Rear-view mirror with multi-mode display screen, system comprising same, and method of using same

The image display system of claim wherein:

• the image output device includes an image output surface on which the viewable image is outputted;
• a maximum image output area of the image output surface defines perimeter edges of the central portion of the viewing substrate;
• the image display apparatus is coupled to the towed unit rear-view camera and to a rear-view camera mounted on the towing vehicle when the towed unit rear-view camera is detected;
• the image output device outputs over the maximum image output area of the image output surface an image corresponding to a signal provided, by the towed unit rear-view camera when the image display format controller causes the image display apparatus to be in the first display mode and the image provided by the towed unit rear-view camera is selected for being displayed;
• and
• the image output device outputs over the maximum image output area of the image output surface an image corresponding to a signal provided by the towing vehicle rear-view camera when the image display format controller causes the image display apparatus to be in the first display mode and the image provided by the towing vehicle rear-view camera is selected for being displayed.

A method, comprising:

• monitoring a camera detection signal interface for detecting presence of a rear-view camera mounted on a towed unit connected to a towing vehicle;
• enabling an image output device of an image display apparatus of the towing vehicle to output over at maximum image output area of an image output surface thereof an image captured by the towed unit rear-view camera coupled to the image output device in response to detecting that the towed unit rear-view camera is present and that the image provided by the towed unit rear-view camera is selected for being displayed, the image output device underlies a central portion of as rear surface of a viewing substrate of the image display apparatus, the maximum image output area of the image output surface defines perimeter edges of the central portion of the viewing substrate, and the viewing substrate is configured for enabling the image captured by the towed unit rear-view camera to be viewable while the image is being outputted by the image output device;
• inhibiting the image captured by the towing vehicle rear-view camera from being outputted over the maximum image output area of the image output surface in response to failing to detect that the towed unit rear-view camera is present;
• and
• enabling the image output device to output over the maximum image output area of the image output surface thereof an image captured by a rear-view camera mounted on the towing vehicle in response to determining that the towing vehicle rear-view camera is present and that the image provided by the towing vehicle rear-view camera is selected for being displayed.