INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said mirror system comprising:
- an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element, said reflective element providing a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle;
said electro-optic reflective element comprising an electro-optic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate;
said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle;
said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle;
said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface;
said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle;
a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate;
a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a metal layer comprising at least one of (i) silver, (ii) aluminum, (iii) an alloy of silver, and (iv) an alloy of aluminum;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a display screen disposed to the rear of said fourth surface of said second substrate;
said display screen emitting light when actuated to display a video image, said emitted light passing through said mirror reflector of said electro-Optic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle;
said mirror reflector comprising a transflective mirror reflector and wherein the presence of said display screen disposed to the rear of said fourth surface of said second substrate is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until said display screen is actuated to emit light that passes through said mirror reflector of said electro-optic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising control circuitry;
said control circuitry is operable to (a) actuate said display screen upon selection of a reverse gear by the driver of the vehicle in order to display video images captured by an imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle, wherein said control circuitry deactuates said display screen upon deselection of a reverse gear of the vehicle in order to cease display of video images captured by said imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle, and (b) electronically generate indicia overlaying the video images on said display screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular mirror system comprises an interior electro-optic mirror having a transflective mirror reflector and a display screen disposed behind the mirror reflector so that the presence of the display screen is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until the display screen is actuated to emit light that passes through the electro-optic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle. Control circuitry may receive a signal indicative of selection of a reverse gear of the vehicle by the driver and may actuate the display screen to display video images captured by a video imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle. Control circuitry may electronically generate indicia overlaying the video images on the display screen.
300 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said mirror system comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element, said reflective element providing a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; said electro-optic reflective element comprising an electro-optic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate; said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface; said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface; said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate, wherein said mirror reflector comprises a metal layer comprising at least one of (i) silver, (ii) aluminum, (iii) an alloy of silver, and (iv) an alloy of aluminum; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a display screen disposed to the rear of said fourth surface of said second substrate; said display screen emitting light when actuated to display a video image, said emitted light passing through said mirror reflector of said electro-Optic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle; said mirror reflector comprising a transflective mirror reflector and wherein the presence of said display screen disposed to the rear of said fourth surface of said second substrate is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until said display screen is actuated to emit light that passes through said mirror reflector of said electro-optic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising control circuitry; said control circuitry is operable to (a) actuate said display screen upon selection of a reverse gear by the driver of the vehicle in order to display video images captured by an imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle, wherein said control circuitry deactuates said display screen upon deselection of a reverse gear of the vehicle in order to cease display of video images captured by said imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle, and (b) electronically generate indicia overlaying the video images on said display screen.
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Specification