Individual mirror control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle rearview mirror control system comprising:
- an interior rearview mirror element able to be varied in reflectance;
an exterior rearview mirror element able to be varied in reflectance mounted in an exterior rearview mirror housing;
an ambient light sensor (ALS) positioned to detect a light intensity from a direction forward of the interior rearview mirror element;
a glare light sensor positioned to detect a light intensity from a direction rearward of the interior rearview minor element;
a register for storing predetermined electronically encoded window tinting information;
a drive circuit coupled to the exterior rearview mirror element for generating a glare signal derived from the ALS and glare light sensor and selectively varying a drive signal to the exterior rearview mirror element as a function of the glare signal based upon the predetermined electronically encoded window tinting information; and
wherein the reflectance of the interior rearview mirror element begins to decrease based on a first minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the reflectance of the exterior rearview mirror element begins to decrease based on a second minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the first minimum light intensity is different from the second minimum light intensity thereby allowing reflected light levels at a predetermined reference point to be approximately equal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for one or more electrochromic elements used in an outside electrochromic (OEC) mirror used in automobiles or other vehicular applications, to control the glare of both IEC elements used as a rearview mirror (20) as well as the OEC elements (24, 26) used as sideview mirrors (24, 26). An ambient light sensor (129) and glare sensor (133) operate to determine a glare level used to control both IEC and OEC electrochromic elements. The drive circuits for the OEC'"'"'s elements may be controlled so as to account for various factors such as tinted glass characteristics in the vehicle.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vehicle rearview mirror control system comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror element able to be varied in reflectance; an exterior rearview mirror element able to be varied in reflectance mounted in an exterior rearview mirror housing; an ambient light sensor (ALS) positioned to detect a light intensity from a direction forward of the interior rearview mirror element; a glare light sensor positioned to detect a light intensity from a direction rearward of the interior rearview minor element; a register for storing predetermined electronically encoded window tinting information; a drive circuit coupled to the exterior rearview mirror element for generating a glare signal derived from the ALS and glare light sensor and selectively varying a drive signal to the exterior rearview mirror element as a function of the glare signal based upon the predetermined electronically encoded window tinting information; and wherein the reflectance of the interior rearview mirror element begins to decrease based on a first minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the reflectance of the exterior rearview mirror element begins to decrease based on a second minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the first minimum light intensity is different from the second minimum light intensity thereby allowing reflected light levels at a predetermined reference point to be approximately equal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An exterior vehicular rearview mirror control system, comprising:
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an interior electrochromic (EC) mirror element able to be varied in reflectance; an exterior electrochromic (EC) mirror element able to be varied in reflectance; at least one ambient light sensor (ALS) for measuring a light intensity at the back of the interior EC mirror element using a light integrating lens; at least one glare sensor for measuring a light intensity at the interior EC mirror element and providing a glare signal; a drive circuit for providing a drive signal for selectively varying the drive signal as a function of the glare signal based upon predetermined electronically encoded window tint information stored in a register and provided to the drive circuit for controlling the exterior EC mirror element based upon a glare level derived from the at least one ALS and at least one glare sensor; and wherein the reflectance of the interior EC mirror element begins to decrease based on a first minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the reflectance of the exterior EC mirror element begins to decrease based on a second minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the first minimum light intensity is different from the second minimum light intensity thereby allowing reflected light levels at a predetermined reference point to be approximately equal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An outside rearview minor control system comprising:
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a light for indicating a direction of turn; an interior electrochromic (EC) mirror element able to be varied in reflectance; an exterior electrochromic (EC) mirror element able to be varied in reflectance; at least one ambient light sensor (ALS) for measuring a light intensity at the back of the interior EC mirror element using a light integrating surface lens; at least one glare sensor for measuring a light intensity at a reflecting surface of the interior EC mirror element; a register comprising predetermined electronically encoded window tinting information stored in a memory location; a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal to the exterior EC mirror element in response to a glare level derived from the ALS, at least one glare sensor and the predetermined electronically encoded window tinting information received from the register over a vehicle communications bus; and wherein the reflectance of the interior EC mirror element begins to decrease based on a first minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the reflectance of the exterior EC mirror element begins to decrease based on a second minimum light intensity detected by the glare light sensor and the first minimum light intensity is different from the second minimum light intensity thereby allowing reflected light levels at a predetermined reference point to be approximately equal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification