INTERIOR MIRROR SYSTEM

• US 20100117815A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan E., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/739 the user being the passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01566 Devices for warning or indicating mode of inhibition

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly incorporating one or more vehicle information displays includes an information display area in a portion of the rearview mirror housing which is at an angle to the plane of the reflective mirror element to provide improved visibility of the display by a front seat passenger . The information display can be provided in either the chin or eyebrow area of the rearview mirror housing, in the end of the mirror housing, or, alternately, in the field of view of the reflective mirror element itself or as a combination thereof. Such rearview mirror assemblies can be used in combination with a rearview mirror support and information display assembly including a rigid mirror stay preferably having a mirror support for independently adjustably mounting the rearview mirror assembly, and may also include a breakaway mount which releasably couples the stay and the supported rearview mirror assembly to a windshield mounted button or a header mounted base such that the entire assembly is released upon impact. The information display is especially useful to provide the operational status of the Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint (PSIR) or air bag.

Claims

1. An interior mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror support for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle to be equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a reflective element disposed in a housing, said reflective element comprising a glass substrate having at least a metallic reflector coating established at a surface thereof;

said interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver side end and a passenger side end, said driver side end adapted to be closer to the position of the vehicle driver when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle on said mirror support, said passenger side end adapted to be closer to the position of a front seat passenger in the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle on said mirror support;

said reflective element having a front surface which lies in a mirror plane and faces the interior of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle on said mirror support;

an information display, wherein information displayed by said information display is viewable through said reflective element by a driver of the vehicle viewing said reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle on said mirror support;

wherein said information display has a display plane, and wherein said display plane is at an angle to said mirror plane to provide improved visibility of said display by a front seat passenger in the vehicle when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle; and

a control operable to vary the intensity of the information displayed by said information display as viewed through said reflective element by the driver of the vehicle.