Visual signaling apparatus

• US 5,014,167 A
• Filed: 02/20/1990
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KW Muth Company
• Original Assignee: K W Muth Company Incorporated (K. W. Muth)
• Inventors: Roberts, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US07/482,254
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.1, 362/135, 362/140, 362/800, 362/227, 362/248, 362/249, 362/296, 362/290, 362/341, 362/343, 340/475, 340/479
• 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 1/08 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1246 with clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/20 Dichroic filters, i.e. devices operating on the principle of wave interference to pass specific ranges of wavelengths while cancelling others
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A visual signaling apparatus including an enclosure having an aperture, and defining a cavity, a light source for emitting light in predetermined wavelengths borne by the enclosure and positioned in the cavity; and a semi-transparent dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and disposed in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture, the semi-transparent dichroic mirror adapted to selectively reflect ambient light and transmit the predetermined wavelengths of light emitted by the light source.

Claims

1. A visual signalling apparatus for use by an operator of an overland vehicle which has an operator'"'"'s position, longitudinal line of reference, and a brake pedal, and wherein an operator when located in the operator'"'"'s position has a line of sight, and the apparatus is positioned on the overland vehicle and within the line of sight of the operator, the visual signalling apparatus comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber and having an aperture;

means borne by the enclosure for emitting light, and wherein the lighting means includes at least one lamp, and wherein the lamp emits light in the visible spectrum and in longer wavelengths constituting radiant heat energy;

a semi-transparent, dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and substantially occluding the aperture, the dichroic mirror adapted substantially to reflect at least an average of 75% of the entire visible light spectrum and substantially transmit at least an average of 58% of the light having wavelengths of 600-700 nanometers, and wherein the dichroic mirror further transmits the wavelengths longer than the visible spectrum constituting radiant heat energy thereby substantially inhibiting the accumulation of heat within the enclosure; and

a baffle assembly borne by the enclosure and which permits light emitted by the lighting means to escape rearwardly of the apparatus and travel along a transmission path, and which further substantially inhibits the light emitted by the lamp from traveling along the line of sight and into the view of the operator, and wherein the lamp is energized by the operator stepping on the brake pedal, and wherein the light transmitted by the semi-transparent mirror may be viewed from a position rearwardly of the apparatus by viewing along the line of sight thereby providing an apparatus which operates as a combination rear view mirror and brake lamp.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the overland vehicle is an automobile having directional signalling assembly, and wherein the lamp is energized by activating the directional signalling assembly, and wherein the apparatus operates as a combination rearview mirror and directional signaling lamp.

3. A visual signalling apparatus for an overland vehicle which has a longitudinal line of reference, an operators position, and a brake pedal, and wherein an operator located in the operator'"'"'s position has a line of sight, and the apparatus is positioned on the overland vehicle and within the line of sight of the operator, the visual signalling apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having an aperture and defining a cavity, and which is positioned substantially along the longitudinal line of reference;

means for emitting light in predeteremined wavelengths borne by the enclosure and positioned in the cavity, the lighting means including a lamp which emits having wavelengths of 600-700 nanometers, and other wavelengths which constitute radiant heat energy;

a semi-transparent dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and disposed in occluding relation relative to the aperture, the semi-transparent dichroic mirror adapted to substantially reflect at least an average of 75% of the entire visible light spectrum, and transmit at least an average of 58% of the light having wavelengths of 600-700 nanometers, and transmit light having the wavelengths which constitute radiant heat energy thereby substantially inhibiting the accumulation of heat within the enclosure, and

a light control film borne by the enclosure and including a plurality of louvers which permit light emitted by the lamp to escape the enclosure and travel along a transmission path an substantially inhibit light emitted by the lamp from travelling along the line of sight and into the view of the operator, and wherein the lamp is energized by the operator stepping on the brake pedal, thereby causing light to escape rearwardly of the apparatus while simultaneously permitting the operator to view along the line of sight and rearwardly of the overland vehicle, the apparatus operating as a combination rearview mirror and third brake lamp.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the overland vehicle is an automobile having a directional signalling assembly and wherein the lamp is energized by the operator activating the directional signalling assembly, and wherein the apparatus operates as a combination rearview mirror and directional signalling lamp.

