VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20080201075A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, David W., McCarthy, Kevin C., Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,007 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 video mirror system for a vehicle comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element that has a front portion that faces generally towards the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle and that has a rear portion that is generally opposite the front portion. The reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector that preferably is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at the rear portion of the reflective element, and that preferably is at least about 60 percent reflective to visible light incident at the front portion. A video display screen 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.

Claims

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

an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally towards 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, and said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element comprising a third-surface transflective mirror reflector of said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly;

a video display screen disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display screen 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 element;

wherein said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display element that is back lit by at least one of (i) a cold cathode vacuum fluorescent light source when said light source is powered and (ii) at least one white light emitting light emitting diode when said light emitting diode is powered;

wherein said video display screen is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver viewing through said front portion of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly is mounted, operated and viewed in the vehicle;

wherein a camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted to the rear of the vehicle and wherein, upon selecting a reverse gear, a video output of said camera is displayed by said video screen so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle; and

wherein the presence of said video display screen is only principally visible to the driver of the vehicle, who is viewing said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly when it is mounted at said interior portion of a vehicle when said liquid crystal display element is back lit.

2. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by at least one of (i) at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode, (ii) at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode 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, (iii) a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes, and (iv) a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprising at least four white light emitting light emitting diodes.

7. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element, and wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least four white light emitting light emitting diodes.

16. The video 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 providing step-by-step driving instructions from a remote service provider to said vehicle-based control, and wherein step-by-step driving instructions are provided as at least one of (i) an audible message and (ii) a display displayed by said video display screen.

19. The video mirror system of claim 16, wherein a 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 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.

20. The video mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle-based control and a wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location and wherein said vehicle-based control receives a vocal input from the driver of the vehicle.

22. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein said reflective element is at least about 20 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element.

25. The video mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) a position of said reflective element is adjusted as a function of a biometric characteristic of the driver of the vehicle, (b) said video mirror system comprises a seat adjustment system 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 and said data input comprising 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, and (c) said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly adjusts in response to biometric data received via a data input.

3-6. -6. (canceled)

8-15. -15. (canceled)

17-18. -18. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

23-24. -24. (canceled)

26-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video 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 towards 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 said transflective mirror reflector of said reflective element comprising a third-surface transflective mirror reflector of said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly;

a video display screen disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display screen 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 element;

wherein said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display element;

wherein said video display screen is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver viewing through said front portion of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly is mounted, operated and viewed in the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element;

wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least four white light emitting light emitting diodes;

wherein at least one of (a) a camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted to the rear of the vehicle and wherein, upon selecting a reverse gear, a video output of said camera is displayed by said video screen so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle, and (b) said video screen displays navigation information; and

wherein the presence of said video display screen is only principally visible to the driver of the vehicle, who is viewing said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly when it is mounted at said interior portion of a vehicle, when said liquid crystal display element is back lit.

35. The video mirror system of claim 30, wherein said video mirror system further comprises a user input disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly for controlling a wireless communication system of the vehicle.

31-34. -34. (canceled)

36-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video 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 towards 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 screen disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display screen 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 element;

wherein said video display screen comprises a back lit liquid crystal display element that is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes;

wherein said video display screen is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver viewing through said front portion of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly is mounted, operated and viewed in the vehicle;

wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element;

wherein a camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted to the rear of the vehicle and wherein, upon selecting a reverse gear, a video output of said camera is displayed by said video screen so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle; and

wherein the presence of said video display screen is only principally visible to the driver of the vehicle, who is viewing said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly when it is mounted at said interior portion of a vehicle, when said liquid crystal display element is back lit.

49-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video 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 towards 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 screen disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display screen 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 element;

wherein said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display element;

wherein said video display screen is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver viewing through said front portion of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly is mounted, operated and viewed in the vehicle;

wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element;

wherein a camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted to the rear of the vehicle and wherein, upon selecting a reverse gear, a video output of said camera is displayed by said video screen so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle;

wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes; and

wherein the presence of said video display screen is only principally visible to the driver of the vehicle, who is viewing said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly when it is mounted at said interior portion of a vehicle, when said liquid crystal display element is back lit.

63-69. -69. (canceled)

70. A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:

an interior 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 towards 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 video display screen disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display screen 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 element;

wherein said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display element;

wherein said video display screen is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver viewing through said front portion of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted, operated and viewed in the vehicle;

wherein a camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted to the rear of the vehicle and wherein, upon selecting a reverse gear, a video output of said camera is displayed by said video screen so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle;

wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by at least one of (i) at least one white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode and (ii) at least four white light emitting light emitting diodes; and

wherein the presence of said video display screen is only principally visible to the driver of the vehicle, who is viewing said interior rearview mirror assembly when it is mounted at said interior portion of a vehicle, when said liquid crystal display element is back lit.

71. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said at least one white light emitting light emitting diode comprises a white light emitting high-intensity power light emitting diode that passes at least about 350 milliamps when operating at its operating voltage.

72. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element.

73. The video mirror system of claim 70 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 providing driving instructions from a remote service provider to said vehicle-based control, and wherein a 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 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.

74. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said reflective element is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element.

75. The video mirror system of claim 74, wherein said reflective element is at least about 60 percent reflective to visible light incident at said front portion of said reflective element.

76. The video mirror system of claim 74, wherein said reflective element is at least about 70 percent reflective to visible light incident at said front portion of said reflective element.

77. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element.

78. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said reflective element is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element, and wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element, and wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes comprises at least four white light emitting light emitting diodes.

79. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said reflective element is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element, and wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element, and wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes, and wherein said video mirror system further comprises a user input disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly for controlling a wireless communication system of the vehicle.

80. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said reflective element is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element, and wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor liquid crystal display element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element, and wherein said liquid crystal display element is back lit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes, and wherein said video mirror system further comprises a user input disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly for controlling a wireless communication system of the vehicle, and wherein said user input comprises a push button.

81. The video mirror system of claim 70, wherein said video mirror system further comprises a user input, said user input comprising at least one of (a) a push button and (b) a voice input device.

82. The video mirror system of claim 81, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said reflective element comprises a third-surface transflective reflective element, and wherein said user input is included at said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.