Abstract:
An improved multifunction mirror display system that combines the display of projected and reflected data in a single console by compressively coupling, without the use of adhesives, a reflective element (e.g. two-way mirror) with an emitting element (e.g. a liquid crystal display) within a housing. Compressive coupling of a reflective element with an emitting element is achieved by urging: (1) a reflective element against an emitting element; (2) an emitting element against a reflective element; or (3) both a reflective element and an emitting element against one another. Such an improved multifunction mirror display system can be used with overland, air, water and/or amphibious vehicles, buildings or non-occupied structures like sign posts, bridges and/or guard rails.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to mirror technology. More specifically the present invention relates to semi-reflective or two-way mirror technology that allows reflected and projected images to be viewed from a mirror panel.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     Mirrors both for use in vehicles (like cars, trucks, airplanes, and vessels) and in/on structures (like houses, buildings and sign posts) are used to enable a person to observe a reflected image of an object not within the person&#39;s direct line of sight. Such mirrors are an every day tool to provide data in the form of visual images of objects not within the person&#39;s direct line of sight. Likewise, a person in a vehicle or building or next to a sign post may require additional useful information that can be readily presented in a visual manner such as environmental or operational data.  
         [0003]     As recognized by the present invention, it can be advantageous to combine visual data sources not only to realize savings related to manufacturing costs, but also to promote safe, efficient and/or effective data presentation. The present invention recognizes that data presented on a mirror may be more accessible than data presented in separate displays that would not otherwise attract the person&#39;s attention as much as a multifunction mirror display.  
         [0004]     The present multifunction mirror display invention achieves the desirable goal of combining the display of projected and reflected data in a single console without permanently sacrificing a portion of the reflective element or increasing the overall viewing area to present projected data.  
         [0005]     As further recognized by the present invention, the advantage of a combined or multifunction display is achieved by coupling an emitting display to a reflective display without the use of adhesives or a complicated and expensive manufacturing process to couple the emitting and reflective displays.  
         [0006]     As still further recognized by the present invention, the advantage of reducing heat buildup of an emitting element (or visual display) is achieved by coupling an emitting element (or visual display) to a reflective element (or visual display) without the use of adhesives.  
         [0007]     As still further recognized by the present invention, it is desirable to have a multifunction mirror system that allows the replacement of individual display elements (reflective and/or emitting) when damage or inoperable. Furthermore as recognized herein, it is desirable to have a multifunction mirror system that allows an upgrade or change of display elements (reflective and/or emitting).  
         [0008]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a person with a multifunction mirror display system which combines the display of reflected and projected data from a mirror display. Another object of the invention is to achieve coupling of a reflective element, like a mirror, with an emitting element, like a video display, without the use of adhesives. Still another object of the invention is to provide a multifunction mirror system that is easy to manufacture. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multifunction mirror display that reduces heat buildup of an emitting element (or video display) by eliminating the need for an adhesive to fix an emitting element with or to a reflective element. Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a multifunction mirror display that allows inexpensive repairs or replacements of damaged, inoperable or obsolete display components to be performed without highly skilled labor. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multifunction mirror display that is easy to use.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviates the drawbacks and deficiencies described above with respect to existing multifunction mirror display systems. The present invention incorporates several additionally beneficial features.  
         [0010]     The improved multifunction mirror display system achieves the goal of combining the display of projected and reflected data in a single console by compressively coupling, without the use of adhesives, a reflective element (e.g. two-way mirror) with an emitting element (e.g. a liquid crystal display) within a housing. Compressive coupling of a reflective element with an emitting element is achieved by urging: (1) a reflective element against an emitting element; (2) an emitting element against a reflective element; or (3) both a reflective element and an emitting element against one another.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment, a removable frame, fixed in a predetermined and repeatable orientation within a housing, achieves compressive coupling by at least one pair of opposing tabs on the frame in biased contact with an emitting element to urge the emitting element against a reflective element affixed to the housing. In another embodiment, a bezel, removeably fixed in a predetermined and repeatable orientation to a housing, achieves compressive coupling by at least one pair of opposing leaves on the bezel in biased contact with a reflective element to urge the reflective element against an emitting element fixed in a housing. In yet another embodiment, a support panel accomplishes compressive coupling by situating an axially resilient member between a housing and a support panel to urge an emitting element (fixed to the support panel) against a reflective element fixed to the housing. In still another preferred embodiment, any combination of the above embodiments can be combined to achieve compressive coupling.  
         [0012]     The improved multifunction mirror display system achieves the goal of low cost manufacturing, reduced heat buildup, repairs and/or upgradeability by removeably fixing an emitting element in and/or a reflective element to a housing in pre-determined positions for compressive coupling with each other. This goal is also achieved by the present invention by using a universal signal and power harness between an emitting display (and certain reflective elements), a signal source and power source.  
         [0013]     The present invention in achieves the goal of simple and low cost manufacturing by positioning a reflective element on and an emitting element in a housing without the use of adhesives. The present invention further achieves the goal of inexpensive repairs and upgrades of a reflective element and/or an emitting element by incorporating a universal signal and power harness between a signal source and emitting display as well as eliminating the need for adhesives to couple a reflective element and an emitting element.  
         [0014]     The present invention also achieves the goal of reducing heat buildup of a visual display by eliminating the need for adhesives to couple a visual display to a reflective display by compressively coupling a visual display to a reflective display.  
         [0015]     Furthermore, the present invention in each of the embodiments discussed herein achieves the goal of interchangeability for repair, upgrade or change in display types by removeably fixing a reflective element on a housing and removeably fixing an emitting element in a housing and a universal signal and power harness. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The invention is described in greater detail in the following examples and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic and cut away view of a multifunction mirror for a vehicle.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic and cut away view of a multifunction mirror for a building.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional cutaway view of a multifunction mirror for a non-occupied structure.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a multifunction mirror display having a frame with tabs to compressively couple an emitting element with a reflective element.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional cutaway view of a multifunction mirror display depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a multifunction mirror display having a frame with another embodiment of tabs to compressively couple an emitting element with a reflective element.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a multifunction mirror display having a bezel with one embodiment of leaves to compressively couple an emitting element with a reflective element.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional cutaway view of a multifunction mirror display having another embodiment of a bezel with leaves to compressively couple an emitting element with a reflective element. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     GENERAL OVERVIEW: As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and function details disclosed herein are not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ in the present invention.  
         [0026]     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed toward a multifunction mirror display system  100  for a vehicle that includes an information console assembly  400  having an emitting element  600  in a pre-determined orientation in a housing  410 . An emitting element  600  of the present invention is compressively coupled to a reflective element  500  in a pre-determined orientation to a housing  410 . A processor unit  300  is in communication between an emitting element  600  and an information input system  210 . An emitting element  600  can be a visual display  610  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) that emits radiation detectible by an operator or an emitter of infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation detectable by sensors adapted to receive such radiation. Data is collected or sensed by an information input system  210  for input to a processor unit  300 . After manipulation of data received from an information input system  210 , processor unit  300  communicates a signal to an emitting element  600 . It is contemplated that a multifunction mirror display system  100  of the present invention can be used with a variety of vehicles, including but not limited to over land craft (e.g. cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.), marine craft (e.g. ships, boats, submarines, etc.), aircraft (e.g. planes, balloons, gliders, etc.), and amphibious craft (such as hovercraft).  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  depicts another embodiment of the present invention, namely a multifunction mirror display system  100  that includes an information console assembly  400  having a housing  410 , a frame  430 , a reflective element  500 , such as a two-way mirror panel, removeably (or permanently) fixed to the housing  410 . Frame  430  comprises at least one pair of opposing tabs  432  (See  FIG. 6 ) in bias contact with an emitting element  600  to compressively couple the emitting element  600  to a reflective element  500 . A signal source  200  is in communication with a emitting element  600  through a universal signal and power harness  230 . In another embodiment, a multifunction mirror display system  100  can be attached to a vehicle, building or unoccupied structures like a stand, sign, light post, guard rails and/or bridges. As shown in  FIG. 2 , multifunction mirror display  100  is fixed above a counter C in a building.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts another embodiment of the present invention, namely a multifunction mirror display system  100  that includes an information console assembly  400  having a housing  410 , a support panel  450 , an axially resilient member  460 , a visual display  610  and a reflective element  500 , like a two-way mirror panel. Visual display  610  is removeably (or permanently) fixed to a support panel  450  and a reflective element  500  is removeably (or permanently) fixed to a housing  410 . Compressive coupling of a reflective element  500  and a visual display  610  is achieved by an axially resilient member  460  disposed between a support panel  450  and a housing  410 . Visual display  610  is in communication with a signal source  200 . Signal source  200  can be an information input system  210  (as depicted in  FIG. 1 ) or any device that can generate a signal that can be utilized by an emitting element  600 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , multifunction mirror display  100  includes a curved reflective element  500  compressively coupled with a visual display  610  that is fixed to an unoccupied structure, namely a sign post S. As represented in  FIG. 3 , signal source  200  is a wireless receiver that provides a signal to a visual display  610  through a universal signal and power harness  230 .  
