INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM

• US 20110166779A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uhlmann, Eugenie V., McCarthy, Kevin C., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror system includes a rearward facing camera, an interior rearview mirror assembly and a video display screen disposed behind a mirror reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly. The video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and the video display screen is operable to display information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle through the mirror reflective element when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and when the video display screen is operated to display information. When the vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, the video display screen displays images captured by the rearward facing camera to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle, and the video display screen is operable to display other information.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearward facing camera of the vehicle, said rearward facing camera having a rearward field of view external of the vehicle;

an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror reflective element with a mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed behind said mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable video display screen and wherein said video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said video display screen is operable to display information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle through said mirror reflective element when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and when said video display screen is operated to display information;

wherein said mirror reflective element has a width dimension and a height dimension, and wherein said width dimension of said mirror reflective element is longer than said height dimension of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said video display screen has a width dimension and a height dimension, and wherein said width dimension of said video display screen is longer than said height dimension of said video display screen, and wherein said width dimension of said video display screen is generally parallel to said width dimension of said mirror reflective element;

wherein, when the vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, said video display screen displays images captured by said rearward facing camera to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle; and

wherein said video display screen is operable to display other information and wherein said other information comprises at least one of (i) vehicle information, (ii) a vehicle instrument status, (iii) a vehicle function status, (iv) a fuel level status, (v) information relating to a speed of the vehicle, (vi) tachometer information, (vii) a climate control setting status, (viii) GPS directional instructions, (ix) information relating to a global-positioning system, (x) a tire pressure status, (xi) a rain sensor status, (xii) compass information, (xiii) an engine coolant temperature status, (xiv) an oil pressure status, (xv) battery condition status, (xvi) telephone information, (xvii) telephone number information, (xviii) a page message, (xix) audio system information, (xx) an e-mail message, (xxi) a cellular phone operation status, (xxii) weather information, (xxiii) temperature information, (xxiv) highway status information, (xxv) a blind spot indicator, (xxvi) a hazard warning, (xxvii) traffic information, (xxviii) time, (xxix) a train approach warning, (xxx) a tollbooth transaction and (xxxi) a passenger airbag status.

2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) said interior rearview mirror system comprises a short-range wireless communication link to a portable electronic device in the vehicle and (b) said interior rearview mirror system comprises a vehicle data bus connection.

3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, comprising a transceiver operable to engage in a wireless communication with a remote service provider located at a site remote from the vehicle, said transceiver located in the vehicle during a road journey, wherein said transceiver is operable to receive a wireless data transmission from said remote service provider of data derived from a database accessible to a remote operator associated with said remote service provider.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 3, wherein said interior rearview mirror system, responsive to an input of a destination, wirelessly downloads to the vehicle driving instructions from the then present geographical location of the vehicle to said destination, and wherein the then present geographical location of the vehicle is based on signals received by a global-positioning system receiver of the vehicle.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein said video display screen displays turn-by-turn instructions to said destination during said road journey, said turn-by-turn instructions being based on said downloaded directions, and wherein said turn-by-turn instructions comprise at least one chosen from (i) direction, (ii) when to turn and (iii) how far until the next turn.

6. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 4, comprising a short-range wireless communication link to a portable electronic device in the vehicle during said road journey.

7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element.

8. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearward facing camera of the vehicle, said rearward facing camera having a rearward field of view external of the vehicle;

an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror reflective element with a mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflector element;

wherein said interior rearview mirror system comprises a short-range wireless communication link to a portable electronic device in the vehicle;

a video display screen disposed behind said electrochromic mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen comprises reconfigurable video display screen and wherein said video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said video display screen is operable to display information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle through said electrochromic mirror reflective element when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and when said video display screen is operated to display information;

wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element has a width dimension and a height dimension, and wherein said width dimension of said electrochromic mirror reflective element is longer than said height dimension of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said video display screen has a width dimension and a height dimension, and wherein said width dimension of said video display screen is longer than said height dimension of said video display screen, and wherein said width dimension of said video display screen is generally parallel to said width dimension of said electrochromic mirror reflective element;

wherein, when the vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, said video display screen displays images captured by said rearward facing camera to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle; and

wherein said video display screen is operable to display other information and wherein said other information comprises at least one of (i) vehicle information, (ii) a vehicle instrument status, (iii) a vehicle function status, (iv) a fuel level status, (v) information relating to a speed of the vehicle, (vi) tachometer information, (vii) a climate control setting status, (viii) GPS directional instructions, (ix) information relating to a global-positioning system, (x) a tire pressure status, (xi) a rain sensor status, (xii) compass information, (xiii) an engine coolant temperature status, (xiv) an oil pressure status, (xv) battery condition status, (xvi) telephone information, (xvii) telephone number information, (xviii) a page message, (xix) audio system information, (xx) an e-mail message, (xxi) a cellular phone operation status, (xxii) weather information, (xxiii) temperature information, (xxiv) highway status information, (xxv) a blind spot indicator, (xxvi) a hazard warning, (xxvii) traffic information, (xxviii) time, (xxix) a train approach warning, (xxx) a tollbooth transaction and (xxxi) a passenger airbag status.

9. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 8, wherein said interior rearview mirror system comprises a vehicle data bus connection.

10. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 8, comprising a transceiver operable to engage in a wireless communication with a remote service provider located at a site remote from the vehicle, said transceiver located in the vehicle during a road journey, wherein said transceiver is operable to receive a wireless data transmission from said remote service provider of data derived from a database accessible to a remote operator associated with said remote service provider.

11. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 10, wherein said interior rearview mirror system, responsive to an input of a destination, wirelessly downloads to the vehicle driving instructions from the then present geographical location of the vehicle to said destination, and wherein the then present geographical location of the vehicle is based on signals received by a global-positioning system receiver of the vehicle.

12. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said video display screen displays turn-by-turn instructions to said destination during said road journey, said turn-by-turn instructions being based on said downloaded directions, and wherein said turn-by-turn instructions comprise at least one chosen from (i) direction, (ii) when to turn and (iii) how far until the next turn.

13. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a rearward facing camera of the vehicle, said rearward facing camera having a rearward field of view external of the vehicle;

an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror reflective element with a mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element;

wherein said interior rearview mirror system comprises a vehicle data bus connection;

a video display screen disposed behind said electrochromic mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable video display screen and wherein said video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and wherein said video display screen is operable to display information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle through said electrochromic mirror reflective element when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle and when said video display screen is operated to display information;

wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element has a width dimension and a height dimension, and wherein said width dimension of said electrochromic mirror reflective element is longer than said height dimension of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said video display screen has a width dimension and a height dimension, and wherein said width dimension of said video display screen is longer than said height dimension of said video display screen, and wherein said width dimension of said video display screen is generally parallel to said width dimension of said electrochromic mirror reflective element;

wherein, when the vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, said video display screen displays images captured by said rearward facing camera to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle; and

wherein said video display screen is operable to display other information and wherein said other information comprises at least one of (i) vehicle information, (ii) a vehicle instrument status, (iii) a vehicle function status, (iv) a fuel level status, (v) information relating to a speed of the vehicle, (vi) tachometer information, (vii) a climate control setting status, (viii) GPS directional instructions, (ix) information relating to a global-positioning system, (x) a tire pressure status, (xi) a rain sensor status, (xii) compass information, (xiii) an engine coolant temperature status, (xiv) an oil pressure status, (xv) battery condition status, (xvi) telephone information, (xvii) telephone dumber information, (xviii) a page message, (xix) audio system information, (xx) an e-mail message, (xxi) a cellular phone operation status, (xxii) weather information, (xxiii) temperature information, (xxiv) highway status information, (xxv) a blind spot indicator, (xxvi) a hazard warning, (xxvii) traffic information, (xxviii) time, (xxix) a train approach warning, (xxx) a tollbooth transaction and (xxxi) a passenger airbag status.

14. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 13, comprising a transceiver operable to engage in a wireless communication with a remote service provider located at a site remote from the vehicle, said transceiver located in the vehicle during a road journey.

15. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said transceiver is operable to receive a wireless data transmission from said remote service provider of data derived from a database accessible to a remote operator associated with said remote service provider.

16. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said interior rearview mirror system, responsive to an input of a destination, wirelessly downloads to the vehicle driving instructions from the then present geographical location of the vehicle to said destination.

17. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein the then present geographical location of the vehicle is based on signals received by a global-positioning system receiver of the vehicle.

18. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said video display screen displays turn-by-turn instructions to said destination during said road journey, said turn-by-turn instructions being based on said downloaded directions

19. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 18, wherein said turn-by-turn instructions comprise at least one chosen from (i) direction, (ii) when to turn and (iii) how far until the next turn.

20. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 17, comprising a short-range wireless communication link to a portable electronic device in the vehicle during said road journey.