Mirror reflective element assembly
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
- a mirror element comprising at least one substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy, wherein said at least one preselected spectral band comprises a preselected band of near infrared radiant energy;
a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said at least one substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit near infrared radiant energy with a peak intensity within said preselected spectral band of near infrared radiant energy;
an imaging sensor at or near said rearward surface, said imaging sensor being sensitive to near infrared radiant energy in the range of approximately 750 nm to approximately 1100 nm.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror element having at least one substrate that has a forward surface and a rearward surface. The mirror element comprises at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers. Each of the substantially transparent non-metallic layers and the substantially reflective metallic layer have a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that the reflective element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy. A radiant energy emitting element is disposed at or near the rearward surface of the at least one substrate. The radiant energy emitting element is configured to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within the at least one preselected spectral band.
599 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising at least one substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy, wherein said at least one preselected spectral band comprises a preselected band of near infrared radiant energy; a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said at least one substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit near infrared radiant energy with a peak intensity within said preselected spectral band of near infrared radiant energy; an imaging sensor at or near said rearward surface, said imaging sensor being sensitive to near infrared radiant energy in the range of approximately 750 nm to approximately 1100 nm.
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2. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising at least one substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said at least one substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band, wherein said at least one preselected spectral band comprises first and second preselected bands of radiant energy, said radiant energy emitting element comprises first and second radiant energy emitting elements, said first radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said first preselected spectral band of radiant energy and said second radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said second preselected spectral band of radiant energy. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising at least one substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said at least one substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band, wherein said mirror element comprises at least two substantially reflective metallic layers, each of said at least two substantially reflective metallic conductive layers being sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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6. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising at least one substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; wherein said at least one substrate comprises first and second substrates, said first substrate having said forward surface and a second surface opposite said forward surface, said second substrate having said rearward surface and a third surface opposite said rearward surface, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface, said mirror element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between said first and second substrates; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said at least one substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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16. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising at least one substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; at least one adhesion enhancement and passivation layer disposed between said reflective metallic layer and at least one of said transparent non-metallic layers to increase the corrosion resistance of said reflective metallic layer and to enhance the adhesion and the mechanical stability of said reflective metallic layer; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said at least one substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band.
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17. An electrochromic mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror element comprising a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween; said third surface of said second substrate comprising a transflective reflector comprising a first substantially transparent semi-conductive non-metallic layer contacting the electrochromic medium, a second substantially transparent semi-conductive non-metallic layer, and a substantially reflecting metallic conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second substantially transparent semi-conductive non-metallic layers, wherein when said mirror element is viewed from outside said first surface, said mirror element is substantially spectrally untinted when no voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium, said mirror element being at least partially spectrally selective in transmission and exhibiting a spectrally selective transmission characteristic, said spectrally selective transmission characteristic being established by the refractive indices and physical thicknesses of said first and second substantially transparent semi-conductive non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic conductive layer; and a light emitting element disposed at said fourth surface of said second substrate and operable to emit light having an emitted spectral characteristic through said mirror element, wherein said transflective reflector is configured to exhibit a spectrally selective transmission characteristic so as to substantially transmit light having a spectral band in regions at or near said emitted spectral characteristic and to substantially reflect other light having a spectral band outside of said regions, wherein said transflective reflector provides at least 15 percent transmissivity of light at or near said emitted spectral characteristic and provides at least 60 percent photopic reflectance of other light. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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18. An electrochromic mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror element comprising a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween; said third surface of said second substrate comprising a transflective reflector, wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least two substantially reflective metallic conductive layers, each of said at least two substantially reflective metallic conductive layers being sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent semi-conductive non-metallic layers disposed between said electrochromic medium and said second substrate, wherein when said mirror element is viewed from outside said first surface, said mirror element is substantially spectrally untinted when no voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium, said mirror element being at least partially spectrally selective in transmission and exhibiting a spectrally selective transmission characteristic, said spectrally selective transmission characteristic being established by the refractive indices and physical thicknesses of said substantially transparent semi-conductive non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic conductive layer; and a light emitting element disposed at said fourth surface of said second substrate and operable to emit light having an emitted spectral characteristic through said mirror element, wherein said transflective reflector is configured to exhibit a spectrally selective transmission characteristic so as to substantially transmit light having a spectral band in regions at or near said emitted spectral characteristic and to substantially reflect other light having a spectral band outside of said regions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An electrochromic mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror element comprising a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween; said third surface of said second substrate comprising at least one conductive metallic layer and at least one transparent, at least partially conductive layer. wherein said layers define first and second regions of said transflective reflector, said first region having a first reflectivity and a first transmissivity and said second region having a second reflectivity and a second transmissivity, said second transmissivity being greater than said first transmissivity, said first reflectivity being greater than said second reflectivity, wherein said first reflectivity comprises at least approximately 60 percent; and a display element positioned at said fourth surface of said second substrate and operable to transmit light through said second region of said transflective reflector. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An electrochromic mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror element comprising a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween; said third surface of said second substrate comprising at least one conductive metallic layer and at least one transparent, at least partially conductive layer, wherein said layers define first and second regions of said transflective reflector, said first region having a first reflectivity and a first transmissivity and said second region having a second reflectivity and a second transmissivity, said second transmissivity being greater than said first transmissivity, wherein said transflective reflector comprises a first substantially transparent semi-conductive layer contacting the electrochromic medium, a second substantially transparent semi-conductive layer, and a substantially reflecting metallic conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second substantially transparent semi-conductive layers; and a display element positioned at said fourth surface of said second substrate and operable to transmit light through said second region of said transflective reflector. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising a substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers disposed at said rearward surface of said substrate, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy, wherein said at least one preselected spectral band comprises a preselected band of near infrared radiant energy; a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit near infrared radiant energy with a peak intensity within said preselected spectral band of near infrared radiant energy; and an imaging sensor at or near said rearward surface, said imaging sensor being sensitive to near infrared radiant energy in the range of approximately 750 nm to approximately 1100 nm.
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38. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising a substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers disposed at said rearward surface of said substrate, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band, wherein said at least one preselected spectral band comprises first and second preselected bands of radiant energy, said radiant energy emitting element comprises first and second radiant energy emitting elements, said first radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said first preselected spectral band of radiant energy and said second radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said second preselected spectral band of radiant energy. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising a substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, wherein said mirror element comprises at least two substantially reflective metallic layers, each of said at least two substantially reflective metallic conductive layers being sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers disposed at said rearward surface of said substrate, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising a substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers disposed at said rearward surface of said substrate, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band; and an anti-reflective stack of layers at said rearward surface, said anti-reflective stack being spectrally tuned to minimize reflectance of radiant energy at said preselected spectral band.
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46. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror element comprising a substrate having a forward surface facing towards a viewer of the mirror assembly and a rearward surface facing away from a viewer of the mirror assembly, wherein said substrate comprises a prismatic substrate, said mirror element comprising at least one substantially reflective metallic layer sandwiched between a respective pair of substantially transparent non-metallic layers disposed at said rearward surface of said substrate, each of said substantially transparent non-metallic layers and said substantially reflective metallic layer having a selected refractive index and a selected physical thickness such that said mirror element is selectively spectrally tuned to substantially transmit at least one preselected spectral band of radiant energy therethrough while substantially reflecting other radiant energy; and a radiant energy emitting element at or near said rearward surface of said substrate, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy towards said rearward surface and through said mirror element, said radiant energy emitting element being operable to emit radiant energy with a peak intensity within said at least one preselected spectral band.
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Specification