A system for simultaneously sensing, by means of photo-resistors, ambient light and light from an energized headlamp from a vehicle following a vehicle, and in response to the signal outputs of the photo-resistors causing an oscillatory mirror to move selectively into proximity and parallel with a sheet of glass facing always rearwardly of the truck, or, into 45.degree. relation to the pane of the glass. In the latter condition the mirror reflects light into a black absorbing surface, while the sheet of glass reflects light with low efficiency to the eyes of the driver of the truck, whereas in the former condition mirror reflects light with high efficiency to the eyes of the driver. The mirror is in the parallel position during daylight and at night if no following vehicle is close, but goes to the 45.degree. position at night if a following headlamp is sensed. To avoid plural images, the mirror is made of a sheet of glass which is aluminum coated on its front surface, so that light does not pass through the glass of the mirror in proceeding from the following headlamp to the eye of the driver. Electric current is passed through the aluminum coating of the mirror to generate heat and thus to maintain the mirror and the inner surface of the first mentioned sheet of glass free of ice and fog.
A day/night, anti-glare, rearview mirror assembly especially adapted for external mounting on vehicles such as automobiles. The mirror assembly is characterized by two mirrors having reflective coatings covering at least a portion of their surfaces, one mirror being stationary and including at least one transparent area, the second mirror movably mounted behind the first mirror and including at least one reflective area selectively registrable with the transparent area via the movement of the second mirror. Registry of the reflective area of the movable mirror with the transparent area of the stationary mirror provides a fully reflective surface for daytime use, whereas moving the reflective area out of registry provides glare-reducing or nonreflective areas for nighttime use. Means controllable from the driver's position within the vehicle are included for actuating the movement of the second mirror.
A yoke is mounted on an adjustable tripod base and a motor supplies power to rotate the yoke within limits, around a vertical axis. A planar mirror is held within the yoke and a further motor extends through one arm of the yoke to rotate the mirror within limits, around a horizontal axis. Microswitches control the degree of rotation in both axes.
A pivotal mirror adapted for use in automobiles as a rear view reflector or in medical and dental establishments and the like. Actuation of the mirror is effected by a light sensitive element employed to energize electromagnets disposed on the back face of the mirror itself as well as on a critically located portion of its stationary housing, the moving and stationary magnets serving conjointly to pivot the mirror, for example, the rear view mirror of an automobile, in order to reduce the intensity of light in the driver's eyes emanating from a following automobile. The light sensitive element extends through the pivotal mirror not being displaceable therewith whereby it is always positioned to detect any change in the incident rays falling thereon.
Disclosed is an apparatus for providing generally lateral or rearward vision at a plurality of selectable angles. This apparatus is electro-mechanically rotatable and may be remotely actuated. The apparatus includes a support member used to support the apparatus and connect it to whatever it is to be used with. Also included is a rearview structure having a housing, a mirror, a mechanism for rotatably connecting the mirror to the housing, and another mechanism for symmetrically rotating the mirror through the various angles. The apparatus also includes a mechanism which can be remotely operated to actuate the rotating mechanism of the rearview structure.
A mirror for a motor vehicle comprises reflective means having a primary surface and a secondary surface, the reflective means being arranged to reflect light which is incident on its secondary surface. A layer on its primary surface adapted to change from a transparent state to a reflective state in response to application of a control signal so as to change the field of view or the intensity of the reflected image. In another form of the invention, the reflective means is arranged, when in a first state, to reflect light from a reflective surface having a first configuration adapted to provide a first field of view. The reflective means can be changed to a second state in which light is reflected from a reflective surface having a second configuration adapted to provide a second field of view differing from said first field of view.
