Vehicle mirror system with light piping element

• US 7,198,394 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney K
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cranson, Jr.; James W
• Application Number:
  US11/190,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/276, 551/551
• 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element and, preferably, at least a first and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction. The system further includes a light piping element that pipes light to the first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which the second photo-sensor is exposed. The first photo-sensor comprises a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation. A spectral filter is disposed in front of the first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident thereat. The spectral filter preferably comprises at least one of a) a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region; and b) an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction;

said mirror assembly comprising a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which said second photo-sensor is exposed;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter comprising at least one chosen from;

(a) a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region; and

(b) an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

2. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first photo-sensor is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode and a CMOS photo-sensor.

3. The rearview mirror system in claim 2 wherein said second photo-sensor is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode and a CMOS photo-sensor.

4. The rearview mirror system in claim 3 wherein said light piping element comprises an optical plastic.

5. The rearview mirror system in claim 4 wherein said optical plastic comprises an acrylic.

6. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly.

7. The rearview mirror system in claim 6 wherein said light piping element exposes said first photo-sensor to light passing through a vehicle windshield.

8. The rearview mirror system in claim 6 wherein said light piping element exposes said first photo-sensor to light from another vehicle approaching from the rear of the vehicle to which the interior rearview mirror is attached.

9. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said spectral filter comprises an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

10. The rearview mirror system in claim 9 wherein said infrared attenuating dye is disposed in a light transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.

11. The rearview mirror system in claim 9 wherein said infrared attenuating dye is disposed in said light piping element.

12. The rearview mirror system in claim 9 wherein said infrared attenuating dye comprises an inorganic material.

13. The rearview mirror system in claim 12 wherein said inorganic material comprises a nickel complex.

14. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first photo-sensor comprises a photo-transistor.

15. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first photo-sensor comprises a photo-diode.

16. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first photo-sensor and said second photo-sensor comprise a photo-transistor.

17. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said first photo-sensor and said second photo-sensor comprise a photo-diode.

18. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said spectral filter comprises a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region.

19. The rearview mirror system in claim 18 wherein said filter element comprises a near-infrared attenuating dye incorporated in an optical polymer.

20. The rearview mirror system in claim 19 wherein said optical polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic, a polystyrene, an acrylate, a polyester, CR39 and a COC polyolefin.

21. The rearview mirror system in claim 9 wherein said polymer material comprises a light-transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.

22. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

said semiconductor photo-sensor comprising one of a photo-diode and a photo-transistor;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter comprising a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region;

said filter element comprising a near-infrared attenuating dye incorporated in an optical polymer; and

wherein said optical polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, an acrylic, a polystyrene, an acrylate, a polyester, CR39 and a COC polyolefin.

23. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

said semiconductor photo-sensor comprising one chosen from a photo-diode and a photo-transistor;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter comprising an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material; and

wherein said polymer material comprises a light-transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.