VEHICLE MIRROR SYSTEM WITH LIGHT PIPING ELEMENT

• US 20070171663A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element and, preferably, at least a first and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction. A light piping element pipes light to the first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which the second photo-sensor is exposed. The first photo-sensor may comprise a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation. A spectral filter may be disposed in front of the first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident thereat. One of the first and second photo-sensors may have a rearward field of view relative to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and the other of the first and second photo-sensors may have a forward field of view relative to the forward direction of the travel of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction;

said mirror assembly comprising a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which said second photo-sensor is exposed;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter having less than about 10 percent transmission in the near-infrared spectral region;

wherein one of said first and second photo-sensors has a rearward field of view relative to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle;

wherein the other of said first and second photo-sensors has a forward field of view relative to the forward direction of the travel of the vehicle; and

wherein said forward field of view comprises one of (a) a generally upward field of view;

(b) a generally horizontal field of view;

(c) a generally sideways field of view; and

(d) a generally downwards field of view.

2. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said first photo-sensor is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode and a CMOS photo-sensor.

3. The rearview mirror system in claim 2, wherein said second photo-sensor is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode and a CMOS photo-sensor.

4. The rearview mirror system in claim 3, wherein said light piping element comprises an optical plastic.

5. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said first photo-sensor has said forward field of view at least partially established via said light piping element.

6. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said first photo-sensor has said rearward field of view at least partially established via said light piping element.

7. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly.

8. The rearview mirror system in claim 7, wherein said first photo-sensor has said forward field of view, said light piping element exposing said first photo-sensor to light passing through a vehicle windshield.

9. The rearview mirror system in claim 7, wherein said first photo-sensor has said rearward field of view, said light piping element exposing said first photo-sensor to light from another vehicle approaching from the rear of the vehicle to which the interior rearview mirror is attached.

10. The rearview mirror system in claim 7, wherein said first photo-sensor comprises one of a glare sensor and an ambient light sensor.

11. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said spectral filter comprises a filter element that has at least about 60 percent visible light transmission.

12. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said spectral filter comprises an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

13. The rearview mirror system in claim 12, wherein said infrared attenuating dye is disposed in a light transmitting lens disposed in front of said first photo-sensor.

14. The rearview mirror system in claim 13, wherein said infrared attenuating dye is disposed in said light piping element.

15. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said semiconductor photo-sensor comprises one of a photo-diode and a photo-transistor.

16. The rearview mirror system in claim 1, wherein said forward field of view comprises a generally skyward field of view.

17. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction;

said mirror assembly comprising a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor from a light environment different, from the light environment to which said second photo-sensor is exposed;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation, said first photo-sensor being selected from a group consisting of a phototransistor and a photodiode;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter having less than about 10 percent transmission in the near-infrared spectral region;

said second photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation, said second photo-sensor being selected from a group consisting of a phototransistor and a photodiode;

wherein one of said first and second photo-sensors has a rearward field of view relative to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle;

wherein the other of said first and second photo-sensors has a forward field of view relative to the forward direction of the travel of the vehicle; and

wherein said forward field of view comprises one of (a) a generally upward field of view;

(b) a generally horizontal field of view;

(c) a generally sideways field of view; and

(d) a generally downwards field of view.

18. The rearview mirror system in claim 17, wherein said first photo-sensor has said forward field of view at least partially established via said light piping element.

19. The rearview mirror system in claim 17, wherein said first photo-sensor has said rearward field of view at least partially established via said light piping element.

20. A vehicle rearview mirror system, said rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element;

said mirror assembly comprising at least a first photo-sensor and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction;

said mirror assembly comprising a light piping element;

said light piping element piping light to said first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which said second photo-sensor is exposed;

said first photo-sensor comprising a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation, wherein said first photo-sensor comprises one of a glare sensor and an ambient light sensor;

a spectral filter disposed in front of said first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident at said first photo-sensor;

said spectral filter having less than about 10 percent transmission in the near-infrared spectral region and at least about 60 percent visible light transmission;

wherein one of said first and second photo-sensors has a rearward field of view relative to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle;

wherein the other of said first and second photo-sensors has a forward field of view relative to the forward direction of the travel of the vehicle; and

wherein said forward field of view comprises one of (a) a generally upward field of view;

(b) a generally horizontal field of view;

(c) a generally sideways field of view; and

(d) a generally downwards field of view.