Adjustable rearview mirror vehicle information display

• US 6,181,242 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hue T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/438,613
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 340/461, 340/468, 340/438, 340/449, 340/479, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/479, 248/484, D12/187, D12/189, 362/494
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly having an adjustable information display device. The display device rotates independently of the rearview mirror to allow both the driver and the front passengers to observe the display when the rearview mirror is rotated toward the driver. The display device displays information about various vehicle systems. The rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing for holding a rearview mirror. The mirror housing is pivotally mounted on the windshield of the vehicle so that the rearview mirror is adjustable by the driver into a desired position. The information display device is pivotally mounted on a top or bottom side of the mirror housing to allow the display device to rotate independently of the mirror housing. The display device is attached to the mirror housing through a hollow tubular support arm which has opposite first and second ends, one of the ends being attached to the display device. A pivotal connection is disposed at the other end for rotating the information display device between various positions. Electrical wires are disposed within the hollow tubular support arm and connected to the display device for providing electrical power to the information display device. A stop element engages the pivotal connection to limit the angle of rotation of the connection.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing for holding a rearview mirror;

support means for pivotally mounting said mirror housing to the vehicle so that the rearview mirror is adjustable by the driver into a desired position;

an information display device mounted to said mirror housing, said information display device including a display window such that the display is viewable only from the front side of mirror housing at which the mirror is mounted; and

attachment means for pivotally mounting said information display device to said mirror housing so that said information display device is rotatable independently of the mirror housing and is optimally observable by the driver and front passengers of the vehicle simultaneously.

2. An interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1 wherein the attachment means includes:

a hollow tubular support arm having opposite first and second ends, one of said ends being attached to the mirror housing and the other end to the display device;

a pivotal connection formed at one of said ends for rotating the information display device between various positions;

electrical wires disposed within said hollow tubular support arm and connected to said display device for providing electrical power to said information display device; and

a stop element engagable by said pivotal connection and limiting the angle of rotation of the connection.

3. An interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 2 wherein the pivotal connection is disposed on the mirror housing.

4. An interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1 wherein said mirror housing includes a top wall and the information display device is mounted on the top wall of the mirror housing.

5. An interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1 wherein said mirror housing includes a bottom wall and the information display device is mounted on the bottom wall of the mirror housing.