INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED INDICATOR SYMBOL

• US 20120069444A1
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas C., Eich, Rodger William
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• 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: F21V 23/0485 the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor

Abstract

This invention relates to mirror assemblies for vehicles and in particular to interior rearview minor assemblies having touch screen inputs corresponding to elements representing a symbol. The symbols are located behind a reflective element and not visible until activated by selection of the corresponding input or other means.

Claims

1. An rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a reflective element configured to accept an input;

a mirror housing to support the reflective element, wherein

the reflective element is operable to sense a touch or proximity of the input so as to determine a point on the reflective element corresponding to the sensed input.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the point on the reflective element corresponds to at least one symbol disposed behind said reflective surface, the activation of which causes the symbol to be illuminated.

3. The minor assembly of claim 2, wherein the reflective element is configured as a resistive element comprising at least two electrically conductive layers separated by a narrow gap, wherein when the input selects the point on the reflective element'"'"'s outer surface, the at least two electrically conductive layers become connected at that point causing a change in electrical current and activates or deactivates the at least one symbol.

4. The minor assembly of claim 2, wherein the reflective element is configured as a capacitive element comprising an insulator coated with a conductor such that the touch or proximity to an outer surface of the reflective element allows a measurable change in capacitance which activates the at least one symbol at the point.

5. The minor assembly of claim 4, wherein the capacitive element is one of a surface capacitive element, a projected capacitive element, a mutual capacitive element and a self capacitive element.

6. The minor assembly of claim 2, wherein the reflective element is configured as an optical image sensor having at least one image sensor that when the input is sensed, it is triangulated to locate the point on the reflective element corresponding to the sensed input.

7. The minor assembly of claim 2, wherein the reflective element is configured as an opto-electrical sensor having at least one photodetector behind the reflective element such that a change in level of illumination is detected causing activation or deactivation of the at least one symbol.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the reflective element is transflective such that the at least one symbol is visible upon activation and hidden upon deactivation.

9. The minor assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one symbol is activated by at least one of the following conditions:

selection of the input, starting an ignition of the vehicle, opening of a vehicle door, status of vehicle headlamps, user activated feature and sensing user movement.

10. The minor assembly of claim 9, wherein an intensity of the at least one illumination source is dependent on at least one of sensitivity of ambient light, status of the headlamps, and intensity of vehicle dashboard lighting.

11. The minor assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one symbol is located such that it illuminates a portion of an edge of the reflective element.

12. The minor assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one symbol is a multi-color symbol configured to indicate various functions corresponding to a controllable device actuated by the input.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one symbol is a reconfigurable display.

14. The minor assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one illumination source is at least one of:

a light emitting diode, organic light emitting diode, inorganic light emitting diode, electroluminescent light emitting junction, element and multiple elements.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element is not supported by a bezel.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein activation of the at least one symbol provides at least one of a tactile feedback and an audible response.

17. A mirror system of a vehicle, comprising:

an rearview minor assembly for a vehicle having a reflective element configured to accept an input and a minor housing to support the reflective element, wherein

the reflective element is operable to sense a touch or proximity of the input so as to determine a point on the reflective element corresponding to the sensed input, and

the reflective element is a transflective element such that the at least one symbol is visible upon activation and hidden during deactivation.

18. The minor assembly of claim 17, wherein the point on the reflective element corresponds to the at least one symbol disposed behind said reflective surface, the activation of which causes the symbol to be illuminated.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the reflective element is configured as a resistive element comprising at least two electrically conductive layers separated by a narrow gap, wherein when the input selects the point on the reflective element'"'"'s outer surface, the at least two electrically conductive layers become connected at that point causing a change in electrical current and activates or deactivates the at least one symbol.

20. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the reflective element is configured as a capacitive element comprising an insulator coated with a conductor such that the touch or proximity to outer surface of the reflective element allows a measurable change in capacitance which activates the at least one symbol at the point.

21. The minor assembly of claim 20, wherein the capacitive element is one of a surface capacitive element, a projected capacitive element, a mutual capacitive element and a self capacitive element.

22. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the reflective element is configured as an optical image sensor having at least one image that when the input is sensed, it is triangulated to locate the point on the reflective element corresponding to the sensed input.

23. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the reflective element is configured as an opto-electrical sensor having at least one photodetector behind the reflective element such that a change in level of illumination is detected causing activation or deactivation of the at least one symbol.

24. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one symbol is activated by at least one of the following conditions:

selection of the input, starting an ignition of the vehicle, opening of a vehicle door, status of vehicle headlamps, user activated feature and sensing user movement.

25. The minor assembly of claim 24, wherein an intensity of the at least one illumination source is dependent on at least one of sensitivity of ambient light, status of the headlamps, and intensity of vehicle dashboard lighting.

26. The minor assembly of claim 24, wherein the at least one symbol is located such that it illuminates a portion of an edge of the reflective element.

27. The mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one symbol is a multi-color symbol configured to indicate various functions corresponding to a controllable device actuated by the input.

28. The mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one symbol is a reconfigurable display.

29. The minor assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one illumination source is at least one of:

a light emitting diode, organic light emitting diode, inorganic light emitting diode, electroluminescent light emitting junction, element and multiple elements.

30. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the reflective element is not supported by a bezel.

31. The mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein activation of the at least one symbol provides at least one of a tactile feedback and an audible response.