Exterior mirror vision system for a vehicle

• US 8,066,415 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: van de Ven, Michiel P., Mousseau, Rick, Lynam, Niall R., Whitehead, Peter J., Pastrick, Todd W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/962,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/540, 362542-545, 362/511, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 340/471, 340/472, 340/475
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An exterior mirror vision system includes a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of an equipped vehicle and a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle. The driver-side exterior mirror assembly including a mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing, and a driver-side reflective element. The driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera. The passenger-side exterior mirror assembly includes a mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing, and a passenger-side reflective element. The passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera. The driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera are part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror vision system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror vision system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior vision system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing, and a driver-side reflective element;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side signal light;

wherein said driver-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing, and a passenger-side reflective element;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side signal light;

wherein said passenger-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing; and

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle.

2. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

3. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 2, wherein a composite image is formed from images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera and is displayed on said display device for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle.

4. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 3, wherein the displayed image displayed on said display device includes an image portion from an image captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera.

5. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle.

6. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side reflective element of said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a driver-side non-electro-optic reflective element.

7. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side reflective element of said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a driver-side electrochromic reflective element.

8. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module.

9. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side light module further comprises a driver-side ground illumination light that, when activated, illuminates a ground area adjacent the driver side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said passenger-side light module further comprises a passenger-side ground illumination light that, when activated, illuminates a ground area adjacent the passenger side of the equipped vehicle.

10. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side signal light of said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side turn signal indicator and wherein said passenger-side signal light of said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side turn signal indicator.

11. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to a signal from a remote transmitting device when the equipped vehicle is parked, and wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, a light of said driver-side light module and a light of said passenger-side light module flash to indicate the location of the equipped vehicle.

12. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 11, wherein said driver-side light module further comprises a driver-side ground illumination light and wherein said passenger-side light module further comprises a passenger-side ground illumination light.

13. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 11, wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said lights of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module flash for a time interval following receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device.

14. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side signal light of said driver-side light module comprises a set of light emitting diodes disposed in said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly so as to be angled relative to the driver side of the equipped vehicle to, when activated, emit light away from the driver side of the equipped vehicle when said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said passenger-side signal light of said passenger-side light module comprises a set of light emitting diodes disposed in said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly so as to be angled relative to the passenger side of the equipped vehicle to, when activated, emit light away from the passenger side of the equipped vehicle when said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle.

15. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 14, wherein said light emitting diodes of said driver-side light module are separated by louvers and wherein said light emitting diodes of said passenger-side light module are separated by louvers.

16. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side light module is unaffected by adjustment of a rearward field of view of said driver-side reflective element, and wherein said driver-side signal light of said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side light source and a driver-side light conduiting element having a body portion with a plurality of light conduiting portions established therein, and wherein, when said driver-side light source is activated, light emitted by said driver-side light source is received at light receiving ends of said plurality of said light conduiting portions of said driver-side light conduiting element and is emitted from light emitting ends of said plurality of said light conduiting portions of said driver-side light conduiting element along an exterior contour of said driver-side exterior mirror housing, and wherein said driver-side light conduiting element is disposed at a lower region of said driver-side exterior mirror housing and said light emitting ends of said plurality of said light conduiting portions of said driver-side light conduiting element are arranged along the exterior contour of an outboard side region of said driver-side exterior mirror housing, and wherein said passenger-side light module is unaffected by adjustment of a rearward field of view of said passenger-side reflective element, and wherein said passenger-side signal light of said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side light source and a passenger-side light conduiting element having a body portion with a plurality of light conduiting portions established therein, and wherein, when said passenger-side light source is activated, light emitted by said passenger-side light source is received at light receiving ends of said plurality of said light conduiting portions of said passenger-side light conduiting element and is emitted from light emitting ends of said plurality of said light conduiting portions of said passenger-side light conduiting element along an exterior contour of said passenger-side exterior mirror housing, and wherein said passenger-side light conduiting element is disposed at a lower region of said passenger-side exterior mirror housing and said light emitting ends of said plurality of said light conduiting portions of said passenger-side light conduiting element are arranged along the exterior contour of an outboard side region of said passenger-side exterior mirror housing.

17. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera rear vision system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle.

18. An exterior mirror vision system for a vehicle, said exterior minor vision system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior vision system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing, and a driver-side reflective element;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview minor assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing, and a passenger-side reflective element;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview minor assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side turn signal indicator and wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side turn signal indicator;

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein a composite image is formed from images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera and is displayed on said display device for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle.

19. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 18, wherein the displayed image displayed on said display device includes an image portion from an image captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera.

20. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 18, wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle.

21. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 18, wherein said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module.

22. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 18, wherein said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to a signal from a remote transmitting device when the equipped vehicle is parked, and wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said driver-side turn signal indicator and said passenger-side turn signal indicator flash to indicate the location of the equipped vehicle.

23. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 22, wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said driver-side turn signal indicator and said passenger-side turn signal indicator flash for a time interval following receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device.

24. An exterior mirror vision system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror vision system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior vision system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing, and a driver-side reflective element;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing, and a passenger-side reflective element;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side ground illumination light and wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side ground illumination light;

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein a composite image is formed from images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera and is displayed on said display device for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle.

25. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 24, wherein the displayed image displayed on said display device includes an image portion from an image captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera.

26. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 24, wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle.

27. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 24, wherein said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module.

28. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 24, wherein said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to a signal from a remote transmitting device when the equipped vehicle is parked, and wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said driver-side ground illumination and said passenger-side ground illumination light flash to indicate the location of the equipped vehicle.

29. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 28, wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said driver-side ground illumination light and said passenger-side ground illumination light flash for a time interval following receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device.

30. An exterior mirror vision system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror vision system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior vision system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing, and a driver-side reflective element;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said driver-side exterior mirror housing;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing, and a passenger-side reflective element;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module fits within a cavity defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side turn signal indicator and a driver-side ground illumination light, and wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side turn signal indicator and a passenger-side ground illumination light;

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein a composite image is formed from images captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera and is displayed on said display device for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle.

31. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 30, wherein the displayed image displayed on said display device includes an image portion from an image captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera.

32. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 30, wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part rearward of the equipped vehicle.

33. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 30, wherein said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module.

34. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 30, wherein said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to a signal from a remote transmitting device when the equipped vehicle is parked, and wherein, when said driver-side light module and said passenger-side light module are activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, (a) said driver-side turn signal indicator and said driver-side ground illumination light flash to indicate the location of the equipped vehicle and (b) said passenger-side turn signal indicator and said passenger-side ground illumination light flash to indicate the location of the equipped vehicle.

35. The exterior mirror vision system of claim 34, wherein, when said driver-side light module is activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said driver-side turn signal indicator and said driver-side ground illumination light flash for a time interval following receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, and wherein, when said passenger-side light module is activated responsive to receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device, said passenger-side turn signal indicator and said passenger-side ground illumination light flash for a time interval following receipt of the signal from the remote transmitting device.