NAVIGATIONAL MIRROR SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20070118287A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Kevin, Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall, Taylor, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 : Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 : Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 : Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 : Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 : Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 : Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 : Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 : Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A navigational mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror having a reflective element. A display, optionally a video display, is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing a front portion of the reflective mirror element. A user input comprising a destination address is provided from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location. The display displays driving instructions that provide instructions to the destination address. The driving instructions are viewable by a person viewing the front portion of the reflective element. A particular instruction of the driving instructions is preferably displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular instruction to the driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A navigational mirror system for a vehicle, said navigational mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally toward the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;

said reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector, said reflective element being at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element, and at least about 60 percent reflective to visible light incident at said front portion of said reflective element;

a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when actuated that passes through said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;

a user input from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location, said user input comprising a destination address;

said video display displaying driving instructions, said driving instructions providing instructions to said destination address, said driving instructions being viewable by a person viewing said front portion of said reflective element;

wherein a particular instruction of said driving instructions is displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular instruction to the driver of the vehicle by actuating said video display disposed behind said reflective element and wherein actuation of said video display ceases once the driver successfully completes the particular navigational instruction displayed;

wherein said video display is back lit by at least one of (i) a cold cathode vacuum fluorescent light source and (ii) at least one light emitting diode; and

wherein said video display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 200 candelas per square meter.

2. The navigational mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location, said wireless communication being operable to download data useful to said driving instructions from a remote service provider to said vehicle-based control.

3. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said particular instruction is displayed in response to a global positioning system determining that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is at or close to the geographic location associated with the particular instruction, and wherein said particular instruction is not displayed before a global positioning system determines that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is at or close to the geographic location associated with said particular instruction, and wherein said particular instruction is not displayed after a global positioning system determines that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is no longer at or close to the geographic location associated with the particular instruction.

4. The navigational mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location.

5. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said user input comprises a vocal input from the driver of the vehicle.

6. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said driving instructions are further provided as an audible message.

7. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said driving instructions comprise step-by-step driving instructions.

8. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display, said back lit liquid crystal display being back lit with at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode, and wherein said at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode passes at least about 350 milliamps when operating at its operating voltage.

9. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display and wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with a plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes, and wherein said plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes comprises an array of at least two white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes.

10. The navigational mirror system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes comprises an array of at least four white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes.

11. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 300 candelas per square meter.

12. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter.

13. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display comprises at least one of (i) a liquid crystal display element, (ii) a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element and (iii) a multi-pixel display element.

14. The navigational mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display.

15. The navigational mirror system of claim 14, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with at least one white light emitting diode.

16. The navigational mirror system of claim 15, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with a plurality of white light emitting diodes.

17. The navigational mirror system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of white light emitting diodes comprises at least four white light emitting diodes.

18. The navigational mirror system of claim 15, wherein said video display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 300 candelas per square meter.

19. The navigational mirror system of claim 15, wherein said video display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter.

20. The navigational mirror system of claim 15, wherein said at least one white light emitting diode comprises a white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode.

21. The navigational mirror system of claim 20, wherein said at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode passes at least about 350 milliamps when operating at its operating voltage.

22. The navigational mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a seat adjustment system, said seat adjustment system being operable to automatically adjust a seat of the vehicle in response to biometric data received via a data input, said biometric data pertaining to the occupant of the seat of the vehicle.

23. The navigational mirror system of claim 22, wherein said data input comprises at least one of (i) a memory device, (ii) a remote source, (iii) an input device, (iv) a communication link, and (v) a portable device.

24. A navigational mirror system for a vehicle, said navigational mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally toward the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;

a display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said display emitting light when actuated that passes through said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;

a user input from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location, said user input comprising a destination address;

said display displaying driving instructions, said driving instructions providing instructions to said destination address, said driving instructions being viewable by a person viewing said front portion of said reflective element;

wherein a particular instruction of said driving instructions is displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular instruction to the driver of the vehicle by actuating said display disposed behind said reflective element and wherein actuation of said display ceases once the driver successfully completes the particular navigational instruction displayed;

wherein said particular instruction is displayed in response to a global positioning system determining that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is at or close to the geographic location associated with the particular instruction; and

wherein said particular instruction is not displayed before said global positioning system determines that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is at or close to the geographic location associated with said particular instruction, and said particular instruction is not displayed after said global positioning system determines that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is no longer at or close to the geographic location associated with the particular instruction.

25. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display comprises a video display.

26. The navigational mirror system of claim 24 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location, said wireless communication being operable to download data useful to said driving instructions from a remote service provider to said vehicle-based control.

27. The navigational mirror system of claim 26, wherein said vehicle-based control is operable to tag or code each of said instructions with a respective geographic location and is operable to only provide a particular one of said instructions when the respective geographic location tagged or coded to the particular instruction at least generally corresponds to the then current actual geographic location of the vehicle.

28. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, said reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector, said reflective element being at least about 60 percent reflective to visible light incident at said front portion of said reflective element;

29. The navigational mirror system of claim 28, said reflective element being at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element.

30. The navigational mirror system of claim 24 further comprising a vehicle-based global positioning system receiver.

31. The navigational mirror system of claim 24 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location.

32. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said user input comprises a vocal input from the driver of the vehicle.

33. The navigational mirror system of claim 32, wherein said initial geographic location of the vehicle is established via said global positioning system.

34. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said driving instructions are further provided as an audible message.

35. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display comprises a light source operable to emit substantially white light.

36. The navigational mirror system of claim 35, wherein said light source comprises at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode.

37. The navigational mirror system of claim 36, wherein said display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display, said back lit liquid crystal display being backlit with said at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode.

38. The navigational mirror system of claim 37, wherein said at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode passes at least about 350 milliamps when operating at its operating voltage.

39. The navigational mirror system of claim 37, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with a plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes and wherein said plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes comprises an array of at least two white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes.

40. The navigational mirror system of claim 39, wherein said plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes comprises an array of at least four white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes.

41. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 200 candelas per square meter.

42. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 300 candelas per square meter.

43. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter.

44. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display comprises at least one of (i) a liquid crystal display element, (ii) a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element and (iii) a multi-pixel display element.

45. The navigational mirror system of claim 24, wherein said display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display.

46. The navigational mirror system of claim 45, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with at least one white light emitting diode.

47. The navigational mirror system of claim 46, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with a plurality of white light emitting diodes.

48. The navigational mirror system of claim 47, wherein said plurality of white light emitting diodes comprises at least four white light emitting diodes.

49. The navigational mirror system of claim 46, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 200 candelas per square meter.

50. The navigational mirror system of claim 46, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 300 candelas per square meter.

51. The navigational mirror system of claim 46, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter.

52. The navigational mirror system of claim 45, wherein said display is back lit by at least one of (i) a cold cathode vacuum fluorescent light source and (ii) at least one white light emitting diode.

53. The navigational mirror system of claim 24 further comprising a seat adjustment system, said seat adjustment system being operable to automatically adjust a seat of the vehicle in response to biometric data received via a data input, said biometric data pertaining to the occupant of the seat of the vehicle.

54. The navigational mirror system of claim 53, wherein said data input comprises at least one of (i) a memory device, (ii) a remote source, (iii) an input device, (iv) a communication link, and (v) a portable device.

55. A navigational mirror system for a vehicle, said navigational mirror system comprising:

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally toward the driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that is generally opposite said front portion;

said reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector;

a display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said display emitting light when actuated that passes through said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of said reflective mirror element;

a user input from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location, said user input comprising a destination address;

said display displaying driving instructions, said driving instructions providing instructions to said destination address, said driving instructions being viewable by a person viewing said front portion of said reflective element;

wherein a particular instruction of said driving instructions is displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular instruction to the driver of the vehicle by actuating said display disposed behind said reflective element and wherein actuation of said display ceases once the driver successfully completes the particular navigational instruction displayed; and

56. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display comprises a video display.

57. The navigational mirror system of claim 55 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location, said wireless communication being operable to download data useful to said driving instructions from a remote service provider to said vehicle-based control.

58. The navigational mirror system of claim 57, wherein said vehicle-based control is operable to tag or code each of said instructions with a respective geographic location and is operable to only provide a particular one of said instructions when the respective geographic location tagged or coded to the particular instruction at least generally corresponds to the then current actual geographic location of the vehicle.

59. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said particular instruction is displayed in response to a global positioning system determining that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is at or close to the geographic location associated with the particular instruction.

60. The navigational mirror system of claim 59, wherein said particular instruction is not displayed before said global positioning system determines that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is at or close to the geographic location associated with said particular instruction, and said particular instruction is not displayed after said global positioning system determines that the actual geographic position of the vehicle is no longer at or close to the geographic location associated with the particular instruction.

61. The navigational mirror system of claim 60 further comprising a vehicle-based global positioning system receiver.

62. The navigational mirror system of claim 55 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location.

63. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said user input comprises a vocal input from the driver of the vehicle.

64. The navigational mirror system of claim 63, wherein said initial geographic location of the vehicle is established via a global positioning system.

65. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said driving instructions are further provided as an audible message.

66. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display comprises a light source operable to emit substantially white light.

67. The navigational mirror system of claim 66, wherein said light source comprises at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode.

68. The navigational mirror system of claim 67, wherein said display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display, said back lit liquid crystal display being back lit with said at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode.

69. The navigational mirror system of claim 68, wherein said at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode passes at least about 350 milliamps when operating at its operating voltage.

70. The navigational mirror system of claim 68, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with a plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes and wherein said plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes comprises an array of at least two white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes.

71. The navigational mirror system of claim 70, wherein said plurality of white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes comprises an array of at least four white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diodes.

72. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 200 candelas per square meter.

73. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 300 candelas per square meter.

74. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter.

75. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display comprises at least one of (i) a liquid crystal display element, (ii) a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element and (iii) a multi-pixel display element.

76. The navigational mirror system of claim 55, wherein said display comprises a back lit liquid crystal display.

77. The navigational mirror system of claim 76, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with at least one white light emitting diode.

78. The navigational mirror system of claim 77, wherein said liquid crystal display is back lit with a plurality of white light emitting diodes.

79. The navigational mirror system of claim 78, wherein said plurality of white light emitting diodes comprises at least four white light emitting diodes.

80. The navigational mirror system of claim 77, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 200 candelas per square meter.

81. The navigational mirror system of claim 77, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 300 candelas per square meter.

82. The navigational mirror system of claim 77, wherein said display produces a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter.

83. The navigational mirror system of claim 76, wherein said display is back lit by at least one of (i) a cold cathode vacuum fluorescent light source and (ii) at least one white light emitting diode.

84. The navigational mirror system of claim 55 further comprising a seat adjustment system, said seat adjustment system being operable to automatically adjust a seat of the vehicle in response to biometric data received via a data input, said biometric data pertaining to the occupant of the seat of the vehicle.

85. The navigational mirror system of claim 84, wherein said data input comprises at least one of (i) a memory device, (ii) a remote source, (iii) an input device, (iv) a communication link, and (v) a portable device.