Mirror assembly

• US 6,045,243 A
• Filed: 07/27/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Muth Mirror Systems LLC (K. W. Muth)
• Original Assignee: KW Muth Company
• Inventors: Musiel, Michael J., Muth, Michael D., Bukosky, Allen A., Todd, Daniel R., Mathieu, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOUTSIKARIS, LEONIDAS
• Application Number:
  US09/123,047
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 362/30, 362/135, 362/494, 362/498, 362/499, 359/884, 359/839, 359/584, 40/219, 40/902
• 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/02 using parallel laminae or strips, e.g. of Venetian-blind type F21V11/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/902 Circuit control, e.g. flashing light

Abstract

A mirror assembly including a semitransparent mirror which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and which reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light; and a light assembly positioned adjacent to the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising:

a semitransparent nondichroic mirror which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and which reflects less than about 80% a broad band of visible light, the mirror having opposed front and rear surfaces and defined by a peripheral edge;

a uniform layer of a reflective substance deposited on one of the front and rear surfaces, the layer being substantially continuous and uninterrupted across the area of the mirror defined by the peripheral edge;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being less than about 120 candelas; and

a first collimating optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror.

2. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective substance comprises a metal selected from the group comprising chromium, aluminum, and rhodium.

3. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective substance comprises a metal having a thickness of about 100 to about 500 Angstroms.

4. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising an enclosure defining an aperture, and wherein the semitransparent mirror substantially occludes the aperture, and wherein the light assembly is positioned in the enclosure.

5. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the optical element comprises a refractive optical element further which is positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror.

6. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the optical element further comprises an optical element having a total internal reflection portion positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror.

7. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the optical element further comprises an optical element which has refractive and total internal reflection portions.

8. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the optical element further comprises a light control optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror.

9. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly comprises at least one light source and wherein the light source is disposed in an oblique orientation relative to the semitransparent mirror.

10. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly comprises about 1 to about 30 light emitting diodes.

11. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly has a luminous intensity of about 1 candela to about 1000 candelas.

12. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a second optical element which is positioned between the first optical element, and the semitransparent mirror.

13. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second optical element is refractive.

14. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second optical element has a total internal reflection portion.

15. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second optical element includes portions which are refractive or totally internally reflective.

16. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack which has a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm.

17. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm, and a weight of less than about 100 grams.

18. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm., and wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square mm.

19. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm., and wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square mm., and wherein the light assembly when energized emits heat energy in an amount of less than about 18 milliwatts per square millimeter of surface area.

20. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square millimeters.

21. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly has a luminous intensity of about 1 to about 1000 candelas, and a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square millimeters, and wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits not more than about 18 milliwatts of energy per square millimeter of surface area.

22. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits sufficient light to provide a luminous intensity of about 0.5 to about 120 candelas when measured at a distance of about 8 meters from the semitransparent mirror.

23. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits sufficient light to provide a luminous intensity of about 0.5 to about 120 candelas, and a beam spread of about 2 meters when measured at a distance of about 8 meters from the semitransparent mirror.

24. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a refractive optical element positioned between the collimating optical element, and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror;

wherein

a light control optical element is positioned between the refractive optical element and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

25. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the first optical element further comprises a refractive optical element positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the light assembly comprises about 1 to about 30 lamps, and wherein the refractive optical element bends the light emitted by the individual lamps in an amount of about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees as measured from a line normal to the semitransparent mirror.

26. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a collimating optical element positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror, wherein the light assembly comprises about 1 to about 30 lamps, each of the lamps having a beam axis, and wherein the collimating optical element has a plurality of lens portions which are individually disposed in substantially coaxial alignment with the beam axis of one of the lamps.

27. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substantially neutrally reflective, nondichroic, semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces, and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the light assembly having a luminous intensity of about 1 candela to about 1000 candelas, and the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas; and

a collimating optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

28. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the semitransparent mirror further comprises a layer of a metal selected from a group comprising chromium, aluminum, and rhodium formed on one of the surfaces of the semitransparent mirror.

29. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the semitransparent mirror further comprises a layer of a metal or metal compound formed on one of the surface of the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the layer of metal or metal compound has a thickness of about 100 to about 500 Angstroms.

30. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and further comprising an enclosure defining an aperture, and wherein the semitransparent mirror substantially occludes the aperture, and wherein the light assembly is positioned in the enclosure.

31. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and further comprising a refractive or totally internally reflective optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

32. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and further comprising a light control optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

33. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the light assembly comprises at least one light source.

34. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the light assembly comprises about 1 to about 30 light emitting diodes.

35. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and further comprising:

a refractive or totally internally reflective optical element positioned between the collimating optical element, and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

36. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and further comprising:

a refractive or totally internally reflective optical element positioned between the collimating optical element, and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror; and

a light control optical element positioned between the refractive or totally internally reflective optical element and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

37. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the collimating, refractive, and light control optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack which has a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm.

38. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the collimating, refractive, and light control optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm, and a weight of less than about 100 grams.

39. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the collimating, refractive, and light control optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm., and wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square mm.

40. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the collimating, refractive, and light control optical elements and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm., and wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 mm., and wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits energy in an amount of less than about 18 milliwatts per square millimeter of surface area.

41. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square millimeters.

42. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits sufficient light to provide a luminous intensity of about 0.5 to about 120 candelas when measured at a distance of about 8 meters from the semitransparent mirror.

43. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits sufficient light to provide a luminous intensity of about 0.5 to about 120 candelas, and further has a beam spread of about 2 meters when measured at a distance of about 8 meters from the semitransparent mirror.

44. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and further comprising a refractive optical element positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the light assembly comprises about 1 to about 30 lamps, and wherein the refractive optical element bends the light emitted by the individual lamps in an amount of about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees as measured from a line which extends normal to the front surface of the semitransparent mirror.

45. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the light assembly comprises about 1 to about 30 lamps, and wherein the collimating optical element has a plurality of lens portions which are individually disposed in substantially coaxial alignment with the beam axis of one of the lamps.

46. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 27, and wherein the light assembly has a weight of less than about 100 grams.

47. A mirror assembly comprising:

a semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces, and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas; and

a collimating optical element positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

48. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substantially neutrally reflective, nondichroic, semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces, and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the light assembly having a luminous intensity of about 1 candela to about 1000 candelas, and the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas; and

a collimating optical element positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

49. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substantially neutrally reflective, nondichroic, semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the light assembly having a luminous intensity of about 1 candela to about 1000 candelas, and the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas;

a collimating optical element positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror; and

a refractive optical element positioned between the collimating optical element and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

50. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 49, wherein the collimating and refractive optical elements, and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a thickness of less than about 25 mm.

51. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 49, wherein the collimating and refractive optical elements, and the light assembly comprise an optical stack having a weight of less than about 100 grams.

52. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 49, wherein the light assembly has a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square millimeters, and wherein the light assembly, when energized, emits energy in the amount of less than about 18 milliwatts per square millimeter of surface area.

53. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substantially neutrally reflective, nondichroic, semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the light assembly having a luminous intensity of about 1 candela to about 1000 candelas, and the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas;

a collimating optical element positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror; and

an optical element having a total internal reflective portion positioned between the collimating optical element and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

54. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substantially neutrally reflective, nondichroic, semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the light assembly having a luminous intensity of about 1 candelas to about 1000 candelas, and the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas;

a collimating optical element positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror;

a refractive or totally internally reflective optical element positioned between the collimating optical assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror; and

a light control optical element positioned between the refractive optical element and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the light assembly, collimating optical element, refractive or totally internally reflective optical element, and light control optical element comprise an optical stack having a thickness dimension of less than about 25 mm, and a weight of less than about 100 grams.

55. A mirror assembly comprising:

a substantially neutrally reflective, nondichroic, semitransparent mirror having front and rear surfaces and which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and wherein the front surface reflects less than about 80% of a broad band of visible light;

about 1 to about 30 light emitting diodes positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror and which emit visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the light emitting diodes having a collective luminous intensity of about 1 candela to about 1000 candelas, and the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being about 0.5 to about 120 candelas, and wherein the light emitting diodes are located within a surface area of about 10 to about 4000 square millimeters, and wherein the light emitting diodes when energized emit energy in the amount of less than about 18 milliwatts per square millimeter of surface area;

a collimating optical element positioned between the light emitting diodes and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror; and

a refractive optical element positioned between the collimating optical element and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror, the refractive optical element bending the light emitted by the individual light emitting diodes in an amount about 20 to about 40 degrees from a line which is normal to the front surface of the semitransparent mirror, and wherein the light emitting diodes, collimating optical element, and the refractive optical element comprise an optical stack which has a thickness of less than about 25 mm. and a weight of less than about 100 grams.

56. A mirror assembly comprising:

a semitransparent nondichroic mirror which passes about 1% to about 30% of a broad band of visible light, and which reflects less than about 80% a broad band of visible light;

a light assembly positioned adjacent to the semitransparent mirror and which emits visible light which is passed by the semitransparent mirror, the luminous intensity of the mirror assembly being less than about 120 candelas; and

a collimating first optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the semitransparent mirror.

57. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 56, and further comprising an enclosure defining an aperture, and wherein the semitransparent mirror substantially occludes the aperture, and wherein the light assembly is positioned in the enclosure.

58. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 56, and further comprising a refractive or totally internally reflective optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.

59. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 56, and further comprising a light control optical element which is positioned between the light assembly and the rear surface of the semitransparent mirror.