Vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device

• US 9,222,639 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TYC Brother Industrial Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TYC Brother Industrial Company Limited
• Inventors: Shih, Ming-Jhih, Wu, Jin-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Manikeu, Daniele
• Application Number:
  US13/603,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 359/838, 359/515, 359/872, 359/267, 359/633, 359/602, 359/726, 359/727, 359/876, 362/487, 362/516
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/33 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device including a reflecting surface, a semi-reflecting surface, and a concave lens. At least one image of at least one light source is reflected repeatedly by the semi-reflecting surface and the reflecting surface to form a plurality of visible mirror images on a mirror image side of the reflecting surface. The concave lens is disposed at the viewing side. A viewer at the viewing side views a plurality of visible mirror images at the mirror image side of the reflecting surface through the refracting of the concave lens. The reflected and refracted visible mirror images gradually shrink towards a vertical axis. Visible mirror images do not interfere with one another, and each visible mirror image is clear. The visible mirror images can generate an apparent inward-shrinking 3D effect of depth with levels.

Claims

1. A vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device comprising:

a reflecting surface, facing a viewing side;

a semi-reflecting surface, facing the reflecting surface, wherein at least one image of at least one light source is reflected by the semi-reflecting surface to form at least one mirror image on a mirror image side of the semi-reflecting surface, the at least one mirror image is then reflected by the reflecting surface to form at least one visible mirror image on a mirror image side of the reflecting surface, each visible mirror image undergoes the reflecting repeatedly to produce a plurality of visible mirror images; and

a concave lens, disposed at the viewing side;

wherein a viewer at the viewing side views a plurality of visible mirror images at the mirror image side of the reflecting surface through the refracting of the concave lens; and

wherein the concave lens is disposed between the semi-reflecting surface and the reflecting surface.

2. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface has a vertical axis, which is perpendicular to the reflecting surface, the viewer at the viewing side views the visible mirror images at the mirror image side of the reflecting surface, and the visible mirror images of the at least one light source shrink gradually towards a direction of the vertical axis.

3. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein corresponding to the reflecting surface, the semi-reflecting surface is disposed in an inclined manner.

4. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is a flat reflecting surface.

5. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the semi-reflecting surface is a flat semi-reflecting surface.

6. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the concave lens has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is a flat surface, the second surface is a concave surface, the first surface contacts the semi-reflecting surface, and there is a distance between the second surface and the reflecting surface.

7. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the concave lens has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is a flat surface, the second surface is a concave surface, the first surface is disposed at the reflecting surface, and there is a distance between the second surface and the semi-reflecting surface.

8. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is disposed between the concave lens and the reflecting surface.

9. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is disposed behind a periphery of the reflecting surface.

10. The vehicle composite reflection and refraction multi-imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the reflecting surface comprises at least one hole to receive at least one light source.