Vehicle window assembly with display

• US 10,427,503 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Darin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US16/057,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20190047380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 340461
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/20 Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds antiglare provisions B60J3/00; wind deflectors associated with roof openings B60J7/22; removable external protective coverings for windows or windscreens B60J11/08 ; aerodynamical spoiler for vehicles B62D35/00; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/14 for indicating the necessity to change the oil
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass window panel and a display device disposed at an interior surface of the glass window panel. The display device is operable to backlight or illuminate at least one icon or alphanumeric character. With the window assembly mounted at a vehicle, and when the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is backlit or illuminated, the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is viewable through the glass window panel by a person exterior the vehicle. With the window assembly mounted at a vehicle, the display device is activated to display an icon responsive to determination that an in-cabin temperature of the vehicle is above a threshold level.

Claims

1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:

a glass window panel;

a display device disposed at an interior surface of said glass window panel;

wherein said display device is operable to backlight or illuminate at least one icon or alphanumeric character, and wherein, with said window assembly mounted at a vehicle, and when the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is backlit or illuminated, the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is viewable through said glass window panel by a person exterior the vehicle; and

wherein, with said window assembly mounted at the vehicle, said display device is activated to display an icon responsive to determination that an in-cabin temperature of the vehicle is above a threshold level.

2. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device is activated to display the icon responsive at least in part to determination that the vehicle is parked.

3. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device is activated to display the icon responsive at least in part to determination of an occupant in the cabin of the vehicle.

4. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device is activated to display the icon responsive at least in part to determination of a person approaching the vehicle.

5. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device includes at least one illumination source that, when activated, emits light through said at least one icon or alphanumeric character.

6. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a reconfigurable display device.

7. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said display device is operable to display vehicle system status information.

8. The window assembly of claim 7, wherein said window assembly is configured to mount at the vehicle near a fuel filling port of the vehicle, and wherein said display device displays vehicle system status information when a person is filling a fuel tank of the vehicle.

9. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said window assembly is configured to mount at the vehicle rearward of a side door of the vehicle, and wherein said display device is disposed at a lower region of said glass window panel.

10. The window assembly of claim 9, wherein said window assembly comprises a fixed or non-openable window assembly.

11. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass window panel comprises a laminate panel having at least an outer glass panel and an inner glass panel, with a PVB layer disposed therebetween.

12. The window assembly of claim 11, wherein said display device is disposed between said PVB layer and one of said inner and outer glass panels.

13. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:

a laminate glass window panel comprising at least an outer glass panel and an inner glass panel, with a PVB layer disposed therebetween;

a display device disposed at a surface of said PVB layer;

wherein said display device comprises a display element that is operable to backlight or illuminate at least one icon or alphanumeric character;

wherein said display device comprises an electrical connector that extends from said display element and extends from said laminated glass window panel for electrical connection to a wire harness of a vehicle when said window assembly is mounted at the vehicle;

wherein, with said window assembly mounted at the vehicle, and when the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is backlit or illuminated, the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is viewable through said outer glass panel by a person exterior the vehicle; and

wherein, with said window assembly mounted at the vehicle, and with the vehicle parked, and responsive to determination of a person approaching the vehicle, said display device is activated to display the at least one icon or alphanumeric character to indicate a status of at least one vehicle system.

14. The window assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one icon or alphanumeric character that is backlit or illuminated comprises an icon indicative of an in-cabin temperature of the vehicle being above a threshold level.

15. The window assembly of claim 14, wherein said display device is activated to display the icon responsive at least in part to determination of an occupant in the cabin of the vehicle.

16. The window assembly of claim 13, wherein said display device includes at least one illumination source that, when activated, emits light through the at least one icon or alphanumeric character.

17. The window assembly of claim 13, wherein said display device comprises a reconfigurable display device.

18. The window assembly of claim 13, wherein said window assembly is configured to mount at the vehicle rearward of a side door of the vehicle, and wherein said display device is disposed at a lower region of said glass window panel.

19. The window assembly of claim 18, wherein said window assembly comprises a fixed or non-openable window assembly.

20. The window assembly of claim 13, wherein said laminate glass window panel comprises at least two PVB layers disposed between said inner glass panel and said outer glass panel, and wherein said display element is disposed between two adjacent PVB layers of the at least two PVB layers.