US 7,619,508 B2 · Video mirror system for a vehicle · patentgrep

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Abstract

A video mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly with an electrochromic reflective element having a front portion and a rear portion generally opposite the front portion. The reflective element has an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate and has a transflective third-surface mirror reflector that is at least 15 percent transmitting to visible light and that is at least 40 percent reflective to visible light. A video display is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector. The video display is back lit by at least one light source, and the video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally towards the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;
said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;
said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;
a transflective mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;
wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident thereon;
a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when actuated that passes through said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said video display is back lit by at least one light source;
and
wherein said video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

11 more elements

A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally towards the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;
said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;
said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;
a transflective mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;
wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident thereon;
a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when actuated that passes through said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said video display is back lit by a light source, and wherein said light source comprises a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein a pulse width modulated duty cycle voltage is applied to power said white light emitting light emitting diodes;
and
wherein said video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

11 more elements

A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally towards the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;
said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;
said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;
a transflective mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;
wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident thereon;
wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one of (a) a user input for a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location, (b) at least one microphone, (c) a compass direction display and (d) a garage door opener transmitter;
a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when actuated that passes through said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said video display is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes;
and
wherein said video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

12 more elements

A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally towards the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;
said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;
said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;
a transflective mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;
wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident thereon;
a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when actuated that passes through said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said video display is back lit by at least one white light emitting light emitting diode and wherein said at least one white light emitting light emitting diode emits with a luminous efficiency of at least about 1 lumen per watt;
and
wherein said video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

11 more elements

A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally towards the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;
said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;
said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when the vehicle is equipped with said rearview mirror assembly;
a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;
a transflective mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate;
wherein said transflective mirror reflector is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident thereon;
wherein said mirror assembly connects to a vehicle network system;
a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when actuated that passes through said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said video display is back lit by at least one light emitting diode and includes a surround for directing light emitted by said light emitting diode;
and
wherein said video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/061,372Filed 2 Apr 2008 · continuation
Priority: 23 Jan 2001
Published: US 2008/0186724 A17 Aug 2008
Granted: 17 Nov 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification65 codes

B60R 1/29
Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted…:…
B60D 1/36
Characterised by arrangements for particular functions: for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers
B60D 1/58
Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices: auxiliary devices
B60K 35/10
Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles: input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle,…

Family

Application60/263,680Us provisional application · filed 23 Jan 2001
Application09/793,002Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Feb 2001
Application60/271,466Us provisional application · filed 26 Feb 2001
Application60/315,384Us provisional application · filed 28 Aug 2001
Application60/346,733Us provisional application · filed 7 Jan 2002
Application10/054,633Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jan 2002
US 6,690,268 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Feb 2004
Application11/623,997Parent of this division · filed 17 Jan 2007
US 7,195,381 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Mar 2007
Application12/043,567Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Mar 2008
US 7,344,284 B2Parent of this division · filed 18 Mar 2008
US 2008/0186724 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Aug 2008
Application12/043,567Parent of this division
Application11/623,997Parent of this continuation
Application10/054,633Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2002/0003571 A1Published application
US 2002/0159270 A1Published application
US 2007/0109807 A1Published application
US 2008/0225538 A1Published application
US 7,731,403 B2Related patent
US 7,619,508 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

Citations

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