Vanity console

• US 5,940,120 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clark, Russell L., Vanden Elzen, Michael B., Anair, Ryan S., Frankhouse, Jay M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, BRYAN T
• Application Number:
  US08/545,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 348/44, 348/61, 348/143, 348/794, 348/115, 348/148, 33/356, 362/83.1, 362/144, 362/2, 362/30, 606/11, 340/475, 340/148, 396/2, 345/7, 345/9, 296/37.7, 29/863, 356/141.1
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0288 Apparatus made of several modules independently mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vanity console is provided with a housing having a mirror mounted therein made of a material providing both reflectivity and transmissivity characteristics. A source of illumination such as a peripheral fluorescent tube extends behind the outer periphery of the mirror and directs light through the two-way mirror for use of the vanity mirror in low ambient light conditions. The mirror preferably is shaped to conform to the shape of a user'"'"'s face. In one embodiment of the invention, positioned centrally behind the mirror is a video image source, such as an LCD display, which is supplied with video information from a variety of sources such as vehicle mounted cameras that the vanity console can serve the function of video imaging as well.

Claims

1. A vanity mirror console for a vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a partially reflective two-way mirror mounted to said housing;

a video camera mounted to the vehicle for providing a video image; and

a video display mounted in said housing behind said two-way mirror for providing a video image through said mirror to be visible to a user facing said mirror, wherein said camera has a lens positioned to face the user of said vanity mirror console and an electrical circuit coupling video signals from said camera to said video display for providing a video image of the user'"'"'s face.

2. The vanity console as defined in claim 1 wherein said lens is a zoom lens and said housing includes a control for operating said zoom lens.

3. The console as defined in claim 1 and further including a source of illumination positioned in said housing behind said mirror and visible when actuated for projecting light outwardly through a first portion of said mirror to provide illumination to the face of a user.

4. The console as defined in claim 3 wherein said partially reflective mirror has a reflectivity from about 50% to 90% and a corresponding light transmissivity from about 50% to 10%.

5. The console as defined in claim 4 wherein said reflectivity is preferably about 60% and said transmissivity is about 40%.

6. A vanity mirror console for a vehicle comprising:

a housing mounted in the vehicle;

a partially reflective vanity mirror mounted to said housing;

a video display mounted in said housing behind said mirror for providing a video image through said mirror to be visible to a user; and

a plurality of video cameras for mounting to a vehicle, wherein a first of said cameras has a lens facing the user of said video console and a circuit selectively coupling video signals from said first camera to said video display for providing a video display of the user'"'"'s face on said video display.

7. The vanity console as defined in claim 6 wherein said lens is a zoom lens and said housing includes a control for operating said zoom lens.

8. The console as defined in claim 6 wherein a second camera is mounted to the vehicle with a lens facing rearwardly to view objects outside and behind the vehicle, and further including a circuit for selectively coupling said first or said second camera to said video display.

9. The console as defined in claim 8 and further including a third camera for mounting to a vehicle in a forward facing direction for viewing the area in front of the vehicle and wherein said circuit selectively couples at least one of said first, second or third cameras to said video display.

10. The console as defined in claim 6 wherein said partially reflective mirror has a reflectivity from about 50% to 90% and a corresponding light transmissivity from about 50% to 10%.

11. The console as defined in claim 10 wherein said reflectivity is preferably about 60% and said transmissivity is about 40%.

12. A vanity mirror console for a vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a partially reflective mirror mounted to said housing;

a source of illumination mounted in said housing behind said mirror and only visible when actuated for directing illumination outwardly from said source through a portion of said partially reflective mirror to provide illumination to the face of a user;

an electrical circuit including a switch for selectively actuating said source of illumination;

a video display mounted in said housing behind said mirror for providing a video image visible through said mirror when actuated; and

at least one video camera for mounting to a vehicle and a circuit selectively coupling video signals from said at least one camera to said video display for providing video signals for display, wherein said at least one video camera has a lens facing a user of said video console for providing a video display of the user'"'"'s face.