Interior rearview mirror assembly with full screen video display
First Claim
1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
- a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough;
wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by said transflective mirror reflector;
a video display device disposed rearward of said mirror reflective element;
wherein said video display device comprises a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of said reflective region of said mirror reflective element;
wherein said video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle and wherein said video display device displays video images captured by said rearward viewing camera;
wherein, when said video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by said video display device passes through said mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing said mirror reflective element;
wherein said video display device comprises a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting said display screen, and wherein said backlighting array of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, and wherein each zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes comprises at least two light emitting diodes, and wherein said zones of light emitting diodes backlight respective regions of said video display device, and wherein the regions of said video display device display respective areas in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera;
wherein said zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed at the respective regions by said video display device; and
wherein at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a feature present at an area in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera that is being displayed at a region of said video display device that is backlit by said at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, and a video display device behind the mirror reflective element and viewable through the mirror reflective element when activated. The video display device includes a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of a reflective region of the mirror reflective element. The video display device includes a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting the display screen, and the backlighting array of light emitting diodes includes a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, with each zone having at least two light emitting diodes. The zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed by the video display device.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
-
a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by said transflective mirror reflector; a video display device disposed rearward of said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of said reflective region of said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle and wherein said video display device displays video images captured by said rearward viewing camera; wherein, when said video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by said video display device passes through said mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting said display screen, and wherein said backlighting array of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, and wherein each zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes comprises at least two light emitting diodes, and wherein said zones of light emitting diodes backlight respective regions of said video display device, and wherein the regions of said video display device display respective areas in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera; wherein said zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed at the respective regions by said video display device; and wherein at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a feature present at an area in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera that is being displayed at a region of said video display device that is backlit by said at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
-
a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by said transflective mirror reflector; a video display device disposed rearward of said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of said reflective region of said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle and wherein said video display device displays video images captured by said rearward viewing camera; wherein, when said video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by said video display device passes through said mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting said display screen, and wherein said backlighting array of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, and wherein each zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes comprises at least two light emitting diodes; wherein said zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed by said video display device; and wherein said rearward viewing camera is mounted at a movable portion of the vehicle that is movable between a closed position and an opened position, and wherein said video display device is deactivated responsive to a determination that the movable portion of the vehicle has moved toward its opened position.
-
-
16. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
-
a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a reflective region defined by said transflective mirror reflector; a video display device disposed rearward of said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of said reflective region of said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle and wherein said video display device displays video images captured by said rearward viewing camera; wherein, when said video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by said video display device passes through said mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing said mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting said display screen, and wherein said backlighting array of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, and wherein each zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes comprises at least two light emitting diodes, and wherein said zones of light emitting diodes backlight respective regions of said video display device, and wherein the regions of said video display device display respective areas in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera; wherein said zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed at the respective regions by said video display device; wherein at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a glare source being present at an area in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera that is being displayed at a region of said video display device that is backlit by said at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes; and wherein at least one other zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a dark area present at another area in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera that is being displayed at another region of said video display device that is backlit by said at least one other zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
-
a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror head comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween, and wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface and said third surface opposing said electro-optic medium; wherein a transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate and at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough; wherein said electro-optic mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optically active region defined by said electro-optic medium; a video display device disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said electro-optic mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of said electro-optically active region of said electro-optic mirror reflective element; a glare light sensor disposed between a plane of said video display device and a plane of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said glare light sensor is angled relative to said second surface to sense glare at said electro-optic mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle and wherein said video display device displays video images captured by said rearward viewing camera; wherein, when said video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by said video display device passes through said electro-optic mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing said electro-optic mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting said display screen, and wherein said backlighting array of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, and wherein each zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes comprises at least two light emitting diodes, and wherein said zones of light emitting diodes backlight respective regions of said video display device, and wherein the regions of said video display device display respective areas in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera; wherein said zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed at the respective regions by said video display device; wherein at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a headlight of a rear-approaching vehicle being present at an area in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera during nighttime driving conditions that is being displayed at a region of said video display device that is backlit by said at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes; and wherein, during daytime driving conditions, at least one other zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a shadow present at another area in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera that is being displayed at another region of said video display device that is backlit by said at least one other zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes.
-
-
20. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
-
a mirror head pivotable about a mirror support configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror head comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween, and wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surface and said rear substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface and said third surface opposing said electro-optic medium; wherein a transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate and at least partially reflects light incident thereon and at least partially transmits incident light therethrough; wherein said electro-optic mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optically active region defined by said electro-optic medium; a video display device disposed rearward of said fourth surface of said electro-optic mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of said electro-optically active region of said electro-optic mirror reflective element; a glare light sensor disposed between a plane of said video display device and a plane of said second surface of said front substrate, wherein said glare light sensor is angled relative to said second surface to sense glare at said electro-optic mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle and wherein said video display device displays video images captured by said rearward viewing camera; wherein, when said video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by said video display device passes through said electro-optic mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing said electro-optic mirror reflective element; wherein said video display device comprises a backlighting array of light emitting diodes for backlighting said display screen, and wherein said backlighting array of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of zones of light emitting diodes, and wherein each zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes comprises at least two light emitting diodes; wherein said zones of light emitting diodes are independently controlled based on the video images being displayed by said video display device; wherein at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a headlight of a rear-approaching vehicle being present in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera during nighttime driving conditions; wherein at least one zone of said plurality of zones of light emitting diodes is adjusted responsive to a determination of a shadow present in the rearward field of view of said rearward viewing camera during daytime driving conditions; and wherein said rearward viewing camera is mounted at a movable portion of the vehicle that is movable between a closed position and an opened position, and wherein said video display device is deactivated responsive to a determination that the movable portion of the vehicle has moved toward its opened position.
-
Specification