Vehicle information display

• US 5,576,687 A
• Filed: 02/10/1994
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney K., Beck, Jerry L., Schierbeek, Ken L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tong, Nina
• Application Number:
  US08/195,353
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/464, 340/473, 340/457, 340/461, 340/815.55, 362/83.1, 359/839, 359/838, 359/630
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/123 with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1246 with clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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: G01C 17/28 Electromagnetic compasses with north seeking magnetic elements and having electric pick-offs G01C17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/025 Compensating stray fields G01R33/0017 takes precedence

Abstract

An information display for use in vehicles including a module or housing located behind, and attached to, a support for the interior rearview mirror assembly. The module includes a display which is observable around the profile of the mirror by the vehicle operator or passengers. An upper portion of the display module is attached to the mount used to support the mirror assembly on the vehicle windshield. The upper portion of the module may be detachably coupled to the mount by a snap-on clip, by a threaded fastener secured directly to the mount, or by a resilient S-clip. The information display of this invention lends itself to quickly and inexpensively adding a wide range of information displays such as a compass, trip computer, clock, warning light, temperature readout, or the like, to any vehicle, at a location readily seen by the vehicle operator within the forward field of vision without substantially interfering or impairing the operator'"'"'s field of vision.

Claims

1. An information display for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a module adapted for mounting behind and separate from an interior mirror assembly and having a display window adapted to extend from behind the mirror assembly and observable by an occupant of the vehicle when said module is mounted in the vehicle;

said module includes a housing separate and apart from said mirror assembly;

said housing includes a first portion adapted for attachment to said interior rear-view mirror assembly;

said first portion of said housing includes a couple for engaging a mount for supporting said interior rearview mirror assembly; and

said coupler includes a tab at one end for catching said mount, and a clip at another end to engage a portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

2. The information display as defined in claim 1, including said module adapted for mounting behind and at least partially concealed by said interior rearview mirror assembly.

3. The information display as defined in claim 1, including said module adapted for mounting behind and substantially concealed by said interior rearview mirror assembly.

4. The information display as defined in claim 1, further including:

a circuit disposed within said housing;

a conductor means for connecting said circuit to a remote power source; and

a display element disposed within said housing and positioned within said display window, said display element powered by said circuit.

5. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said display element includes a vacuum fluorescent display.

6. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said display element includes a light-emitting diode display.

7. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said display element includes a liquid crystal display.

8. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuit and display include an electronic compass.

9. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuit and display include a trip computer.

10. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuit and display include a clock.

11. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuit and display include a global positioning system.

12. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuit and display include a thermometer.

13. The information display as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuit and display include a warning indicator.

14. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a second portion closing said first portion.

15. The information display as defined in claim 14, wherein said second portion of said housing further includes a face extending outwardly from a lower surface of said second portion, said face containing said display window and positioned such that said display window is observable beyond a peripheral edge of said rearview mirror assembly.

16. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupler includes a shafted fastener received in said mount.

17. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupler includes a slide fastener engaging a cooperating element on said mount.

18. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupler includes an attachment member for snapping said housing onto said mount.

19. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupler includes an attachment member for snapping said housing onto said interior rearview mirror assembly.

20. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes at least one of a map light and an automatic dimming circuitry.

21. The information display as defined in claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes electrochromic elements.

22. An information display assembly for use in association with an interior rearview mirror assembly in a vehicle, said information display comprising, a module defined by a housing separate and apart from said interior rearview mirror assembly, said housing including a first portion adapted for attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly, a coupler for engaging a mount supporting said interior rearview mirror assembly having a tab at one end for catching said mount and a clip at another end to engage a portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly, and a display element disposed within said module, said interior rearview mirror assembly having a peripheral edge, said module located behind, and separate from said rearview mirror assembly such that said display element is exposed by said peripheral edge of the rearview mirror assembly and observable by an operator.

23. The information display assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said module is located behind and at least partially concealed by said rearview mirror assembly from the operator.

24. The information display assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said module is located behind and substantially concealed by said rearview mirror assembly from the operator.

25. The information display assembly as defined by claim 22, wherein said module is attached to a structure supporting said rearview mirror assembly in the vehicle.

26. The information display assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said housing includes:

a lobe extending beyond said peripheral edge of said rearview mirror assembly to be seen by the operator.

27. The information display assembly as defined in claim 26, wherein said housing includes first and second portions joined together to define an interior chamber.

28. The information display assembly as defined in claim 26, further including:

a circuit in said housing for powering said display element; and

a conductor means for connecting said circuit to a power source.

29. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes a clock.

30. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes a thermometer.

31. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes a trip computer.

32. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes a compass.

33. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes a global satellite system.

34. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes an indicia.

35. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said circuit includes a warning light.

36. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said display element includes a liquid crystal display.

37. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said display element includes a light-emitting diode.

38. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said display element includes a fluorescent element.

39. The information display assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said display element includes at least one of an analog display and a digital display.

40. The information display assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes at least one of a map light and an automatic dimming circuitry.

41. The information display assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic element.

42. An information display assembly for use in a vehicle having a windshield comprising:

a mount adapted to be attached to an interior of the vehicle proximate the windshield;

said mount including a button adapted to be adhered to an interior surface of the windshield;

a coupler attached to said button and having a ball member extending therefrom;

a support arm pivotally attached to said ball member at one end and pivotally attached to said rearview mirror assembly at an opposite end;

an interior rearview mirror assembly pivotally coupled to said support arm to permit adjustment of said rearview mirror assembly; and

a module disposed behind and separate from said rearview mirror assembly and attached to said mount, said module having a lobe containing an information display.

43. The information display as defined in claim 42, wherein said lobe extends beyond a peripheral edge of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

44. The information display as defined in claim 43, wherein said lobe extends beyond a lower peripheral edge of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

45. The information display assembly as defined in claim 43, wherein said module is also attached to said ball member.

46. The information display assembly as defined in claim 42, wherein said module includes:

a first element; and

said lobe containing a display window therein.

47. The information display assembly as defined in claim 46, wherein said information display is positioned within said display window;

said module further including a circuit interconnected to said information display for providing power thereto.

48. The information display assembly as defined in claim 47, wherein said information display is at least one of a digital display and an analog display.

49. The information display assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein said information display includes a light-emitting diode display.

50. The information display assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein said information display includes a vacuum fluorescent display.

51. The information display assembly as defined in claim 47, wherein said information display includes a liquid crystal display.

52. The information display assembly as defined in claim 47, wherein said circuit includes at least one device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of compasses, odometers, clocks, trip computers, global satellite positioning systems, cellular telephones, supplemental vision systems, warning lights, turn indicators, hazard warning indicators, speed indicators, and indicia.

53. The information display assembly as defined in claim 42, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes at least one of a map light and an automatic dimming circuitry.

54. The information display assembly as defined in claim 42, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes an electrochromic element.

55. The combination of an interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle and an information display assembly for use with said rearview mirror assembly in the vehicle, comprising:

a module, an attachment assembly mounting said module in the vehicle such that said module is behind, separate from, and substantially concealed by said interior rearview mirror assembly, said module having a display window extending from behind said rearview mirror assembly and being observable by an operator of the vehicle, said attachments assembly including a button adhered to an interior surface of the vehicle, a coupler attached to said button and having a ball member extending therefrom, and a support arm pivotally attached to said ball member at one end and pivotally attached to said interior rearview mirror assembly at an opposite end.