Vehicle information display

• US 6,847,487 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burgner, Lori L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/225,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 359629-631, 359/633, 359/362, 359/839, 359/802, 359/843, 348/148, 348/151, 362/492, 362/494, 362/545, 250/214.AL, 318/568.1, 235/380, 345 7- 9
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a casing, a reflective element and a display. The reflective element has a back surface and a front surface, with the front surface being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The display comprises a display element positioned within the casing. The display element is operable to project light onto a screen portion of the reflective element. The light is viewable as an image on the reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. The display element is separate and remote from the screen portion of the reflective element. Preferably, the display element and reflective elements are positioned generally along planes which are angled with respect to one another. The display may include a reflective optic which functions to redirect the projected light toward the screen portion of the reflective element.

Claims

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

a casing;

a reflective element having a back surface and a frontsurface, said front surface being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

a transmissive micro-display element;

a magnifying optic;

a light source operable to backlight said transmissive micro-display element to project an image on to a screen portion of said reflective element;

said magnifying optic being positioned alone an optical path between said micro-display element and said reflective element;

said magnifying optic functioning to magnify said projected image; and

said projected image being viewable as an image on said reflective element by a driver of the vehicle.

2. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, where in said viewable image on said reflective element comprises a reverse image of the light projected by said micro-display element.

3. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, where in said back surface of said reflective element comprises said screen portion.

4. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, where in said screen portion comprises a semi-transparent screen portion.

5. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, where in said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, where in said light source and said micro-display element project a reverse image display, said light source and said micro-display element projecting said reverse image display on to said screen portion, said reverse image display on said screen portion being a non-reverse image display when viewed from the opposite side of said reflective element.

7. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said light source and said micro-display element are operable to project information received from a rear view vision system of the vehicle, said rear view vision system being operable to capture an image of a scene rearwardly of the vehicle.

8. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 7,where in said light source and said micro-display element are operable to project said information in response to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

9. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 1, where in said micro-display element is mounted on a printed circuit board within said casing.

10. The interior rear view mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said printed circuitboard comprises circuitry associated with at least one accessory of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, where in said light source and said micro-display element are aligned to project said projected light in a direction generally along said reflective element, said mirror assembly comprising a reflective optic for reflecting said projected light toward said reflective element.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one optic along an optical path between said micro-display element and said screen portion.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one reflective optic for reflecting said projected light.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one of a transmissive optic, a diffractive optic and a refractive optic positioned between said at least one reflective optic and said screen portion of said reflective element.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one transmissive optic.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, where in said at least one optic comprises at least one diffractive optic.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, where in said at least one optic comprises at least one refractive optic.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises a transflective reflective element.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

21. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises first and second substrates, said back surface of said reflective element comprising a back surface of said second substrate while said front surface of said reflective element comprises a front surface of said first substrate.

22. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 21, wherein said image is projected through said second substrate and onto said first substrate for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.

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

a casing;

a reflective element having a back surface and a front surface, said front surface being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

a light source;

a transmissive micro-display element;

a magnifying optic;

said light source being operable to emit light to back light said micro-display element to project light onto a screen portion of said reflective element;

said magnifying optic being positioned along an optical path between said micro-display element and said reflective element;

said magnifying optic functioning to magnify said projected image; and

said projected light being viewable as an image on said reflective element by a driverof the vehicle, said transmissive micro-display element being positioned generally alongafirst plane and said reflective element being positioned generally along a second plane, said first plane being angled relative to said second plane.

24. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said first plane is generally per pendicular to said second plane, said mirror assembly comprisingareflectiveopticwhichfunctionstoredirecttheprojectedlighttowardsaid reflective element.

25. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, where in said image on said reflective element comprises a reverse image of the light projected through said transmissive micro-display element.

26. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said back surface of said reflective element comprises said screen portion.

27. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said screen portion comprises a semi-transparent screen portion.

28. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

29. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said light source and said micro-display element project a reverse image display, said light source and said micro-display element projecting said reverse image display onto said screen portion, said reverse image display on said screen portion being a nonreverse image display when viewed from the opposite side of said reflective element.

30. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said light source and said micro-display element are operable to project information received from a rearview vision system of the vehicle, said rearview vision system being operable to capture an image of a scene rearwardly of the vehicle.

31. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 30, wherein said light source and said micro-display element are operable to project said information in response to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

32. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said micro-display element is mounted on a printed circuit board within said casing.

33. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 32, wherein said printed circuitboard comprises circuitry associated with at least one accessory of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

34. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 32, wherein said printed circuitboard is positioned along said back surface of said reflective element, said light source and said micro-display element being aligned to project said projected light generally parallel to said reflective element, said mirror assembly comprising a reflective optic for reflecting said projected light toward said reflective element.

35. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said mirrorassembly comprises at least one optic along an optical path between said micro-display element and said screen portion.

36. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one reflective optic for reflecting said projected light.

37. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one of a transmissive optic, a diffractive optic and a refractive optic positioned between said at least one reflective optic and said screen portion of said reflective element.

38. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one transmissive optic.

39. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one diffractive optic.

40. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 35, wherein said at least one optic comprises at least one refractive optic.

41. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

42. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said reflective element comprises a transflective reflective element.

43. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

44. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 43, wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises first and second substrates, said back surface of said reflective element comprising a back surface of said second substrate while said front surface of said reflective element comprises a front surface of said first substrate.

45. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 44, wherein said image is projected through said second substrate and onto said first substrate for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.

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

a casing;

a reflective element having a back surface and a front surface, said front surface being directed toward and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

a transmissive micro-display element positioned within said casing;

a light source operable to back light said micro-display element to project light onto a screen portion of said reflective element;

a magnifying optic along an optic path between said micro-display element and said reflective element;

said magnifying optic functioning to magnify said projected light, said projected light being viewable as an image on said reflective element by a driver of the vehicle, said light source and said micro-display element being aligned to project said projected light in a direction generally along said reflective element; and

said mirror assembly comprising at least one reflective optic for reflecting said projected light toward said reflective element, said image on said reflective element being a reverse image of the light projected by said light source and said micro-display element.

47. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said back surface of said reflective element comprises said screen portion.

48. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said screen portion comprises a semi-transparent screen portion.

49. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

50. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said light source and said micro-display element are operable to project information received from a rearview vision system of the vehicle, said rearview vision system being operable to capture an image of a scene rearwardly of the vehicle.

51. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 50, whereinsaid light source and said micro-display element are operable to project said information in response to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

52. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said micro-display element is mounted on a printed circuitboard within said casing.

53. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 52, wherein said printed circuit board comprises circuitry associated with at least one accessory of said interior rear view mirror assembly.

54. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one of a transmissive optic, a diffractive optic and are fractive optic positioned along an optical path between said at least one reflective optic and said screen portion of said reflective element.

55. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one transmissive optic positioned along an optical path between said at least one reflective optic and said screen portion of said reflective element.

56. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one diffractive optic positioned along an optical path between said at least one reflective optic and said screen portion of said reflective element.

57. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, whereinsaid mirror assembly comprises at least one refractive optic positioned along an optical path between said at least one reflective optic and said screen portion of said reflective element.

58. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

59. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46,wherein said reflective element comprises a transflective reflective element.

60. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 46, wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic reflective element.

61. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 60, where in said electro-optic reflective element comprises first and second substrates,said back surface of said reflective element comprising a backsurface of said second substrate while said front surface of said reflective element comprises a front surface of said first substrate.

62. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 61, wherein said image is projected through said second substrate and onto said first substrate for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.