Digital electrochromic mirror system
First Claim
1. A vehicular digital electrochromic mirror system, comprising:
- an interior mirror assembly and at least one exterior mirror assembly, said interior mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element and a control, said at least one exterior mirror assembly comprising an exterior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a microcomputer establishing an interior reflectance value for said interior reflective element and an exterior reflectance value for said exterior reflective element, said interior reflective element achieving a partial reflectance level in response to the interior reflectance value, said exterior reflectance element achieving a partial reflectance level in response to the exterior reflectance value;
a vehicle bus communicating the exterior reflectance value to said exterior reflective element, said vehicle bus comprising a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including a first node having a first controller and a second node, wherein said first controller communicates with said second node across a communication channel, wherein at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said at least one exterior mirror assembly comprises one of said first and second nodes of said vehicle bus; and
said interior mirror assembly comprising at least one additional accessory that is controlled by said first controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochromic rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an electrochromic reflective element having an electrochromic cell, wherein the reflective element colors to a partial reflectance level in response to a drive signal applied to the cell. The rearview mirror assembly additionally includes a drive circuit which applies a pulsed drive signal to the electrochromic cell in order to establish the partial reflectance level of the reflective element. The drive circuit controls the partial reflectance level as a function of the duty cycle of the pulsed drive signal, which has a pulse repetition rate of at least approximately 10 cycles per second and preferably at least approximately 20 cycles per second. The drive circuit additionally adjusts the amplitude of the pulses as a function of the voltage developed across the electrochromic cell.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A vehicular digital electrochromic mirror system, comprising:
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an interior mirror assembly and at least one exterior mirror assembly, said interior mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element and a control, said at least one exterior mirror assembly comprising an exterior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a microcomputer establishing an interior reflectance value for said interior reflective element and an exterior reflectance value for said exterior reflective element, said interior reflective element achieving a partial reflectance level in response to the interior reflectance value, said exterior reflectance element achieving a partial reflectance level in response to the exterior reflectance value;
a vehicle bus communicating the exterior reflectance value to said exterior reflective element, said vehicle bus comprising a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including a first node having a first controller and a second node, wherein said first controller communicates with said second node across a communication channel, wherein at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said at least one exterior mirror assembly comprises one of said first and second nodes of said vehicle bus; and
said interior mirror assembly comprising at least one additional accessory that is controlled by said first controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20)
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17. A vehicular digital electrochromic mirror system, comprising:
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an interior mirror assembly and at least one exterior mirror assembly, said interior mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element and a control, said at least one exterior mirror assembly comprising an exterior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a microcomputer establishing an interior reflectance value for said interior reflective element and an exterior reflectance value for said exterior reflective element, said interior reflective element achieving a partial reflectance level in response to the interior reflectance value, said exterior reflectance element achieving a partial reflectance level in response to the exterior reflectance value;
a vehicle bus communicating the exterior reflectance value to said exterior reflective element, said vehicle bus comprising a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including a first node having a first controller and a second node, wherein said first controller communicates with said second node across a communication channel, wherein at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said at least one exterior mirror assembly comprises one of said first and second nodes of said vehicle bus; and
said interior mirror assembly comprising at least one additional accessory, wherein said at least one additional accessory is selected from the group consisting of a headlamp controller, a map-reading light, an external temperature display, a compass display, a keyless entry system, a video camera internal surveillance system, a video telephone function, a seat occupancy detector, a fuel level display, a vehicle status display, a trip computer function, an intrusion detector, a contacting rain sensor, a non-contacting rain sensor, and a microphone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification