# US 2017/0282801 A1 · Mirror replacement system for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282801 A1 - Document ID: US20170282801A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,443 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-03 - Assignees: Mekra Lang GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Werner LANG; Manuel KUNZ; Peter GEISSENDOERFER; Michael WITZKE; Michael HORNUNG; Stefan CENTMAYER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282801A1 ## CPC - G03B 17/08: Waterproof bodies or housings - B60R 2300/8046: for replacing a rear-view mirror system - H04N 23/51: Housings - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A mirror replacement system for a vehicle includes an image capture unit, a supply unit configured to supply the image capture unit with control signals, and an image reproduction unit configured to be disposed in the vehicle interior. At least one of the supply unit and the image capture unit is configured to perform video processing of the images captured by the image capture unit. The image capture unit and the supply unit are disposed in spaces separated from each other with respect to their sealing and are each disposed separated from and outside the image reproduction unit. The image capture unit is disposed in a water-vapor-tight housing, and a heating element may be integrated into the image capture unit, the heating element being controlled by the supply unit and being coupled to at least one of temperature detecting elements and vehicle control elements. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A mirror replacement system for a vehicle including: an image capture unit, a supply unit configured to supply the image capture unit with control signals, and an image reproduction unit configured to be disposed in the vehicle interior in a manner viewable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein the supply unit or the image capture unit or the supply unit and the image capture unit is/are configured to perform video processing of the images captured by the image capture unit for reducing an amount of data to be transmitted to the image reproduction unit, and wherein the image capture unit and the supply unit are disposed in spaces separated from each other with respect to their sealing and are each disposed separated from and outside the image reproduction unit, wherein the image capture unit is disposed in a water-vapor-tight housing, and wherein a heating element is integrated into the image capture unit, the heating element being controlled by the supply unit and being coupled to temperature detecting elements or to vehicle control elements or being coupled to both temperature detecting elements and vehicle control elements. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the supply unit is configured to perform at least one process selected from the group consisting of: video processing for image resizing, image analysis for assisting the driver, image arrangement, image compiling, white balancing, self-recognition of contamination, and overlays. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the image capture unit and the supply unit are disposed in a common camera arm or in camera housing or in both a common camera arm and a camera housing or on a common camera arm or on a camera housing or on both a common camera arm and a camera housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the image capture unit is disposed in a metallic housing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The mirror replacement system according to claim 24, wherein the supply unit is disposed in a plastic housing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, including at least one additional image capture unit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, including at least one additional supply unit. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the supply unit is coupled to vehicle functional components of the vehicle. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The mirror replacement system according to claim 28, wherein the vehicle functional components of the vehicle, the supply unit and the image capture unit are disposed in a common housing. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the supply unit is coupled to the image reproduction unit and is configured to transmit video data, which has been processed by the supply unit or by the image capture unit or by both the supply unit and the image capture unit, to the image reproduction unit. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the image capture unit is a digital image sensor. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the image capture unit and the supply unit are disposed in a first common housing, wherein the image capture unit is disposed in a water-vapor-tight second housing inside the first common housing, wherein the supply unit is disposed in a third housing inside the first common housing, the third housing comprising a plastic housing, and wherein the supply unit is in communication with the image reproduction unit and is configured to transmit video data, which has been processed by the supply unit to the image reproduction unit. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) The mirror replacement system according to claim 21, wherein the supply unit or the image capture unit or the supply unit and the image capture unit is/are configured to compress the images captured by the image capture unit for reducing an amount of data to be transmitted to the image reproduction unit. ### Claim 34 A mirror replacement system for a vehicle comprising: a common housing mountable on a left or right side of a driver's cabin, outside the vehicle, an image capture unit sealed in a water-vapor-tight image capture unit case in the common housing, and a supply unit sealed in a supply unit case, the supply unit case being located inside the common housing and outside the image capture unit case, the supply unit case being less tightly sealed against an entry of water vapor than the image capture unit case, wherein the supply unit is configured to communicate with an image reproduction unit outside the common housing and in the vehicle interior in a location viewable by a driver of the vehicle, and wherein the supply unit is configured to process images captured by the image capture unit and to transmit the processed images to the image reproduction unit. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The mirror replacement system according to claim 34, wherein the image capture unit or the supply unit or both the image capture unit and the supply unit are configured to compress images captured by the image capture unit. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The mirror replacement system according to claim 34, wherein a heating element is integrated into the image capture unit, the heating element being controlled by the supply unit and being coupled to temperature detecting control elements or and/or being coupled to vehicle control elements, or being coupled to both temperature detecting control elements and to vehicle control elements. ### Claim 37 A mirror replacement system for a vehicle including: a common housing mountable on a left or a right side of a driver's cabin, outside the vehicle, an image capture unit in the common housing, a supply unit in the common housing configured to supply the image capture unit with control signals, and an image reproduction unit outside the common housing and configured to be disposed in the vehicle interior in a manner viewable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein the supply unit or the image capture unit or the supply unit and the image capture unit is/are configured to perform video processing of the images captured by the image capture unit for reducing an amount of data to be transmitted to the image reproduction unit, and wherein the image capture unit is disposed in a first sealed, water-vapor-tight case in the common housing and the supply unit is disposed in a second sealed case in the common housing, the second case being less tightly sealed against an entry of water vapor than the first case. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The mirror replacement system according to claim 37, wherein a heating element is integrated into the image capture unit, the heating element being controlled by the supply unit and being coupled to temperature detecting control elements or and/or being coupled to vehicle control elements, or being coupled to both temperature detecting control elements and to vehicle control elements.