Electro-optic rearview mirror system

• US 6,299,316 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lawlor, Patrick J., Fletcher, Sean J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/633,611
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604, 359/605, 359/607, 359/608, 701/33, 701/35, 701/29, 701/30, 701/102, 701/115, 701/123, 701/201
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors

Abstract

An electro-optic interior rearview mirror system is provided for a vehicle, comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optic reflective element and an interior mirror housing for said reflective element. The mirror assembly includes a mount for attachment to a portion of the vehicle and a control. The control includes a microprocessor that functions as a controller of a plurality of vehicle functions, the plurality of functions including the reflectance state of the electro-optic reflective element. The control includes a connection to a vehicle bus for receiving control signals via the bus for processing by the microprocessor.

Claims

1. An electro-optic interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optic reflective element and an interior mirror housing for said reflective element;

said interior mirror assembly including a support for attachment to a portion of the vehicle;

a control positioned external of said interior mirror housing and electrically connected with said reflective element for varying the reflectance state thereof;

at least one further mirror assembly mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and containing a further electro-optic reflective element;

said control including a microprocessor, said microprocessor functioning as a controller of a plurality of vehicle functions, said plurality of functions including at least one function occurring at said interior mirror housing and at least one other function occurring other than at said interior mirror housing, said at least one function occurring at said interior mirror housing including the reflectance state of said electro-optic reflective element, said at least one other vehicle function including the reflectance state of said further electro-optic reflective element; and

wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle bus and wherein said control connects to said vehicle bus external to said interior mirror housing, said control processing at least one signal related to said at least one other vehicle function, said at least one signal being sent to or received by said microprocessor via said vehicle bus.

2. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1, including electrical leads passing through said support.

3. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the vehicle comprises one of a windshield portion and a header portion.

4. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of vehicle functions includes at least one of a compass display, a navigational display and a sensor for a door lock/unlock system.

5. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control includes a node for said vehicle bus.

6. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control establishes a drive voltage for said further electro-optic reflective element.

7. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

8. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1 including at least one of a switch and an indicator.

9. An electro-optic interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optic reflective element and an interior mirror housing for said reflective element;

said interior mirror assembly including a support for attachment to a portion of the vehicle;

a control positioned external of said interior mirror housing and electrically connected with said reflective element for varying the reflectance state thereof;

at least one further mirror assembly mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and containing a further electro-optic reflective element;

said control including a microprocessor, said microprocessor functioning as a controller of a plurality of vehicle functions, said plurality of functions including at least one function occurring at said interior mirror housing and at least one other function occurring other than at said interior mirror housing, said at least one function occurring at said interior mirror housing including the reflectance state of said electro-optic reflective element, said at least one other vehicle function including the reflectance state of said further electro-optic reflective element; and

wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle bus and wherein said control connects to said vehicle bus external to said interior mirror housing, said control processing at least one signal related to said at least one other vehicle function, said at least one signal being sent to or received by said microprocessor via said vehicle bus; and

wherein said plurality of vehicle functions includes at least one of a compass display, a navigational display and a sensor for a door lock/unlock system.

10. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 9, including electrical leads passing through said support.

11. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control establishes a drive voltage for said further electro-optic reflective element.

12. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said interior electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

13. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said portion of the vehicle comprises one of a windshield portion and a header portion.

14. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control includes a node for said vehicle bus.

15. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 9 including at least one of a switch and an indicator.

16. An electro-optic interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optic reflective element and an interior mirror housing for said reflective element;

said interior mirror assembly including a support for attachment to a portion of the vehicle;

a control positioned external of said interior mirror housing and electrically connected with said reflective element for varying the reflectance state thereof;

at least one further mirror assembly mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and containing a further electro-optic reflective element;

said control including a microprocessor, said microprocessor functioning as a controller of a plurality of vehicle functions, said plurality of functions including at least one function occurring at said interior mirror housing and at least one other function occurring other than at said interior mirror housing, said at least one function occurring at said interior mirror housing including the reflectance state of said electro-optic reflective element, said at least one other vehicle function including the reflectance state of said further electro-optic reflective element; and

wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle bus and wherein said control connects to said vehicle bus external to said interior mirror housing, said control processing at least one signal related to said at least one other vehicle function, said at least one signal being sent to or received by said microprocessor via said vehicle bus; and

wherein said control includes a node for said vehicle bus.

17. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16, including electrical leads passing through said support.

18. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said portion of the vehicle comprises one of a windshield portion and a header portion.

19. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said control establishes a drive voltage for said further electro-optic reflective element.

20. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said interior electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

21. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of vehicle functions includes at least one of a compass display, a navigational display and a sensor for a door lock/unlock system.

22. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of vehicle functions comprises a compass display.

23. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 16 including at least one of a switch and an indicator.