Vehicle vision system with display by a mirror

• US 10,166,924 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baur, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, William
• Application Number:
  US15/585,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20170327044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 359844, 359871, 359872, 359630
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/013 comprising a combiner of particular shape, e.g. curvature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at an interior surface of the vehicle and having a mirror head and a reflective element. The mirror head is adjustably mounted at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle and is adjustable to adjust a rearward view of a driver of the vehicle viewing said reflective element. A display device is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle remote from the interior rearview mirror assembly. The mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via the reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by the display device via the reflective element.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at an interior surface of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head having a reflective element;

wherein said mirror head is adjustably mounted at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle and is adjustable to adjust a rearward view of a driver of the vehicle viewing said reflective element;

a display device disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle remote from said interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via said reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by said display device via said reflective element.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said display device is disposed at a ceiling portion of the cabin of the vehicle.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein, when said mirror head is in the display mode orientation, said reflective element is angled more upward as compared to when said mirror head is in the mirror mode orientation.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, when said mirror head is in the mirror mode orientation, said reflective element is angled more toward a rear window of the vehicle as compared to when said mirror head is in the display mode orientation.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said reflective element has a primary reflector established at its rear surface and a secondary transflective reflector surface established at its front surface.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein, when said mirror head and said reflective element are in said mirror mode orientation, the driver views rearward of the vehicle via reflections at said primary reflector.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein, when said mirror head and said reflective element are in said display mode orientation, the driver views displayed images via reflections at said secondary transflective reflector.

8. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said front surface of said reflective element is concave-shaped.

9. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said front surface of said reflective element is convex-shaped.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein the images displayed by said display device are reverse-image displayed, and wherein, when the displayed images are reflected at said reflective element when said mirror head is in the display mode orientation, the driver views the reflected displayed images as if they were displayed via a display device in said mirror head and behind said mirror reflective element.

11. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said display device is actuated responsive to said mirror head being adjusted to the display mode orientation.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said display device is deactuated responsive to said mirror head being adjusted to the mirror mode orientation.

13. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said mirror head is adjusted between the display mode orientation and the mirror mode orientation responsive to a user input.

14. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at an interior surface of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head having a reflective element;

wherein said mirror head is adjustably mounted at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle and is adjustable to adjust a rearward view of a driver of the vehicle viewing said reflective element;

a display device disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle remote from said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said display device is disposed at a ceiling portion of the cabin of the vehicle;

wherein said mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via said reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by said display device via said reflective element;

wherein, when said mirror head is in the display mode orientation, said reflective element is angled more upward as compared to when said mirror head is in the mirror mode orientation; and

wherein said reflective element has a primary reflector established at its rear surface and a secondary transflective reflector surface established at its front surface.

15. The vision system of claim 14, wherein, when said mirror head and said reflective element are in said mirror mode orientation, the driver views rearward of the vehicle via reflections at said primary reflector.

16. The vision system of claim 14, wherein, when said mirror head and said reflective element are in said display mode orientation, the driver views displayed images via reflections at said secondary transflective reflector.

17. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said front surface of said reflective element is concave-shaped.

18. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said front surface of said reflective element is convex-shaped.

19. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at an interior surface of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head having a reflective element;

wherein said mirror head is adjustably mounted at a mirror mount that attaches at the interior surface of the vehicle and is adjustable to adjust a rearward view of a driver of the vehicle viewing said reflective element;

a display device disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle remote from said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said mirror head is adjustable between a mirror mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via said reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the driver of the vehicle views images displayed by said display device via said reflective element;

wherein said display device is actuated responsive to said mirror head being adjusted to the display mode orientation;

wherein said display device is deactuated responsive to said mirror head being adjusted to the mirror mode orientation; and

wherein said mirror head is adjusted between the display mode orientation and the mirror mode orientation responsive to a user input.

20. The vision system of claim 19, wherein the images displayed by said display device are reverse-image displayed, and wherein, when the displayed images are reflected at said reflective element when said mirror head is in the display mode orientation, the driver views the reflected displayed images as if they were displayed via a display device in said mirror head and behind said mirror reflective element.