Mirror assembly

• US 5,355,284 A
• Filed: 10/19/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: K W Muth Company Incorporated (K. W. Muth)
• Original Assignee: K W Muth Company Incorporated (K. W. Muth)
• Inventors: Roberts, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYMAN, LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US07/963,067
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.1, 362/135, 362/138, 362/140, 362/296, 362/290, 362/26, 362/32, 340/475, 340/468, 40/582, 359/839
• US Class Current: 362/30
• 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

Abstract

A mirror assembly including an enclosure having an aperture, and defining a cavity, a light source or lamp for emitting light in predetermined wavelengths or an instrument for emitting or receiving light having predetermined characteristics, borne by the enclosure and positioned in the cavity; and a dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and disposed in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture, the dichroic mirror reflecting ambient visible light and being substantially transparent to the light emitted by the light source and instrument, or received by the instrument as the case may be.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising:

an enclosure having an aperture;

a mirror borne by the enclosure and substantially occluding the aperture, the mirror reflecting a broad spectral band of light, and having formed therein a discrete window which permits light to pass therethrough;

a dichroic mirror positioned in covering relation relative to the window and operable to pass a predetermined narrow spectral band of light, and reflect a broad spectral band of light; and

means borne by the enclosure for emitting light in the predetermined narrow spectral band of light passed by the dichroic mirror, and wherein the dichroic mirror reflects visible light and transmits the predetermined narrow band of light.