Display device for exterior rearview mirror

• US 7,777,611 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Desai, Deval M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/933,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/475, 340/436, 340/903, 362/494, 362/487, 362/135, 362/540, 362/511
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element and a video display element. The video display element is disposed behind the mirror reflective element so that images displayed by the video display element are viewable through the mirror reflective element when the video display element is activated. The video display element is configured to display images that are readily viewable by the driver of the host vehicle and not readily viewable by drivers of other vehicles in the lane adjacent to the host vehicle.

Claims

1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a video display element, said video display element being disposed behind said mirror reflective element so that images displayed by said video display element are viewable through said mirror reflective element when said video display element is activated; and

wherein said video display element is configured to display images that are readily viewable by the driver of the host vehicle and not readily viewable by drivers of other vehicles in the lane adjacent to the host vehicle.

2. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said video display element is operable to display other images that are readily viewable by drivers of other vehicles in the lane adjacent to the host vehicle and not readily viewable by the driver of the host vehicle.

3. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector.

4. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said video display element displays images responsive to operation of a function of the vehicle.

5. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 4, wherein said function of the vehicle comprises actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the vehicle.

6. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 4, wherein said function of the vehicle comprises a blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle.

7. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 4, wherein said video display element comprises a multi-viewing video screen.

8. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 7, wherein said multi-viewing video screen is operable to display a first video image for viewing by a person viewing said video screen from one angle and a second video image for viewing by a person viewing the display device from another angle.

9. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 4, including at least one of (a) light directing means to direct the displayed images in a desired direction and (b) at least one baffle to limit viewing of the displayed images from a direction other than a desired direction.

10. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a video display element, said video display element being disposed behind said mirror reflective element so that images displayed by said video display element are viewable through said mirror reflective element when said video display element is activated;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector;

wherein said video display element displays responsive to operation of a function of the vehicle;

wherein said function of the vehicle comprises at least one of (a) actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the vehicle and (b) a blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle; and

wherein said video display element comprises a multi-viewing video screen.

11. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, including at least one of (a) light directing means to direct the displayed images in a desired direction and (b) at least one baffle or to limit viewing of the displayed images from a direction other than a desired direction.

12. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises a mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle and wherein said video display element is configured to display images that are readily viewable by the driver of a host vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly and not readily viewable by drivers of other vehicles in the lane adjacent to the host vehicle.

13. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 12, wherein said video display element displays images representative of a sideward area at the side of the host vehicle and wherein said displayed images are displayed at the exterior side rearview mirror at the respective side of the vehicle, said video display element providing a cognizant association between the displayed images and the respective side region at which the scene represented by the captured images is occurring.

14. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said multi-viewing video screen is operable to display a first video image for viewing by a person viewing said video screen from one angle and a second video image for viewing by a person viewing the display device from another angle.

15. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 14, wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises a mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, and wherein said first video image comprises video images of the blind spot area for viewing by the driver of the host vehicle and substantially not viewable by drivers of other vehicles at the side or rear of the host vehicle, and wherein said second video image comprises video images indicative of a turn signal indicator for viewing by drivers of other vehicles at the side or rear of the host vehicle and substantially not viewable by the driver of the host vehicle.