Vehicular rearview mirror system
First Claim
1. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:
- an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;
said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;
said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system;
wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera; and
wherein said control controls at least two of (a) dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of said video display, (c) operation of said forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an interior electrochromic reflective element that assumes an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal. The mirror assembly includes a control that has circuitry operable to provide the drive signal to the reflective element. The control includes a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle. The control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via the vehicle bus. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a forward-facing camera. The control may control at least two of (a) dimming of the interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of a video display, (c) operation of the forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle.
51 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element; said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system; wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera; and wherein said control controls at least two of (a) dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of said video display, (c) operation of said forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises digital circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element; said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system; wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera; wherein said control controls at least two of (a) dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element, (b) operation of a video display, (c) operation of said forward-facing camera and (d) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; wherein said circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element shares at least one component used for operation by at least one of (a) a video display, (b) said forward-facing camera and (c) a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises digital circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element; said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system; wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera; wherein said control controls dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element and at least one of (a) operation of said video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; wherein said circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element shares at least one component used for operation by at least one of (a) said video display, (b) said forward-facing camera and (c) a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:
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an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior electrochromic reflective element assuming an interior mirror partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element; said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular rearview mirror system; wherein said control is in communication with at least one other vehicle accessory via said vehicle bus, and wherein said vehicle bus follows a protocol selected from at least one of a LIN protocol, a CAN protocol and a LAN protocol; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera; wherein said control controls dimming of said interior electrochromic reflective element and at least one of (a) operation of a video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; wherein said circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element shares at least one component used for operation by at least one of (a) a video display, (b) said forward-facing camera and (c) a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification