INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH INDICATOR

• US 20190106059A1
• Filed: 10/09/2018
• Published: 04/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wesley, Mitchell J., Peterson, Kenneth C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,538,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror casing, a mirror reflective element disposed at the mirror casing, and an indicator disposed at the mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element and mirror casing are adjustably mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle via a mounting structure. The indicator includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, with each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes being individually operated to emit light of a particular color. Responsive to one of a plurality of triggers, the indicator electrically powers a particular one or particular ones of the light emitting diodes for that trigger. The indicator electrically powers the particular one or ones of the light emitting diodes to emit light of one or more colors to convey colored information associated with that trigger to a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

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

a mirror casing;

a mirror reflective element disposed at said mirror casing;

a mounting structure configured to adjustably mount said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing at an interior portion of a vehicle;

an indicator disposed at said mirror reflective element;

wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each light emitting diode of said plurality of light emitting diodes is individually operated to emit light of a particular color; and

wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, and responsive to one of a plurality of triggers, said indicator electrically powers a particular one or particular ones of said light emitting diodes for that trigger, and wherein said indicator electrically powers the particular one or particular ones of said light emitting diodes to emit light of one or more particular colors to convey colored information associated with that trigger to a driver of the vehicle.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said indicator is disposed behind said mirror reflective element, and wherein, when said indicator electrically powers said light emitting diodes, light emitted by the powered light emitting diodes passes through said mirror reflective element so as to be viewable by the driver of the vehicle.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a ring-shaped indicator with said light emitting diodes arranged in a circular shape.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said indicator provides a turn signal indication by powering two or more of said light emitting diodes at one side region of said ring-shaped indicator.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides a turn signal indication by powering some of said light emitting diodes at one side of said indicator to emit yellow light responsive to actuation of a turn signal of the vehicle.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides a blind zone indication by powering some of said light emitting diodes to emit green, yellow or red light responsive to a blind zone detection system of the vehicle.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides a vehicle security alert by powering at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit red light responsive to a security system of the vehicle.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides a door lock indication by powering at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit red light responsive to the doors of the vehicle being locked, and wherein said indicator provides a door unlock indication by powering at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit green light responsive to the doors of the vehicle being unlocked.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides a communication indication by powering at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit blue light responsive to an incoming call or message received by a user'"'"'s cell phone or a telematics system of the vehicle.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, comprising an alert indicator at a driver side region of said mirror assembly, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said alert indicator emits light responsive to determination, via a collision avoidance system of the vehicle, of a rapid approach of another vehicle.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said alert indicator is responsive to a forward sensing sensor.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises said forward sensing sensor.

13. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror casing;

a mirror reflective element disposed at said mirror casing;

a mounting structure configured to adjustably mount said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing at an interior portion of a vehicle;

an indicator disposed behind said mirror reflective element;

wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each light emitting diode of said plurality of light emitting diodes is individually operated to emit light of a particular color;

wherein said indicator comprises a ring-shaped indicator with said light emitting diodes arranged in a circular shape;

wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, and responsive to one of a plurality of triggers, said indicator electrically powers a particular one or particular ones of said light emitting diodes for that trigger, and wherein said indicator electrically powers the particular one or particular ones of said light emitting diodes to emit light of one or more particular colors to convey colored information associated with that trigger to a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, when said indicator electrically powers said light emitting diodes, light emitted by the powered light emitting diodes passes through said mirror reflective element so as to be viewable by the driver of the vehicle; and

wherein the plurality of triggers comprises triggers selected from the group consisting of (i) a signal indicative of locking or unlocking a vehicle door, (ii) a signal indicative of an incoming phone call or message, (iii) a signal indicative of navigation instructions from a navigation system of the vehicle and (iv) a signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, the trigger comprises a signal indicative of locking or unlocking a vehicle door, and wherein said indicator powers at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit red light responsive to the doors of the vehicle being locked, and wherein said indicator powers at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit green light responsive to the doors of the vehicle being unlocked.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, the trigger comprises a signal indicative of an incoming phone call or message, and wherein said indicator powers at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit blue light responsive to an incoming call or message received by a user'"'"'s cell phone or a telematics system of the vehicle.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, the trigger comprises a signal indicative of navigation instructions from a navigation system of the vehicle, and wherein said indicator powers at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit a pattern of light that is indicative of a turn instruction for the driver to follow for a planned route of the navigation system.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, the trigger comprises a signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle, and wherein said indicator powers at least some of said light emitting diodes to emit yellow light when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a speed limit for the road along which the vehicle is traveling.

18. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror casing;

a mirror reflective element disposed at said mirror casing;

a mounting structure configured to adjustably mount said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing at an interior portion of a vehicle;

an indicator disposed behind said mirror reflective element;

wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each light emitting diode of said plurality of light emitting diodes is individually operated to emit light of a particular color;

wherein said indicator comprises a ring-shaped indicator with said light emitting diodes arranged in a circular shape;

wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, and responsive to one of a plurality of triggers, said indicator electrically powers a particular one or particular ones of said light emitting diodes for that trigger, and wherein said indicator electrically powers the particular one or particular ones of said light emitting diodes to emit light of one or more particular colors to convey colored information associated with that trigger to a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, when said indicator electrically powers said light emitting diodes, light emitted by the powered light emitting diodes passes through said mirror reflective element so as to be viewable by the driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides, responsive to actuation of a turn signal of the vehicle, a turn signal indication by powering two or more of said light emitting diodes at one side region of said ring-shaped indicator; and

wherein, with said mirror reflective element and said mirror casing adjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via said mounting structure, said indicator provides a blind zone indication by powering some of said light emitting diodes at a left or right side region of said ring-shaped indicator responsive to detection of the vehicle in a blind zone at the respective left or right side of the vehicle.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said indicator provides the turn signal indication by powering some of said light emitting diodes at the one side of said indicator to emit yellow light responsive to actuation of the turn signal of the vehicle at that side of the vehicle.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein said indicator provides the blind zone indication by powering some of said light emitting diodes to emit green, yellow or red light responsive to proximity of the vehicle detected in the blind zone at the respective left or right side of the vehicle.