Patent
1985-08-09
1988-01-26
Miller, Stanley D.
350279, 350338, G02F 1133, G02B 1700
Patent
active
047213647
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a dazzle-free reflection mirror of a vehicle and the manufacturing method thereof. The dazzle-free reflection mirror, which may be used as an inner mirror or an outer mirror of the vehicle, has an electro-optical element of which transparency is electrically controlled by applying an electric field thereto.
BACKGROUND ART
In the past, a dazzle-free reflection mirror has a dazzle-free portion, which comprises an electro-optical element such as a liquid crystal or an electrochromic, on the whole mirror surface for effectuating a dazzle-free operation. Thus, when the dazzle-free portion effectuates the dazzle-free operation, the reflectivity of the reflection mirror becomes so low that the rear view image can not be sufficiently assured.
However, the dazzling which the driver of the vehicle feels is not caused by light reflected on the whole mirror surface but caused by light reflected on limited area of the mirror surface. On the other hand, during the running of the vehicle at night, the image of following-vehicle headlights is usually seen in a lower part of the mirror surface.
The inventors have found the above-mentioned facts and conceived that such dazzling caught by drivers can be prevented by putting the only lower part of the mirror surface into the dazzle-free condition and that the appearance of the following vehicle can be clearly imaged on the rest part of the mirror surface, which is constructed as a non-dazzle-free portion.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a dazzle-free reflection mirror which can image the following vehicle clearly thereon even in the dazzle-free condition.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
This invention achieves the objects set forth above by providing a dazzle-free reflection mirror having an electro-optical element whose transparency is changed by applying an electric field thereto. A dazzle-free portion defined by the electro-optical element is arranged at a lower part of the mirror surface with the remainder of the mirror being a non-dazzle-free portion. At least a portion of the mirror behind the non-dazzle-free portion is translucent, allowing some light to pass therethrough. A sensor is positioned behind the translucent mirror and signals from the sensor are employed to determine whether the dazzle-free portion of the mirror should be in a dazzle-free condition or not.
By positioning the sensor behind the translucent mirror of the non-dazzle-free portion, the switching of the mirror into and from a dazzle-free condition does not affect the output of the sensor thereby simplifying circuitry employed with such a mirror.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dazzle-free reflection mirror shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram showing a driving circuit to effectuate a dazzle-free operation;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to a modification of the first embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a dazzle-free reflection mirror according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a front view of the dazzle-free reflection mirror shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a series of processing steps for manufacturing the embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a series of processing steps for manufacturing the modified embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a flow chart show
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Fukada Tsuyoshi
Hara Kunihiko
Itoh Hiroshi
Ohmi Shinya
Suzuki Yasutoshi
Lewis David
Miller Stanley D.
Nippondenso Co. Ltd.
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