Vehicular mirror system with remotely actuated continuously variable reflectance mirrors
First Claim
1. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
- a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity;
a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element;
a first user input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element;
a second input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is less than said first level; and
wherein said control responds to actuation of said second input device to selectively override said first input device, and wherein said control responds to deactuation of said second input device to return said level of reflectivity of said reflective element to the level of reflectivity established by said first user input device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror system for use on a vehicle includes one or more remotely actuated mirrors that may be mounted on the interior or exterior of the vehicle. Each mirror has a continuously variable reflective element such as a solid-state electrochromic device or an electrochemichromic cell. A first user actuated input device provides a comfort level-setting control that allows the driver to select a reflectance level for one or more mirrors at a comfortable level. A "panic button" overrides the first input device and lowers the reflectance level of one or more mirrors when an excessive glare condition is experienced. The lower reflectance level may be cancelled manually by a second actuation of the "panic button" or is automatically cancelled after a predetermined period of time to resume the normal comfort level of reflectance.
97 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first user input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a second input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is less than said first level; and wherein said control responds to actuation of said second input device to selectively override said first input device, and wherein said control responds to deactuation of said second input device to return said level of reflectivity of said reflective element to the level of reflectivity established by said first user input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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5. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a reflective element having a controllable variable reflectivity; a control that is adapted to establishing the level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a first user input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a first level of reflectivity of said reflective element; a second input device for said control that is adapted to causing said control to establish a second level of reflectivity of said reflective element that is less than said first level, wherein said second input device selectively overrides said first input device when actuated; and resume means for causing said second input device to cease being actuated, wherein said resume means includes timer means for causing said second input device to cease being actuated a predetermined time duration after being actuated. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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16. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a variable reflective element having a reflectivity level that is continuously variable within predefined limits; a control circuit having an output port connected with said reflective element for providing a drive signal to establish the reflectivity level of said reflective element; a first user selection means for providing an input signal to said control circuit adapted to establishing a first reflectivity level of said reflective element that is user selectable within a predefined range of reflectivity values; and override means including one of a rearwardly facing photosensor and a user-operated switch and means responsive to said one of said photosensor detecting light exceeding a predetermined level and said user-operated switch being actuated for momentarily overriding said first user selection means in order to establish a second reflectivity level of said reflective element irrespective of said first reflectivity level selected with said first user selection means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a variable reflective element having a reflectivity level that is continuously variable within predefined limits; a control circuit having an output port connected with said reflective element for providing a drive signal to establish the reflectivity level of said reflective element; a first user selection means for providing an input signal to said control circuit adapted to establishing a first reflectivity level of said reflective element that is user selectable within a predefined range of reflectivity values; and override means for overriding said first user selection means in order to establish a second reflectivity level of said reflective element irrespective of said first reflectivity level selected with said first user selection means, wherein said override means includes timer means for terminating said override means overriding said first user selection means after a predetermined time duration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a variable reflective element having a reflectivity level that is continuously variable within predefined limits; user level setting means for manually setting the reflectivity level of said reflective element at a desired value; user actuatable means responsive to a first user actuation for setting the reflectivity level of said reflective element at an override value that is lower than said desired value; and return means for returning the reflectivity level of said reflective element to said desired value subsequent to said first user actuation. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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29. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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a variable reflective element having a reflectivity level that is continuously variable within predefined limits; user level setting means for manually setting the reflectivity level of said reflective element at a desired value; user actuatable means responsive to a first user actuation for setting the reflectivity level of said reflective element at an override value that is lower than said desired value, wherein said user actuatable means is responsive to a second user actuation in order to allow said user level setting means to establish the reflectivity level of said reflective element; and timing means for allowing said user level setting means to establish the reflectivity level of said reflective element a predetermined time duration after said first user actuation of said user actuatable means. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification