US 8,044,777 B2Granted

Vehicular rearview mirror system

AssigneeDonnelly Corporation

InventorsJohn P. Drummond, Niall R. Lynam

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Abstract

A vehicular rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an interior electrochromic reflective element that assumes an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal. The mirror assembly includes a control that has circuitry operable to provide the drive signal to the reflective element. The control includes a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle. The control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via the vehicle bus. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a forward-facing camera. The control may control at least two of (a) dimming of the interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of a video display, (c) operation of the forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system;
wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;
and
wherein said control controls at least two of (a) dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of said video display, (c) operation of said forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle.

5 more elements

A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises digital circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system;
wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;
wherein said control controls at least two of (a) dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of a video display, (c) operation of said forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element shares at least one component used for operation by at least one of (a) a video display, (b) said forward-facing camera and (c) a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle;
and
wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor.

6 more elements

A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises digital circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system;
wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;
wherein said control controls dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element and at least one of (a) operation of said video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element shares at least one component used for operation by at least one of (a) said video display, (b) said forward-facing camera and (c) a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle;
and
wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor.

7 more elements

A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system;
wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus, and wherein said vehicle bus follows a protocol selected from at least one of a LIN protocol, a CAN protocol and a LAN protocol;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;
wherein said control controls dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element and at least one of (a) operation of a video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element shares at least one component used for operation by at least one of (a) a video display, (b) said forward-facing camera and (c) a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle;
and
wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/693,720Filed 26 Jan 2010 · continuation
Priority: 31 Mar 2000
Published: US 2010/0127825 A127 May 2010
Granted: 25 Oct 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60R 11/04
Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for: mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls…
B60R 1/088
Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors: using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or…
B60R 1/12
Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or…:…
B60R 2001/1215
Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks: with information displays

Family

Application60/196,577Us provisional application · filed 31 Mar 2000
Application09/820,013Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Mar 2001
Application10/134,716Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Apr 2002
Application10/694,595Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Oct 2003
Application11/288,649Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Nov 2005
Application11/764,559Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Jun 2007
US 2010/0127825 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 May 2010
US 7,679,488 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,233,230 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,970,073 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,639,519 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,396,408 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2002/0014973 A1Published application
US 2002/0135465 A1Published application
US 2004/0085221 A1Published application
US 2006/0126197 A1Published application
US 2007/0290795 A1Published application
US 8,044,777 B2This patent

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