INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM

• US 20110140606A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• 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 8,063,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/82
• 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

An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror support with a pivot element and a mirror mount configured for attachment to an attachment element at a vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a housing and a reflective element, with the mirror head pivotally attaching to the mirror support via a single pivot joint of the mirror assembly. The mirror assembly includes an imaging sensor disposed at the mirror support and having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a headlamp controller that, responsive to sensing of at least one of an oncoming headlight of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle by the imaging sensor, at least partially controls a headlight of the equipped vehicle. The mirror support may be configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory.

Claims

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

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror support, said mirror support comprising a pivot element and said mirror support comprising a mirror mount configured for attachment to an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror head comprising a housing and a reflective element;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a single pivot joint, said single pivot joint comprising said pivot element, and wherein said mirror head pivotally attaches to said mirror support via said single pivot joint;

wherein the rearward field of view of said reflective element is adjustable via adjustment by a driver of the equipped vehicle of said mirror head about said single pivot joint when said mirror mount of said mirror support is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS sensor, and wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at said mirror support and is not adjusted when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller and wherein, responsive to sensing of at least one of an oncoming headlight of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle by said imaging sensor, said headlamp controller at least partially controls a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, at least with said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, another accessory is within said mirror support.

2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said pivot element of said mirror support comprises a ball element and wherein said mirror head comprises a socket element configured to pivotally receive said ball element therein to establish said pivot joint.

3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said ball element protrudes rearwardly from said mirror support in the direction away from the windshield when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 3, wherein said mirror support comprises a structure and wherein said ball element protrudes from a side of said structure opposite the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located, and wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located is closer to the windshield of the equipped vehicle than the opposite side of said structure from which said ball element protrudes.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein said mirror mount is generally disposed at an upper portion of said structure and said ball element is generally disposed at a lower portion of said structure when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

6. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 5, wherein said ball element is generally disposed at least partially below a level of said mirror mount when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein said structure of said mirror support is configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory.

8. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror support comprises a compartment configured to house circuitry.

9. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror mount is configured for attachment to a windshield mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

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 1, wherein said another accessory comprises a rain sensor.

12. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said mirror support is configured to accommodate said rain sensor at or near the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

13. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.

14. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor at least partially views the scene forward of the equipped vehicle in spatially separated sensing regions.

15. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said imaging sensor is operable to provide for different exposure periods for images captured by said imaging sensor in different ones of said spatially separated sensing regions.

16. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said imaging sensor is operable to sense light or the absence of light in said spatially separated sensing regions.

17. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror mount is configured to provide a break-away attachment when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

18. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one photo sensor, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a control that is responsive to said photo sensor and operable to distinguish between daytime and nighttime lighting conditions.

19. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one of (i) a rolling code garage door opener, (ii) a microphone, (iii) a light comprising at least one white light light emitting diode, (iv) a console light, and (v) a compass sensor that is disposed in said mirror head and that moves with said mirror head when the driver adjusts the rearward field of view of said reflective element.

20. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one of a microphone, a light and a console light.

21. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a rolling code garage door opener.

22. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a microphone.

23. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a light and wherein said light comprises at least one white light light emitting diode.

24. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 23, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a console light.

25. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein a compass sensor is disposed in said mirror head and wherein said compass sensor moves with said mirror head when the rearward field of view of said reflective element is adjusted.

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

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror support, said mirror support comprising a pivot element comprising a ball element and said mirror support comprising a mirror mount configured for attachment to an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror head comprising a housing and a reflective element;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a single pivot joint, said single pivot joint comprising said ball element and a socket element of said mirror head, said socket element configured to pivotally receive said ball element therein to establish said single pivot joint, and wherein said mirror head pivotally attaches to said mirror support via said single pivot joint;

wherein the rearward field of view of said reflective element is adjustable via adjustment by a driver of the equipped vehicle of said mirror head about said single pivot joint when said mirror mount of said mirror support is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS sensor, and wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at said mirror support and is not adjusted when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller and wherein, responsive to sensing of at least one of an oncoming headlight of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle by said imaging sensor, said headlamp controller at least partially controls a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, at least with said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, a rain sensor is within said mirror support.

27. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said ball element protrudes rearwardly from said mirror support in the direction away from the windshield when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

28. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 27, wherein said mirror support comprises a structure and wherein said ball element protrudes from a side of said structure opposite the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located, and wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located is closer to the windshield of the equipped vehicle than the opposite side of said structure from which said ball element protrudes.

29. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 28, wherein said mirror mount is generally disposed at an upper portion of said structure and said ball element is generally disposed at a lower portion of said structure when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

30. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 29, wherein said ball element is generally disposed at least partially below a level of said mirror mount when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

31. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein said structure of said mirror support is configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory.

32. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said mirror support is configured to accommodate said rain sensor at or near the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

33. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 32, wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.

34. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one photo sensor, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a control and wherein said control is responsive to said photo sensor and operable to distinguish between daytime and nighttime lighting conditions.

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

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror support, said mirror support comprising a pivot element comprising a ball element and said mirror support comprising a mirror mount configured for attachment to an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said ball element protrudes rearwardly from said mirror support in the direction away from the windshield when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said mirror support comprises a structure and wherein said ball element protrudes from a side of said structure opposite the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located, and wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located is closer to the windshield of the equipped vehicle than the opposite side of said structure from which said ball element protrudes;

wherein said mirror mount is generally disposed at an upper portion of said structure and said ball element is generally disposed at a lower portion of said structure when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror head comprising a housing and one of (a) a prismatic reflective element and (b) an electrochromic reflective element;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a single pivot joint, said single pivot joint comprising said ball element and a socket element of said mirror head, said socket element configured to pivotally receive said ball element therein to establish said single pivot joint, and wherein said mirror head pivotally attaches to said mirror support via said single pivot joint;

wherein the rearward field of view of said reflective element is adjustable via adjustment by a driver of the equipped vehicle of said mirror head about said single pivot joint when said mirror mount of said mirror support is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS sensor, and wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at said mirror support and is not adjusted when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller and wherein, responsive to sensing of at least one of an oncoming headlight of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle by said imaging sensor, said headlamp controller at least partially controls a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said structure of said mirror support is configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory.

36. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 35, wherein, at least with said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, an accessory is within said mirror support.

37. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said ball element is generally disposed at least partially below a level of said mirror mount when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

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

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror support, said mirror support comprising a pivot element and said mirror support comprising a mirror mount configured for attachment to an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror head comprising a housing and a reflective element;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a single pivot joint, said single pivot joint comprising said pivot element, and wherein said mirror head pivotally attaches to said mirror support via said single pivot joint;

wherein said pivot element of said mirror support comprises a ball element and wherein said mirror head comprises a socket element configured to pivotally receive said ball element therein to establish said pivot joint;

wherein said ball element protrudes rearwardly from said mirror support in the direction away from the windshield when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said mirror support comprises a structure and wherein said ball element protrudes from a side of said structure opposite the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located, and wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the side of said structure at which said mirror mount is located is closer to the windshield of the equipped vehicle than the opposite side of said structure from which said ball element protrudes;

wherein the rearward field of view of said reflective element is adjustable via adjustment by a driver of the equipped vehicle of said mirror head about said single pivot joint when said mirror mount of said mirror support is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said ball element is generally disposed at least partially below a level of said mirror mount when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an imaging sensor having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS sensor, and wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at said mirror support and is not adjusted when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly; and

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller and wherein, responsive to sensing of at least one of an oncoming headlight of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle by said imaging sensor, said headlamp controller at least partially controls a headlight of the equipped vehicle.

39. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 38, wherein said structure of said mirror support is configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory.

40. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 39, wherein said mirror mount is generally disposed at an upper portion of said structure and said ball element is generally disposed at a lower portion of said structure when said mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

41. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 40, wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element and wherein said mirror support is configured to accommodate circuitry associated with at least one of (a) operation of said electrochromic reflective element and (b) a rain sensor. mirror support is configured to accommodate at least one of circuitry and an accessory