SELF-DIMMING MIRROR IN A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20110157705A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Boehme, Aiko, Bald, Heiko
• Application Number:
  US12/918,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20110157705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

With a self-dimming mirror of a motor vehicle dimming can be automatically cancelled upon a change of a driving situation of the motor vehicle to increase road safety.

Claims

1. An apparatus of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a self-dimming mirror;

a detection device adapted to detect a change in a driving situation of the motor vehicle;

a control unit adapted to receive the change in the driving situation of the motor vehicle from the detection device and control the self-dimming mirror such that a dimming of self-dimming the mirror is cancelled upon the change of the driving situation of the motor vehicle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is a hazard situation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is actuation of a driving direction indicator.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is approach of an intersection.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is actuation of a severe acceleration.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is a braking.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is activation of a fog headlamp.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is activation of a hazard warning flasher.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is switching-off of a low-beam.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving situation is switching-off of a driving light.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is a sensor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is a distance sensor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is a radar device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the self-dimming mirror is a mechanical mirror and the apparatus further comprises an electric motor adapted to reset to the mechanical mirror to an original starting position.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the self-dimming mirror is an interior mirror.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the interior mirror is arranged in a central upper area of an interior of the motor vehicle.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the self-dimming mirror is an exterior mirror.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further adapted to control a second self dimming mirror independent of the self-dimming mirror.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein driving situation is an activation of a rear screen heater.

20. The apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein the driving situation is an approach of a turn-off.