Vehicular rearview mirror system with microcontroller

• US 7,233,230 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, John P, Lynam, Niall R
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/288,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20060126197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A vehicular rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror system that has an interior reflective element, a drive circuit, a tire pressure monitoring system and a microcontroller. The drive circuit supplies a drive signal to the interior mirror reflective element, which assumes a partial reflectance level in response thereto. The tire pressure monitoring system includes a receiver for receiving signals indicative of vehicle tire pressure. The microcontroller controls at least in part the drive circuit and the tire pressure monitoring system, and may control at least one other vehicle function. The vehicular rearview mirror system may include a sound-processing system and the microcontroller may control at least in part the sound-processing system. The drive circuit may have one or more components in common with the tire pressure monitoring system, and the drive circuit and tire pressure monitoring system may be at least partially on a circuit board.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior variable reflective element whose reflectivity level is electrically variable;

a microcontroller;

a drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying an interior drive signal to said interior variable reflective element and said interior variable reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response thereto;

a tire pressure monitoring system, said tire pressure monitoring system including a receiver for receiving a signal indicative of vehicle tire pressure;

wherein said microcontroller controls at least in part said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system; and

wherein said microcontroller controls at least one other vehicle function.

2. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior variable reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

3. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 further including a sound-processing system, wherein said microcontroller controls at least in part said sound-processing system.

4. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 including a battery supplying power to said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

5. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a driver-side exterior mirror assembly and a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side variable reflective element, said driver-side variable reflectance element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side drive signal, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side variable reflective element, said passenger-side variable reflectance element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side drive signal, said drive circuit establishing a driver-side drive signal and a passenger-side drive signal.

6. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller receives an input from at least one of a phototransistor and a photodiode.

7. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller comprises a microprocessor.

8. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior mirror system including a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller.

9. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 8, wherein said forward-facing camera comprises at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

10. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said drive circuit has components in common with said tire pressure monitoring system.

11. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is on a circuit board.

12. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system are at least partially on said circuit board.

13. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 including a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter for transmitting a garage door opening signal, said microcontroller controlling at least in part said drive circuit, said garage door opener and said tire pressure monitoring system.

14. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 13, wherein said drive circuit has components in common with said garage door opener and said tire pressure monitoring system.

15. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said drive circuit, said garage door opener and said tire pressure monitoring system are at least partially on a circuit board.

16. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller controls said at least one other vehicle function over a vehicle network.

17. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element whose reflectivity level is electrically variable;

a microcontroller;

a drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying an interior drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element and said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response thereto;

a tire pressure monitoring system, said tire pressure monitoring system including a receiver for receiving a signal indicative of vehicle tire pressure;

a sound-processing system; and

wherein said microcontroller controls at least in part said drive circuit, said tire pressure monitoring system and said sound-processing system.

18. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said microcontroller controls at least one other vehicle function over a vehicle network.

19. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17 including a battery supplying power to said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

20. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17 further comprising a driver-side exterior mirror assembly and a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side variable reflective element, said driver-side variable reflectance element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side drive signal, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side variable reflective element, said passenger-side variable reflectance element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side drive signal, said drive circuit establishing a driver-side drive signal and a passenger-side drive signal.

21. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said microcontroller receives an input from at least one of a phototransistor and a photodiode.

22. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said interior mirror system including a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller, said forward-facing camera comprising at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

23. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said drive circuit has components in common with said tire pressure monitoring system.

24. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system are at least partially on a circuit board.

25. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17 including a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter for transmitting a garage door opening signal, said microcontroller controlling at least in part said drive circuit, said garage door opener and said tire pressure monitoring system.

26. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element whose reflectivity level is electrically variable;

a microcontroller;

a drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying an interior drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element and said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response thereto;

a tire pressure monitoring system, said tire pressure monitoring system including a receiver for receiving a signal indicative of vehicle tire pressure;

said drive circuit having at least one component in common with said tire pressure monitoring system;

wherein said microcontroller controls at least in part said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system; and

wherein said microcontroller controls at least one other vehicle function.

27. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises at least a sound-processing system.

28. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26 including a battery supplying power to said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

29. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26 further comprising a driver-side exterior mirror assembly and a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side variable reflective element, said driver-side variable reflectance element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side drive signal, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side variable reflective element, said passenger-side variable reflectance element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side drive signal, said drive circuit establishing a driver-side drive signal and a passenger-side drive signal.

30. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said microcontroller receives an input from at least one of a phototransistor and a photodiode.

31. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said interior mirror system including a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller, said forward-facing camera comprising at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

32. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26 including a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter for transmitting a garage door opening signal, said microcontroller controlling at least in part said drive circuit, said garage door opener and said tire pressure monitoring system.

33. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said drive circuit and said tire pressure monitoring system are at least partially on a circuit board.

34. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said microcontroller controls said at least one other vehicle function over a vehicle network.