         [0029]     Reflective element  500  is fixed in a pre-determined orientation to a housing  410  to reflect between approximately 10% and 90% of light (visible and/or infrared) generated by an exterior light source and pass approximately 10% to 90% of light (visible and/or infrared) of light (visible and/or infrared) generated by an emitting element  600  compressively coupled to the reflective element  500  (See  FIGS. 4 and 5 ).  
         [0030]     Reflective element  500  can have a panel form with flat, concave and/or convex opposing surfaces  505  (See  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The shape of a surface  505  is dependent primarily upon the desired reflected image. Furthermore, the outline of a reflective element  500  can be polygonal, circular, arcuate or a combination thereof. Reflective element  500  is manufactured from glass, plastic, or other transparent materials. At least one surface  505  of a reflective element  500  is covered (in whole or in part) by a reflective layer  510  (See  FIG. 4 ). The processes by which a reflective layer  510  covers a surface  505  are well known to those skilled in such arts. In a preferred embodiment, reflective layer  510  includes at least one metal material. In another preferred embodiment, reflective layer  510  is at least one metal material selected from the group consisting of chromium, silver, titanium, aluminum or a combination thereof. In another preferred embodiment, metal material is deposited by a pyrolitic process to a thickness of between approximately 0.001 millimeters and approximately 0.08 millimeters on a surface  505  of a reflective element  500 . The total thickness of reflective element  500  and reflective layer  510  together ranges between about 0.01 millimeters to about 50 millimeters. As can be appreciated, the reflective layer  510  may be altered in materials as well as thickness to obtain specific performance criteria.  
         [0031]     In a preferred embodiment, emitting element  600  is a visual display  610  which projects visible light through a reflective element  500  and away from a housing  410  (See  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). In another embodiment, emitting element  600  projects infrared and/or ultraviolet light through a reflective element  500  and away from a housing. In yet another embodiment, visible, ultraviolet and/or infrared light is projected through a reflective element  500  and away from a housing  410 . It is contemplated in a preferred embodiment, that an emitting element  600  be at least one visual display  610  selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a vacuum fluorescent display, a light emitting diode display, a plasma display panel, a field emission display, an organic electroluminescent display, an inorganic electroluminescent display, and a combination thereof. The construction, power consumption and workings of an emitting element  600  are known to those skilled in such arts.  
         [0032]     For use with a vehicle, emitting element  600  is a visual display  610  that can be as small as about 5 millimeters×about 3 millimeters×about 0.001 millimeters and as big as about 2500 millimeters×about 2000 millimeters×about 1000 millimeters, with a preferred size of about 60 millimeters×about 20 millimeters×about 10 millimeters. In a preferred embodiment for attachment to an overland vehicle, visual display  610  is a liquid crystal display with a viewing angle of about 90 to about 180 degrees horizontally and about 50 to about 180 degrees vertically. In a preferred embodiment for use in a building or mounted to a non-occupied structure, emitting element  600  can be as small as about 0.5 centimeters×about 0.01 centimeters×about 0.0001 centimeters and as big as about 2000 centimeters×about 1500 centimeters×about 300 centimeters.  
         [0033]     As depicted in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , compressively coupling of an emitting element  600  to a reflective element  500  is achieved by opposing tabs  432  of a frame  430  in biased contact with the emitting element  600  to urge the emitting element  600  against the reflective element  500 . Reflective element  500  can be removeably fixed to housing  410  by a bezel  420  (See  FIGS. 2, 4  and  5 ) or more traditional fastening means such as mirror holders (not shown).  
         [0034]     Frame  430  of the present invention is manufactured from ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, plastics, composite materials or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions to hold an emitting element  600  in a pre-determined attitude and position within a housing  410 . Opposing tabs  432  are manufactured from ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, plastics, composite materials or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions and resiliency to engage in bias contact with a portion of an emitting element  600  to urge the emitting element  600  against an adjacent reflective element  500  removeably fixed to a housing  410 . In a preferred embodiment, opposing tabs  432  are formed out of the same material as a frame  430  and are fixed at one end the frame  430  (See  FIG. 4 ). In another embodiment, opposing tabs  432  are formed out of a different material as a frame  430  and are fixed to a frame  430  by fixing opposing ends of each tab  432  to frame  430  (See  FIGS. 5 and 6 ).  
