Abstract: A rearview mirror reflects ambient light and dims when light from headlights of a following motor vehicle is detected. Electrochromic mirror glass is fixedly secured to a frame within an opening. A sensor is fixedly secured to a housing for sensing ambient light and focused or glare light directed toward the rearview mirror. A light guide is disposed between the housing and the sensor for directing the ambient light and glare light outside the housing toward the sensor. The rearview mirror also includes a switching device for periodically disrupting the transmission of the light to identify a presence of the glare light, such that the sensor creates a dimming signal upon the identification of the presence of the glare light to dim the electrochromic mirror glass. The use of the switching device minimizes the number of sensors required by using the same sensor for measuring ambient light and glare light.

Abstract: A system and method for illuminating a light source, particularly a vehicle light source. The light source receives a voltage signal causing the light source to be illuminated. A triggering circuit detects the voltage signal. If the voltage signal is at or below a predetermined value, then the triggering circuit maintains a switch closed so that the light source continuously receives the voltage signal. If the voltage signal goes above the predetermined value, the triggering circuit opens and closes the switch in a pulsed manner where the voltage signal applied to the light source is on during the pulses and off between the pulses so that the brightness of the light source remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A rearview mirror reflects ambient light and dims when light from headlights of a following motor vehicle is detected. Electrochromic mirror glass is fixedly secured to a frame within an opening. A sensor is fixedly secured to a housing for sensing ambient light and focused or glare light directed toward the rearview mirror. A light guide is disposed between the housing and the sensor for directing the ambient light and glare light outside the housing toward the sensor. The rearview mirror also includes a switching device for periodically disrupting the transmission of the light to identify a presence of the glare light, such that the sensor creates a dimming signal upon the identification of the presence of the glare light to dim the electrochromic mirror glass. The use of the switching device minimizes the number of sensors required by using the same sensor for measuring ambient light and glare light.

Abstract: Method of triggering at least one illuminating means, and triggering circuit for carrying out such method. On motor vehicles, the illuminating means are increasingly being formed by LEDs. Owing to the great possible operating voltages of the on-board network, such illuminants cause great power losses at high voltages. Besides, the networks aboard motor vehicles are often unstable. So that reliable operation will be possible with simple design layout, the illuminating means is operated in pulse mode when a certain current/voltage level is exceeded. The triggering circuit has a microcontroller, which is supplied with a part of the current/voltage signal supplied to the illuminating means. The microcontroller has an output to which the illuminating means is connected with interposition of a switch. In pulse mode, the ascent of the power loss is substantially reduced. Brightness fluctuations are regulated out. The triggering and the triggering circuit are advantageously employed for motor vehicle lamps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device for at least one switching function on the housing or base of an automotive interior mirror module. To this end, at least one sensor or a sensor array is arranged on the housing or base of the automotive interior mirror module. The sensor or sensor array, in combination with internal or external evaluation electronics, initiates at least one switching process based on the approach of a nonmetallic object as a switching element.