WO1994020331A1 - Automobile inside rear-view mirror for suppressing specular reflections from rear automobile window_________________________ - Google Patents
Automobile inside rear-view mirror for suppressing specular reflections from rear automobile window_________________________ Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1994020331A1 WO1994020331A1 PCT/EP1994/000578 EP9400578W WO9420331A1 WO 1994020331 A1 WO1994020331 A1 WO 1994020331A1 EP 9400578 W EP9400578 W EP 9400578W WO 9420331 A1 WO9420331 A1 WO 9420331A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- view mirror
- light
- optical system
- automobile
- driver
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/28—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising
- G02B27/281—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
- B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
- B60R1/08—Rear-view mirror arrangements involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/0018—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 with means for preventing ghost images
Definitions
- This invention relates to the inside rear-view mirror of an automobile which has an additional function for suppressing the image of things which are placed on the rear shelf. This image is a result of a specular reflection on the rear window which disturbs a clear view through the rear window over the traffic behind the automobile.
- the inside rear-view mirrors presently used in private automobiles make it possible for the driver to look through the rear window, but at the same time the driver sees in the rear window the reflected image of the things which are placed on the rear shelf.
- This reflected image of the things is a result of speculariy reflections on the smooth surfaces of the rear window which reflect the light caused by these things placed on the rear shelf.
- This specularly reflected light is directed toward inside rear-view mirror by rear window which is in the majority of private automobiles inclined forward. In this way, the driver sees in the inside rear-view mirror two images at the same time: the specularly reflected one of the things which are placed on the rear shelf and the one of the traffic behind the automobile. Specularly reflected image of the things confuses the driver and he needs more time to look in the inside rear-view mirror, what could be potentialy dangerous considering the traffic situation.
- Majority of private automobiles have the angle of reflection near the Brewster's angle, because of the tilted rear window.
- Light reflected from surfaces of the rear window near the Brewster's angle is mainly linearly polarized in the horizotal direction and directed toward the inside rear-view mirror.
- Vertical linear polarizer put in front of the reflective coating in the rear- view mirror, absorbs horizontally-polarized light and transmits the vertically- polarized one.
- the light entering through the rear window and carrying the image of traffic situation behind the automobile is unpolarized, it means that it consists of vertically and horizontally polarized light in the same proportion.
- This light enters the rear-view mirror horizontally polarized portion of that light is stopped by vertical polarizer incorporated in rear-view mirror, and a portion of that light vertically polarized, leaves the rear-view mirror and reaches the eyes of a driver. In this way, the driver sees the necessary image of traffic behind and does not see the disturbing image of things on the rear shelf.
- the advantage offered by this invention is mainly that the rear shelf of an automobile could be used for laying away things, without desturbing the driver by specularly reflected image of these things produced by the rear window, making it possible to watch through the rear window and see the clear image of the traffic situation behind the automobile.
- Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the inside rear-view mirror of Figure 1 , in accordance with the invention
- Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a variant of the inside rear-view mirror of Figure 1 , in accordance with the invention.
- Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating the operation of the same device, in accordance with the invention.
- Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for attachment to a inside rear-view mirror which already exists in the automobile.
- a preferred embodiment of the automobile inside rear-view mirror (1 ) for suppressing specular reflections from automobile rear window comprises a mechanical construction (2) and an optical system (3).
- Mechanical construction (2) comprises a holder (4) which holds rear-view mirror (1 ) on a roof or on a windshield of the automobile, joint (5) for adjusting of the rear-view mirror (1 ) toward the drivers eyes, housing (6) for optical system (3) and a lever (7) for switching a rear-view mirror (1 ) from a "functional" to "night” position.
- Optical system (3) comprises vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between transparent wedged plate (9) of which nonlaminated surface is coated with reflecting coating (10), and transparent plane parallel plate (11) which is a protecting plate.
- the wedged plate (9) is turned upward, although the invention could work just as well with the wedge turned downwards.
- Preferred material for making a wedged plate is glass, because of its good optical and mechanical properties, although plastic may suffice.
- Vertical linear polarizer (8) is sheet-type polarizer.
- Transparent plane parallel plate (11) protects polarizer (8) from mechanical damage, which can be caused when cleaning the outer surface (12) of the rear-view mirror (1 ).
- Preferred material for plane parallel plate (11 ) is glass, the same as the one for wedged plate, although plastic may suffice. If the polarizer (8) is sufficiently rigid, the plane parallel plate (11 ) may be dispensed with.
- Material used for reflecting coating (10) is usualy silver or aluminium.
- transparent plane parallel plate (11 ) and transparent wedged plate (9) have changed their places.
- nonlaminated surface of the plane parallel plate (11 ) is coated with reflecting coating (10)
- nonlaminated surface of wedged plate (9) is outer surface of the rear-view mirror (1 ).
- the wedged plate (9) also protects the vertical polarizer (8) from a mechanical demage. Again, invention works well regardless whether the wedge of the wedged plate is upward or downwards.
- the plane parallel plate (11 ) may be dispensed with.
- inside rear-view mirror operates as follows in order to absorb specular reflections from rear window and to enable the clear view through the automobile rear window.
- Light (13) is unpolarized namely it comprises vertically (15) and horizontally (16) polarized light in the same proportion.
- unpolarized light (13) strikes the outer surface (12) of a rear-view mirror (1 )
- a small portion of light (13) is specularly reflected like a light (17) and the biggest remaining portion of light (13) is refracted into transparent plane parallel plate (11 ).
- Specularly reflected light (17) is composed of an equal proportion of the vertically (15) and horizontally (16) polarized light, as light (13) is, though it has considerably lesser intensity than light (13) has.
- the biggest remaining portion of light (13), refracted into plate (11) passes through it and reaches the polarizer (8).
- the polarizer has its absorption axis in the horizontal direction and so it will transmit only that portion of the refracted light (13) which is vertically polarized.
- the vertically polarized portion of refracted light (13) which has passed through the polarizer (8) passes without disturbance through transparent wedged plate (9), reflectes on reflecting coating (10) and passes again through wedged plate (9), vertical linear polarizer (8), plane parallel plate (11 ), without disturbance, and gets out of rear-view mirror (1 ) through outer surface (13) like vertically polarized ligt (18).
- Light (18), carrying image of traffic situation behind the automobile reaches the eyes of the driver (19) making it possible for him to see the traffic situation behind his automobile.
- Light (26) which is a portion of light (23) speculariy reflected at smooth surfaces of a rear window (14) is substantially horizontally polarized, because it is reflected at an angle near Brewster's angle.
- the angle of reflection of specularly reflected light is the same as the Brewster's angle, then the specularly reflected light is totaly horizontally polarized.
- substantially horizontally polarized light (26) strikes the rear-view mirror outer surface (12), a small portion of light (26) is specularlly reflected like a substantially horizontally polarized light (27) and the biggest remaining portion of light (26) is refracted into transparent plane parallel plate (11 ).
- Substantially horizontally polarized refracted portion of light (26) passes through the plane parallel plate (1 1 ) and reaches the vertical polarizer (8).
- the polarizer has its absorption axis in the horizontal direction.
- Substantially horizontally polarized refracted portion of light is substantially stopped by the polarizer (8). In this way light (26) specularlly reflected at rear window (14) and carrying image of things (21) onto the rear shelf (22) does not reach the eyes of the driver (19).
- Lever (7) switches a rear-view mirror (1 ) from “functional” to "night” position.
- Switching the rear-view mirror (1) from “functional” to “night” position is done at night when another motor vehicle at the back of the automobile with his headlights dazzle the eyes of the driver (19).
- light (17) carrying the image of the traffic situation behind the automobile, reaches the eyes of a driver (19).
- Light (17) has remarkably lesser intensity than light (18), and does not dazzle the eyes of the driver (19).
- light (27) carrying the image of things (21 ) reaches the eyes of the driver (19) together with light (17), because of their same direction of propagation.
- an alternative embodiment of the inside rear-view mirror (1) for suppressing of specular reflections from the automobile rear window comprises mechanical structure (28) and optical system (29).
- the mechanical structure (28) comprises holder (4) which holds rearview miror (1 ) on a roof or on a windshield of an automobile, joint (5) for adjusting of the rearview mirror (1 ) toward the driver's eyes and a housing (30) for optical system (29).
- mechanical structure (28) can not switch from “functional" to "night” position, like in preferred embodiment of invention.
- rear-view mirror (1 ) stays in the desired position. Therefore the lever (7) is left out.
- wedge-angle (9) is substituted with transparent plane parallel plate (31 ).
- optical system (29) comprises vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between plane parallel plates (1 1 ) and (31 ), where nonlaminated surface of plate (31 ) is coated with reflecting coating (10), and nonlaminated surface of plate (1 1 ), which is also outer surface (12) of rearview mirror (1 ), is coated with antireflecting coating (32).
- rear-view mirror (1 ) upon the light (13) carrying image of traffic situation behind the automobile, and upon the light (26) carrying specularly reflected image of things (21 ) placed on a rear shelf (22), is similar to the effect of the optical system (3), as described above in preferred embodiment of invention.
- the substitution of a wedged plate (9) with a plane parallel plate (31 ) directions of propagation of lights (18), (17) and (27) are the same.
- Suitable materials for plane parallel plates (11 ) and (31 ), polarizer (8) and reflecting coating (10) are the same as in preferred embodiment of invention.
- Suitable material for forming the antireflecting coating (32) is for example MgF 2 . If the polarizer is sufficiently rigid, the plates (1 1 ) and (31 ) may be dispensed with. For wider drivers field of view, plates (11) and (31) and vertical polarizer (8) laminated between them could be cylindrically or sphericaly curved.
- This supplementary inside rear-view mirror (1) comprises mechanical structure (33) and optical system (34). Mechanical structure is reduced to two parts : housing (35) for optical system (34) and ribbons (36) attached equidistantly on housing (35). Setting the inside rear-view mirror (1 ) on the existing inside rear-view mirror (37) is as follows: backside of rear-view mirror (1 ) is leaned against the frontside of existing rear-view mirror (37) and ribbons (36) are tightened over the backside of the existing rear-view mirror (37).
- the housing (35) is, as described above, housing (6) or (30)
- the optical system (34) is, as described above, optical system (3) or (29) respectively.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
- Mirrors, Picture Frames, Photograph Stands, And Related Fastening Devices (AREA)
- Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
Abstract
The inside rear-view mirrors presently used in private automobiles provide the driver with a view through the rear window, but also a view on the image of things placed on the rear shelf which is specularly reflected from the rear window. This image draws away the attention of a driver what, in traffic, could be dangerous. The invention suppresses specular reflections from rear window and offers the driver a clear view through it. This is achieved by setting a vertical polarizer (8) in front of a reflecting coating (10) in the optical system (3) of a rear-view mirror. Vertically polarized portion of light (13) carrying the image of the traffic behind the automobile passes through optical system (3) and reaches the eyes of the driver (19). Substantially horizontally polarized specularly reflected light (26) carrying image of the things (21) placed on the rear shelf (22) is absorbed by optical system (3).
Description
Automobile inside rear-view mirror for suppressing specular reflections from rear automobile window
This invention relates to the inside rear-view mirror of an automobile which has an additional function for suppressing the image of things which are placed on the rear shelf. This image is a result of a specular reflection on the rear window which disturbs a clear view through the rear window over the traffic behind the automobile.
The inside rear-view mirrors, presently used in private automobiles make it possible for the driver to look through the rear window, but at the same time the driver sees in the rear window the reflected image of the things which are placed on the rear shelf.
This reflected image of the things is a result of speculariy reflections on the smooth surfaces of the rear window which reflect the light caused by these things placed on the rear shelf. This specularly reflected light is directed toward inside rear-view mirror by rear window which is in the majority of private automobiles inclined forward. In this way, the driver sees in the inside rear-view mirror two images at the same time: the specularly reflected one of the things which are placed on the rear shelf and the one of the traffic behind the automobile. Specularly reflected image of the things confuses the driver and he needs more time to look in the inside rear-view mirror, what could be potentialy dangerous considering the traffic situation.
Up till now the problem of diminishing of the intensity of specularly reflected image has been obtained by covering rear shelf with the absorbing dark material. However, this solution requires the rear shelf to be empty, what means that no things could be put on it and in this way the rear shelf is out of use.
The invention as claimed is intended to remedy these drawbacks. Specularly reflected image of things placed on the rear shelf is reflected on smooth oblique surfaces of the rear window.
Majority of private automobiles have the angle of reflection near the Brewster's angle, because of the tilted rear window. Light reflected from surfaces of the rear window near the Brewster's angle is mainly linearly polarized in the horizotal direction and directed toward the inside rear-view mirror. Vertical linear polarizer put in front of the reflective coating in the rear- view mirror, absorbs horizontally-polarized light and transmits the vertically- polarized one.
So, when horizontally-polarized lihgt enters rear-view mirror, it will be stopped in rear-view mirror, and when vertically-polarized light enters rear- view mirror, it will reflect back. Specularly reflected image which is mostly horizontally-polarized is stopped by the vertical polarizer of the inside rear- view mirror.
The light entering through the rear window and carrying the image of traffic situation behind the automobile is unpolarized, it means that it consists of vertically and horizontally polarized light in the same proportion. When this light enters the rear-view mirror, horizontally polarized portion of that light is stopped by vertical polarizer incorporated in rear-view mirror, and a portion of that light vertically polarized, leaves the rear-view mirror and reaches the eyes of a driver. In this way, the driver sees the necessary image of traffic behind and does not see the disturbing image of things on the rear shelf.
The advantage offered by this invention is mainly that the rear shelf of an automobile could be used for laying away things, without desturbing the driver by specularly reflected image of these things produced by the rear window, making it possible to watch through the rear window and see the clear image of the traffic situation behind the automobile.
Preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the inside rear-view mirror of Figure 1 , in accordance with the invention,
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a variant of the inside rear-view mirror of Figure 1 , in accordance with the invention, and
Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating the operation of the same device, in accordance with the invention.
Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for attachment to a inside rear-view mirror which already exists in the automobile.
Referring to Figure 1 , a preferred embodiment of the automobile inside rear-view mirror (1 ) for suppressing specular reflections from automobile rear window comprises a mechanical construction (2) and an optical system (3). Mechanical construction (2) comprises a holder (4) which holds rear-view mirror (1 ) on a roof or on a windshield of the automobile, joint (5) for adjusting of the rear-view mirror (1 ) toward the drivers eyes, housing (6) for optical system (3) and a lever (7) for switching a rear-view mirror (1 ) from a "functional" to "night" position.
Optical system (3) comprises vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between transparent wedged plate (9) of which nonlaminated surface is coated with reflecting coating (10), and transparent plane parallel plate (11) which is a protecting plate.
In this embodiment of invention the wedged plate (9) is turned upward, although the invention could work just as well with the wedge turned downwards.
Preferred material for making a wedged plate is glass, because of its good optical and mechanical properties, although plastic may suffice. Vertical linear polarizer (8) is sheet-type polarizer.
Transparent plane parallel plate (11) protects polarizer (8) from mechanical damage, which can be caused when cleaning the outer surface (12) of the rear-view mirror (1 ). Preferred material for plane parallel plate (11 ) is glass, the same as the one for wedged plate, although plastic may suffice. If the polarizer (8) is sufficiently rigid, the plane parallel plate (11 ) may be dispensed with. Material used for reflecting coating (10) is usualy silver or aluminium.
Referring to Figure 2, variant embodiment of rear-view mirror (1 ) for suppressing specular reflections from rear window of an automobile comprising the same parts as the preferred embodiment and operating in the same way as the preferred one described in Figure 1.
The only difference is that transparent plane parallel plate (11 ) and transparent wedged plate (9) have changed their places. In this way, nonlaminated surface of the plane parallel plate (11 ) is coated with reflecting coating (10), and nonlaminated surface of wedged plate (9) is outer surface of the rear-view mirror (1 ).
The wedged plate (9) also protects the vertical polarizer (8) from a mechanical demage. Again, invention works well regardless whether the wedge of the wedged plate is upward or downwards.
Again, if the polarizer (8) is sufficiently rigid, the plane parallel plate (11 ) may be dispensed with.
Referring to Figure 3, inside rear-view mirror operates as follows in order to absorb specular reflections from rear window and to enable the clear view through the automobile rear window.
Light (13) entering through automobile rear window (14) and carrying the image of a traffic situation behind the automobile, reaches the rear-view mirror (1). Light (13) is unpolarized namely it comprises vertically (15) and horizontally (16) polarized light in the same proportion. When unpolarized light (13) strikes the outer surface (12) of a rear-view mirror (1 ), a small portion of light (13) is specularly reflected like a light (17) and the biggest remaining portion of light (13) is refracted into transparent plane parallel plate (11 ). Specularly reflected light (17) is composed of an equal proportion of the vertically (15) and horizontally (16) polarized light, as light (13) is, though it has considerably lesser intensity than light (13) has.
The biggest remaining portion of light (13), refracted into plate (11) passes through it and reaches the polarizer (8). The polarizer has its absorption axis in the horizontal direction and so it will transmit only that portion of the refracted light (13) which is vertically polarized. The vertically polarized portion of refracted light (13) which has passed through the polarizer (8), passes without disturbance through transparent wedged plate (9), reflectes on reflecting coating (10) and passes again through wedged plate (9), vertical linear polarizer (8), plane parallel plate (11 ), without disturbance, and gets out of rear-view mirror (1 ) through outer surface (13) like vertically polarized ligt (18). Light (18), carrying image of traffic situation behind the automobile, reaches the eyes of the driver (19) making it possible for him to see the traffic situation behind his automobile.
External light (20), whether it be daylight or at night streetlight, enters through automobile rear window (14), illuminating things (21 ) placed on its rear shelf (22). Light (23), caused by things (21 ), carrying the image of things (21 ), is unpolarized, what means it is composed of vertically (24) and horizontally (25) polarized light in the same proportion.
Most of private automobiles have considerably forward tilted rear windows. Light (23) strikes most of automobile rear windows at an angle near to Brewster's angle.
Light (26) which is a portion of light (23) speculariy reflected at smooth surfaces of a rear window (14) is substantially horizontally polarized, because it is reflected at an angle near Brewster's angle. The closer the angle of reflection and in this way the angle of incidence, to the Brewster's angle, the lesser is the intensity of the vertically polarized portion of specularly reflected light, and the greater is the intensity of the horizontally polarized portion. When the angle of reflection of specularly reflected light is the same as the Brewster's angle, then the specularly reflected light is totaly horizontally polarized. When substantially horizontally polarized light (26) strikes the rear-view mirror outer surface (12), a small portion of light (26) is specularlly reflected like a substantially horizontally polarized light (27) and the biggest remaining portion of light (26) is refracted into transparent plane parallel plate (11 ). Substantially horizontally polarized refracted portion of light (26) passes through the plane parallel plate (1 1 ) and reaches the vertical polarizer (8). The polarizer has its absorption axis in the horizontal direction. Substantially
horizontally polarized refracted portion of light is substantially stopped by the polarizer (8). In this way light (26) specularlly reflected at rear window (14) and carrying image of things (21) onto the rear shelf (22) does not reach the eyes of the driver (19). Only vertically polarized light (18), carrying clear image of the traffic situation at the back of the automobile, reaches the eyes of a driver (19). Light (27) specularlly reflected from smooth surface (12) carry the image of the things (21) placed at rear shelf (22). It is necessary to separate directions of propagation of light (27) and (18) and to allow only the light (18) to reach the eyes of the driver (19). For this purpose wedged plate (9) is used, whose wedge-angle allows the driver (19) to perceive at the same time only one of the lights either (18) or (27). The "functional" position of the rear-view mirror (1 ) is the one of the rear-view mirror in which the driver (19) perceives the light (18) only. This is the position of the rear-view mirror (1) in which the invention is in function. Lever (7) switches a rear-view mirror (1 ) from "functional" to "night" position. Switching the rear-view mirror (1) from "functional" to "night" position is done at night when another motor vehicle at the back of the automobile with his headlights dazzle the eyes of the driver (19). On "night" position of the rear-view mirror (1), light (17), carrying the image of the traffic situation behind the automobile, reaches the eyes of a driver (19). Light (17) has remarkably lesser intensity than light (18), and does not dazzle the eyes of the driver (19). Meanwhile, light (27) carrying the image of things (21 ), reaches the eyes of the driver (19) together with light (17), because of their same direction of propagation. Therefore, on "night" position of the rear-view mirror (1 ), the image of the traffic situation behind the automobile and the image of the things (21 ) placed on the rear shelf (22) overlap one another. This is why on the "night" position of the rear-view mirror (1 ), the driver (19) can not use the advantage of the invention.
Referring to Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of the inside rear-view mirror (1) for suppressing of specular reflections from the automobile rear window, comprises mechanical structure (28) and optical system (29). In alternative embodiment the mechanical structure (28) comprises holder (4) which holds rearview miror (1 ) on a roof or on a windshield of an automobile, joint (5) for adjusting of the rearview mirror (1 ) toward the driver's eyes and a housing (30) for optical system (29). In this embodiment of
invention mechanical structure (28) can not switch from "functional" to "night" position, like in preferred embodiment of invention. In this embodiment, once adjusted, rear-view mirror (1 ) stays in the desired position. Therefore the lever (7) is left out. In optical system (29) wedge-angle (9) is substituted with transparent plane parallel plate (31 ). Hence, optical system (29) comprises vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between plane parallel plates (1 1 ) and (31 ), where nonlaminated surface of plate (31 ) is coated with reflecting coating (10), and nonlaminated surface of plate (1 1 ), which is also outer surface (12) of rearview mirror (1 ), is coated with antireflecting coating (32).
The effect of rear-view mirror (1 ) upon the light (13) carrying image of traffic situation behind the automobile, and upon the light (26) carrying specularly reflected image of things (21 ) placed on a rear shelf (22), is similar to the effect of the optical system (3), as described above in preferred embodiment of invention. However, because of the substitution of a wedged plate (9) with a plane parallel plate (31 ), directions of propagation of lights (18), (17) and (27) are the same. This is the reason why the driver (19) sees in rear-view mirror (1 ) three mutually overlapping images: the first one - the desired image of the traffic situation behind the automobile carried by light (18), the second one - the disturbing image of things (21 ) specularly reflected from rear window (14) carried by light (27), and the third one - the disturbing image, vertically shifted, of the traffic situation behind the automobile which is carried by light (17) ("ghosf-image). Although lights (27) and (17) are specular reflections of lights (26) and (13) respectively on smooth surface (12), and their intensity is considerably lesser than intensity of light (18), they still hinder the driver when watching the traffic situation behind his automobile. For further reduction of intensity of lights (27) and (17) antireflecting coating (32) coated on smooth surface (12) is used. Suitable materials for plane parallel plates (11 ) and (31 ), polarizer (8) and reflecting coating (10) are the same as in preferred embodiment of invention. Suitable material for forming the antireflecting coating (32) is for example MgF2. If the polarizer is sufficiently rigid, the plates (1 1 ) and (31 ) may be dispensed with.
For wider drivers field of view, plates (11) and (31) and vertical polarizer (8) laminated between them could be cylindrically or sphericaly curved.
Referring to Figure 5, the embodiment of the invention adapted for attachment to a inside rear-view mirror, which already exists in the automobile, is embodiment of the supplementary inside rear-view mirror (1 ) for suppressing specular reflections from rear window. This supplementary inside rear-view mirror (1) comprises mechanical structure (33) and optical system (34). Mechanical structure is reduced to two parts : housing (35) for optical system (34) and ribbons (36) attached equidistantly on housing (35). Setting the inside rear-view mirror (1 ) on the existing inside rear-view mirror (37) is as follows: backside of rear-view mirror (1 ) is leaned against the frontside of existing rear-view mirror (37) and ribbons (36) are tightened over the backside of the existing rear-view mirror (37). The housing (35) is, as described above, housing (6) or (30), and the optical system (34) is, as described above, optical system (3) or (29) respectively.
Claims
1. Automobile inside rear-view mirror (1 ) for suppressing specularly reflected light (26), comprises mechanical structure (2) and optical system (3), wherein vertical linear polarizer (8) built in optical system (3) absorbs specularly reflected light (26) entering in optical system (3) of a rear-view mirror (1 ), wherein the substantially horizontally polarized (25) light (26) is a specular reflection of light (23) on smooth surfaces of rear-window (14), wherein the light (23) originates from things (21 ) placed on the rear shelf (22), wherein through vertical polarizer (8) passes only vertically polarized portion of incident unpolarized light (13) and that portion gets out from the rear-view mirror (1) like the vertically polarized (15) light (18) and reaches the eyes of the driver (19), and wherein light (13) carries image of the traffic situation behind the automobile, characterised in that a mechanical structure (2) comprises holder (4) which holds a rear-view mirror (1) on a roof or on a windshield of the automobile, joint (5) for adjusting of the rear-view mirror (1) toward the driver's eyes (19), housing (6) for optical system (3), and a lever (7) which switches a rear-view mirror (1 ) from "functional" to "night" position, that optical system (3) comprises vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between transparent wedged plate (9) with wedge upward and transparent plane parallel plate (11 ), that nonlaminated surface of wedged plate (9) is coated with reflecting coating (10), that wedge-angle of the wedged plate (9) is so choosed that when the rear-view mirror is in "functional" position, driver (19) sees only light (18) which gets out of rear-view mirror (1) and which is vertically polarized portion of light (13) carrying clear image of the traffic situation behind the automobile, and that in "night" position of rear-view mirror (1) the eyes of a driver (19) see lights (17) and (27), reflected on a smooth outer surface (12) of a rear-view mirror (1), carrying image of the traffic situation behind the automobile and image of the things (21) placed on the rear shelf (22) respectively.
2. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that the transparent wedged plate (9) is oriented with wedge downward.
3. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that a nonlaminated surface of transparent plane parallel plate (11 ) is coated with reflecting coating (10), and that a nonlaminated surface of transparent wedged plate (9) is outer surface (12) of the rear-view mirror (1 ).
4. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, the transparent plane parallel plate (11 ) be omitted.
5. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that optical system (29) of a rear-view mirror (1 ) comprises vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between two transparent plane parallel plates (11 ) and (31), that nonlaminated surface of transparent plane parallel plate (11) is coated with antireflecting coating (32), that nonlaminated surface of a transparent plane parallel plate (31 ) is coated with reflecting coating (10) and that mechanical structure (28) of a rear-view mirror (1 ) comprises holder (4), joint (5) and housing (30) for optical system (29).
6. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claims 1 and 5, characterised in that a transparent plane parallel plate (11 ) or transparent plane parallel plate (31 ) or both could be omitted.
7. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claims 1 and 5, characterised in that plates (11 ) and (31 ) and vertical linear polarizer (8) laminated between them are cylindrically or sphericaly curved.
8. An inside rear-view mirror (1 ), as claimed in Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a mechanical structure (33) comprises housing (35) for optical system (34) and ribbons (36) attached equidistantly on housing (35), that housing (35) is housing (6) or (30), and optical system (34) is optical system (3) or (29) respectively.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRP930244 HRP930244A2 (en) | 1993-03-01 | 1993-03-01 | Inside rear-view mirror supressing specular reflections coming from a rear window |
| HRP930244A | 1993-03-01 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1994020331A1 true WO1994020331A1 (en) | 1994-09-15 |
Family
ID=10945902
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP1994/000578 WO1994020331A1 (en) | 1993-03-01 | 1994-02-28 | Automobile inside rear-view mirror for suppressing specular reflections from rear automobile window_________________________ |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| HR (1) | HRP930244A2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994020331A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2915192A1 (en) * | 2007-04-23 | 2008-10-24 | Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa | Window for internal rear-view mirror of automobile vehicle, includes mirror, glass exposed in front of mirror, and complete polarizer film to filter components of double polarized image perpendicular to a plane of incident light beam |
| US20160200256A1 (en) * | 2015-01-14 | 2016-07-14 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Image display mirror for a vehicle |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2776598A (en) * | 1951-04-13 | 1957-01-08 | Charles P Dreyer | Mirror having a dichroic layer |
| US2900872A (en) * | 1954-03-03 | 1959-08-25 | Libbey Owens Ford Glass Co | Rear view mirror |
| EP0079044A1 (en) * | 1981-11-06 | 1983-05-18 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Dimmable mirror |
| JPS608825A (en) * | 1983-06-28 | 1985-01-17 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Rearview mirror for automobile |
| US4755024A (en) * | 1986-10-29 | 1988-07-05 | Tres Paul A | Rearview mirror |
-
1993
- 1993-03-01 HR HRP930244 patent/HRP930244A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1994
- 1994-02-28 WO PCT/EP1994/000578 patent/WO1994020331A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2776598A (en) * | 1951-04-13 | 1957-01-08 | Charles P Dreyer | Mirror having a dichroic layer |
| US2900872A (en) * | 1954-03-03 | 1959-08-25 | Libbey Owens Ford Glass Co | Rear view mirror |
| EP0079044A1 (en) * | 1981-11-06 | 1983-05-18 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Dimmable mirror |
| JPS608825A (en) * | 1983-06-28 | 1985-01-17 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Rearview mirror for automobile |
| US4755024A (en) * | 1986-10-29 | 1988-07-05 | Tres Paul A | Rearview mirror |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 122 (P - 359) 28 May 1985 (1985-05-28) * |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2915192A1 (en) * | 2007-04-23 | 2008-10-24 | Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa | Window for internal rear-view mirror of automobile vehicle, includes mirror, glass exposed in front of mirror, and complete polarizer film to filter components of double polarized image perpendicular to a plane of incident light beam |
| US20160200256A1 (en) * | 2015-01-14 | 2016-07-14 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Image display mirror for a vehicle |
| US10377312B2 (en) * | 2015-01-14 | 2019-08-13 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Image display mirror for a vehicle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| HRP930244A2 (en) | 1995-08-31 |
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