5. A visual signalling apparatus mounted on an overland vehicle having a longitudinal line of reference, forward and rearward portions, an operators position, a brake pedal, and directional signalling assembly, and wherein an operator utilizing the apparatus has a line of sight, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a cavity and defining an aperture, the enclosure mounted on the vehicle in a location within the line of sight of the operator who is positioned in the operators position;

a light source mounted on the enclosure and positioned in the cavity, the light source electrically coupled with the brake pedal and the directional signalling assembly such that the light source is energized by the operator actuating the signalling assembly, or the operator stepping on the brake pedal, the light source emitting light waves in a band which is substantially 100 nanometers wide;

a semi-transparent dichroic mirror mounted on the enclosure and disposed in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture and substantially reflecting at least an average of 75% of the entire visible light spectrum, and transmitting at least 58% of the light having wavelengths which fall within the 100 nanometers wide band; and

a light control film having a plurality of louvers permitting the light emitted by the light source to escape the enclosure and travel along a transmission path rearwardly of the apparatus, and wherein the louvers are further operable to substantially block light emitted by the light source from travelling along the line of sight and into the operators view, and wherein the apparatus operates as a combination rear view mirror and directional signalling lamp, or brake lamp.

6. A visual signalling apparatus for use on an overland vehicle which has an operators position, the operator'"'"'s position disposed in rearwardly offset relation relative to the apparatus, the visual signalling apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having an aperture;

a semi-transparent dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and substantially occluding the aperture and adapted substantially to reflect light over a broad position of the visible spectrum and to selectively transmit light in a predetermined narrow band which is substantially 100 nanometers wide;

a light source mounted in the enclosure and operable to emit light which is transmitted by the semi-transparent mirror; and

a baffle assembly borne by the enclosure and which permits light emitted by the light source to travel along a transmission path so that it may be seen from a position rearwardly of the apparatus but cannot be seen from the operators position while simultaneously permitting light forming an image to be reflected by the dichroic mirror in a fashion where it may be seen from the operators position thereby allowing the area rearwardly of the overland vehicle to be viewed from the operators position.

7. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the light source produces light including the wavelengths of 600-700 nanometers and wherein the dichroic mirror transmits the light emitted by the light source having 600-700 nanometers.

8. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the baffle assembly includes a light control film having a plurality of louvers which are oriented in a predetermined position to permit the light emitted by the light source to escape the enclosure and travel along the transmission path.

9. A visual signalling apparatus for use by an operator, comprising:

an enclosure having an aperture;

a dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and adapted selectively to transmit a predetermined narrow band of visible light and simultaneously reflect a broad band of visible light;

a light source borne by the enclosure for emitting light including wavelengths transmitted by the dichroic mirror; and

a baffle assembly borne by the enclosure and operable to guide light emitted by the light source along a predetermined transmission path, and wherein the operator by viewing from a position in non-coaxial alignment relative to the transmission path cannot see the light emitted by the light source by may simultaneously employ the apparatus as a mirror to view an area of interest in the vicinity of the transmission path.

10. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the narrow band of visible light is not greater than 150 nanometers in width.

11. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the light source produces light including wavelengths of 600 through 700 nanometers;

and wherein the baffle assembly includes a light control film having a plurality of louvers which are oriented in a predetermined position to permit the light emitted by the light source to escape the enclosure and travel along the transmission path.

12. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the dichroic mirror reflects at least an average of 75% of the entire visible light spectrum and substantially transmits at least an average of 58% of the visible light which is transmitted by the dichroic mirror.

13. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the baffle assembly is disposed between the dichroic mirror and the light source.

14. A visual signalling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the baffle assembly is made integral with the dichroic mirror.