TRI-MODAL DISPLAY MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20150266427A1
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: VanderPloeg, John A., VanVuuren, Mark A., Lee, Ethan J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,705,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing configured for attachment to the vehicle; a prismatic element positioned in the housing; a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating provided on a rear surface of the prismatic element; a display mounted behind the prismatic element within the housing; and an actuator device for moving the prismatic element between three distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position, a second viewing position wherein the prismatic element is tilted higher than in the first viewing position, and a third viewing position wherein the prismatic element is tilted higher than in the second viewing position.

Claims

1. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a prismatic element positioned in said housing;

a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating provided on a rear surface of said prismatic element;

a display mounted behind said prismatic element within said housing; and

an actuator device for moving said prismatic element between three distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position, a second viewing position wherein said prismatic element is tilted higher than in the first viewing position, and a third viewing position wherein said prismatic element is tilted higher than in the second viewing position.

2. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said display is turned on when said prismatic element is in the third viewing position and is turned off when said prismatic element is in the first or second viewing positions.

3. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, when in the third viewing position, said prismatic element is tilted upward such that a reflected image of a headliner of the vehicle is reflected towards a viewer'"'"'s eyes.

4. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator device also moves said display with said prismatic element.

5. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator device also moves said housing with said prismatic element.

6. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a primary reflected image of a rearward scene is reflected from said partially reflective, partially transmissive coating and a secondary reflected image of the rearward scene is reflected from a front surface of said prismatic element at a different angle than the primary reflected image, the primary reflected image having a greater intensity than the secondary reflected image,

wherein:

when in the first viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned to reflect the primary reflected image towards a viewer'"'"'s eyes,

when in the second viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned to reflect the secondary reflected image towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes,

when in the third viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned such that a reflected image of a headliner of the vehicle is reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes and neither the primary nor secondary reflected images are reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes, and

said display is turned on when said prismatic element is in the third viewing position and is turned off when said prismatic element is in the first or second viewing positions.

7. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing has an aperture defining a viewing area and wherein said display is configured to display an image having substantially the same size and shape as the viewing area.

8. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a prismatic element positioned in said housing;

a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating provided on a rear surface of said prismatic element;

a display mounted behind said prismatic element within said housing; and

an actuator device for moving said prismatic element between three distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position, a second viewing position and a third viewing position,

wherein a primary reflected image of a rearward scene is reflected from said partially reflective, partially transmissive coating and a secondary reflected image of the rearward scene is reflected from a front surface of said prismatic element at a different angle than the primary reflected image, the primary reflected image having a greater intensity than the secondary reflected image,

wherein;

when in the first viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned to reflect the primary reflected image towards a viewer'"'"'s eyes,

when in the second viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned to reflect the secondary reflected image towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes,

when in the third viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned such that a reflected image of a headliner of the vehicle is reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes and neither the primary nor secondary reflected images are reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes, and

said display is turned on when said prismatic element is in the third viewing position and is turned off when said prismatic element is in the first or second viewing positions.

9. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein, when in the second viewing position, said prismatic element is tilted higher than in the first viewing position, and when in the third viewing position, said prismatic element is tilted higher than in the second viewing position.

10. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said actuator device also moves said display with said prismatic element.

11. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said actuator device also moves said housing with said prismatic element.

12. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said housing has an aperture defining a viewing area and wherein said display is configured to display an image having substantially the same size and shape as the viewing area.

13. The display mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said partially reflective, partially transmissive coating is provided over the entire rear surface of said prismatic element.

14. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a prismatic element positioned in said housing;

a reflective coating provided on a rear surface of said prismatic element, said reflective coating having a transmissive region through which light may pass;

a display mounted behind said prismatic element within said housing behind said transmissive region so as to project light therethrough; and

an actuator device for moving said prismatic element between three distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position, a second viewing position wherein said prismatic element is tilted higher than in the first viewing position, and a third viewing position wherein said prismatic element is tilted higher than in the second viewing position,

wherein said display is turned on when said prismatic element is in the third viewing position and is turned off when said prismatic element is in the first or second viewing positions.

15. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein, when in the third viewing position, said prismatic element is tilted upward such that a reflected image of a headliner of the vehicle is reflected towards a viewer'"'"'s eyes.

16. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said actuator device also moves said display with said prismatic element.

17. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said actuator device also moves said housing with said prismatic element.

18. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein a primary reflected image of a rearward scene is reflected from said reflective coating and a secondary reflected image of the rearward scene is reflected from a front surface of said prismatic element at a different angle than the primary reflected image, the primary reflected image having a greater intensity than the secondary reflected image,

wherein:

when in the first viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned to reflect the primary reflected image towards a viewer'"'"'s eyes,

when in the second viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned to reflect the secondary reflected image towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes,

when in the third viewing position, said prismatic element is positioned such that a reflected image of a headliner of the vehicle is reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes and neither the primary nor secondary reflected images are reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes, and

said display is turned on when said prismatic element is in the third viewing position and is turned off when said prismatic element is in the first or second viewing positions.

19. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said housing has an aperture defining a viewing area and wherein said display is configured to display an image having substantially the same size and shape as the viewing area.

20. The display mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said reflective coating is a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating provided over the entire rear surface of said prismatic element.