ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20140268281A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Barry K., Schmidt, David J., Nagel, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A system is configured to reduce glare form a trailing vehicle. The system may include a forward facing light sensor, partially enclosed in an interior mirror housing. This forward facing light sensor is configured to detect ambient light, such that the system can determine a day time condition or a nighttime condition. The system may also include rear facing light sensors, each included in separate mirror assemblies. Based upon an ambient light detected and a glare of a trailing vehicle, the system may be configured to change the reflectance of an electro-optic element in order to reduce glare independently in the separate mirror assemblies.

Claims

1. An electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the electro-optic rearview mirror system comprising:

a first light sensor configured to detect ambient light in an approximately forward direction with respect to a normal operating direction of the vehicle;

a first electro-optic rearview mirror assembly comprising;

a first electro-optic element; and

a second light sensor configured to detect glare light in an approximately rearward direction with respect to the normal operating direction of the vehicle;

a second electro-optic rearview mirror assembly comprising;

a second electro-optic element;

a third light sensor configured to detect glare light in an approximately rearward direction with respect to the normal operating direction of the vehicle;

a processor in communication with said first light sensor and in communication with said third light sensor, wherein the second electro-optic element is operable to change a second reflectance in response to a first signal received from the first light sensor and a third signal received from the third light sensor.

2. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the first light sensor is integrated into the first electro-optic rearview mirror assembly.

3. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the change in the second reflectance is independent of a light received by the second light sensor.

4. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the first electro-optic element is operable to change a first reflectance in response to the first signal received from the first light sensor and a second signal received from the second light sensor.

5. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein the first reflectance is independent of the second reflectance.

6. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein the first reflectance and the second reflectance comprise a plurality of reflectance levels, second opto-electric element is operable to change a reflectance to a plurality of reflectance levels.

7. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein the first electro-optic element is operable to change a first reflectance to a first plurality of reflectance levels in response to the first signal received from the first light sensor and a second signal received from the second light sensor.

8. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 7, wherein the second opto-electric element is operable to change the second reflectance to a second plurality of reflectance levels in response to the first signal and the third signal.

9. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 8, wherein the first reflectance of the first plurality of reflectance levels is independent of the second reflectance of the second plurality of reflectance levels.

10. An exterior electro-optic mirror assembly configured for use with a vehicle, said exterior electro-optic mirror assembly comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate approximately parallel to said first substrate, said first and second substrates defining a cavity;

an electro-optic medium in said cavity;

a first light sensor configured to detect light and view at least partially rearward of the vehicle; and

a processor configured to receive an input signal from a second light sensor, said processor further configured to control electrical power supplied to said electro-optic medium based upon light detected by said light sensor and said received input from said second light sensor.

11. The exterior electro-optic mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the exterior electro-optic mirror assembly is a side rearview mirror assembly.

12. The exterior electro-optic mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said input received from said second sensor is received from a light sensor interior to the vehicle.

13. The exterior electro-optic mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said input received from said second sensor comprises a signal communicating an ambient light of a lighting environment of the vehicle.

14. The exterior electro-optic mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said signal indicates the ambient light detected in an approximately forward direction with respect to a normal operating direction of the vehicle.

15. An electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the electro-optic rearview mirror system comprising:

a first electro-optic rearview mirror assembly comprising;

a first electro-optic element;

a first light sensor configured to detect an ambient light in an approximately forward direction with respect to a normal operating direction of the vehicle; and

a second light sensor configured to detect a glare light in an approximately rearward direction with respect to the normal operating direction of the vehicle;

a second electro-optic rearview mirror assembly comprising;

a second electro-optic element;

a third light sensor configured to detect glare light in an approximately rearward direction with respect to the normal operating direction of the vehicle; and

a processor in communication with said first light sensor and in communication with said third light sensor, wherein said second electro-optic element is in electrical communication with said processor and said second electro-optic element is configured to change reflectance based upon light received by said first light sensor and said third light sensor.

16. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said second electro-optic element is configured to change reflectance independent of light received by said second light sensor.

17. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said first electro-optic rearview mirror assembly is an interior rearview mirror assembly and said second electro-optic rearview mirror assembly is an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

18. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein each of said second and third light sensors further comprises a secondary optic.

19. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 18, wherein said secondary optic is configured so a horizontal field of view is approximately ten degrees outboard and thirty-five degrees inboard with respect to the origin of the third light sensor.

20. The electro-optic rearview mirror system of claim 18, wherein said secondary optic is configured so a vertical field of view is approximately ten degrees below and fifteen degrees above with respect to the origin of the third light sensor.