Mirror with dazzle light attenuation zone

Claim 2

A liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror with a localized dazzle light attenuation zone, said mirror having a multilayered structure and comprising: a base mirror having a broadband spectral reflectivity; a matrix transparent electrode on one side of said base mirror; a photoconductive layer on said matrix transparent electrode; a rear polarizer placed on said photoconductive layer and having a predetermined axis of polarization; a common transparent electrode above said rear polarizer; a liquid crystal sandwiched and sealed between said rear polarizer and said common transparent electrode; a front polarizer on said common electrode, said front polarizer having an outer surface and an axis of polarization parallel to said predetermined axis of polarization; and a control circuit connected between said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode, said control circuit having means for applying a voltage to said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode.

Claim 3

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 1 wherein said base mirror has maximum reflectivity in the range corresponding to the spectral range of halogen lamps of motor vehicle headlights.

Claim 4

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 2 wherein said photoconductive layer and said matrix transparent electrode have a matrix-type structure formed as a pixel array, each pixel of said matrix transparent electrode being a projection of an overlaid pixel of said photoconductive layer.

Claim 5

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 3, further including a first insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said rear polarizer, a second insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said front polarizer, a first orientation layer between said first insulation layer and said rear polarizer, and a second orientation layer between said second insulation layer and said front polarizer.

Claim 6

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 4, further including an antireflection coating on said outer surface of said front polarizer.

Claim 7

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 5 wherein said mirror is a rearview mirror of an automobile.

Claim 8

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 2 wherein said common transparent electrode, and said matrix transparent electrode are made of indium tin oxide, and said photoconductive layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cadmium selenide and cadmium sulfide.

Claim 9

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 1, further including a photoconductive layer on said matrix transparent electrode, said photoconductive layer and said matrix transparent electrode having a matrix-type structure formed of an array of pixels, each pixel of said matrix transparent electrode being a projection of and aligned with a corresponding pixel of said photoconductive layer.

Claim 10

A liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror with a localized dazzle light attenuation zone, said mirror having a multilayered structure and comprising: a broadband reflective base mirror having maximum reflectivity in the range corresponding to spectral range of halogen lamps of automobile headlights; a matrix transparent electrode on said broadband reflective base mirror; a photoconductive layer on said matrix transparent electrode, said photoconductive layer and said matrix transparent electrode having a matrix-type structure formed as a pixel array, each pixel of said matrix transparent electrode being a projection of an overlaid pixel of said photoconductive layer; a rear polarizer on said photoconductive layer, said rear polarizer having a predetermined axis of polarization; a common transparent electrode above said rear polarizer; a liquid crystal sandwiched and sealed between said rear polarizer and said common transparent electrode; a front polarizer on said common electrode and having an outer surface, and an axis of polarization parallel to said predetermined axis of polarization; and a control circuit connected between said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode, said control circuit having means for applying a voltage to said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode.

Claim 11

A liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror with a localized dazzle light attenuation zone, said mirror having a multilayered structure and comprising: a broadband reflective base mirror having maximum reflectivity in the range corresponding to spectral range of halogen lamps of automobile headlights; a matrix transparent electrode on said broadband reflective base mirror; a photoconductive layer on said matrix transparent electrode, said photoconductive layer and said matrix transparent electrode having a matrix-type structure formed as a pixel array, each pixel of said matrix transparent electrode being a projection of an overlaid pixel of said photoconductive layer; a rear polarizer on said photoconductive layer, said rear polarizer having a predetermined axis of polarization; a common transparent electrode above said rear polarizer; a liquid crystal sandwiched and sealed between said rear polarizer and said common transparent electrode; a front polarizer on said common electrode and having an outer surface, and an axis of polarization parallel to said predetermined axis of polarization; and a control circuit connected between said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode, said control circuit having means for applying a voltage to said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode.

Claim 12

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 9, further including a first insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said rear polarizer, a second insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said front polarizer, a first orientation layer between said first insulation layer and said rear polarizer, and a second orientation layer between said second insulation layer and said front polarizer.

Claim 13

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 10, further including an antireflection coating on said outer surface of said front polarizer.

Claim 14

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 9 wherein said common transparent electrode, said matrix transparent electrode are made of indium tin oxide, and said photoconductive layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cadmium selenide and cadmium sulfide.

Claim 15

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 9 wherein each said pixel has its individually addressed electrode, said control circuit having a threshold device, said electrodes being connected to said means for applying a voltage through said threshold device.

Claim 16

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 13 wherein said threshold device has a threshold value which corresponds to a predetermined intensity of dazzling light.

Claim 17

A liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror with a localized dazzle light attenuation zone, said mirror having a multilayered structure and comprising: a broadband reflective base mirror having maximum reflectivity in the range corresponding to spectral range of halogen lamps of automobile headlights; a matrix transparent electrode on said broad band reflective base mirror; a photoconductive layer on said matrix transparent electrode, said photoconductive layer and said matrix transparent electrode having a matrix-type structure formed of an array of pixels, each pixel of said matrix transparent electrode being a projection of and aligned with a corresponding pixel of said photoconductive layer; a rear polarizer on said photoconductive layer, said rear polarizer having a predetermined axis of polarization; a common transparent electrode above said rear polarizer; a liquid crystal sandwiched and sealed between said rear polarizer and said common transparent electrode; a front polarizer placed on said common electrode and having an outer surface, which faces an incident light, and an axis of polarization parallel to said predetermined axis of polarization; a control circuit connected between said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode, said control circuit having means for applying a voltage to said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode; a first insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said rear polarizer; a second insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said front polarizer; a first orientation layer between said first insulation layer and said rear polarizer, and a second orientation layer between said second insulation layer and said front polarizer.

Claim 18

A liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror with a localized dazzle light attenuation zone, said mirror having a multilayered structure and comprising: a broadband reflective base mirror having maximum reflectivity in the range corresponding to spectral range of halogen lamps of automobile headlights; a matrix transparent electrode on said broad band reflective base mirror; a photoconductive layer on said matrix transparent electrode, said photoconductive layer and said matrix transparent electrode having a matrix-type structure formed of an array of pixels, each pixel of said matrix transparent electrode being a projection of and aligned with a corresponding pixel of said photoconductive layer; a rear polarizer on said photoconductive layer, said rear polarizer having a predetermined axis of polarization; a common transparent electrode above said rear polarizer; a liquid crystal sandwiched and sealed between said rear polarizer and said common transparent electrode; a front polarizer placed on said common electrode and having an outer surface, which faces an incident light, and an axis of polarization parallel to said predetermined axis of polarization; a control circuit connected between said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode, said control circuit having means for applying a voltage to said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode; a first insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said rear polarizer; a second insulation layer between said liquid crystal and said front polarizer; a first orientation layer between said first insulation layer and said rear polarizer, and a second orientation layer between said second insulation layer and said front polarizer.

Claim 19

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 15, further including an antireflection coating on said outer surface of said front polarizer.

Claim 20

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 15 wherein said mirror is a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle.

Claim 21

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 17 wherein said common transparent electrode and said matrix transparent electrode are made of indium tin oxide, and said photoconductive layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cadmium selenide and cadmium sulfide.

Claim 22

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 16 wherein each pixel of said array of pixels has a respective addressing electrode, said control circuit having a threshold device, said electrodes being connected to said means for applying a voltage through said threshold device.

Claim 23

The liquid-crystal matrix-type reflection mirror of claim 19 wherein said threshold device has a threshold value which corresponds to a predetermined intensity of dazzling light.