US5373392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photochromic light control mirror
Assignee: Aotec Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-28
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Granted: 1994-12-13
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Expires: 2013-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A photochromic light control mirror comprises a photochromic substrate having a reflective film deposited at one side thereof. Alternatively, a mirror (i.e., a layer of glass having a reflective film deposited at one side thereof) is coated with a photochromic coating. An ultraviolet light source illuminates the photochromic material to change the reflectance of the mirror. The reflectance can be manually controlled whereby the intensity of the light source is controlled by adjusting the voltage driving the light source. Alternatively, the reflectance can be automatically controlled whereby the intensity of the light source is controlled by a photo detector which varies the voltage driving the light source in response to detected light.
Inventors
- 👤 John Bala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A variable reflectivity mirror comprising: a housing; photochromic means disposed in said housing for receiving light to be reflected, said photochromic means being transmittable to visible light; reflecting means disposed near said photochromic means for reflecting visible light transmitted through said photochromic means; and ultraviolet light source means within said housing for illuminating said photochromic means with ultraviolet light, wherein the transmittance of visible light of said photochromic means changes in response to illumination by ultraviolet light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A variable reflectivity mirror comprising: a housing; photochromic means disposed in said housing for receiving light to be reflected, said photochromic means being transmittable to visible light; reflecting means disposed near said photochromic means for reflecting visible light transmitted through said photochromic means; and ultraviolet light source means within said housing for illuminating said photochromic means with ultraviolet light, wherein the transmittance of visible light of said photochromic means changes in response to illumination by ultraviolet light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mirror of claim 1 further comprising: ultraviolet shield means disposed near said photochromic means for blocking the transmission of ultraviolet light from said ultraviolet light source means transmitted through said photochromic means, said ultraviolet shield means being transmittable to visible light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mirror of claim 1: wherein said photochromic means comprises a photochromic substrate; and wherein said reflecting means comprises a layer of reflective material deposited on said photochromic substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mirror of claim 3 wherein said photochromic substrate comprises: a photochromic glass or a photochromic plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror of claim 4 wherein said substrate is photochromic glass comprising silver halide microcrystals finely dispersed therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mirror of claim 4 wherein said substrate is photochromic plastic comprising an organic photochromic compound in a polymeric medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mirror of claim 6 wherein said organic photochromic compound is selected from a group consisting of a spirooxazine, a spiropyran, a fulgide, and a fulgimide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mirror of claim 7 wherein said polymeric medium is selected from a group consisting of a cellulosic, an acrylic, poly (vinyl butyral), poly (vinyl chloride), poly (vinyl acetate), a polyurethane, and a silicone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror of claim 8 wherein said cellulosic is selected from a group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose acetate propionate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror of claim 3 wherein said layer of reflective material comprises a layer of silver or aluminum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror of claim 3 wherein said layer of reflective material comprises a dielectric coating being transmittable to ultraviolet light and reflective to visible light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror of claim 11 wherein said dielectric coating comprises a plurality of high and low refractive index layers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The mirror of claim 12 wherein said dielectric coating is represented as: 1.52/(HL) 5 (1.3 H 1.3L) 5 1.5H 0.5L/1.00 where; 1.52 is a refractive index of a glass substrate, H is a high refractive index of a titanium oxide layer, L is a low refractive index of a silica layer, numerals preceding H and L are optical thicknesses of the layers; and 1.00 is a refractive index of air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The mirror of claim 1: wherein said photochromic means comprises an organic photochromic compound in a polymeric medium; and wherein said reflecting means comprises a layer of glass having a layer of reflective material deposited thereon, said reflecting means having said organic photochromic compound deposited thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mirror of claim 14 wherein said organic photochromic compound is selected from a group consisting of a spirooxazine, a spiropyran, a fulgide, and a fulgimide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mirror of claim 15 wherein said polymeric medium is selected from a group consisting of a cellulosic, an acrylic, poly (vinyl butyral), poly (vinyl chloride), poly (vinyl acetate), a polyurethane, and a silicone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror of claim 16 wherein said cellulosic is selected from a group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate buyrate, and cellulose acetate propionate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror of claim 14 wherein said layer of reflective material comprises a layer of silver or aluminum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror of claim 14 wherein said layer of reflective material comprises a dielectric coating being transmittable to ultraviolet light and reflective to visible light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror of claim 19 wherein said dielectric coating comprises a plurality of high and low refractive index layers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The mirror of claim 20 wherein said dielectric coating is represented as: 1.52/(HL) .sup.5 (1.3 H 1.3L) .sup.5 1.5H 0.5L/1.00 where; 1.52 is the refractive index of a glass substrate, H is a high refractive index titanium oxide layer, L is a low refractive index silica layer, numerals preceding H and L are optical thicknesses of the layers; and 1.00 is the refractive index of air.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mirror of claim 14 wherein said organic photochromic compound is coated on said reflecting means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror of claim 14 further comprising: a layer of glass disposed onto said organic photochromic compound, which has been deposited onto the reflecting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mirror of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet light source comprises: a low pressure mercury lamp fitted with a phosphor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mirror of claim 1 further comprising: means for varying the intensity of the ultraviolet light from said ultraviolet light source means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror of claim 25 wherein said means for varying the intensity comprises: manual means for varying the voltage driving said ultraviolet light source means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mirror of claim 26 wherein said manual means comprises a variable resistor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror of claim 25 wherein said means for varying the intensity comprises: automatic means for varying the voltage driving said ultraviolet light source means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mirror of claim 28 wherein said automatic means comprises photo detector means for varying the voltage driving said ultraviolet light source means in response to the intensity of visual light detected.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mirror of claim 1 further comprising: lens means for directing ultraviolet light from said light source towards said photochromic means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
10 words
The mirror of claim 1 is an automotive vehicle mirror.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-12 | 1998-06-13 | 1998-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-12 | 2002-06-13 | 2002-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-12 | 2006-06-13 | 2006-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |