INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20090116097A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid, Varaprasad, Desaraju V., McCabe, Ian A., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,586,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• 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: G02B 5/0858 the reflecting layers comprising a single metallic layer with one or more dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a transparent glass substrate with a transflective reflector established at a surface thereof. The transflective reflector includes at least three thin film layers, which include at least one metallic layer. The transflective reflector exhibits a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with the mirror assembly. A backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is disposed behind the transflective reflector. Display information passes through the glass substrate and the transflective reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle. At least one silicon photo sensor is configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, and the display intensity is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by the least one silicon photo sensor.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element having at least one transparent glass substrate, said transparent glass substrate having a transflective reflector established at a surface thereof;

wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least three thin film layers, said three thin film layers comprising at least one metallic layer, and wherein the physical thicknesses and materials of said three thin film layers are selected to limit at least one of (a) a tinting effect and (b) a color interference effect so as to provide a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed during daytime by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

a backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector, wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is operable to emit display information and wherein said emitted display information passes through said glass substrate and passes through said transflective reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle;

at least one photo sensor configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a silicon photo sensor, and wherein a display intensity of said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by said at least one photo sensor;

wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 15 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough; and

wherein said reflective element provides greater than about 55 percent photopic reflectance of light incident thereon as viewed by the driver operating the equipped vehicle.

2. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a light to frequency converter.

3. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a CMOS integrated circuit.

4. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said three thin film layers comprise a metallic layer and two non-metallic thin film layers.

5. The mirror system of claim 4, wherein said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer.

6. The mirror system of claim 5, wherein one of said two non-metallic thin film layers comprises a metal oxide thin film layer.

7. The mirror system of claim 6, wherein said metal oxide thin film layer comprises a transparent semi-conductive layer.

8. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said transparent semi-conductive layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

9. The mirror system of claim 8, wherein the other of said two non-metallic thin film layers comprises a metal oxide thin film layer.

10. The mirror system of claim 9, wherein said other of said two non-metallic thin film layers comprises a layer of titanium dioxide.

11. The mirror system of claim 9, wherein said other of said two non-metallic thin film layers comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

12. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said reflective element comprises an electroclromic mirror reflective element comprising a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said second substrate comprising said transparent glass substrate, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal, said perimeter seal having a width dimension, wherein said transflective reflector is disposed at said third surface of said second substrate.

13. The mirror system of claim 12, wherein said metallic layer is disposed at an inboard portion of said third surface of said second substrate with a perimeter border region of said third surface of said second substrate being substantially devoid of said metallic layer, and wherein said perimeter seal encompasses a perimeter portion of said metallic layer and at least partially encompasses said perimeter border region of said of said second substrate.

14. The mirror system of claim 13, wherein an electrically conductive tab is provided, said tab establishing electrical continuity with said metallic layer, and wherein at least a portion of said tab is disposed outboard of said perimeter seal.

15. The mirror system of claim 14, wherein said tab comprises a metallic thin film layer.

16. The mirror system of claim 15, wherein said metallic thin film layer comprises a portion of said metallic layer of said transflective reflector.

17. The mirror system of claim 15, wherein said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer, and wherein another of said three thin film layers comprises a transparent semi-conductive thin film layer, and wherein the other of said three thin film layers comprises a metal oxide thin film layer.

18. The mirror system of claim 12, wherein a display intensity of said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is adjustable in response to an output of said at least one photo sensor and a state of transmissivity of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.

19. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein said reflective element comprises a prismatic reflective element.

20. The mirror system of claim 1 further comprising a photo sensing device disposed behind said reflective element, said photo sensing device having a field of view through said reflective element so as to have a field of view generally rearward with respect to the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle when said mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle.

21. The mirror system of claim 20, wherein said photo sensing device has a field of view through said transflective reflector.

22. The mirror system of claim 20, wherein said photo sensing device comprises an image sensing device.

23. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said at least one metallic layer is locally removed to create a local window through said transflective reflector for placement therebehind of an information display.

24. The mirror system of claim 23, wherein said information display comprises a compass display.

25. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element having a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal, said perimeter seal having a width dimension;

wherein a transflective reflector is established at said third surface of said second substrate, and wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least three thin film layers, and wherein the physical thicknesses and materials of said three thin film layers are selected to limit at least one of (a) a tinting effect and (b) a color interference effect so as to provide a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed during daytime by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein one of said three thin film layers comprising a metallic layer, wherein said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer, and wherein the other two of said three thin film layers comprise non-metallic thin film layers, and wherein one of said non-metallic thin film layers comprises a metal oxide thin film layer;

a backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector, wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is operable to emit display information and wherein said emitted display information passes through said second substrate, passes through said transflective reflector, passes through said electrochromic medium, and passes through said first substrate for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle;

at least one photo sensor configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a silicon photo sensor, and wherein a display intensity of said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by said at least one photo sensor;

wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 15 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough; and

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides greater than about 55 percent photopic reflectance of light incident thereon as viewed by the driver operating the equipped vehicle.

26. The mirror system of claim 25, wherein said metal oxide thin film layer comprises a transparent semi-conductive layer.

27. The mirror system of claim 26, wherein said transparent semi-conductive layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

28. The mirror system of claim 27, wherein the other of said non-metallic thin film layers comprises a metal oxide thin film layer.

29. The mirror system of claim 28, wherein said other of said non-metallic thin film layers comprises a layer of titanium dioxide.

30. The mirror system of claim 29, wherein said layer of titanium oxide is disposed between said metal thin film layer and said third surface of said second substrate.

31. The mirror system of claim 28, wherein said other of said non-metallic thin film layers comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

32. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element having a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal, said perimeter seal having a width dimension;

wherein a transflective reflector is established at said third surface of said second substrate, and wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least three thin film layers, said three thin film layers comprising at least one metallic layer, and wherein the physical thicknesses and materials of said three thin film layers are selected to limit at least one of (a) a tinting effect and (b) a color interference effect so as to provide a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed during daytime by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said metallic layer is disposed at an inboard portion of said third surface of said second substrate with a perimeter border region of said third surface of said second substrate being substantially devoid of said metallic layer, and wherein said perimeter seal encompasses a perimeter portion of said metallic layer and at least partially encompasses said perimeter border region of said of said second substrate;

wherein an electrically conductive tab is provided, said tab establishing electrical continuity with said metallic layer, and wherein at least a portion of said tab is disposed outboard of said perimeter seal;

a backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector, wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is operable to emit display information and wherein said emitted display information passes through said second substrate, passes through said transflective reflector, passes through said electrochromic medium, and passes through said first substrate for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle;

at least one photo sensor configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a silicon photo sensor, and wherein a display intensity of said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by said at least one photo sensor;

wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 15 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough; and

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides greater than about 55 percent photopic reflectance of light incident thereon as viewed by the driver operating the equipped vehicle.

33. The mirror system of claim 32, wherein said three thin film layers comprise a metallic layer and two non-metallic thin film layers.

34. The mirror system of claim 33, wherein said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer, and wherein one of said two non-metallic thin film layers comprises a transparent semi-conductive thin film layer, and wherein the other of said two non-metallic thin film layers comprises a metal oxide thin film layer.

35. The mirror system of claim 34, wherein said transparent semi-conductive layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

36. The mirror system of claim 35, wherein said metal oxide thin film layer comprises a layer of titanium dioxide.

37. The mirror system of claim 36, wherein said layer of titanium oxide is disposed between said metal thin film layer and said third surface of said second substrate.

38. The mirror system of claim 35, wherein said metal oxide thin film layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

39. The mirror system of claim 32, wherein said tab comprises a metallic thin film layer.

40. The mirror system of claim 39, wherein said metallic thin film layer comprises a portion of said metallic layer of said transflective reflector.

41. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element having at least one transparent glass substrate, said transparent glass substrate having a transflective reflector established at a surface thereof;

wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least three thin film layers, said three thin film layers comprising a metallic layer, a transparent semi-conductive layer and a metal oxide layer;

wherein said reflective element exhibits a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed during daytime by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

a backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector, wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is operable to emit display information and wherein said emitted display information passes through said glass substrate and passes through said transflective reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle;

at least one photo sensor configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a silicon photo sensor, and wherein a display intensity of said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by said at least one photo sensor;

wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 15 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough; and

wherein said reflective element provides greater than about 55 percent photopic reflectance of light incident thereon as viewed by the driver operating the equipped vehicle.

42. The mirror system of claim 41, wherein (i) said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer and (ii) said transparent semi-conductive layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

43. The mirror system of claim 42, wherein said metal oxide comprises a layer of titanium dioxide and wherein said layer of titanium oxide is disposed between said metal thin film layer and said third surface of said second substrate.

44. The mirror system of claim 43, wherein the physical thicknesses and materials of said three thin film layers are selected to limit at least one of (a) a tinting effect and (b) a color interference effect so as to provide said substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly.

45. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element having a first substrate having first and second surfaces and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces, said first and second substrates being arranged so that said second surface opposes said third surface with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal, said perimeter seal having a width dimension;

wherein a transflective reflector is established at said third surface of said second substrate;

wherein said transflective reflector comprises at least three thin film layers, said three thin film layers comprising a metallic layer, a transparent semi-conductive layer and a metal oxide layer;

wherein said reflective element exhibits a substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed during daytime by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said metallic layer is disposed at an inboard portion of said third surface of said second substrate with a perimeter border region of said third surface of said second substrate being substantially devoid of said metallic layer, and wherein said perimeter seal encompasses a perimeter portion of said metallic layer and at least partially encompasses said perimeter border region of said of said second substrate;

wherein an electrically conductive tab is provided, said tab establishing electrical continuity with said metallic layer, and wherein at least a portion of said tab is disposed outboard of said perimeter seal;

a backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen disposed behind said transflective reflector, wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is backlit by a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is operable to emit display information and wherein said emitted display information passes through said second substrate, passes through said transflective reflector, passes through said electrochromic medium, and passes through said first substrate for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle;

at least one photo sensor configured to detect ambient light at the vehicle, wherein said at least one photo sensor comprises a silicon photo sensor, and wherein a display intensity of said backlit active matrix liquid crystal video display screen is adjustable responsive to a sensing of ambient light by said at least one photo sensor;

wherein said transflective reflector is at least about 15 percent transmissive of said emitted display information passing therethrough; and

wherein said electrochromic reflective element provides greater than about 55 percent photopic reflectance of light incident thereon as viewed by the driver operating the equipped vehicle.

46. The mirror system of claim 45, wherein (i) said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of a silver metallic layer and a silver alloy metallic layer and (ii) said transparent semi-conductive layer comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

47. The mirror system of claim 46, wherein said metal oxide comprises a layer of titanium dioxide and wherein said layer of titanium oxide is disposed between said metal thin film layer and said third surface of said second substrate.

48. The mirror system of claim 47, wherein the physical thicknesses and materials of said three thin film layers are selected to limit at least one of (a) a tinting effect and (b) a color interference effect so as to provide said substantially spectrally neutral reflectant characteristic as viewed by a driver operating a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly.