US 8,525,703 B2Granted

Interior rearview mirror system

AssigneeDonnelly Corporation

InventorsKevin C. McCarthy, Niall R. Lynam

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Abstract

A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle, and a display device. Data relevant to the geographical location of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link. The data may be wirelessly communicated from the external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and the data may be at least in part customized to the geographic location of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror system may include a link with a mobile accessory that may be a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle, and the mobile accessory may include at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior mirror reflective element;
a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle;
wherein data that is relevant to the geographical location of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link;
and
a display device disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein at least one of (a) said display device comprises a multi-pixel display device, (b) said display device is capable of displaying a scrolling display, (c) said display device is capable of displaying a multi-text display, (d) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element, (e) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, (f) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element and said interior mirror reflective element comprises a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (g) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, and (h) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

2 more elements

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising;

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior mirror reflective element;
a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle;
wherein data that is relevant to the geographical location of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link;
wherein said data is wirelessly communicated from said external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle, and wherein said data is at least in part customized to the geographic location of the vehicle;
and
a display device disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein at least one of (a) said display device comprises a reconfigurable display, (b) said display device comprises a multi-pixel display device, (c) said display device is capable of displaying a scrolling display, (d) said display device is capable of displaying a multi-text display, (e) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element, (f) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, (g) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element and said interior minor reflective element comprises a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (h) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, and (i) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

3 more elements

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior minor reflective element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror system comprises a link with a mobile accessory that is a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle, and wherein said mobile accessory comprises at least one of a keypad, a touch pad and a stylus-actuated screen;
wherein at least one of (a) an in-vehicle voice input device is at said interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (b) said interior rearview mirror system includes in-vehicle voice detection, (c) said interior rearview mirror system includes voice recognition and (d) said interior rearview mirror system includes in-vehicle voice generation;
and
a display device disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein at least one of (a) said display device comprises a reconfigurable display, (b) said display device comprises a multi-pixel display device, (c) said display device is capable of displaying a scrolling display, (d) said display device is capable of displaying a multi-text display, (e) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element, (f) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, (g) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element and said interior mirror reflective element comprises a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (h) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, and (i) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

2 more elements

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior mirror reflective element;
wherein at least one of (a) an in-vehicle voice input device is at said interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (b) said interior rearview mirror system includes in-vehicle voice detection, (c) said interior rearview mirror system includes voice recognition and (d) said interior rearview mirror system includes in-vehicle voice generation;
a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle;
a display device disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein at least one of (a) said display device comprises a reconfigurable display, (b) said display device comprises a multi-pixel display device, (c) said display device is capable of displaying a scrolling display, (d) said display device is capable of displaying a multi-text display, (e) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element, (f) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, (g) said display device is disposed behind said interior mirror reflective element and said interior mirror reflective element comprises a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, (h) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device, and (i) said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a third surface semitransparent visible light reflecting/transmitting reflector and said display device comprising a display on demand display device.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/050,133Filed 17 Mar 2011 · continuation
Priority: 8 Apr 1998
Published: US 2011/0166785 A17 Jul 2011
Granted: 3 Sep 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

B60R 1/12
Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or…:…
B60R 1/04
Rear-view mirror arrangements: mounted inside vehicle
G01C 21/26
Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00: specially adapted for navigation in a road network
G01C 21/36
Route searching; Route guidance: input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Family

Application09/057,428Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 1998
Application60/186,520Us provisional application · filed 2 Mar 2000
Application60/187,960Us provisional application · filed 9 Mar 2000
Application60/199,676Us provisional application · filed 21 Apr 2000
Application60/218,336Us provisional application · filed 14 Jul 2000
Application60/234,412Us provisional application · filed 21 Sep 2000
Application60/237,077Us provisional application · filed 30 Sep 2000
Application60/238,483Us provisional application · filed 6 Oct 2000
Application09/687,778Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Oct 2000
Application60/243,986Us provisional application · filed 27 Oct 2000
US 6,158,655 AParent of this continuation · filed 12 Dec 2000
Application60/263,680Us provisional application · filed 23 Jan 2001
Application09/793,002Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Feb 2001
Application09/799,414Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Mar 2001
Application09/839,678Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Apr 2001
Application10/287,178Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Nov 2002
US 6,477,464 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Nov 2002
Application10/365,794Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Feb 2003
US 6,547,133 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Apr 2003
Application10/755,627Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Jan 2004
US 6,678,614 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jan 2004
Application10/755,915Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jan 2004
US 6,690,268 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Feb 2004
Application10/777,812Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Feb 2004
US 6,693,517 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Feb 2004
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Application11/053,436Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Feb 2005
US 6,909,361 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Jun 2005
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Application11/625,374Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jan 2007
Application11/935,795Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Nov 2007
Application12/052,341Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Mar 2008
US 7,382,289 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Jun 2008
US 7,446,650 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Nov 2008
Application12/536,930Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Aug 2009
US 7,579,940 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Aug 2009
US 7,579,939 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Aug 2009
Application12/551,849Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Sep 2009
US 7,583,204 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Sep 2009
US 2011/0166785 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Jul 2011
US 7,916,043 B2Parent of this continuation
Application10/777,812Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application10/365,794Parent of this continuation
Application10/755,627Parent of this continuation
US 8,044,776 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application12/536,930Parent of this continuation
US 2001/0039475 A1Published application
US 2001/0055165 A1Published application
US 2002/0003571 A1Published application
US 2003/0065444 A1Published application
US 2003/0127513 A1Published application
US 2004/0145457 A1Published application
US 2004/0148102 A1Published application
US 2004/0160313 A1Published application
US 2005/0156714 A1Published application
US 2007/0171037 A1Published application
US 2008/0174414 A1Published application
US 2008/0212215 A1Published application
US 2009/0290369 A1Published application
US 2009/0318084 A1Published application
US 8,525,703 B2This patent

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