Waveguide mirror display system

• US 10,604,075 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Geerlings, Kurtis L., Tonar, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tallman, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US15/728,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20180105114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers

Abstract

A vehicle display mirror system is disclosed. The system comprises an electro-optic device configured to switch between a mirror state and a display state. The electro-optic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate forming a cavity. The cavity is configured to retain an electro-optic medium that is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between substantially clear and darkened states. The system further comprises a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device. The substantially transparent display comprises a switchable output grating configured to selectively diffract light outward from the waveguide.

Claims

1. A vehicle display mirror system, comprising:

an electro-optic device configured to switch between a mirror state and a display state comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces comprises a first electrically conductive layer;

a second substantially transparent substrate having third and fourth surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the third and fourth surfaces comprises a second electrically conductive layer;

an electro-optic medium is disposed in a cavity between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, the electro-optic medium is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between a substantially clear state and a darkened state;

a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device, the substantially transparent display comprising;

a plurality of display drivers configured to generate light, wherein the display drivers are mounted along a first portion and a second portion of a perimeter edge of the substantially transparent display;

a switchable input grating configured to selectively diffract the light into a waveguide; and

a switchable output grating configured to selectively diffract the light outward from the waveguide; and

wherein the electro-optic device is converted to the darkened state when the substantially transparent display is emitting the light.

2. The emissive display system of claim 1, wherein the switchable output grating is controlled to an active state when the display is emitting the light thereby diffracting the light outward from the waveguide.

3. The emissive display system of claim 1, wherein the switchable output grating is controlled to an inactive state when the display is inactive.

4. The emissive display system of claim 3, wherein the inactive state of the switchable output grating is configured to prevent a distortion of reflected light impinging upon the electro-optic device in the mirror state.

5. The emissive display system of claim 1, wherein the substantially transparent display corresponds to a waveguide display.

6. The emissive display system of claim 5, wherein the waveguide display is configured to display image data on a display surface of the substantially transparent display.

7. The emissive display system of claim 1, wherein the electro-optic medium is an electrochromic medium.

20. The emissive display system of claim 1, wherein first portion is positioned and on an opposite side of the perimeter edge of the substantially transparent display relative to the second portion.

8. A method for displaying a rearward directed view from a vehicle for a display mirror system, the method comprising:

in a first display state, reflecting a rearward directed view in a projection direction through a transparent waveguide display from a mirror surface;

adjusting from the first display state to a second display state by controlling a transmittance of an electro-optic element; and

activating a plurality of display drivers disposed along a first edge portion and a second edge portion positioned on opposite sides of the transparent waveguide display and transmitting visual light data into the transparent waveguide display in the second display state, wherein the second display state is configured to project the visual light data from the transparent waveguide display in the projection direction such that the electro-optic element controls the contrast of the visual light data projected from the transparent waveguide display.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

adjusting the display mirror system to a third display state by controlling the electro-optic element to a light transmissive state.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

in the third state, superimposing the visual light data from the transparent waveguide display over the reflected rearward directed view.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the controlling the transmittance of the electro-optic element to the second display state comprises controlling the electro-optic element to a first transmission state.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling a transmittance of the electro-optic element to the third display state comprises controlling the electro-optic element to a second transmission state.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second transmission state comprises a higher level of light transmission of the reflected rearward directed view than the first transmission state.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first transmission state increases a contrast of the visual light data displayed on the transparent waveguide display.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the visual light data is projected from the transparent waveguide display by diffracting the wavelengths of the visual light data through a diffractive element.

16. A vehicle display mirror system, comprising:

an electro-optic device configured to switch between a mirror state and a display state comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces comprises a first electrically conductive layer;

a second substantially transparent substrate having third and fourth surfaces disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of the third and fourth surfaces comprises a second electrically conductive layer;

an electro-optic medium is disposed in a cavity between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, the electro-optic medium is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between a substantially clear state and a darkened state;

a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device, the substantially transparent display comprising;

a plurality of display drivers configured to generate light, wherein the display drivers are mounted along a first portion and a second portion of a perimeter edge of the substantially transparent display;

a waveguide comprising a diffractive element, wherein the diffractive element is configured to selectively extract the light from the waveguide outputting visual light data on the transparent display, wherein the electro-optic device is converted to the absorptive state in the display state.

17. The emissive display system of claim 16, wherein the waveguide display is configured to display image data on a display surface of the substantially transparent display in the display state.

18. The emissive display system of claim 16, wherein the electro-optic device is converted to the transmissive state in response to the mirror state.

19. The emissive display system of claim 17, wherein the electro-optic medium is an electrochromic medium.