Individual mirror control system

• US 6,789,907 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Vawter, Roy E., Turnbull, Robert R., Knapp, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US10/621,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604-605, 359/601-602, 359/608, 359/265-270, 359/273
• 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

A control system for a plurality of electrochromic elements, for example, used in automobiles, to control the glare of the IEC elements used as a rearview mirror (20) as well as the OEC elements (24, 26) used as sideview mirrors (24, 26). The IEC element and each of the OEC elements is provided with an individual drive circuit (21, 22). The drive circuits for the OEC'"'"'s elements may be customized to account for various factors such as the type of curvature as well as the size and shape. Since individual drive circuitry is provided for the IEC elements and each of the OEC elements, the reflectance of each of the electrochromic elements (20, 24, 26) can be relatively accurately controlled by way of glare signal from inside the automobile.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror control, comprising:

a controller configured to receive at least one light sensor signal, said controller is further configured to generate an interior rearview mirror control signal and at least one exterior rearview mirror control signal, wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of at least one window light ray transmittance value.

2. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 further comprising at least one light sensor located within an interior rearview mirror assembly.

3. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 2 wherein said light sensor signal is transmitted from said interior rearview mirror assembly to an exterior rearview mirror via a bus.

4. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control signals is configured to maintain an interior rearview mirror reflectance value greater than or equal to an exterior rearview mirror reflectance.

5. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 4 wherein a side window light ray transmittance is greater than a rear window light ray transmittance value.

6. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein at least one exterior rearview mirror comprising an element heater.

7. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the curvature of at least one mirror.

8. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the size of at least one mirror.

9. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the shape of at least one mirror.

10. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the thermal environment of at least one mirror.

11. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 1 wherein said at least one window light ray transmittance value is stored in a memory location.

12. A vehicular rearview mirror control, comprising:

a controller configured to receive a glare signal, wherein said controller is further configured to generate a rearview mirror control signal as a function of said glare signal and as a function of at least one window light ray transmittance value.

13. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the curvature of at least one mirror.

14. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the size of at least one mirror.

15. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the shape of at least one mirror.

16. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said control signals is a function of the thermal environment of at least one mirror.

17. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein said glare signal is a function of at least one light sensor.

18. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 17 wherein said at least one light sensor is positioned to sense light rays passing through a rear window.

19. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein said glare signal is a function of a first light sensor and a second light sensor.

20. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 19 wherein said first light sensor is positioned to sense light rays passing through a rear window and said second light sensor is positioned to sense light rays passing through a front window.

21. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein said glare signal is received via a bus.

22. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein said glare signal is received via pulse width modulation.

23. A vehicular rearview mirror control as in claim 12 wherein said at least one window light ray transmittance value is stored in a memory location.