Modular variable reflectance mirror assembly
First Claim
1. An automatic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a variable reflectance device having a reflectance surface which reflects light incident said surface from a direction rearward of the vehicle, said variable reflectance device having a variable light transmission layer which responds to a drive signal from a control by dimming to a partial light transmission condition;
said control including first and second light sensors and a circuit which is responsive to electrical characteristics of said light sensors to produce said drive signal as a function of levels of light to which said light sensors are exposed; and
said first and second light sensors aimed generally in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said first light sensor aimed along a generally horizontal axis and said second light sensor aimed along another axis that deviates from said horizontal axis, wherein said another axis deviates from said horizontal axis by at least approximately 10 degrees and not more than approximately 70 degrees.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular rearview mirror system includes a variable reflectance device having a reflectance surface, which reflects light incident the surface from a direction rearward of the vehicle. The variable reflectance device is responsive to a drive signal by dimming to a partial reflectance condition. A control for the reflectivity value of the variable reflectance device includes first and second light sensors and a circuit. The circuit is responsive to the light sensors to produce a drive signal as a function of the light levels to which the light sensors are exposed. The first and second light sensors are both aimed generally in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle. The first light sensor is aimed along a generally horizontal axis and the second light sensor is aimed along another axis that deviates from the horizontal axis. A preferable deviation between the axes is at least approximately 10 degrees, but not more than approximately 70 degrees. The light sensors may both be positioned behind the variable reflectance device within the mirror casing and may be aimed through the variable reflectance device and/or through a potion of the substrate thereof. The variable reflectance device is preferably an electrochromic mirror element but may also be a liquid crystal device, suspended particle device, or other known electro-optical device. The automatic rearview mirror system may be used as an exterior vehicle mirror, as a vehicle interior mirror, or as all three mirrors on a vehicle. The mirror system is particularly suited for use on automobiles, minivans, light trucks, small vans, and sport utility vehicles.
256 Citations
82 Claims
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1. An automatic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a variable reflectance device having a reflectance surface which reflects light incident said surface from a direction rearward of the vehicle, said variable reflectance device having a variable light transmission layer which responds to a drive signal from a control by dimming to a partial light transmission condition; said control including first and second light sensors and a circuit which is responsive to electrical characteristics of said light sensors to produce said drive signal as a function of levels of light to which said light sensors are exposed; and said first and second light sensors aimed generally in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said first light sensor aimed along a generally horizontal axis and said second light sensor aimed along another axis that deviates from said horizontal axis, wherein said another axis deviates from said horizontal axis by at least approximately 10 degrees and not more than approximately 70 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An automatic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a variable reflectance device having a reflectance surface which reflects light incident said surface from a direction rearward of the vehicle, said variable reflectance device having a variable light transmission layer which responds to a drive signal from a control by dimming to a partial light transmission condition; said control including first and second light sensors and a circuit which is responsive to electrical characteristics of said light sensors to produce said drive signal as a function of levels of light to which said light sensors are exposed; and said first and second light sensors aimed generally in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said first light sensor aimed along a generally horizontal axis and said second light sensor aimed along another axis that deviates from said horizontal axis; wherein said rearview mirror system is exposed to outdoor elements, said outdoor elements comprising at least one of rain, road splash and hail, and wherein said variable reflectance device includes a variable reflectance element having at least a first glass substrate, said first glass substrate being exposed to and contacting said outdoor elements, wherein at least one of said first and second light sensors is disposed behind, and protected from said outdoor elements by, said first glass substrate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An automatic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a variable reflectance device having a reflectance surface which reflects light incident said surface from a direction rearward of the vehicle, said variable reflectance device having a variable light transmission layer which responds to a drive signal from a control by dimming to a partial light transmission condition; said control including first and second light sensors and a circuit which is responsive to electrical characteristics of said light sensors to produce said drive signal as a function of levels of light to which said light sensors are exposed; and said first and second light sensors aimed generally in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said first light sensor aimed along a generally horizontal axis and said second light sensor aimed along another axis that deviates from said horizontal axis; wherein said first and second light sensors are mounted in a common housing, wherein said housing is a mounting block, wherein said mounting block includes a first surface defining a first light conduit and a second surface defining a second light conduit, said first light sensor positioned in said first light conduit and said second light sensor positioned in said second light conduit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An automatic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror element having a reflectance surface which reflects light incident said surface from a direction rearward of the vehicle, said mirror element including at least a first glass substrate exposed to and contacting outdoor elements, said outdoor elements comprising at least one of rain, road splash and hail, and a variable light transmission layer, said variable light transmission layer being responsive to a drive signal from a control by dimming to a partial light transmission condition; said control including first and second light sensors and a circuit which is responsive to electrical characteristics of said light sensors to produce said drive signal as a function of levels of light to which said light sensors are exposed; said first and second light sensors aimed generally in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle, said first light sensor aimed along a generally horizontal axis and said second light sensor aimed along another axis that deviates from said horizontal axis; and said first and second light sensors disposed behind said first glass substrate and thereby protected by said first glass substrate from said outdoor elements. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of establishing the reflectance level of a vehicular rearview mirror, said mirror including an electrochromic mirror element having a variable light transmission layer that responds to a drive signal by dimming to a partial light transmission level, including:
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providing a first light sensor that is aimed in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle along a generally horizontal axis and a second light sensor that is aimed in a direction rearwardly of the vehicle along another axis that deviates from said horizontal axis by at least approximately 10 degrees and not more than approximately 70 degrees; and establishing a value of said drive signal as a function of the light levels to which said first and second light sensors are exposed. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A module for use within an exterior mirror housing on a vehicle comprising:
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a variable reflectance element; and a control circuit for controlling the reflectivity value of said variable reflectance element; wherein said control circuit includes a first photosensor and a second photosensor, said first and second photosensors aimed generally in a direction rearward of the vehicle and wherein said control circuit establishes said reflectivity value as a function of light levels to which said first and second photosensors are exposed; wherein said variable reflectance element is an electrochromic mirror element having an electrochromically dimmable region, wherein said module further includes an encasement to protect said control circuit and said reflectance element from outdoor elements, said outdoor elements comprising at least one of rain, road splash and hail, wherein said variable reflectance element includes at least a first glass substrate, said first glass substrate being exposed to, and contacting, said outdoor elements, wherein at least one of said first and second photosensors is disposed behind, and protected from said outdoor elements by, said first glass substrate. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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Specification