said dazzle-free portion in response to the detection of said light detecting means, whereby only said dazzle-free portion of said mirror surface can assume a dazzle-free condition.

2. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, wherein said dazzle-free portion occupys a lower portion between a half and five-sixths from a bottom end.

3. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electro-optical element is provided between a pair of parallel electrode layers, and said dazzle-free portion and said non-dazzle-free portion are constructed by eliminating a portion of at least one of said pair of electrode layers.

4. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electro-optical element is provided between a pair of parallel electrode layers, and said dazzle-free portion and said non-dazzle-free portion are constructed by forming a slit on at least one of said pair of electrode layers so that electrode layers separated by said slit are electrically insulated each other.

5. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electro-optical element is provided between a pair of parallel electrode layers, and said dazzle-free portion and said non-dazzle-free portion are constructed by forming a transparent insulation film on a portion of at least one of said pair of electrode layers.

6. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, said dazzle-free portion is constructed by providing said electro-optical element in a portion between a pair of parallel electrode layers and said non-dazzle-free portion is constructed by providing material that is not electrically conductive in the rest portion.

7. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, wherein said dazzle-free portion and said non-dazzle-free portion have a common glass substrate and said translucent mirror layer is formed on a part of said common glass substrate corresponding to said non-dazzle-free portion.

8. A reflection mirror according to claim 1, further comprising light-emitting and display means, provided behind said non-dazzle-free portion, for emitting light indicative of a predetermined display through said translucent mirror layer and said non-dazzle-free portion.