         [0035]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), compressive coupling is achieved with a bezel  420  removeably fixed to a housing  410  (not shown in  FIG. 7 ). Bezel  420  having at least one pair of opposing leaves  422  in biased contact with a reflective element  500  to urge the reflective element  500  against the emitting element  600 . In such an embodiment, emitting element  600  is removeably fixed to a housing  410 . Bezel  420  is manufactured from a ferrous metal, a non-ferrous metal, a plastic, a composite material or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions to hold a reflective element  500  in a pre-determined attitude and position affixed to a housing  410 . Opposing leaves  422  are manufactured from a ferrous metal, a non-ferrous metal, a plastic, a composite material or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions and resiliency to engage in bias contact with a portion of a reflective element  500  to urge the reflective element  500  against an adjacent emitting element  600  removeably fixed in a housing  410 . In a preferred embodiment, opposing leaves  422  are formed out of the same material as a bezel  420  and are fixed at one end to bezel  420  (See  FIG. 7 ). In another embodiment, opposing leaves  422  are formed out of a different material as a bezel  420  and are fixed to a bezel  420  by fixing opposing ends of each leave  422  to bezel  420 , similar to fixation of tabs  432  to a frame  430  as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0036]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an information console assembly  400  comprises an axially resilient member  460  disposed between a housing  410  and a support panel  450 . Support panel  450  holds an emitting element  600  at a pre-determined position and orientation with a housing  410 . Axially resilient member  460  urges said emitting element  600  against a reflective element  500  removeably affixed to a housing  410  to achieve compressive coupling between the two elements  500 ,  600 .  
         [0037]     It is contemplated that a support panel  450  can be manufactured from a ferrous metal, a non-ferrous metal, a plastic, a composite material or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions and strength to hold an emitting element  600  and further transmit the compressive force from an axially resilient member  460  to the emitting element  600  to achieve compressive coupling between the reflective and emitting elements  500 ,  600 .  
         [0038]     Axially resilient member  460  is manufactured from a ferrous metal, a non-ferrous metal, a plastic, a composite material or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions and force to compressively couple an emitting element  600  to a reflective element  500  without deforming a housing  410 , support panel  450 , emitting display  600  and/or reflective element  600  or causing reflective element  600  from detaching from housing  410 . One embodiment of an axially resilient member  460  includes a spring, a compressed gas cylinder or a combination thereof.  
         [0039]     In a preferred embodiment, a spacer sheet  440  is disposed between a reflective element  500  and a peripheral region of an emitting element  600  which are compressively coupled to each other (Sees  FIGS. 4 and 8 ). Spacer sheet  440  is formed from a flexible material that enhances compressive coupling between a reflective element  500  and an emitting element  600  as well as reducing the amount of light (visual, ultraviolet and/or infrared) that may leak out from such a coupling due to irregularities. In a preferred embodiment, spacer sheet  440  is made from polyurethane with a thickness of about 0.01 to about 15 millimeters.  
         [0040]     In a preferred embodiment, a binding layer  520  is affixed to a portion of a surface  505  to strengthen a reflective element  500 ; at least reduce the possibility of failure; and further retain broken pieces of said reflective element  500  if failure does occur (See  FIG. 8 ). In a preferred embodiment, binding layer  520  is transparent to radiation emitted from said emitting element  600 .  
         [0041]     As described above, a processor unit  300  is in communication between an emitting element  600  and an information input system  210 . Data is collected or sensed by an information input system  210  for input to a processor unit  300 . After manipulation of data received from an information input system  210 , processor unit  300  communicates a signal to an emitting element  600  (See  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0042]     In a preferred embodiment, information input system  210  includes at least one environmental sensor  212  or operational sensor  214  (See  FIG. 1 ). It is contemplated that an environmental sensor  212  is a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an ambient light sensor, a relative wind speed sensor or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, an operational sensor  214  is a video camera, clock, odometer, compass, speed sensor, global positioning sensor, distance to obstruction sensor, direction sensor or a combination thereof.  
         [0043]     Information input system  210  further includes a universal input and power harness  220  removeably connected between a power source P, an environmental sensor  212  (or an operational sensor  214 ) and a processor unit  300  (See  FIG. 1 ). Universal input and power harness  220  can be a traditional point to point harness capable of communicating signals (electrical or light) between a sensor  212  (or  214 ) and a processor unit  300 . It is further contemplated that a universal input and power harness  220  can be daisy chained to allow communication from a sensor  212  (or  214 ) to a processor unit  300  via another sensor or sensors  212  (or  214 ). In a preferred embodiment, universal input and power harness  220  is manufactured from traditional wire used for communicating electrical signals. In another embodiment, universal input and power harness  220  is manufactured in part from fiber optic materials. Universal input and power harness  220  is configured with sufficient physical size and capacity to carry and/or communicate a wide variety of signals and/or electrical current between a processor unit  300  and interchangeable sensors  212  (and/or  214 ) as well as the power demands of a sensor  212  (or  214 ) or plurality of sensors  212 ,  214 .  
         [0044]     In a preferred embodiment, an information console assembly further includes a universal signal and power harness  230  removeably connected between a processor unit  300  and an emitting element  600  (See  FIG. 1 ). In a preferred embodiment, universal signal and power harness  230  is manufactured from traditional wire used for communicating electrical signals. In another embodiment, universal signal and power harness  230  is manufactured in part from fiber optic materials. Universal signal and power harness  230  is configured with sufficient physical size and capacity to carry and/or communicate a wide variety of signals between a processor unit  300  and interchangeable emitting elements  600  as well as the power demands of an emitting element  600 .  
         [0045]     Processor unit  300  receives and processes signals from an information input system  210 . In another embodiment, processor unit  300  alters the operational state of an emitting element  600  when data collected from an information input system  210  is compared against pre-determined values. For example, if an information input system  210  includes an operational sensor  214 , like a vehicle direction sensor, and a signal collected indicate the vehicle is to be(or is) traveling in reverse, then processor unit  300  turns on emitting element  600  to display signals from another operational sensor(s)  214 , like a video camera and/or distance and proximity sensor.  
         [0046]     In another embodiment, processor unit  300  alters the operational state of an alarm  700  when data collected from an information input system  210  is compared against pre-determined values (See  FIG. 1 ). Alarm  700  can be aural and/or visual. For example, if an information input system  210  includes an operational sensor  214 , like a vehicle direction sensor, and a signal collected indicate the vehicle is to be(or is) traveling in reverse, then processor unit  300  activates alarm  700 . It is further contemplated that processor unit  300  may alter the tone (for aural alarms) or light characteristics (color, intensity and/or state—flashing) of an alarm  700  depending on the results of the data comparison in processor unit  300 . In a preferred embodiment, alarm  700  is a reading light  722  mounted in a housing  410 . The operational state of reading light  722  is further altered by a keypad or switch  800 . Switch  800  can be mounted in a housing  410  (See  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) and/or a door (not shown).  
         [0047]     Housing  410  includes a standardized pattern of frame mounts  436  extending from the housing  410  for removeable fixation of a frame  430  (See  FIG. 4 ). A standardized pattern of frame mounts  436  provides the flexibility of mounting a variety of frames  430  to achieve compressive coupling between a variety of emitting elements  600  with a reflective element  500 . Such a preferred embodiment of the present invention lowers manufacturing and repair costs. It also provides an upgrade path for an emitting element  600  or the option of changing the type of emitting element  600  to be compressively coupled to a reflective element  500 .  
         [0048]     Housing  410  and frame mounts  436  may be manufactured from a ferrous metal, a non-ferrous metal, a plastic, a composite material or a combination thereof with sufficient dimensions and stability to securely mount components of an information console assembly  400  and withstand forces associated with compressive coupling of an emitting element  600  with a reflective element  500 . The size and shape of a housing  410  is dependent primarily upon the intended use of a multifunction mirror display  100 . In a preferred embodiment for use with an overland vehicle such as a car, housing  410  is approximately 5 to approximately 100 centimeters×approximately 1 to approximately 60 centimeters×approximately 0.001 to approximately 5 centimeters. In a preferred embodiment for use in a building, housing  410  is approximately 1 to approximately 2000 centimeters×approximately 1 to approximately 1500 centimeters×approximately 0.001 to approximately 300 centimeters.  
         [0049]     Mounting of a multifunction mirror display  100  can be done in a variety of ways. When used with a vehicle, an arm  470  is adapted to mount a housing  410  to a vehicle (See  FIG. 5 ). In one embodiment, housing  410  is pivotally mounted to an arm  470 . In another embodiment, arm  470  includes dual ball joints  472 ,  474  (See  FIG. 5 ). This allows a portion of a multifunction mirror display to be positioned in a variety of orientations for an operator. In yet another embodiment, information console assembly  400  further includes a mount base  480  adapted for attachment to a portion of a vehicle. Mount base  480  can be further adapted for attachment to a portion of a vehicle&#39;s windshield W or a mirror mounting button (not shown).  
         [0050]     A multifunction mirror display  100  and its components have been described herein. These and other variations, which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, are within the intended scope of this invention as claimed below. As previously stated, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms.