Rearview mirror system with a display

• US 10,071,689 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: VanderPloeg, John A., Sloterbeek, Eric S., Weller, Andrew D., Blaker, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US14/939,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20160137133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 359275
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0015 Fastening arrangements intended to retain light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers

Abstract

A rearview device system includes a partially reflective, partially transmissive element, a display module in optical communication with the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, a display element, an optic block in optical communication with the display element, a first circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through the optic block and edge light the display element, an optic holder operably connected to the optic block, defining at least one aperture, a second circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through the at least one aperture and the optic block to back light at least one of a portion of the display element and an icon, and wherein light emitted by the light source of the first circuit board and the light source of the second circuit board is visible through the partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

Claims

1. A rearview device system, comprising:

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

a display module in optical communication with said partially reflective, partially transmissive element, including;

a display element;

an optic block in optical communication with said display element;

a first circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through said optic block and edge lights said display element;

an optic holder operably connected to said optic block and defining at least one aperture;

a second circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through said at least one aperture and said optic block to back light at least one of a portion of said display element and an icon; and

wherein said light emitted by said light source of said first circuit board and said light source of said second circuit board is visible through the partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

2. The rearview device system of claim 1, wherein the partially reflective, partially transmissive element is an electro-optic member.

3. The rearview device system of claim 2, wherein the partially reflective, partially transmissive element is an electrochromic member.

4. The rearview device system of claim 1, wherein the icon is viewable when (1) the at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through said at least one aperture and said optic block to back light at least one of a portion of said display element and the icon is activated, and (2) the at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through said optic block and edge light said display element is at least one of activated or deactivated.

5. The rearview device system of claim 1, wherein the display module has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, and wherein the display element is an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, or DLP display element.

6. The rearview device system of claim 1, wherein the display module displays an image which provides information to a viewer regarding the field of view shown in the display element.

7. The rearview device system of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing that surrounds an outer perimeter of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

8. A rearview device assembly, comprising:

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

a display module in optical communication with said partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

including;

an icon configured to be visible through said partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

a display element;

an optic block in optical communication with said display element;

an optic holder operably connected to said optic block;

a first printed circuit board including a first light source that emits illumination that propagates through said optic block and edge lights said display element;

a second printed circuit board including a second light source electrically connected to said printed circuit board and propagating light through said optic holder, optic block, and display element; and

wherein said light emitted by said at least one light source electrically connected to said printed circuit board illuminates said icon and is visible through the partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

9. The rearview device assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

an actuator device configured to deactivate the display module and simultaneously move the partially reflective, partially transmissive element to an off axis position.

10. The rearview device assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

one of a partially transmissive graphic overlay and an image disposed on the display module that is visible on a viewing area of the display element.

11. The rearview device assembly of claim 9, wherein the optic holder further includes a light pipe configured to direct light through an aperture.

12. The rearview device assembly of claim 8, wherein the icon is viewable when the second light source is activated, and wherein the first light source is one of activated and deactivated.

13. The rearview device assembly of claim 8, wherein the display module has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, and wherein the display element is an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, or DLP display element.

14. The rearview device assembly of claim 8, wherein the display module displays an image which provides information to a viewer regarding the field of view shown in the display element.

15. A rearview device assembly, comprising:

an electro-optic element;

a display module in optical communication with a partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the display module comprising;

a display element;

an optic block in optical communication with said display element;

a first light source that emits illumination through said optic block and edge lights said display element;

an optic holder operably connected to said optic block and defining at least one aperture;

a second light source that emits illumination through said at least one aperture and said optic block to back light at least one of a portion of said display element and an icon; and

wherein said light emitted by said first light source said second light source is visible through the electro-optic element.

16. The rearview device assembly of claim 15, wherein the icon is viewable when the at least one light source emits illumination that propagates through said at least one aperture and said optic block to back light at least one of a portion of said display element and the icon, the at least one light source being configured to emit illumination that propagates through said optic block and edge light said display element during at least one of activation and deactivation.

17. The rearview device assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second light sources are oriented orthogonally to one another.

18. The rearview device assembly of claim 17, wherein the first and second light sources are operably coupled with first and second printed circuit boards, respectively.

19. The rearview device assembly of claim 15, wherein the display module has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, and wherein the display element is an LCD, LED, OLED, plasma, or DLP display element.

20. The rearview device assembly of claim 15, wherein the display module displays an image which provides information to a viewer regarding the field of view shown in the display element.