Vehicle mirror digital network and dynamically interactive mirror system

• US 5,959,367 A
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Veldman, Roger L., O'Farrell, Desmond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/138,919
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 701/49, 701/213, 701/36, 318/466, 318/446, 340/425.72, 359/605, 359/604, 359/603, 359/841, 250/214 AL
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A vehicle rear vision system includes at lest two rearview assemblies each having an image transfer device for transferring images rearwardly of the vehicle in order to be observable by a driver. A rear vision communication system is provided to effect communication between the rearview assemblies. The rear vision communication system also includes a communication link with the vehicle multiplex communication network. The vehicle rear vision system may include an interactive dynamic position control, which repositions each mirror in the system in response to a change in the position of one mirror in a manner which allows the mirror aim to track a driver'"'"'s eye position.

Claims

1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, said mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis;

an interface and control module positioned within said housing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, said control module interconnected to a plurality of input and/or output devices, said plurality of devices selected from the group consisting of an intrusion detector, an intelligent vehicle highway system, a global positioning system, a garage door opener system, a keyless entry system, a blind spot detection system, an interactive dynamically adjustable mirror system, a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater, an antenna, an electro-optical element, a light sensor, a heading sensor, a position encoder, said actuator and an image capture device; and

said control module interconnected with a vehicle communication network for sending to and/or receiving data from the vehicle communication network.

2. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes a microprocessor-based control that formats data for the vehicle communication network and/or decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

3. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, a cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

4. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus and wherein said control module includes a serial bus node for communication with said vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

5. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of devices comprises at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater, an electro-optical element and said actuator.

6. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said image capture device comprises a solid-state image capture device.

7. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 6 wherein said image capture device comprises a solid-state imaging array.

8. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of devices comprises at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater, an electro-optical element and said actuator.

9. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 8 wherein said at least two devices are positioned within said housing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly.

10. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises an electro-optical element and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a security light, a stop signal, a heater and said actuator.

11. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises said actuator and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater and an electro-optical element.

12. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 11 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said actuator.

13. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a heater and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, said actuator and an electro-optical element.

14. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 13 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said heater.

15. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 14 wherein said heater is in heat transfer association with said reflective element.

16. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a security light and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a heater, said actuator and an electro-optical element.

17. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 16 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said security light.

18. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 16 wherein said control module receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

19. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a turn signal and an other is selected from the group consisting of a security light, a stop signal, a heater, said actuator and an electro-optical element.

20. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said turn signal.

21. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said electro-optical element.

22. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said reflective element comprises said electro-optical element and wherein said control module provides an output to establish a partial reflectance level of said electro-optical reflective element.

23. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 22 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.

24. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, said mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a microprocessor-based control, said control controlling a plurality of devices housed within said exterior rearview mirror housing, said plurality of devices comprising at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a heater element in heat transfer association with said reflective element, said actuator for adjustably positioning said reflective element, a security light incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly, a turn signal incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly, a stop signal incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly and an electro-optical element; and

said control providing outputs to operate said at least two devices;

wherein said microprocessor-based control includes a node configured to interconnect with a vehicle communication network.

25. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein said microprocessor-based control formats data for the vehicle communication network and/or decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

26. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein said microprocessor-based control communicates with at least one antenna.

27. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 26 wherein said antenna comprises one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, a cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

28. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus and wherein said node comprises a serial bus node for communication with said vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

29. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises said actuator.

30. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a heater element.

31. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a turn signal.

32. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a security light.

33. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 32 wherein said microprocessor-based control receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

34. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises an electro-optical element.

35. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 34 wherein said reflective element comprises said electro-optical element and wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to establish a partial reflectance level of said electro-optical reflective element.

36. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 35 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.

37. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus, said mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis;

at least one other device housed within said exterior rearview mirror housing, said device selected from the group consisting of a heater element in heat transfer association with said reflective element, a security light, a turn signal, and a stop signal; and

a microprocessor-based control providing an output to operate at least one of said actuator and said at least one other device;

wherein said microprocessor-based control includes a node configured to interconnect with a vehicle communication network, said node comprising a serial bus node for communication with a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

38. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said actuator.

39. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said heater element.

40. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said turn signal.

41. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said stop signal.

42. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said security light.

43. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 42 wherein said microprocessor-based control receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

44. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control communicates with at least one antenna.

45. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 44 wherein said antenna comprises one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, a cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

46. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control formats data for the vehicle communication network and/or decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

47. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 46 wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optical element.

48. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 47 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to establish a partial reflectance level of said electro-optical reflective element.

49. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 48 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.