DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130321633A1
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peterson, Kenneth C., Foote, Keith D., Hook, Richard R., Deuel, Eric S., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,175,477 B2
• 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 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A display system of a vehicle includes a windshield of a vehicle, an interior rearview mirror assembly, an assembly disposed at an upper region of the windshield, and a display device disposed at the assembly. The upper region of the windshield includes a display region. The display device is operable to project a mirror image of display information towards and onto the display region of the windshield for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The display information is viewable at the display region of the windshield and is viewable and discernible by the driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle.

Claims

1. A display system of a vehicle, said display system comprising:

a windshield for a vehicle equipped with said display system;

an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a mounting structure for mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior surface at an upper region of said windshield;

an assembly disposed at said upper region of said windshield, wherein said assembly is disposed at or near said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said upper region of said windshield comprises a display region;

a display device disposed at said assembly;

wherein said display device is operable to project a mirror image of display information towards and onto said display region of said windshield for viewing by a driver of the vehicle; and

wherein the display information is viewable at the display region of the windshield and is viewable and discernible by the driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display region comprises a tinted region of said windshield.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display region comprises a frit layer disposed at a surface of said windshield.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display region comprises a clear region of said windshield.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display region is at a driver side region of said windshield.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises one of (i) an liquid crystal display and (ii) a light emitting diode.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display region is at a location at said windshield that allows the driver to view the projected mirror image in reflection.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein said assembly comprises a part of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display device is operable to display at least one of (i) temperature information and (ii) compass heading information.

10. The display system of claim 1, wherein said display device is operable to display driver assistance information.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein said driver assistance information comprises video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle to assist the driver during a reversing maneuver.

12. The display system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one backlit user input disposed at said reflective element at a user input region, and wherein said user input comprises a display representative of a plurality of individual alphanumeric input characters, wherein said plurality of individual alphanumeric input characters of said user input is backlit by a backlighting device, and wherein said user input is backlit by said backlighting device responsive to at least one of (i) an input by a user, (ii) a signal indicative of an initial ignition-on condition, (iii) the vehicle ignition on and the vehicle not in motion, and (iv) the vehicle ignition on and the vehicle engine not running, and wherein said backlighting device is deactivated in response to at least one of (a) a period of time elapsing following the activation of said backlighting device, (b) a period of time elapsing following detection of a touch or proximity of an object at said reflective element, and (c) movement of the vehicle, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes an indicator responsive to a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle and responsive to at least one of a distance to the detected object and a location of the detected object, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a microphone, and wherein said mirror system provides a recording function at said mirror assembly and wherein an operator can selectively activate and control a record and playback device of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

13. A display system of a vehicle, said display system comprising:

a windshield for a vehicle equipped with said display system;

an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a mounting structure for mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior surface at an upper region of said windshield;

an assembly disposed at said upper region of said windshield, wherein said assembly is disposed at or near said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said upper region of said windshield comprises a display region;

wherein said display region is at a driver side region of said windshield;

a display device disposed at said assembly;

wherein said display device is operable to project a mirror image of display information towards and onto said display region of said windshield for viewing by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein the display information is viewable at the display region of the windshield and is viewable and discernible by the driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle; and

wherein said display region is at a location at said windshield that allows the driver to view the projected mirror image in reflection.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein said display region comprises a tinted region of said windshield.

15. The display system of claim 13, wherein said display device comprises one of (i) an liquid crystal display and (ii) a light emitting diode.

16. The display system of claim 13, wherein said assembly comprises a part of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

17. The display system of claim 13, wherein said display device is operable to display at least one of (i) temperature information, (ii) compass heading information and (iii) driver assistance information.

18. A display system of a vehicle, said display system comprising:

a windshield for a vehicle equipped with said display system;

an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a mounting structure for mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior surface at an upper region of said windshield;

wherein said upper region of said windshield comprises a display region;

a display device disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said display device is operable to project a mirror image of display information towards and onto said display region of said windshield for viewing by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein the display information is viewable at the display region of the windshield and is viewable and discernible by the driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle; and

wherein said display region is at a location at said windshield that allows the driver to view the projected mirror image in reflection.

19. The display system of claim 18, wherein said display region comprises a tinted region of said windshield.

20. The display system of claim 18, wherein said display device is operable to display at least one of (i) temperature information, (ii) compass heading information and (iii) driver assistance information.