Room mirror module for vehicle

• US 9,168,870 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jae Kuk
• Primary Examiner(s): SAHLE, MAHIDERE S
• Application Number:
  US14/010,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359267-274
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic

Abstract

Provided is a room mirror module for a vehicle, including a control unit driving an electrochromic mirror and a display unit by discriminating the intensity of light and movement of the vehicle detected by a sensor unit, whereby the devices for the vehicle can be more efficiently controlled, and a driver'"'"'s safe driving can be secured.

Claims

1. A room mirror module for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor unit that comprises a photo sensor detecting an intensity of light and a movement sensing sensor detecting movement of a vehicle;

a display unit displaying an image received from an image input unit mounted to an external part of the vehicle;

a control unit driving the display unit based upon a combination of results of both the detecting of the light intensity by the photo sensor and the detecting of movement of the vehicle by the movement sensing sensor; and

an electrochromic mirror adjusting reflectance depending on the intensity of light detected by the photo sensor.

2. The room mirror module of claim 1, wherein the display unit is disposed in a partial area of a rear surface of the electrochromic mirror.

3. The room mirror module of claim 2, wherein the movement sensing sensor is an MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) sensor that comprises any one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a gravity sensor, or a combination formed of at least two of them.

4. The room mirror module of claim 2, further comprising a room mirror housing in which the electrochromic mirror is mounted on one surface.

5. The room mirror module of claim 3, wherein the control unit drives the display unit so as to display an image received from a rear camera mounted to a rear part of the vehicle when a backward state of the vehicle is detected by the MEMS sensor.

6. The room mirror module of claim 3, wherein the control unit drives the display unit so as to display images received from a left front camera mounted to a left front of the vehicle, and a right front camera mounted to a right front of the vehicle when a left turn and a right turn of the vehicle are detected by the MEMS sensor.

7. The room mirror module of claim 3, wherein the control unit drives a headlight to be rotated in a turning direction of the vehicle when turning of the vehicle is detected by the MEMS sensor.

8. The room mirror module of claim 3, wherein the control unit blocks an operation of the electrochromic mirror when a backward state of the vehicle is detected by the MEMS sensor.

9. The room mirror module of claim 4, wherein the sensor unit is mounted to an external part of the room mirror housing.

10. The room mirror module of claim 9, wherein the sensor unit further comprises a mounting unit Q1 in which the sensor unit is mounted to the external part of the room mirror housing.

11. The room mirror module of claim 9, wherein the sensor unit has an insertion unit Q2 which enables the sensor unit to be inserted into the room mirror housing.

12. The room mirror module of claim 4, wherein the photo sensor comprises a glare sensor disposed in a room mirror part of the room mirror module for the vehicle or an ambient light sensing sensor formed in an opposite side to a mirror surface of a room mirror.

13. The room mirror module of claim 4, wherein the electrochromic mirror comprises:

a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;

a transparent electrode and a reflective layer each formed on opposite surfaces to each other of the first substrate and the second substrate; and

a chromic material layer disposed between the transparent electrode and the reflective layer.

14. The room mirror module of claim 13, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are substrates made of a transparent material.

15. The room mirror module of claim 14, wherein a transparent film material is applied to at least any one of the first substrate and the second substrate is.

16. The room mirror module of claim 15, wherein the transparent film material may be any one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyether sulfone (PES), a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), a TAC (Triacetylcellulose) film, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, a polyimide (PI) film, and polystyrene (PS).

17. The room mirror module of claim 14, wherein the chromic material layer is formed by mixing a liquid electrochromic material and an electrolyte.

18. The room mirror module of claim 14, wherein the chromic material layer comprises a solid electrochromic coating layer and a liquid electrolyte layer.

19. The room mirror module of claim 18, wherein the chromic material layer is configured such that the solid electrochromic coating layer is disposed on one surface or both surfaces of the electrolyte layer.