Vehicle information display

• US 20050134966A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burgner, Lori L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• 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: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A rearview mirror display system for a vehicle including a rearview mirror assembly, a reflective element and a projection display. The rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing. The reflective element is included at the casing and has a front and a back. The front is directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the assembly is mounted in the vehicle. The projection display is positioned in the casing to the rear of the back of the reflective element. The reflective element comprises a transflective reflective element. An image projected by the projection display is viewable by a driver of the vehicle from the front of the transflective reflective element.

Claims

1-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A rearview mirror display system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly, said rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing;

a reflective element included at said casing, said reflective element having a front and a back, said front being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted in the vehicle;

a projection display, said projection display positioned in said casing to the rear of said back of said reflective element;

said reflective element comprising a transflective reflective element; and

wherein an image projected by said projection display is viewable by a driver of the vehicle from said front of said transflective reflective element.

75. The rearview mirror display system of claim 74, wherein a surface of said reflective element comprises a screen portion.

76. The rearview mirror display system of claim 75, wherein said screen portion comprises a semi-transparent screen portion.

77. The rearview mirror display system of claim 74, wherein said projection display comprises a micro-display element.

78. The rearview mirror display system of claim 77, wherein said micro-display element comprises a transmissive micro-display element.

79. The rearview mirror display system of claim 78, wherein said projection display comprises a light source which is operable to back light said transmissive micro-display element.

80. The rearview mirror display system of claim 79, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

81. The rearview mirror display system of claim 79, wherein said micro-display element comprises a reverse image display, said light source and said micro-display element projecting said reverse image display onto a screen portion of said reflective element, said reverse image display on said screen portion being a non-reverse image display when viewed from the opposite side of said reflective element.

82. The rearview mirror display system of claim 77, wherein said micro-display element is mounted on a printed circuit board within said casing.

83. The rearview mirror display system of claim 82, wherein said printed circuit board comprises circuitry associated with at least one accessory of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

84. The rearview mirror display system of claim 83, wherein said micro-display element is aligned to project said projected light in a direction generally along said reflective element.

85. The rearview mirror display system of claim 84, wherein said projection display comprises a reflective optic.

86. The rearview mirror display system of claim 74, wherein said projection display is operable to display information received from a vision system of the vehicle, said vision system being operable to capture an image of a scene external of the vehicle.

87. The rearview mirror display system of claim 86, wherein said vision system comprises a rearview vision system, said rearview mirror assembly displaying a reversing scene in response to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

88. The rearview mirror display system of claim 74, wherein said projection display comprises at least one optic.

89. The rearview mirror display system of claim 88, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one reflective optic.

90. The rearview mirror display system of claim 88, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one of a transmissive optic, a diffractive optic and a refractive optic.

91. The rearview mirror display system of claim 88, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one transmissive optic.

92. The rearview mirror display system of claim 88, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one diffractive optic.

93. The rearview mirror display system of claim 88, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one refractive optic.

94. The rearview mirror display system of claim 88, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one magnifying optic which functions to magnify said projected image.

95. The rearview mirror display system of claim 74, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

96. The rearview mirror display system of claim 74, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

97. The rearview mirror display system of claim 96, wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

98. A rearview mirror display system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly, said rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing;

a reflective element included at said casing, said reflective element having a front and a back, said front being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted in the vehicle;

a projection display, said projection display positioned in said casing to the rear of said back of said reflective element;

said reflective element comprising a transflective reflective element; and

wherein an image projected by said projection display is viewable by a driver of the vehicle from said front of said transflective reflective element, said image projected by said projection display projecting a reverse image of what is viewed by the driver of the vehicle.

99. The rearview mirror display system of claim 98, wherein a surface of said reflective element comprises a screen portion.

100. The rearview mirror display system of claim 98, wherein said projection display is operable to display information received from a vision system of the vehicle, said vision system being operable to capture an image of a scene external of the vehicle.

101. The rearview mirror display system of claim 100, wherein said vision system comprises a rearview vision system, said rearview mirror assembly displaying a reversing scene in response to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

102. The rearview mirror display system of claim 98, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

103. The rearview mirror display system of claim 98, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

104. A rearview mirror display system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly, said rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing;

a reflective element included at said casing, said reflective element having a front and a back, said front being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted in the vehicle;

a projection display, said projection display positioned in said casing to the rear of said back of said reflective element;

said reflective element comprising a transflective reflective element;

wherein an image projected by said projection display is viewable by a driver of the vehicle from said front of said transflective reflective element; and

wherein said projection display is operable to display information received from a vision system of the vehicle, said vision system being operable to capture an image of a scene external of the vehicle.

105. The rearview mirror display system of claim 104, wherein said vision system comprises a rearview vision system, said rearview mirror assembly displaying a reversing scene in response to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

106. The rearview mirror display system of claim 104, wherein a surface of said reflective element comprises a screen portion.

107. The rearview mirror display system of claim 104, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

108. The rearview mirror display system of claim 104, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

109. The rearview mirror display system of claim 104, wherein said projection display comprises a light source.

110. The rearview mirror display system of claim 109, wherein said light source is aligned to project said light in a direction generally along said reflective element.

111. The rearview mirror display system of claim 110, wherein said projection display comprises a reflective optic.