INTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH DISPLAY

• US 20100097469A1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Blank, Rodney K., Larson, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,487,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/003 Light absorbing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/50 OLEDs integrated with light modulating elements, e.g. with electrochromic elements, photochromic elements or liquid crystal elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/65 OLEDs integrated with inorganic image sensors

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror system and assembly includes a variable reflectivity reflective element and a video display screen disposed behind the reflective element and operable to display images viewable through the reflective element by a person viewing the interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle. The video display screen may be operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by the video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of the variable reflectivity reflective element. The mirror system may include an image sensor and a decoder that decodes an output signal of the image sensor. The decoder has a microprocessor operable to control the video display screen, such that the captured image data are processed and images are displayed via operation of a common microprocessor. A compass chip may connect to a vehicle wire harness that extends from a vehicle headliner.

Claims

1. :

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a casing, a variable reflectivity reflective element, and a video display screen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element, said video display screen operable to display images that are viewable through said reflective element by a person viewing said interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; and

wherein said video display screen is operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by said video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of said variable reflectivity reflective element;

an image sensor operable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view of said image sensor;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a decoder that decodes analog output signals of said image sensor, said decoder having a microprocessor operable to process image data and to control said video display screen via a digital signal;

wherein said microprocessor of said decoder comprises on screen display capability;

wherein said decoder comprises at least one of on screen display circuitry, image enhancement circuitry, a 2D de-interlacing engine and quality scalar; and

wherein said decoder is operable to provide at least one of (a) programmable hue, (b) programmable brightness, c) saturation, (d) programmable contrast, (e) programmable sharpness control, (f) programmable sharpness control with vertical peaking, (g) programmable color transient improvement control, (h) programmable panorama/water-glass scaling, (i) programmable Gamma correction tables, (j) programmable black/white stretch and (k) programmable favorite color enhancement.

2. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a transparent organic light emitting diode display element.

3. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said transparent organic light emitting diode display element comprises transparent metal cathodes and transparent electrically conductive anodes with an emission layer disposed between said transparent metal cathodes and said transparent electrically conductive anodes, and wherein when an electric current is passed between the electrodes of said transparent organic light emitting diode display element, light is emitted by said transparent organic light emitting diode display element.

4. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 3, wherein when the electric current is passed between the electrodes of said transparent organic light emitting diode display element, light is emitted with a color that is dependant on the materials of said transparent organic light emitting diode display element.

6. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a compass chip having at least two magnetoresponsive sensing elements and compass circuitry established thereon, said compass chip positioned at a mounting base of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said compass chip has at least one connecting element for connecting to a vehicle wire harness that extends downward from a vehicle headliner, said vehicle wire harness providing power to said compass chip when connected thereto and when the vehicle is normally operated.

10. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

11. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 10, wherein said decoder is operable to control dimming of said electrochromic reflective element.

12. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said decoder, when said electrochromic reflective element is dimmed to a darker state, is operable to increase an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen.

13. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said decoder, when said electrochromic reflective element is undimmed to a lighter state, is operable to decrease an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen.

14. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said analog output signal comprises a NTSC signal and wherein said decoder digitizes said NTSC signal and communicates said digital signal to said video display screen.

15. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor backlit video display screen.

16. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said decoder comprises a light emitting diode controller for controlling a plurality of backlighting light emitting diodes of said thin film transistor backlit video display screen.

17. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said decoder supports a two wire serial bus interface for interfacing with a bus system of the equipped vehicle.

18. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said decoder is operable to generate a graphic overlay that is electronically generated and superimposed on the displayed images by said decoder.

19. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said decoder comprises at least one of UART capability, I²C capability and SPI capability.

20. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said decoder comprises a transceiver and wherein said decoder is linked to a LIN node of a network system of the equipped vehicle.

5. (canceled)

7. :

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising;

an interior rearview mirror comprising a casing, a prismatic reflective element, and a video display screen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element;

said video display screen operable to display images that are viewable through said reflective element by a person viewing said interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle;

an image sensor operable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view of said image sensor, said image sensor generating an output signal indicative of captured image data; and

a decoder that decodes said output signal of said image sensor, said decoder having a microprocessor operable to control said video display screen, such that said captured image data are processed and images are displayed via operation of a common microprocessor.

8-9. -9. (canceled)

21. :

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a casing, a variable reflectivity reflective element, and a video display screen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element, said video display screen operable to display images that are viewable through said reflective element by a person viewing said interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; and

wherein said video display screen is operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by said video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of said variable reflectivity reflective element;

an image sensor operable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view of said image sensor;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a decoder that decodes analog output signals of said image sensor, said decoder having a microprocessor operable to process image data and to control said video display screen via a digital signal;

wherein said analog output signal comprises a NTSC signal and wherein said decoder digitizes said NTSC signal and communicates said digital signal to said video display screen;

wherein said microprocessor of said decoder comprises on screen display capability;

wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor backlit video display screen, and wherein said decoder comprises a light emitting diode controller for controlling a plurality of backlighting light emitting diodes of said thin film transistor backlit video display screen; and

wherein said decoder is operable to provide at least one of (a) programmable hue, (b) programmable brightness, (c) programmable saturation, (d) programmable contrast, (e) programmable sharpness control, (f) programmable sharpness control with vertical peaking, (g) programmable color transient improvement control, (h) programmable panorama/water-glass scaling, (i) programmable Gamma correction tables, (j) programmable black/white stretch and (k) programmable favorite color enhancement.

22. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 21, wherein said decoder comprises at least one of on screen display circuitry, image enhancement circuitry, a 2D de-interlacing engine and a high quality scalar.

23. :

The interior rearview mirror system of claim 21, wherein said decoder is operable to control dimming of said reflective element, and wherein said decoder, when said reflective element is dimmed to a darker state, is operable to increase an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen, and wherein said decoder, when said reflective element is undimmed to a lighter state, is operable to decrease an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen.