Low EMI multiplexed dual display

• US 6,737,630 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Turnbull, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US10/382,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.AL, 250/214.1, 250/214.R, 250/214.D, 250/229, 250/205, 250/216, 359/230, 359/229, 359/242, 359/243, 359/244, 359/265, 359/267
• US Class Current: 250/214.0AL
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/23 Photochromic filters

Abstract

A mirror assembly having an electrically adjustably reflectivity provides for the simultaneous display of a vehicle heading and an external temperature. The mirror assembly includes a reflective device, a dual display and a control circuit. The reflective device includes a transmissive element and a reflective surface formed on the transmissive element. The dual display is located behind the reflective surface of the reflective device. The dual display visually provides the vehicle heading and the external temperature through the reflective device. The control circuit provides for the variable attenuation of light through the transmissive element of the reflective device and controls the intensity and information displayed by the dual display. An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a dual display while exhibiting currently acceptable electromagnetic interference levels.

Claims

1. A dual display assembly, comprising:

a substrate comprising a transflective material deposited on at least a portion thereof; and

a dual display comprising a first display and a second display positioned behind said substrate with respect to a viewer such that light rays emitted by said first and second displays pass through said transflective material when said dual display is energized.

2. A dual display assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first and second displays are configured to simultaneously display different information.

3. A dual display assembly as in claim 1, further comprising:

an intensity control circuit configured to automatically vary an intensity of said dual display.

4. A dual display assembly as in claim 3, further comprising:

a light sensor having an output that is connected as an input to said intensity control circuit.

5. A dual display assembly as in claim 4, wherein said intensity control circuit is further configured to automatically vary said intensity as a function of said light sensor output.

6. A dual display assembly as in claim 5, wherein said light sensor is an ambient light sensor.

7. A dual display assembly as in claim 5, wherein said light sensor is a glare sensor.

8. A dual display assembly as in claim 3, further comprising:

an ambient light sensor and a glare light sensor, wherein said intensity control circuit is configured to automatically vary said intensity as a function of both said glare light sensor and said ambient light sensor.

9. A dual display assembly as in claim 1, further comprising:

a dual display driver.

10. A dual display assembly as in claim 9, wherein said dual display driver is configured to control the information that is displayed on said dual display.

11. A dual display assembly as in claim 10, further comprising:

a compass circuit having an output that is connected to said dual display driver.

12. A dual display assembly as in claim 10, further comprising:

a temperature sensor having an output that is connected to said dual display driver.

13. A mirror assembly, comprising:

a reflective element comprising a substrate that comprises a transflective material deposited on at least a portion thereof; and

a dual display comprising a first display and a second display positioned behind said substrate with respect to a viewer such that light rays emitted by said first and second displays pass through said transflective material when said dual display is energized.

14. A mirror assembly as in claim 13, wherein said first and second displays are configured to simultaneously display different information.

15. A mirror assembly as in claim 13, further comprising:

an intensity control circuit configured to automatically vary an intensity of said dual display.

16. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, further comprising:

a light sensor having an output that is connected as an input to said intensity control circuit.

17. A mirror assembly as in claim 16, wherein said intensity control circuit is further configured to automatically vary said intensity as a function of said light sensor output.

18. A mirror assembly as in claim 17, wherein said light sensor is an ambient light sensor.

19. A mirror assembly as in claim 17, wherein said light sensor is a glare sensor.

20. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, further comprising:

an ambient light sensor and a glare light sensor, wherein said intensity control circuit is configured to automatically vary said intensity as a function of both a glare light sensor and an ambient light sensor.

21. A mirror assembly as in claim 13, further comprising:

a dual display driver.

22. A mirror assembly as in claim 21, wherein said dual display driver is configured to control the information that is displayed on said dual display.

23. A mirror assembly as in claim 22, further comprising:

a compass circuit having an output that is connected to said dual display driver.

24. A mirror assembly as in claim 22, further comprising:

a temperature sensor having an output that is connected to said dual display driver.

25. A mirror assembly as in claim 13, wherein said reflective element is an electrochromic mirror system.

26. A mirror assembly as in claim 25, wherein an intensity of said dual display is a function of an attenuation level of said electrochromic mirror system.

27. A mirror assembly, comprising:

a housing configured to contain an electrochromic transmissive element comprising a substrate comprising a transflective material deposited on at least a portion thereof;

a dual display comprising a first display and a second display positioned behind said electrochromic transmissive element with respect to a viewer such that light rays emitted by said first and second displays pass through said transflective material when said dual display is energized; and

a dual display driver configured to control the information that is displayed on said first and second displays.

28. A mirror assembly as in claim 27, further comprising:

an intensity control circuit configured to automatically control an intensity of said dual display.

29. A mirror assembly as in claim 27, further comprising:

a light sensor.

30. A mirror assembly as in claim 29, wherein said light sensor is at least one of a glare light sensor and an ambient light sensor.

31. A mirror assembly as in claim 29, further comprising:

an intensity control circuit configured to automatically control an intensity of said dual display as a function of at least one of said light sensor and an attenuation of said electrochromic transmissive element.

32. A mirror assembly as in claim 27, further comprising:

a glare sensor and an ambient sensor.

33. A mirror assembly as in claim 32, further comprising:

a control configured to receive an output from said glare light sensor and an output from said ambient light sensor, wherein said control is further configured to automatically adjust an attenuation of said electrochromic transmissive element as a function of at least one of said glare light sensor and said ambient light sensor.

34. A mirror assembly as in claim 27, further comprising:

a control configured to receive an output from a glare light sensor and an output from an ambient light sensor, wherein said control is further configured to automatically adjust an intensity of said dual display as a function of at least one of said glare light sensor and said ambient light sensor.

35. A mirror assembly as in claim 33, wherein said control is further configured to automatically adjust an intensity of said dual display as a function of at least one of said glare light sensor and said ambient light sensor.