Dual state mirror assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:
- a housing having an open front;
a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface coated with material for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface;
a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which a separation distance from the front surface of the second substrate and the first substrate is of a distance of approximately 0.01 inches and less, wherein the distance is sufficiently minimal to virtually remove multiple reflections causing image blur, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and
means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position.
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Abstract
A dual state mirror assembly for use with motor vehicles includes a housing having an open front for receiving an outer substrate to form an enclosure. The outer substrate has a surface coated with a thin metal film to act as a beam splitter. An inner substrate having a reflective front surface is mounted within the enclosure so that in a first position, the inner substrate is in direct contact with the outer substrate, to produce a single bright reflected image, and so that in a second position, the inner substrate is placed at an angle with respect to the outer substrate, to provide a dimmed image and to minimize glare.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing having an open front; a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface coated with material for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which a separation distance from the front surface of the second substrate and the first substrate is of a distance of approximately 0.01 inches and less, wherein the distance is sufficiently minimal to virtually remove multiple reflections causing image blur, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing having an open front; a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which a separation distance from the front surface of the second substrate and the first substrate is of a distance of approximately 0.01 inches and less, wherein the distance is sufficiently minimal to virtually remove multiple reflections causing image blur, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and
means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position, wherein;the second substrate has a thin film coating for reflecting light incident on the second substrate; and the thin film coating is applied in regions having different reflectance and transmissivity values. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing having an open front; a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which a separation distance from the front surface of the second substrate and the first substrate is of a distance of approximately 0.01 inches and less, wherein the distance is sufficiently minimal to virtually remove multiple reflections causing image blur, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position, wherein the moving means automatically causes the second substrate to move to and be locked at the first position upon electrical failure of the mirror assembly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing having an open front; a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which a separation distance from the front surface of the second substrate and the first substrate is of a distance of approximately 0.01 inches and less, wherein the distance is sufficiently minimal to virtually remove multiple reflections causing image blur, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position, wherein the first substrate and second substrate are convex in shape. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A dual state mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing having an open front; a first substrate mounted to the open front of the housing and forming an enclosure with the housing, wherein the first substrate has a surface for reflecting a portion of light incident on the surface and transmitting a remaining portion of light incident on the surface; a second substrate including a reflective front surface and mounted within the enclosure, for movement between a first position in which a separation distance from the front surface of the second substrate and the first substrate is of a distance of approximately 0.01 inches and less, wherein the distance is sufficiently minimal to virtually remove multiple reflections causing image blur, to produce a bright reflected image, and a second position in which the second substrate forms an angle with the first substrate, to produce a dimmed reflected image; and means for moving the second substrate between the first position and the second position, wherein the moving means comprises self-leveling means for ensuring that the second substrate is parallel to the first substrate in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification