Vehicle mirror system with light conduiting member

• US 20030043589A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blank, Rodney K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a rearview mirror assembly having an electro-optic reflective element, a housing for the reflective element and a control establishing a reflectance level of the reflective element. The control includes a circuit board having opposite sides and at least two photo-sensors on one of the sides. The system further includes at least one light conduiting element adapted to expose one of the at least two photo-sensors to a light environment that is different from the light environment to which the other of the at least two photo-sensors is exposed.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror system, comprising:

a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element, a housing for said reflective element and a control establishing a reflectance level of said reflective element;

said control comprising a circuit board having opposite sides and at least two photo-sensors on one of said sides; and

at least one light conduiting element adapted to exposing one of said at least two photo-sensors to a light environment different from the light environment to which the other of said at least two photo-sensors is exposed.

2. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two photo-sensors is chosen from the group comprising a photo-transistor, a photo-diode, a photo-resistor, a CMOS photo-sensor and a multiple-pixel sensor.

3. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said at least one light conduiting element is adapted to expose said one of said at least two photo-sensors to a light environment outside of said housing.

4. The rearview mirror system in claim 3 wherein said at least one light conduiting element passes through said housing.

5. The rearview mirror system in claim 4 wherein said mirror assembly is supported by a support and wherein said at least one light conduiting element passes through said support.

6. The rearview mirror system in claim 5 wherein said mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly.

7. The rearview mirror system in claim 6 wherein said at least one light conduiting element exposes said one of said at least two photo-sensors to light passing through a vehicle windshield.

8. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said at least one light conduiting element is adapted to expose said one of said at least two photo-sensors to a light environment outside of the vehicle.

9. The rearview mirror system in claim 8 wherein said at least one light conduiting element exposes said one of said at least two photo-sensors to light passing through said reflective element.

10. The rearview mirror system in claim 9 wherein said mirror assembly comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

11. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said at least two photo-sensors comprises at least three photo-sensors.

12. The rearview mirror system in claim 11 wherein said at least three photo-sensors are on a common one of said sides.

13. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two photo-sensors comprises a photo-diode.

14. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two photo-sensors comprises one of a photo-transistor.

15. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two photo-sensors comprises a CMOS photo-sensor.

16. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said one and said other of said at least two photo-sensors comprises a CMOS photo-sensor.

17. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said one and said other of said at least two photo-sensors comprises a photo-diode.

18. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said one and said other of said at least two photo-sensors comprises a photo-transistor.

19. The rearview mirror system in claim 1 wherein said one and said other of said at least two photo-sensors comprises a photo-resistor.