Mirror Movable Relative To Support Patents (Class 359/872)
  • Publication number: 20100073791
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for harnessing external light to illuminate a display screen of an electronic device are provided. The display screen may be illuminated using a light harness, a reflector, a translucent surface, or any combination thereof. The light harness may be cylindrical or hexahedral. The light harness may be coupled to an external light input or a collector. The reflector may be repositioned toward or away from the display screen to reflect external light toward the display screen. The translucent surface may allow external light to pass through it to illuminate the display screen. The translucent surface may protect the rear face of the display screen, or the rear face of the display screen may itself be translucent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Peter H. Mahowald
  • Patent number: 7677741
    Abstract: An auxiliary accessory for a vehicle rearview mirror having a linking segment with an outer end, a casing formed on the outer end of the linking segment with an outer rim and a mirror mounted in the casing has a cover and an auxiliary mirror assembly. The cover is detachably mounted on the casing of the vehicle rearview mirror and has a body, a mounting gap and multiple retaining tabs. The body has a shape corresponding to the casing of the vehicle rearview mirror and two mounting recesses. The auxiliary mirror assembly is detachably connected to the cover and has an auxiliary mirror mounted in one of the mounting recesses of the body to increase the viewing range of the vehicle rearview mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ken Sean Factory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peng-Kai Chuang
  • Patent number: 7675671
    Abstract: An aspect of the embodiment, a MEMS device includes a rotating unit, a first hinge, a first frame and an actuator. The actuator has a plurality of electrodes for rotating the rotating unit. The first frame has one of the electrodes. A portion of silicon layer by the electrode of the frame is chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ohmori
  • Patent number: 7670015
    Abstract: In an optical switch controller, in order that residual vibration at movement control of a movable body such as a tilt mirror can be reduced and controlled with high accuracy, a processing unit outputs a driving signal for controlling the angle of the tilt mirror, the driving signal is D/A converted by a D/A converter and then is changed to a high-voltage signal by a high-voltage amplifier to be supplied to the tilt mirror, the electrostatic capacity of the tilt mirror changes corresponding to angle change of the tilt mirror, a mirror-angle detecting unit detects the electrostatic capacity and feeds back it as a correction value to a processing unit, and the processing unit corrects the driving signal using a correction value obtained when the angle of the tilt mirror is actually changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Ide, Kazuyuki Mori, Kensuke Takahashi, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 7664159
    Abstract: A laser mirror assembly is disclosed with improved pointing stability. An elongated mirror includes a concave reflecting portion. A pair of elongated planar portions extend parallel to the concave reflecting portion on either side thereof. The planar portions are stepped down from the reflecting portion. The mirror is formed from copper. A pair of stainless steel strips are connected to planar portions. The bimetallic effect between the copper mirror and the stainless steel strips operates to counteract the warping of the mirror due to differential heating effects which arise during operation. In an alternate embodiment, a pair of aluminum strips are mounted on the rear surface of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon A. Newman, Vernon A. Seguin, Lanny Laughman, Adrian Papanide
  • Publication number: 20100033857
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly comprises a two-ball connector having at least one pivot ball thereon, a receiver having a plurality of fingers defining a ball receiving area, and a spring forming a circle. The spring is placed around the fingers of the receiver and the at least one pivot ball is placed into the ball receiving area of the receiver. The two-ball connector can be made of a high strength material and formed on a screw machine. The receiver does not experience a weight loss changing the torque force between ?40° Celsius and 85° Celsius, thereby substantially maintaining the torque force at a substantially constant level between ?40° Celsius and 85° Celsius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Filipiak
  • Publication number: 20100027145
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a casing having a reflective element, a compass sensor and a control. The compass sensor is disposed within the mirror casing and has a first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control receives a first signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control determines that the casing is adjusted by an occupant of the vehicle in response to a change in the first and second signals being indicative of an abrupt movement of the casing about the mounting structure by an occupant of the vehicle. The control is operable to enter a rapid compensating mode to compensate for the mirror adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7651229
    Abstract: A mirror assembly including a mirror, a base and a flexible neck connecting the mirror and the base such that the neck can be manually manipulated to adjust the position of the base and the mirror relative to each other. The mirror assembly further includes a light source located on or adjacent to the mirror, and a power-source receiving receptacle located in the base, wherein the power-source receptacle cavity is electrically coupled to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: HSN Improvements LLC
    Inventors: Peter D. Rimback, James F. Vidmar, Chi Wai Patrick Poon
  • Publication number: 20100014177
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interior rear view mirror (01) for arrangement in the interior of a motor vehicle, with a mirror element (02) for observing the traffic following behind, wherein on the housing (03) of the interior rear view mirror (01), an additional device (04) is provided which can be adjusted between an inoperative position in the interior of the housing (03) and a usage position outside the housing (03), wherein the center of gravity (07) of the adjustably mounted additional device (04), during arrangement of the additional device (04) in the inoperative position, lies in a vertical plane which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and through the center of gravity (06) of the interior rear view mirror (01).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Magna Donnelly Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Lüftner, Hans-Joachim Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7645044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a side mirror for an automobile, and more particularly, to a side mirror for an automobile in which an assembled structure is modified such that even in case of an excessive pressing the side mirror to fall in a driver's view, in comparing with pressing a mirror for adjusting to fall in a driver' view as a conventional method, the assembled state is not return to a disassembled state. In accordance with the present invention, an assembly work is easily preformed and further a assemble state is not easily return to a disassemble state by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Actronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 7643200
    Abstract: An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Donnelly Corp.
    Inventors: Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Mingtang Zhao, Craig A. Dornan, Anoop Agrawal, Pierr-Marc Allemand, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20090316272
    Abstract: An automobile side mirror includes a reflective portion having a front mirror that is incompletely silvered and a rear mirror angularly offset from the front mirror, the rear mirror being fixed relative to the front mirror. The mirror includes a bracket hingedly coupled to the reflective portion and a solenoid hingedly coupled to the reflective portion to selectively move the reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration. The mirror includes a return element to return the reflective portion from the second configuration to the first configuration. A light sensor is positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward the reflective portion. A processor is in communication with the light sensor and in communication with the solenoid, the processor including programming to actuate the solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light directed at the light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: John M. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7636188
    Abstract: A rearview mirror element assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element having a front generally planar substrate and a rear generally planar substrate. A reflecting mirror reflector is established at a third surface of the rear substrate and an auxiliary mirror element is positioned rearward of a perimeter region of the front substrate. The auxiliary mirror element provides a wide angle view of a blind spot to the side of a vehicle and a generally planar portion of the electrochromic reflective element provides a generally planar view rearward of the vehicle. A perimeter band or demarcating band may be established at least partially around a perimeter border region of the substrate and may traverse the substrate at the perimeter region of the front substrate behind which the auxiliary mirror element is positioned. The band may demarcate the perimeter region from the generally planar portion of the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7631978
    Abstract: A wing mirror unit for a vehicle includes a base plate, a supporting frame pivotally connected to the base plate, and an actuator including an engaging part that is connected to the supporting frame. The supporting frame is pivotal with respect to the base plate between a folded orientation and an unfolded orientation. The engaging part in operable connection with the supporting frame is adjustable between a first orientation located near the body of a vehicle and a second orientation located farther outward with respect the body of said vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Frits Brouwer, Arjen Van Gelderen, Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout
  • Patent number: 7631977
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle is disclosed, the rearview mirror assembly including a support structure for mounting the mirror assembly to the vehicle. The support structure includes a first part for substantially permanent connection to the vehicle and a second part for selective connection to the first part. A support arm is provided on which at least one mirror is mounted, the second part of the support structure being disposed on the support arm. A locking mechanism is disposed on the support structure for selectively locking together the first and second parts of the support structure to thereby secure the support arm and mirror to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Lang Mekra North America, LLC
    Inventors: Heinrich Lang, Albrecht Popp, Jürgen Pfanz
  • Patent number: 7628498
    Abstract: A positioning device of a vehicle exterior auxiliary rear mirror includes a connecting base, two curved arms and two fixing arms. The connecting base is integrally formed on a back of an auxiliary rear mirror near a vehicle exterior rear mirror, shaped rectangular with two pivotal connecting points properly spaced apart at one side. The curved arms have one end pivotally connected with the connecting points of the connecting base, and another end provided with two locking projections and two positioning bands crossly extended for being tightened on a rear surface of the exterior rear mirror. With the curved arms able to alter their included angle and with the fixing arms extendable to change the length, the positioning device can be positioned on diverse exterior rear mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventor: Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 7626749
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element having at least one substrate with a reflective coating thereon. A specularly reflective indicia reflector is established to form indicia or information at the reflective element. The indicia reflector provides a visible contrast to the main mirror reflector so that the indicia or information is subtly viewable by a person viewing the mirror assembly. The reflective element reflects light incident thereon over the surface coated by the reflective coating of the main mirror reflector, including the area at which the indicia reflector is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7626754
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for steering a beam of light using an array of tunable optical phase delay elements is presented. The sidelobes of an angular spectrum of light reflected from the array are causing an optical crosstalk. The selected sidelobes are suppressed by perturbing the phase delay pattern of the array elements. The pattern of perturbations is found by linearizing a system of equations describing dependence of the angular spectrum of the reflected light on the phase delays introduced into the wavefront of light by the elements of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Reimer
  • Patent number: 7619614
    Abstract: A three-dimensional optical mouse device with a Micromirror Array Lens (MMAL) is provided. To have the three-dimensional optical mouse system, a three-dimensional imaging device is used for detecting the motion of optical pointer or fingers of the user and gives a location of the pointer to computer working as a pointing device in three-dimension. This three-dimensional pointing system uses three-dimensional imaging device using MMAL with variable focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hyune Baek, Gyoung Il Cho, Cheong Soo Seo
  • Publication number: 20090279195
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an outer mirror which prevents the whistle noise without the rotation of the mirror assembly being prevented. In order to achieve the above object, an outer mirror which includes a mirror base provided on a vehicle body; a shaft portion fixed to the mirror base; a mirror assembly rotatably mounted on the mirror base around the shaft portion used as a rotational axis; a windshield member to occlude a gap between the mirror base and the mirror assembly, in which the shaft portion includes a mounting seat attached to the mirror base; a shaft body provided uprightly on the mounting seat, the mirror assembly includes a housing having an opening toward the mirror base and the shaft body is inserted into the opening; and a mirror attached to the housing is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko ITOH, Kenji ICHIKAWA, Hiroyuki KAJIYAMA
  • Patent number: 7614756
    Abstract: A mirror device includes a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end, the first end having a raised edge perpendicular to the top surface, the second end having a raised edge perpendicular to the top surface and having a curved portion extending therefrom, the base portion having a plurality of grooves parallel with the first and second ends, a connector portion coupled to the base portion, the first end of the connector portion coupled to the curved portion such that the connector portion may rotate about the base portion, and a mirror coupled to the second end of the connector portion, the mirror having a connection means horizontally disposed along the back portion thereof, the second end of the connector portion coupled to the connection means such that the mirror may rotate about the second end of the connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventor: Chi Yau Yue
  • Publication number: 20090274178
    Abstract: An optical package includes a semiconductor laser, an adjustable mirror and a wavelength conversion device comprising a waveguide portion. The semiconductor laser, adjustable mirror, and wavelength conversion device are oriented to form an optical pathway between an output of the semiconductor laser and an input of the wavelength conversion device. The beam of the semiconductor laser is directed along the optical pathway and onto the adjustable mirror where the beam is reflected by the adjustable mirror onto the waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device. The adjustable mirror may also be either thermally or mechanically deformable such that, when the adjustable mirror is deformed, the path of the beam along the optical pathway is altered thereby focusing the beam on the waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device. The adjustable mirror may be adjusted such that the beam of the semiconductor laser is positioned on the waveguide portion of the wavelength conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Jacques Gollier, Garrett Andrew Piech
  • Patent number: 7607786
    Abstract: A light deflector includes a substrate; a plurality of control members provided at edge parts of the substrate, the control members having upper parts where stoppers are situated; a fulcrum member provided on an upper surface of the substrate, the fulcrum member having a top part; a plate-shaped member movably provided in a space formed by the substrate, the fulcrum member and the stopper, the plate-shaped member having a light reflection area, no fixed end, and a conductive layer; and a plurality of electrodes provided on the substrate, the electrodes facing the conductive layer of the plate-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Koichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 7604359
    Abstract: The present high positioning reproducible mirror-actuator interface disclosed herein overcomes the deficiencies associated with conventional interface systems and offer a number of advantages that are disclosed herein. Generally, the mirror mounts provide a reliable and robust interface between the mirrors and actuators, that serve to move and position the mirrors, as wells as providing an interface between the mirrors and gravity compensator pins. The mirror mount is characterized as having a body that has an outer peripheral wall that includes a plurality of flexible elements around the perimeter of the body, each having a high stiffness in plane and a high flexibility out of plane. The body is open at the first end to allow flexing of the flexible elements. The flexible elements providing a direct coupling interface between the mirror mount and the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Herman Soemers, Franciskus Hendrikus van Deuren, Hendrik Dirk Visser, Sander C. Broers
  • Patent number: 7600886
    Abstract: A backlit mirror assembly comprises a mirror, a lamp chamber, and a prop. The mirror is pivotally coupled to the lamp chamber so that it may be tilted outwardly, thereby allowing access to electrical components housed within the lamp chamber. A prop maintains the mirror in an open position. In one embodiment, the prop incorporates a gas spring to facilitate lifting of the mirror by a sole user. The mirror may be coupled to a rigid frame in order to strengthen the mirror, thereby reducing flexing of the mirror and hazards associated with such flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Cornerstone Lighting, LLC
    Inventors: Daryl D. Sullivan, Robert Harney
  • Patent number: 7600879
    Abstract: A rear seat viewing system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The rear seat viewing system includes a mirror attached to a mirror mounting device. The mirror mounting device may retract the mirror into an exterior surface of a rear seat in a stowed position and extend the mirror outside of the exterior surface of the rear seat in an employed position. A linkage mechanism attached to the mirror mounting device can allow horizontal and vertical adjustment of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7600878
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a mirror casing, a reflective element, an information display, a compass sensor and control circuitry. The compass sensor is disposed in the mirror casing and has at least a first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The information display is disposed behind the reflective element whereby information displayed by the information display is viewable through the transflective reflector by a driver of a vehicle when the information display is displaying information. The control circuitry determines a directional heading of the vehicle responsive to the sensing by the first and second magnetoresponsive sensing elements, and the control circuitry automatically compensates for a deviating magnetic field of the vehicle and generates a signal indicative of the directional heading of the vehicle. The information display displays the directional heading of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corp.
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7599108
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly suitable for use in a vehicle includes a bezel and a mirror element located behind the bezel and viewable through an opening formed by the bezel. A backplate, formed by molding and having a first pivot element integrally formed on a side thereof, is securely fixed to a rear portion of the mirror element by direct attachment at least at a central region of the mirror element. A support bracket for attaching the interior rearview mirror assembly to a portion of the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a second pivot element that connects with the first pivot element of the backplate to form a pivot joint that enables angular adjustment by the driver of the rearward field of view provided by the mirror element. Circuitry is supported by the backplate and a housing, principally serving as a cosmetic shroud, connects with the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Lawlor, Niall R. Lynam, John P. Desmond, Patrick J. Dowling
  • Publication number: 20090244743
    Abstract: A fixing device for position regulating mechanisms for external rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles, applicable to external rear-view mirrors of the type which are comprised of a support (1), attached to which is a housing (6) which encases or is part of the aforementioned position regulating mechanism (2), to which a mirror support plate is affixed, it being possible to operate the same, manually or electrically, from the interior of the vehicle. The support (1) comprises elastic pressure exertion means (4) comprising a portion of the base (5) arranged on the support (1) and are provided with at least one tab (7), which pressure exertion means (4) are intended to withstand the pressure of the housing of the regulating mechanism when the latter is attached to the support by means of the fixing means, said pressure means being elastically distorted in such a way that they exert an effort force on the housing against the fixing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: FICO Mirrors, S.A.
    Inventor: Jose Mendoza Vicioso
  • Publication number: 20090244744
    Abstract: An outer mirror includes: a mirror base which is attached to a side surface of a vehicle body of a vehicle; a shaft which is erected on the mirror base; and a mirror housing which is rotatably attached to the shaft and is provided with a mirror for reflecting a rearward of the vehicle body. The shaft is exposed in a gap between a top surface of the mirror base and a bottom surface of the mirror housing. The shaft includes at least one of a concave portion or a convex portion on a part of an outer circumferential surface of the shaft which faces to a front side of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuuzi OKAMOTO, Yoshikazu TERADA, Hiroaki HORIE
  • Patent number: 7594731
    Abstract: A side mirror assembly for a motor vehicle includes a base which is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A tube is pivotably secured to the base. The tube extends between a pivot end and a distal end. A mirror housing defines a mirror opening and a tube opening. The mirror housing receives the distal end and a portion of the tube disposed adjacent the distal end through the tube opening. A mirror is mounted within the mirror housing and is exposed through the mirror opening for an operator of the motor vehicle to view rearward of the motor vehicle without turning completely around. A case frame is fixedly secured to the mirror housing at a position disposed adjacent the mirror. The side mirror assembly also includes a locking lever which is movable between an unlocked position allowing the case frame and the mirror housing to slide along the tube and a lock position for securing the case frame and the mirror housing at a desired position along the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Visiocorp Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Gary J. Sinelli, Paul R. Henion
  • Patent number: 7589883
    Abstract: An exterior mirror suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element having a light transmitting substrate with a mirror reflector having a metallic reflective layer coated thereon. A visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of the light transmitting substrate and actuated to emit light when powered. Light emitted by light sources of the display passes through the light transmitting substrate so as to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the reflective mirror element. The mirror element has portions of the metallic reflective layer at least partially removed by laser scribing to establish at least partially light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector so that light emitted by light sources, when powered, passes through the respective at least partially light transmissive portions to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Desaraju V. Varaprasad, Mingtang Zhao, Craig A. Dornan, Anoop Agrawal, Pierr-Marc Allemand, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20090225456
    Abstract: A safety mirror for mounting at the rear of a vehicle to allow an operator of the vehicle to observe images of objects which may be present to either side of the rear of the vehicle, the safety mirror comprising a convex reflective mirror surface for mounting at the rear of the vehicle such that images of objects to either side of the rear of the vehicle are reflected in the safety mirror toward the front of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Glenn Harewood
  • Patent number: 7585082
    Abstract: Disclosed are a mirror and an angle detection device that detects an inclined angle of a mirror surface of the mirror. A mirror includes a mirror surface, an actuator for swiveling the mirror surface, at least one magnet for changing its orientation by an angle according to a variation in an inclined angle of the mirror surface, and at least one signal output unit for outputting a signal according to the inclined angle, based on the orientation of the magnet. An angle detection device that detects an inclined angle of a mirror surface of a mirror includes at least one magnet for changing its orientation by an angle according to a variation in the inclined angle of the mirror surface, and at least one signal output unit for outputting a signal according to the inclined angle, based on the orientation of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventor: Ayako Yamada
  • Patent number: 7568810
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element and at least one attachment plate attached thereto. The attachment plate has first and second mounting members protruding therefrom. A mounting assembly is configured to mount the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a toggle portion and a cam actuator, with the toggle portion pivotally mounting to the first mounting member and the cam actuator pivotally mounting to the second mounting member. The toggle portion engages the cam actuator such that pivotal movement of the cam actuator relative to the second mounting member imparts a pivotal movement of the toggle portion relative to the first mounting member. The attachment plate may include at least one mounting member protruding through a circuit board for engaging a mounting assembly that mounts the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry M. Kulas, Lee Karner, Dean Andreozzi
  • Publication number: 20090180205
    Abstract: Construction equipment having a side mirror fixing means is provided, in which a ball of a ball joint for rotatably fixing a side mirror to a structure of the equipment and its supporting parts are mounted on the outside of the side mirror, so that an operator can confirm with the naked eye and manage on the occurrence of release or gap of a fastening bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Sang Deuk KIM
  • Publication number: 20090182469
    Abstract: A mirror system facilitates the viewing of an area of a roadway rearwardly and to the side of a vehicle, for example, prior to changing lanes or direction in a roadway. To do so, in response to a user command, the mirror moves from a first position providing the driver with a first view of the roadway adjacent to the vehicle to a second position providing the driver with a second, different view of the roadway adjacent to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: LaneScan LLC
    Inventor: Timothy J. Tucker
  • Patent number: 7556384
    Abstract: A trifold display device comprising panel opening mechanism(s) which open the device, in a damped motion, from a closed position wherein display surfaces are concealed from view to an open configuration wherein three display surfaces are exposed. The panel operating mechanisms exert forces on two panels, thereby urging the panels toward an open position. Upon actuation of a release latch, the opening mechanisms move a support panel around to the back of the mirror, thereby raising the device into a tilted position (if the device is resting on a surface). Preferably simultaneously, the two movable display panels are also moved to an open configuration wherein they are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: C.C. & L Company Limited
    Inventor: Sik Leung Chan
  • Patent number: 7556196
    Abstract: An optical reading device of a scanning apparatus includes a housing, two movable mirror clamps and two supporting plates. The housing contains therein a light source, a mirror set, a lens and an image sensor. These two movable mirror clamps are used for clamping both edges of a specific reflective mirror of said mirror set such that the position of said specific reflective mirror is adjustable by an assembler. These two supporting plates are protruded from opposite sides of said housing for supporting said movable mirror clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Teng Kuang Lee
  • Patent number: 7553686
    Abstract: Micro-mechanical devices, such as MEMS, having layers thereon, and methods of forming the layers, are disclosed. In one aspect, a method may include forming a layer including an oxide of aluminum over at least a portion of a micro-mechanical device, and coating the layer by bonding material to surface hydroxyl groups of the layer. In another aspect, a method may include introducing a micro-mechanical device into an atomic layer deposition chamber, and substantially filling nanometer sized voids of the micro-mechanical device by using atomic layer deposition to introduce material into the voids. In a still further aspect, a method may include introducing an alkylaminosilane to a micro-mechanical device having a surface hydroxyl group, and bonding a silane to the micro-mechanical device by reacting the alkylaminosilane with the surface hydroxyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventors: Steven M. George, Cari F. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7546997
    Abstract: A fastening construction, in particular for a wing mirror unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a base part (1) which can be fixedly connected with a vehicle, and a rotation part (3) which is arranged to be coupled with the base part (1) and which in coupled condition constitutes a central shaft for pivotally bearing-mounting a wing mirror unit. The base part (1) and the rotation part (3) are provided with at least one projection and groove pair (19, 20) cooperating as a bayonet catch, such that the rotation part (3) can be displaced towards the base part (1) and that when the projection and groove pair are in engagement, the rotation part (3) is pivotable about the geometric axis (2), and, after passing an intermediate angular position (13), through cooperation of the projection and groove pair (19, 20), the rotation part (3) is locked relative to the base part (1), axially along the geometric axis (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout
  • Patent number: 7548362
    Abstract: An optical deflecting device including a supporting member, an oscillating member, and a driving member for driving the oscillating member, wherein the oscillating member includes a first movable element and a second movable element torsionally oscillating about a common torsion axis, a first torsion spring for coupling the first movable element and the supporting member with each other, and a second torsion spring for coupling the first and second movable elements with each other and having a torsion axis the same as the first torsion spring, and wherein the first movable element is formed with a void configured to avoid blocking of incident light being incident on the second movable element from a direction intersecting with the torsion axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suguru Miyagawa, Yukio Furukawa, Yasuhiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20090144996
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a casing having a reflective element, a compass sensor and a control. The compass sensor is disposed within the mirror casing and has a first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control receives a first signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control determines that the casing is adjusted by an occupant of the vehicle in response to a change in the first and second signals being indicative of an abrupt movement of the casing about the mounting structure by an occupant of the vehicle. The control is operable to enter a rapid compensating mode to compensate for the mirror adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 7540060
    Abstract: A side mirror assembly for a truck has a housing retaining an upper mirror, a central mirror, and a lower mirror, each of which is motorized and independently adjustable. The assembly also includes a chain driven wiper blade that will wipe across all three mirrors, and a dispenser for dispensing washer fluid on the mirrors. Around the perimeter of the housing are one or more connectors to with electrical devices attachable to the mirror housing can be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Nathan Holmes
  • Publication number: 20090128938
    Abstract: A visor that is especially useful for motorcycle riders and especially for off-road motorcycle racing. The visor has a sun shade member and a mirror. The mirror is affixed to an under surface of the sun shade member. The mirror has a continuous convex surface with a curvature that is free of discontinuations and step changes. The mirror is spaced an effective distance from the user's eyes and has a lateral span and a longitudinal span that are large enough so that the helmet wearer can simultaneously see approximately the same field of view to a side and rear with each eye by a slight turn and tilt of the user's head while an unobstructed line of sight in the direction of travel is retained. The invention also includes a mirror that can be retrofitted to various sun shade members and a kit for retrofitting the mirror in existing sun shade members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Stephen A. Carnes
  • Patent number: 7533998
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes an accessory module, at least one accessory and an attachment member at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The at least one accessory comprises a camera having a lens, with the camera being disposed in the accessory module, and the accessory module comprising structure to angle the camera with respect to a windshield facing portion of the accessory module. The camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield when the accessory module is mounted to the attachment member. The accessory system may include a resilient element disposed between the windshield facing portion and the interior surface of the vehicle windshield to cushion and/or seal the accessory module relative to the interior surface when the accessory module is mounted to the attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Donnelly Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Joshua L. DeWard, Peter J. Whitehead, Niall R. Lynam
  • Publication number: 20090122431
    Abstract: An outer mirror structure for a vehicle includes a base part which is attached to a vehicle body, a housing which is provided to a vehicle outer side of the base part and is rotatably supported by the base part, a base side mold member which is mounted on the base part and extends in substantially horizontal direction, and a housing side mold member which is mounted on the housing and extends in substantially horizontal direction. The base side mold member and the housing side mold member are formed in substantially continuous shape in a mating part when the housing is in a normal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Horii, Mitsuhiro Honda
  • Publication number: 20090122433
    Abstract: An electric mirror control device is provided which can prevent generation of a clutch noise by stopping slipping of a clutch provided at an actuator as quickly as possible while preventing narrowing of an allowable range of a tilting angle of a mirror surface. In controlling an electric mirror, a control device clamps a voltage value of a voltage applied to a motor detected by a mirror surface angle detection circuit to a predetermined upper limit value and a predetermined lower limit value at a clamp circuit. Stop control of the motor is performed based on the voltage value clamped to the upper limit value and the lower limit value in this way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromi IWASAKI, Ayako YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20090122432
    Abstract: A micro-device includes a frame configured to form a cavity surrounded thereby, the frame having a first opening and a second opening opposite to the first opening, a movable portion provided in the cavity, a supporting portion configured to support the movable portion in the cavity, a first sealing member configured to be bonded with the frame and to seal the first opening of the frame, and a second sealing member configured to be bonded with the frame and to seal the second opening of the frame. The frame includes an alignment structure configured to align at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki KIKUCHI, Eiichi ITO, Jun MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20090109562
    Abstract: A display having a mirror element is provided. The display comprises a display body with a screen housing and a mirror element disposed on the display body. The screen housing comprises a connecting member connecting the mirror element and the screen housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: HANNSPREE, INC.
    Inventors: Guan-De Liou, Chia-Pine Huang, Stephen Tsai, Li-Li Lai, Ming-Chun Lee