Vehicle mirror digital network and dynamically interactive mirror system

• US 20020057016A1
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Veldman, Roger L., OʼFarrell, Desmond J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,465,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A vehicle rear vision system includes at lest two rearview assemblies each having an image transfer device for transferring images rearwardly of the vehicle in order to be observable by a driver. A rear vision communication system is provided to effect communication between the rearview assemblies. The rear vision communication system also includes a communication link with the vehicle multiplex communication network. The vehicle rear vision system may include an interactive dynamic position control, which repositions each mirror in the system in response to a change in the position of one mirror in a manner which allows the mirror aim to track a driver'"'"'s eye position.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear vision system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, comprising:

at least two rearview assemblies, each including an image transfer device for transferring images rearwardly of the vehicle in order to be observable by a vehicle driver and a housing for the image transfer device; and

a rear vision communication system providing communication between said rearview assemblies and including a communication link with the vehicle communication network.

2. A vehicle rear vision system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, comprising:

at least two rearview assemblies, each including an image transfer device for transferring images rearwardly of the vehicle in order to be observable by a vehicle driver and a housing for the image transfer device; and

a rear vision communication system including control modules in said rearview assemblies interconnected by a communication channel defining a rear vision communication network, at least one of said control modules effecting communication between said control modules and the vehicle communication network.

3. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein said image transfer device is a mirror.

4. The rear vision system in claim 3 wherein said control modules include control channels which communicate with at least one of an electro-optic element, a mirror heater, a mirror-positioning device, a light-sensing device and a mirror position encoder.

5. The rear vision system in claim 3 wherein at least one of said control modules includes control channels which communicate with an electro-optic element, a mirror heater, a mirror-positioning device and a mirror position encoder.

6. The rear vision system in claim 3 wherein said at least one of said control modules is associated with a vehicle interior mirror.

7. The rear vision system in claim 3 wherein said at least one of said control modules is associated with a vehicle exterior mirror.

8. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein at least one of said control modules includes control channels which activate at least one of a security light positioned in the associated housing and a signal device positioned in the associated housing.

9. The rear vision system in claim 8 wherein said signal device is a turn signal.

10. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein at least one of said control modules includes control channels which communicate with at least one of an electromagnetic antenna and a blind spot detector.

11. The rear vision system in claim 10 wherein said antenna is one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

12. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein said image transfer device is a solid-state-imaging array which captures images rearwardly of the vehicle for display by a display device.

13. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein said at least one of said control modules translates protocol between the protocol of the vehicle communication network and the protocol of the rear vision communication network.

14. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein said communication channel is a bidirectional, serial communication link and each of said control modules includes a microprocessor and at least one serial bus data node interfacing said microprocessor to said communication channel.

15. The rear vision system in claim 14 wherein said at least one of said control modules includes a serial bus data node interfacing the associated microprocessor to the vehicle communication network.

16. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein said at least one of said control modules includes a serial bus data node interfacing to the vehicle communication network.

17. The rear vision system in claim 2 wherein said communication channel includes one of an electrical conductor, a fiber-optic path, a radio frequency link and a carrier-current modulation system.

19. The rear vision system in claim 18 wherein said at least one exterior rearview mirror assembly includes two exterior rearview mirror assemblies, each including a microprocessor-based control having a first control channel to establish a partial reflectance level of the associated electro-optic reflective element, a second control channel to selectively activate a heater element in heat transfer association with the associated electro-optic reflective element, a third control channel to operate a positioning device for the associated electro-optic reflective element and a fourth control channel for receiving positional data from an encoder coupled with the associated electro-optic reflective element;

wherein said communication channel interconnects said microprocessor-based controls of said interior rearview mirror assembly and said two exterior rearview mirror assemblies.

20. The rear vision system in claim 18 wherein said one of said microprocessor-based controls translates protocol between the protocol of the vehicle communication network and the protocol of the rear vision communication network.

21. The rear vision system in claim 18 wherein said one of said microprocessor-based controls is associated with said vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly.

22. The rear vision system in claim 18 wherein said one of said microprocessor-based controls is associated with said at least one vehicle exterior rearview mirror assembly.

23. The rear vision system in claim 18 wherein said communication channel is a bidirectional, serial communication link and each of said microprocessor-based controls includes at least one serial bus data node interfacing said microprocessor to said communication channel.

25. The rear vision system in claim 24 including a user adjustable input device in order to supply signals to the actuator for the reflective element of said other of said mirror assemblies to adjust the position of the reflective element of that other of said mirror assemblies.

26. The rear vision system in claim 25 wherein said input device is a user manipulable joystick.

27. The rear vision system in claim 25 wherein said input device is a user manipulable switching device.

28. The rear vision system in claim 25 wherein said input device is an encoder mechanically coupled with a manually positionable reflective element.

29. The rear vision system in claim 25 wherein said input device is a machine vision system which monitors the position of the eyes of a vehicle driver.

30. The rear vision system in claim 24 including a lockout device to lock out said control.

31. The rear vision system in claim 24 including a zero-set device to set a zero position for the associated reflective element of that mirror assembly.

18. A vehicle rear vision system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly and at least one exterior rearview mirror assembly, each including an electro-optic reflective element and a housing for the reflective element;

said interior rearview mirror assembly including a microprocessor-based control having a control channel to establish a partial reflectance level of the associated electro-optic reflective element;

said at least one exterior rearview mirror assembly including a microprocessor-based control having a first control channel to establish a partial reflectance level of the associated electro-optic reflective element, a second control channel to selectively activate a heater element in heat transfer association with the associated electro-optic reflective element, a third control channel to operate a positioning device for the associated electro-optic reflective element and a fourth control channel for receiving positional data from an encoder coupled with the associated electro-optic reflective element; and

a communication channel interconnecting said microprocessor-based controls defining a rear vision communication network;

wherein one of said microprocessor-based controls includes a hardware node configured to interconnect with the vehicle communication network and is programmed to format messages for the vehicle communication network and decode messages from the vehicle communication network.

24. A vehicle rear vision system, comprising:

a plurality of rearview mirror assemblies, each including a reflective element, an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis and a position encoder which monitors the position of said reflective element with respect to said at least one axis; and

a control which is responsive to said encoder for each mirror assembly in order to supply signals to the actuator for that mirror assembly to adjust the position of the associated reflective element of that mirror assembly, at least as a function of the position of the associated reflective element of that mirror assembly and the position of the reflective element of at least one other of said mirror assemblies.

32. A vehicle rear vision system, comprising:

a plurality of rearview mirror assemblies, each including a reflective element, an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis and a position encoder which monitors the position of said reflective element with respect to said at least one axis; and

a control which is responsive to said encoder for each mirror assembly to adjust the positions of said plurality of mirror assemblies in a manner which causes said reflective elements to remain aimed at a common location substantially irrespective of movement of said common location.

33. The rear vision system in claim 32 including a user adjustable input device in order to adjust said common location.

34. The rear vision system in claim 33 wherein said input device is a user manipulable joystick.

35. The rear vision system in claim 33 wherein said input device is a user manipulable switching device.

36. The rear vision system in claim 33 wherein said input device is an encoder mechanically coupled with a manually positionable reflective element.

37. The rear vision system in claim 33 wherein said input device is a machine vision system which monitors the position of the eyes of a vehicle driver.

38. The rear vision system in claim 32 wherein said common location is defined with respect to a given vertical plane and a given horizontal plane.