Rear vision system for a vehicle equipped with a vehicle communication network

• US 6,956,302 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Veldman, Roger L., O'Farrell, Desmond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/251,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 701/49
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A vehicle rear vision system that is suitable for use in a vehicle equipped with a vehicle communication network includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and exterior rearview mirror assembly. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an interior electro-optical reflective element and a first microprocessor-based control. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes an exterior electro-optical reflective element and a second microprocessor-based control. Each microprocessor-based control controls a partial reflectance level of the respective electro-optic reflective element.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear vision system suitable for use in a vehicle equipped with a vehicle communication network, said system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly and an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

said interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optical reflectance element and a first microprocessor-based control;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly including an exterior electro-optical reflectance element and a second microprocessor-based control;

said first microprocessor-based control controlling a partial reflectance level of said interior electro-optical reflectance element;

said second microprocessor-based control controlling a partial reflectance level of said exterior electro-optical reflectance element; and

said first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly formatting messages for the vehicle communication network and said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

2. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, said second microprocessor-based control operable to at least one chosen from (i) selectively activating a heater element in heat transfer association with said exterior electro-optical reflectance element, (ii) operating a positioning device for said exterior electro-optical reflectance element, (iii) actuating a security light, (iv) actuating a turn signal, and (v) actuating a stop signal.

3. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 2, wherein said first microprocessor-based control includes a node for linking with the vehicle communication network.

4. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 3, wherein said node for linking with the vehicle communication network comprises a serial data node.

5. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said first microprocessor-based control includes a node for linking with the vehicle communication network.

6. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 5, wherein said second microprocessor-based control includes another node for linking with the vehicle communication network.

7. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 6, wherein said another node for linking with the vehicle communication network comprises a serial data node.

8. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor.

9. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 8, wherein said first microprocessor-based control provides an output in response to said input in order to activate or deactivate a vehicle headlight.

10. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 9, wherein said first microprocessor-based control provides said output over the vehicle communication network.

11. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said first microprocessor-based control one light sensor and wherein said first microprocessor-based control controls a partial reflectance level of said interior electro-optic reflectance element in response to said input.

12. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 11, wherein said electro-optical reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element.

13. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said second microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor.

14. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 13, wherein said second microprocessor-based control controls a partial reflectance level of said exterior electro-optic reflectance element in response to said input.

15. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said exterior electro-optic reflectance element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.

16. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives input from or provides output to at least one chosen from an image capture device, an intelligent highway system, an antenna, a global positioning system, a keyless entry system, a garage door opener, a blind-spot detector, and a heading sensor.

17. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

18. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 1, wherein said system includes another exterior and wherein said another exterior minor assembly includes another exterior electro-optical reflectance element and a third microprocessor-based control.

19. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 18 wherein said third microprocessor-based control decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

20. A vehicle rear vision system suitable for use in a vehicle equipped with a vehicle communication network, said system comprising:

an interior rearview minor assembly and an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

said interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optical reflectance element and a first microprocessor-based control;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly including an exterior electro-optical reflectance element and a second microprocessor-based control;

said first microprocessor-based control controlling a partial reflectance level of said interior electro-optical reflectance element;

said second microprocessor-based control controlling a partial reflectance level of said exterior electro-optical reflectance element; and

said first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly linking via a serial bus with the vehicle communication network.

21. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, said second microprocessor-based control operable to at least one chosen from (i) selectively activating a heater element in heat transfer association with said exterior electro-optical reflectance element, (ii) operating a positioning device for said exterior electro-optical reflectance element, (iii) actuating a security light, (iv) actuating a turn signal, and (v) actuating a stop signal.

22. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, said first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly formatting messages for the vehicle communication network and said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior minor assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

23. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly formatting messages for the vehicle communication network.

24. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

25. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior rearview assembly linking via a serial bus with the vehicle communication network.

26. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 25, wherein said exterior electro-optical reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element.

27. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor.

28. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 27, wherein said first microprocessor-based control provides an output in response to said input in order to activate or deactivate a vehicle headlight.

29. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 28, said first microprocessor-based control provides said output over the vehicle communication network.

30. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor and wherein said first microprocessor-based control controls the partial reflectance level of said interior electro-optic reflectance element in response to said input.

31. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 30, wherein said interior electro-optical reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element.

32. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein said second microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor.

33. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 32, wherein said second microprocessor-based control controls the partial reflectance level of said exterior electro-optic reflectance element in response to said input.

34. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein said exterior electro-optic reflectance element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.

35. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives input from or provides output to at least one chosen from an image capture device, an intelligent highway system, an antenna, a global positioning system, a keyless entry system, a garage door opener, a blind-spot detector, and a heading sensor.

36. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

37. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 20, wherein said system includes another exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said another exterior mirror assembly includes another exterior electro-optical reflectance element and a third microprocessor-based control.

38. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 37 wherein said third microprocessor-based control decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

39. A vehicle rear vision system suitable for use in a vehicle equipped with a vehicle communication network, said system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly and an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

said interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electrochromic reflectance element and a first microprocessor-based control;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly including an exterior electrochromic reflectance element and a second microprocessor-based control;

said first microprocessor-based control controlling a partial reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflectance element;

said second microprocessor-based control controlling a partial reflectance level of said exterior electrochromic reflectance element;

said first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly linking via a serial bus with the vehicle communication network; and

said first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly formatting messages for the vehicle communication network.

40. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, said second microprocessor-based control operable to at least one chosen from (i) selectively activating a heater element in heat transfer association with said exterior electrochromic reflectance element, (ii) operating a positioning device for said exterior electrochromic reflectance element, (iii) actuating a security light, (iv) actuating a turn signal, and (v) actuating a stop signal.

41. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

42. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, said first microprocessor-based control of said interior rearview assembly linking bi-directionally to the vehicle communication network.

43. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 42, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

44. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior rearview assembly linking via a serial bus with the vehicle communication network.

45. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 44, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

46. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor.

47. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 46, wherein said first microprocessor-based control provides an output in response to said input in order to activate or deactivate a vehicle headlight.

48. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 47, wherein said first microprocessor-based control provides said output over the vehicle communication network.

49. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, wherein said first microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor and wherein said first microprocessor-based control controls the partial reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflectance element in response to said input.

50. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 49, wherein said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

51. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, wherein said second microprocessor-based control receives an input from at least one light sensor.

52. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 51, wherein said second microprocessor-based control controls the partial reflectance level of said exterior electrochromic reflectance element in response to said input.

53. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 52, said second microprocessor-based control of said exterior mirror assembly decoding messages from the vehicle communication network.

54. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, said first microprocessor-based control receives input from or provides output to at least one of arm image capture device, an intelligent highway system, an antenna, a global positioning system, a keyless entry system, a garage door opener, a blind-spot detector, and a heading sensor.

55. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

56. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 39, wherein said system includes another exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said another exterior mirror assembly includes another exterior electrochromic reflectance element and a third microprocessor-based control.

57. The vehicle rear vision system of claim 56 wherein said third microprocessor-based control decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.