US5808778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optic rearview mirror for automotive vehicles
Assignee: Gentex Corp
•
Filing: 1996-10-11
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Granted: 1998-09-15
•
Expires: 2016-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An electro-optic rearview mirror which has improved glare-reducing properties and in which the electro-optic medium in a darkened state has enhanced transmittance of visible light in the generally orange, red and near infrared wavelengths. If desired, the electro-optic rearview mirror embodying the invention may incorporate display means which shines through the electro-optic medium, the peak emission of the display means substantially corresponding with the enhanced transmittance of the electro-optic medium whereby the brightness of the display means is increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick T. Bauer
- 👤 Harlan J. Byker
- 👤 David J. Cammenga
- 👤 John K. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1503; B60R1/12; B60R2001/1215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, said front element being transparent, the side of such front element confronting said rear element including transparent electrically conductive means, the side of said rear element confronting said front element including means providing electrically conductive functions, said chamber containing an electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front element and said means providing electrically conductive functions on said rear element, means providing light reflective functions on said rear element effective to reflect light through said medium and through said front element when said light reaches said means providing light reflective functions after passing through said medium and through said front element, said electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in a darkened state being effective to transmit visible light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers and to simultaneously partially absorb visible light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers whereby the average transmittance of light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers is greater than the average transmittance of light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers, and means for applying electrical potential to said electro-optic medium to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, said front element being transparent, the side of such front element confronting said rear element including transparent electrically conductive means, the side of said rear element confronting said front element including means providing electrically conductive functions, said chamber containing an electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front element and said means providing electrically conductive functions on said rear element, means providing light reflective functions on said rear element effective to reflect light through said medium and through said front element when said light reaches said means providing light reflective functions after passing through said medium and through said front element, said electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in a darkened state being effective to transmit visible light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers and to simultaneously partially absorb visible light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers whereby the average transmittance of light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers is greater than the average transmittance of light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers, and means for applying electrical potential to said electro-optic medium to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, including display means effective to emit light through said electro-optic medium, the peak emission of said display means substantially corresponding with the transmittance of light of said electro-optic medium in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rearview mirror is an inside mirror on a vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror is an outside mirror on a vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rearview mirror is an inside mirror on a vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rearview mirror is an outside mirror on a vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, said front element being transparent, the side of said front element confronting said rear element including transparent electrically conductive means, the side of said rear element confronting said front element including electrically conductive means, said chamber containing an electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front element and said electrically conductive means on said rear element, said rear element including light reflective means effective to reflect light through said medium and through said front element when said light reaches said light reflective means after passing through said medium and through said front element, said electro-optic medium in the darkened state having an average transmittance of visible light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers which is greater than the average transmittance of visible light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers, and means for applying electrical potential to said electro-optic medium to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, said front element being transparent, the side of said front element confronting said rear element including transparent electrically conductive means, the side of said rear element confronting said front element including electrically conductive means, said chamber containing an electro-optic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front element and said electrically conductive means on said rear element, said rear element including light reflective means effective to reflect light through said medium and through said front element when said light reaches said light reflective means after passing through said medium and through said front element, said electro-optic medium in the darkened state having an average transmittance of visible light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers which is greater than the average transmittance of visible light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers, and means for applying electrical potential to said electro-optic medium to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said electro-optic medium is an electrochromic medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said electrochromic medium includes 2-Ethylanthraquinone whereby in a darkened state the electrochromic medium has an average one-way transmittance in the orange and red bands between wavelengths of 585 nanometers and 780 nanometers which is substantially greater than its average one-way transmittance in the blue and green bands between the wavelengths of 380 and 585 nanometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said electrochromic medium includes 1,1'-dimethyl-2,4'-bipyridinium difluoroborate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, the combination including a reflectance member effective to reflect visible light impinging thereon, a filter effective to transmit light to and reflected by said reflectance member, said reflectance member in conjunction with said filter having an average reflectance of visible light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers which is greater than the average reflectance of visible light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a rearview mirror for automotive vehicles, the combination including a reflectance member effective to reflect visible light impinging thereon, a filter effective to transmit light to and reflected by said reflectance member, said reflectance member in conjunction with said filter having an average reflectance of visible light in the orange, red and near infrared wavelengths above 585 nanometers which is greater than the average reflectance of visible light in the blue and green wavelengths below 585 nanometers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11, said filter being in the form of a film applied to said reflectance member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11, said filter being in the form of a coating applied to said reflectance member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11, said reflectance member including a glass element, said filter being in the form of an additive incorporated in the glass itself.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11, said rearview mirror including an electro-optic medium, said filter being incorporated in said electro-optic medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11, said rearview mirror including an electrochromic medium, said filter being incorporated in said electrochromic medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
193 words
An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, said front element being transparent, the side of said front element confronting said rear element including transparent electrically conductive means, the side of said rear element confronting said front element including electrically conductive means, said chamber containing an electrochromic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front element and said electrically conductive means on said rear element, said rear element including light reflective means effective to reflect light through said medium and through said front element when said light reaches said light reflective means after passing through said medium and through said front element, said electrochromic medium in the darkened state having an average one-way transmittance of visible light in the wavelengths between 780 and 900 nanometers which is higher than the average one-way transmittance of visible light in the wavelengths between 380 and 585 nanometers, and means for applying electrical potential to said electrochromic medium to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
193 words
An electro-optically dimming rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said mirror comprising, in combination, front and rear spaced elements, said front element and said rear element defining a chamber therebetween, said front element being transparent, the side of said front element confronting said rear element including transparent electrically conductive means, the side of said rear element confronting said front element including electrically conductive means, said chamber containing an electrochromic reversibly variable transmittance medium in contact with said transparent electrically conductive means on said front element and said electrically conductive means on said rear element, said rear element including light reflective means effective to reflect light through said medium and through said front element when said light reaches said light reflective means after passing through said medium and through said front element, said electrochromic medium in the darkened state having an average one-way transmittance of visible light in the wavelengths between 780 and 900 nanometers which is higher than the average one-way transmittance of visible light in the wavelengths between 380 and 585 nanometers, and means for applying electrical potential to said electrochromic medium to cause variations in the light transmittance of said electro-optic medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination as set forth in claim 17 including display means effective to emit light through said electrochromic medium, the peak emission of said display means substantially corresponding with the average one-way transmittance of visible light of said electrochromic medium in the wavelengths between 780 and 900 nanometers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |