Electromagnetic radiation assembly

Abstract

An electromagnetic radiation assembly is described and which includes a reflector having discrete first and second surfaces; a first electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface; and a second electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the second surface, and wherein, when energized, the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters emit visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the reflector in a fashion so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface.

1 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly, comprising: 
 a reflector having distinct first and second surfaces, and first and second portions;    a first electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the first portion of the reflector so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface; and    a second electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the second surface of the reflector, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the second portion of the reflector so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface.    
   
   
       2 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a semitransparent substrate juxtaposed relative to the reflector, and wherein the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters passes through the semitransparent substrate.    
   
   
       3 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a semitransparent substrate positioned near the reflector, and which passes the emitted visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation; and    a first substantially opaque substrate positioned therebetween the semitransparent substrate and the reflector, and wherein the opaque substrate defines, at least in part, a region through which the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation may pass, and wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitter is mounted on the first substantially opaque substrate and near the region which passes the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation.    
   
   
       4 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the semitransparent substrate has a first outside facing surface, and a second inside facing surface, and wherein the first substantially opaque substrate has a first surface which is juxtaposed relative to the second, inside facing surface of the mirror, and a second surface, and wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitter is mounted on the second surface thereof, and wherein the first surface of the reflector is positioned adjacent to the second surface of the first substrate.  
   
   
       5 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , and further comprising: 
 a second substrate positioned in spaced relation relative to the second surface of the reflector, and wherein the reflector is located therebetween the first substrate, and the second substrate, and wherein the second substrate has a first surface, and a second surface, and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation assembly is mounted on the second substrate.    
   
   
       6 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , and wherein the first portion of the reflector comprises, at least in part, a reflector pocket, and wherein the reflector pocket defines a cavity which is positioned in eccentric reflecting relation relative to the first electromagnetic radiation emitter, and wherein the reflector pocket reflects the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first electromagnetic radiation emitter in a first direction.  
   
   
       7 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , and wherein the second portion of the reflector comprises, at least in part, an aperture which allows the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation generated by the second electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough; and a reflector facet, having a reflecting surface, is located adjacent to the aperture, and which is further positioned in spaced relation relative to the second surface of the reflector, and disposed in reflecting relation relative to the second electromagnetic radiation emitter, and wherein the visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter is reflected by the reflector facet of the second portion of the reflector in a second direction.  
   
   
       8 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , and further comprising: 
 a third electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface of the reflector, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected, at least in part, by the first portion of the reflector in a third direction.    
   
   
       9 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , and further comprising: 
 a housing borne on an overland and which defines an internal cavity, and wherein the housing further defines an aperture which allows access to the internal cavity thereof, and wherein the reflector, and the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters are received in the cavity of the housing;    a semitransparent substrate borne by the housing, and which is positioned in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture of the housing, and wherein the semitransparent substrate has a first outwardly facing surface, and an opposite, inwardly facing surface, and wherein the first surface of the reflector is positioned near the second inwardly facing surface of the semitransparent substrate, and wherein the semitransparent substrate passes the visibly discernible light emitted by the first, second and third electromagnetic radiation emitters, and wherein the visibly discernible light which is traveling in the first direction is oriented substantially laterally outwardly relative to a direction of travel of the overland vehicle, and wherein the visibly discernible light which is traveling in the second direction is oriented substantially downwardly relative to a direction of travel of the overland vehicle, and wherein the visibly discernible light which is traveling in the third direction is oriented substantially laterally inwardly relative to a direction of travel of the overland vehicle.    
   
   
       10 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the semitransparent substrate is a semitransparent mirror which is selected from the group comprising substantially neutrally chromatic, dichroic, and electrochromic mirrors.  
   
   
       11 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly, comprising: 
 a first supporting substrate having distinct first and second surfaces, and which defines, at least in part, an aperture which permits visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough;    a first electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned on the second surface of the first supporting substrate, and near the aperture;    a reflector having a first and second portion, and wherein the first portion is oriented in reflecting relation relative to the first electromagnetic radiation emitter, and which reflects, at least in part, electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by first electromagnetic radiation emitter through the aperture such that the emitted electromagnetic radiation may be detected at locations forward of the first surface of the first supporting substrate;    a second electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned in spaced relation relative to the first supporting substrate, and wherein the reflector is positioned therebetween the second electromagnetic radiation emitter, and the first supporting substrate, and wherein the second portion of the reflector reflects, at least in part, electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter through the aperture such that the emitted electromagnetic radiation may be detected at locations forward of the first supporting substrate.    
   
   
       12 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , and further comprising: 
 a semitransparent substrate which has a first, outwardly facing surface, and a second, inwardly facing surface, and wherein the first surface of the first supporting surface is juxtaposed relative the second inwardly facing surface of the semitransparent substrate; and    a second substrate positioned in spaced relation relative to the reflector, and wherein the reflector is positioned therebetween the first supporting substrate, and the second supporting substrate, and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation emitter is borne by the second substrate, and wherein the second portion of the reflector is positioned, at least in part, therebetween the reflector and the second substrate.    
   
   
       13 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the aperture which is defined, at least in part, by the first supporting substrate comprises a plurality of apertures which are oriented in a pattern, and wherein the first electromagnetic radiation emitter comprises a plurality of first electromagnetic radiation emitters which are individually positioned near each of the respective apertures, and wherein the first portion of the reflector comprises individual reflector pockets which are oriented in reflecting relation relative to the individual first electromagnetic radiation emitters, and wherein the first portion of the reflector reflects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plurality of first electromagnetic radiation emitters in a first direction, and where it is subsequently passed by the semitransparent substrate.  
   
   
       14 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the second portion of the reflector reflects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter in a second direction, and where it is subsequently passed by the semitransparent substrate.  
   
   
       15 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , and further comprising: 
 a third electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned on the second surface of the first supporting substrate, and which, when energized, emits electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the first portion of the reflector, and wherein at least some of the individual reflector pockets reflect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the third electromagnetic radiation emitter, at least in part, in a third direction, and where it is subsequently passed by the semitransparent substrate.    
   
   
       16 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in clam  12 , and further comprising: 
 a housing defining a cavity, and wherein the first and second substrates, and the reflector are received in the cavity of the housing.    
   
   
       17 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation emitter comprises a plurality of second electromagnetic radiation emitters, and wherein, when energized, the plurality of second electromagnetic radiation emitters generate heat energy, and wherein the second substrate, and the housing facilitate, at least in part, the dissipation of the heat energy generated by the plurality of second electromagnetic radiation emitters.  
   
   
       18 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation emitter comprises a light emitting diode having a heat sink, and wherein the second supporting substrate has a first surface, and an opposite, second surface, and wherein an aperture extends through the second substrate, and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation emitter substantially occludes the aperture, and wherein the housing defines an aperture which is substantially coaxially aligned relative to the aperture defined by the second supporting substrate, and wherein the heat sink dissipates, at least in part, the heat generated by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter when it is energized through the aperture which is defined by the housing.  
   
   
       19 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the semitransparent substrate is a semitransparent mirror which is selected from the group of semitransparent mirrors comprising substantially neutrally chromatic; dichroic; electrochromic and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       20 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly, comprising: 
 a first supporting substrate having first and second surfaces, and which defines, at least in part, an aperture which passes visibly discernible light therethrough;    a first electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the second surface, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible light;    a reflector having a first portion which defines, at least in part, a reflector pocket which is disposed in substantially covering, eccentric reflecting relation relative to the first electromagnetic radiation emitter, and a second portion, and wherein the visibly discernible light emitted by the first electromagnetic radiation emitter is reflected, at least in part, by the reflector pocket, and subsequently passes through the aperture of the first supporting substrate such that it can be seen from a location forward of the first surface of the first supporting substrate;    a second substrate positioned in spaced relation relative to the reflector, and wherein the reflector is positioned therebetween the first and second supporting substrates; and    a second electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the second substrate, and which, when energized, emits visibly discernible light which is reflected by the second portion of the reflector, and which passes through the aperture of the first supporting substrate such that it can be seen from a location forward of the first surface of the first supporting substrate.    
   
   
       21 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 20 , and further comprising: 
 a semitransparent substrate having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, and wherein the first supporting substrate is juxtaposed relative to the second inwardly facing surface of the semitransparent substrate, and wherein the visibly discernible light emitted by the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters is passed by the semitransparent substrate.    
   
   
       22 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , and wherein the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters comprise a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters, and wherein the first and second portions of the reflector are operable to reflect the visibly discernible light in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
       23 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 22 , and wherein the second portion of the reflector comprises an aperture which allows the visibly discernible light emitted by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter to pass therethrough, and wherein the reflector includes a reflector facet having a reflective surface, and wherein the reflector facet is oriented so as to reflect the visibly discernible light emitted by the second electromagnetic radiation emitter through the aperture formed in the reflector.  
   
   
       24 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly, as claimed in  claim 22 , and wherein the semitransparent substrate comprises a semitransparent mirror which is selected from the group of semitransparent mirrors comprising substantially neutrally chromatic; dichroic, electrochromic, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       25 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly, comprising: 
 a first supporting substrate having first and second surfaces, and which further has a region through which an electromagnetic radiation signal may pass;    a first plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters borne by the second surface, and positioned adjacent to the region through which an electromagnetic radiation signal may pass, and wherein the first plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters, when energized, emits electromagnetic radiation which forms a first electromagnetic radiation signal;    a reflector having a plurality of reflector pockets which are individually positioned in covering, eccentric reflecting relation relative to each of the first plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters, and wherein the reflector further includes a region thorough which a second electromagnetic radiation signal may pass, and wherein the first electromagnetic radiation signal generated by the first plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters is reflected by the respective reflector pockets in a direction so as to substantially pass through the region in the first supporting substrate which passes the first electromagnetic radiation signal;    a second supporting substrate having first and second surfaces, and which is positioned in spaced relation relative to the reflector, and wherein the reflector is positioned therebetween the first and second supporting surfaces; and    a second plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters borne by the second supporting substrate and which, when energized, emits electromagnetic radiation which forms a second electromagnetic radiation signal, and wherein the second electromagnetic radiation signal passes through both the region of the reflector which passes the second electromagnetic radiation signal, and the region of the first supporting substrate which permits the passage of the first electromagnetic radiation signal.    
   
   
       26 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 25 , and further comprising: 
 a semitransparent substrate having a first, outwardly facing surface, and a second, inwardly facing surface, and wherein the first surface of the first supporting substrate is juxtaposed relative to the second surface of the semitransparent substrate, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the respective first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters pass through the semitransparent substrate in a plurality of directions.    
   
   
       27 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , and further comprising: 
 a third electromagnetic radiation emitter which is borne on the second surface of the first supporting substrate, and which, when energized, emits electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the first portion of the reflector, and which passes through the semitransparent substrate in one of the plurality of directions.    
   
   
       28 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 25 , and wherein the second plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters comprise, at least in part, a side-emitting light emitting diode.  
   
   
       29 . An electromagnetic radiation assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , and wherein the semitransparent substrate is a semitransparent mirror which is selected from the group of semitransparent mirrors comprising substantially neutrally chromatic, dichroic, electrochromic, and combinations thereof.