Rearview mirror assembly with integral display element

Abstract

A rearview mirror ( 2 ) is described, especially for motor vehicles, in which in the direction of a top view, at least one radiation emitting display element ( 8 ) is placed behind the mirror pane ( 6 ), which emits through the said mirror pane ( 6 ). The display element ( 8 ) can emit light in the visible range or in the infrared range. Said display element ( 8 ) is preferred as a light emitting diode ( 10 ) or a seven segment display. The object of the present invention can, for instance, be combined with a so-called back-up aid, whereby then the display element(s) ( 8 ) can display back-up distance data or distance codes between the tailgate and an obstruction or a target of back-up maneuvering.

Claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rearview mirror, in particular for motor vehicles, with a mirror pane ( 6 ), therein characterized, in that in the direction of a top view, behind the mirror pane ( 6 ) at least one radiation emitting display element ( 8 ) is placed, which emits radiation through the said mirror pane ( 6 ).  
     
     
         2 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 1 , therein characterized, in that at least one display element ( 8 ) emits light in the visible range.  
     
     
         3 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 1 , therein characterized, in that at least one display element ( 8 ) emits light in the infrared range.  
     
     
         4 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 1  to  3 , therein characterized, in that a plurality of radiation emitting display elements ( 8 ) is assembled in groups behind the mirror pane ( 6 ).  
     
     
         5 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 1  to  4 , therein characterized, in that the light emitting diodes (LEDs) ( 10 ,  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ) of the radiation emitting display element ( 8 ) are especially high capacity LEDs.  
     
     
         6 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 5 , therein characterized, in that the LEDs ( 10 ,  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ) are of various colors.  
     
     
         7 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 1  or  2 , therein characterized, in that the radiation emitting display element ( 8 ) is a seven segment display ( 22 ).  
     
     
         8 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 1  to  7 , therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane ( 6 ) in an area in front of the display element ( 8 ) is at least partially removed.  
     
     
         9 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 8 , therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane ( 6 ) is removed in front of the display element ( 8 ) in the form of fine lines ( 24 ), essentially parallel to one another.  
     
     
         10 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 8 , therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane ( 6 ) is removed in front of the display element ( 8 ) in the form of individual small dots ( 26 ).  
     
     
         11 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 8 , therein characterized, in that the reflective mirror coating of the mirror pane ( 6 ) is removed by dots ( 26 ) in front of the display element ( 8 ) in the form of a surface shape ( 28 ) essentially conforming to the size of the radiation emitting surface of the display element ( 8 ).  
     
     
         12 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 8 , therein characterized, in that in that the reflective coating of the mirror pane ( 6 ) in front of the display element ( 8 ) is removed in the form a symbol or pictogram ( 30 ,  32 ).  
     
     
         13 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 8  to  12 , therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of a laser.  
     
     
         14 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 8  to  12 , therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of an etching procedure.  
     
     
         15 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 8  to  12 , therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of a scoring procedure.  
     
     
         16 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 8  to  12 , therein characterized, in that the reflective coating is abraded by means of a sand blasting procedure.  
     
     
         17 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 1  to  16 , therein characterized, in that the side of the mirror pane ( 6 ) proximal to the radiation emitting display element ( 8 ), with the exception of those areas of the radiation emissions ( 38 ) is covered with a coating impenetrable by light or radiation.  
     
     
         18 . A rearview mirror in accord with one of the  claims 1  to  17 , therein characterized, in that the direction of the radiation from the radiation emitting display element ( 8 ) can be either angularly inclined away from an observer, or angularly inclined toward said observer.  
     
     
         19 . A rearview mirror in accord with  claim 18 , therein characterized, in that the radiation direction of the radiation emitting display element ( 8 ) is directed through a lens ( 34 ) ground into the material of the mirror pane ( 6 ) or affixed thereon.