VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20120105640A1
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Cooprider, Troy O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,748 B1
• 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 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

An information display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the interior cabin of a vehicle and a video display screen disposed in the interior rearview mirror assembly. The video display screen is operable to display video images captured by a backup camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver. A transmitter is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly, and a graphical user interface generates instructions for operation of the transmitter. The video display screen is operable to selectively display video images captured by the backup camera and instructions from the graphical user interface. When the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, the information display system displays the video images captured by the backup camera. The graphical user interface interactively operates with the user input for display of instructions for operation of the transmitter.

Claims

1. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said information display system, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector;

a video display screen disposed in said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display information, the displayed information is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element, and wherein, when said video display screen is not operating, the presence of said video display screen behind said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element is substantially not discerned by the driver of the equipped vehicle normally viewing said mirror reflective element when operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display video images captured by a backup camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

a transmitter disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly;

a graphical user interface and at least one user input, wherein said graphical user interface generates instructions for operation of said transmitter;

wherein said video display screen is operable to selectively display video images captured by said backup camera and instructions from said graphical user interface;

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system displays said video images captured by said backup camera; and

wherein said graphical user interface interactively operates with said at least one user input for display of instructions for operation of said transmitter.

2. The information display system of claim 1, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system is operable to selectively display information on said video display screen.

3. The information display system of claim 1, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system is operable to selectively display instructions generated by said graphical user interface.

4. The information display system of claim 1, wherein instructions are supplied at least when initially configuring said transmitter.

5. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured to operate as a garage door opener.

6. The information display system of claim 5, wherein said garage door opener comprises a trainable garage door opener.

7. The information display system of claim 5, wherein said garage door opener is configured to operate as a universal garage door opener.

8. The information display system of claim 5, wherein said garage door opener is configured to operate as a rolling code universal garage door opener.

9. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user input comprises a user actuatable switch and is actuatable at a portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

10. The information display system of claim 9, wherein said user actuatable switch comprises one of a plurality of user actuatable switches and wherein said user actuatable switches are actuatable at said portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

11. The information display system of claim 10, wherein said user actuatable switches are generally local one to another and generally horizontally arranged along said portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

12. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user input comprises a user actuatable switch and is actuatable at a portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly that is separate from said mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

13. The information display system of claim 1, wherein displayed information comprises at least one of a text display and an image display.

14. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system is operable to only display instructions on said video display screen when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver.

15. The information display system of claim 14, wherein said information display system is operable to only display instructions on said video display screen when the equipped vehicle is one of (a) shifted into park, (b) traveling at a speed below a threshold speed and (c) stationary.

16. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system is operable to automatically display information on said video display screen responsive to a triggering event.

17. The information display system of claim 16, wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition.

18. The information display system of claim 17, wherein said displayed information comprises at least one of (a) text pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition, (b) an icon pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition, (c) an image pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition, (d) an animation pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition and (e) a video clip pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition.

19. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system is operable to access an electronically stored instruction.

20. The information display system of claim 19, wherein said electronically stored instruction pertains to an accessory of the equipped vehicle or pertains to the equipped vehicle itself.

21. The information display system of claim 20, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the equipped vehicle can scroll through and access electronically stored instructions.

22. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said information display system, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector;

a video display screen disposed in said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display information, the displayed information is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element, and wherein, when said video display screen is not operating, the presence of said video display screen behind said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element is substantially not discerned by the driver of the equipped vehicle normally viewing said mirror reflective element when operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display video images captured by a backup camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

a trainable transmitter disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said trainable transmitter is configured to operate as a rolling code universal garage door opener;

a graphical user interface and at least one user input, wherein said graphical user interface generates instructions for operation of said trainable transmitter;

wherein said video display screen is operable to selectively display video images captured by said backup camera and instructions from said graphical user interface;

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system displays said video images captured by said backup camera; and

wherein said graphical user interface interactively operates with said at least one user input for display of instructions for operation of said trainable transmitter.

23. The information display system of claim 22, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system is operable to selectively display information on said video display screen.

24. The information display system of claim 22, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system is operable to selectively display instructions generated by said, graphical user interface.

25. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said information display system, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector;

a video display screen disposed in said interior rearview minor assembly, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display information, the displayed information is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element, and wherein, when said video display screen is not operating, the presence of said video display screen behind said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element is substantially not discerned by the driver of the equipped vehicle normally viewing said mirror reflective element when operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display video images captured by a backup camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

a trainable transmitter disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said trainable transmitter is configured to operate as a trainable garage door opener;

a graphical user interface and at least one user input, wherein said graphical user interface generates instructions for operation of said trainable transmitter;

wherein said video display screen is operable to selectively display video images captured by said backup camera and instructions from said graphical user interface;

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver, said information display system displays said video images captured by said backup camera;

wherein said graphical user interface interactively operates with said at least one user input for display of instructions for operation of said trainable transmitter; and

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver and responsive to said at least one user input, said information display system is operable to display instructions generated by said graphical user interface.

26. The information display system of claim 25, wherein said information display system is operable to automatically display information on said video display screen responsive to a triggering event, and wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition.

27. The information display system of claim 26, wherein said displayed information comprises at least one of (a) text pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition, (b) an icon pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition, (c) an image pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition, (d) an animation pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition and (e) a video clip pertaining to said at least one of a vehicle warning condition and a vehicle fault condition.