IP Library Granted Patent US 8,708,536
Granted Patent B1
US 8,708,536 · App. 12/871,727 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Optic assembly for mirror

Inventor: Daniel J. Mathieu (Sheboygan Falls, WI)
Assignee: K.W. Muth Company, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,708,536
App. No.
12/871,727
Granted
Apr 29, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

An optic assembly has a reflector with a reflective surface, one or more light sources, and mask assembly with one or more apertures. Light rays from a light source are refocused and substantially converged before being emitted through one or more apertures in the mask assembly.

Claims (24)

1. An optic assembly for mounting behind a substrate, the optic assembly comprising:

a mask assembly defining one or more apertures, the mask assembly being capable of being mounted behind the substrate;

a reflector attached to the mask assembly and having a reflective surface, the reflective surface having a plurality of facets such that the facets are capable of reflecting light rays in a plurality of directions; the plurality of facets including one or more refocusing facets and one or more converging facets;

one or more light sources substantially enclosed between the mask assembly and reflector; wherein light from the one or more light sources is directly received by one or more refocusing facets

that first cause at least a portion of light rays from a light source to be directed from the natural focal point of the light source towards another focal point; and

wherein at least a portion of the light rays that were first directed by the one or more refocusing facts is received by one or more converging facets that cause at least a portion of light rays to be directed through at least one aperture in the mask assembly.

2. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a mirror.

3. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mask assembly further comprises:

a diffuser, the diffuser being capable of scattering light rays emitted from the one or more light sources; and

a mask defining one or more apertures, the mask at least partially covering the diffuser such that the diffuser and mask substantially enclose an area between the reflector and the mask assembly.

4. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures form an icon.

5. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein there is one or more refocusing facet and one or more converging facet for each aperture.

6. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein there is at least one converging facet for each aperture.

7. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the refocusing facets are compound refocusing facets arrayed about one particular light source so as to create multiple refocusing points that are used in conjunction with multiple converging facets.

8. The optic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optic assembly has only one light source.

9. A method for directing light rays from a light source in an optic assembly comprising the steps of:

providing one or more light sources capable of emitting light rays into a reflector, the reflector having a reflective surface having a plurality of facets;

substantially refocusing light rays using a refocusing facet on the reflector, the refocusing facet capable of causing light rays received directly from the light source to be directed from the natural focal point of the light source towards another focal point;

substantially converging at least a portion of the substantially refocused light rays using a converging facet on the reflector, the converging facet capable of causing at least a portion of light rays directed by a refocusing facet to be substantially aligned and directed through an aperture in the optic assembly, the aperture adjacent to a substrate.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is a rearview mirror for a vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the mask assembly further comprises a diffuser, the diffuser being capable of scattering light rays emitted from the one or more light sources.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the optic assembly includes one or more apertures that form an icon.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the reflective surface further comprises one or more compound refocusing facets arrayed about one particular light source so as to create multiple refocusing points that are used in conjunction with multiple converging facets.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the optic assembly has only one light source.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: MUTH MIRROR SYSTEMS, LLC
To: MUTH COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 070581/0108 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2019
From: ALLY BANK
To: MUTH MIRROR SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 048974/0945 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2019
From: MUTH MIRROR SYSTEMS, LLC
To: BSP AGENCY, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 048974/0973 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 29, 2016
From: MUTH MIRROR SYSTEMS, LLC
To: ALLY BANK
Reel/Frame 037956/0044 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: K. W. MUTH COMPANY, INC.
To: MUTH MIRROR SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 037064/0951 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2010
From: MATHIEU, DANIEL J.
To: K.W. MUTH COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 025127/0823 →