Waveguide mirror display system

• US 10,444,498 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tonar, William L., Boehm, Neil J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/605,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20170343803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 359245, 359265, 359267, 359270, 359275, 359315, 359320, 345105, 362494, 362509, 362514
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/23 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• 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: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices

Abstract

A vehicle display system is disclosed. The system comprises an electro-optic device configured to switch between a mirror state and a light-transmissive state. The electro-optic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate forming a cavity. The cavity is configured to retain an electro-optic medium that is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between substantially clear and darkened states. The system further comprises a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device. The electro-optic device is converted to the darkened state when the substantially transparent display is emitting light.

Claims

1. A vehicle display system, comprising:

an electro-optic device comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces comprises a first electrically conductive layer;

a second substantially transparent substrate having third and fourth surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the third and fourth surfaces comprises a second electrically conductive layer;

an electro-optic medium disposed in a cavity formed between the first substantially transparent substrate and the second substantially transparent substrate, the electro-optic medium being variably transmissive;

a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device;

at least one display driver configured to display image data on the substantially transparent display; and

a controller in communication with the electro-optic device and the at least one display driver, wherein the controller is operable to;

control a transmission state of the electro-optic device between a transparent state and an opaque state; and

control the display driver to display the image data on the substantially transparent display.

2. The display system according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective element disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device, wherein the reflective element is configured to reflect a reflected view of a rearward directed field of view from the vehicle.

3. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the electro-optic device to selectively control a mirror configuration of the display system in response to the transmission state of the electro-optic device.

4. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display driver to display graphical data on the substantially transparent display.

5. The display system according to claim 4, wherein the graphical data is displayed superimposed over the reflected view in a hybrid display configuration.

6. The display system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further in communication with one or more vehicle systems via a communication bus.

7. The display system according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a status indicator from the one or more vehicle systems and control the display driver to display the status indicator as the graphical data on the substantially transparent display.

8. A vehicle display system, comprising:

an electro-optic device comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces comprises a first electrically conductive layer;

a second substantially transparent substrate having third and fourth surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the third and fourth surfaces comprises a second electrically conductive layer;

an electro-optic medium disposed in a cavity formed between the first substantially transparent substrate and the second substantially transparent substrate, the electro-optic medium being variably transmissive; and

a substantially transparent display configured to display image data and disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device, wherein the electro-optic device is configured to adjust the variable transmission of the electro-optic medium to convert a transmission state of the electro-optic device between a transparent state and an opaque state.

9. The display system according to claim 8, further comprising a controller and at least one display driver, wherein the controller is in communication with the electro-optic device and the at least one display driver.

10. The display system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to:

communicate a transmission control signal configured to control the transmission state of the electro-optic device.

11. The display system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to:

control a contrast of the substantially transparent display based on the transmission state of the electro-optic device.

12. The display system according to claim 11, wherein the substantially transparent display comprises at least one waveguide display element.

13. The display system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one waveguide display element is configured to receive the image data from the at least one display driver.

14. The display system according to claim 11, further comprising a reflective element disposed adjacent to the electro-optic element, wherein the reflective element is configured to reflect a reflected view of a rearward directed field of view from the vehicle.

15. The display system according to claim 14, wherein the electro-optic device is configured to selectively control a mirror configuration of the display system in response to the transmission state of the electro-optic device.

16. The display system according to claim 14, wherein the substantially transparent display is configured to superimpose the image data over the reflected view.

17. The display system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one display driver is mounted along a portion of a perimeter of the substantially transparent display.

18. The display system according to claim 8, wherein the electro-optic medium is an electrochromic medium.

19. The display system according to claim 8, wherein the substantially transparent display forms the first substantially transparent substrate or the second substantially transparent substrate.

20. A vehicle display apparatus, comprising:

an electrochromic device comprising a reflective element, wherein the reflective element is configured to reflect a reflected view of a rearward directed field of view from the vehicle;

a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electrochromic device;

at least one display driver configured to display image data on the substantially transparent display; and

a controller in communication with the electrochromic device and the at least one display driver, wherein the controller is operable to;

control the display apparatus to selectively control a transmission state of the electrochromic device to a mirror state and a substantially transparent state; and

control the display driver to display the image data on the substantially transparent display.