Vehicular rearview mirror system

• US 6,639,519 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, John P., Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/134,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/425.5, 362/503, 362/494, 359/548, 359/603, 701/36, 701/49
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A vehicular rearview mirror system comprises an interior rearview mirror system that includes an interior electrochromic reflective element that assumes an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal. A housing is provided for the interior mirror electrochromic reflective element. The vehicular rearview mirror system includes a circuit board and a digital electrochromic drive circuit, the drive circuit supplying a drive signal to the interior mirror electrochromic reflective element. The vehicular rearview mirror system includes a garage door opener; the garage door opener including a transmitter and a logic circuit for transmitting garage door opening signals. The circuit board includes a microcontroller shared, at least in part, by the electrochromic drive circuit and the logic circuit. Preferably, the microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function, such as a driver-side electrochromic mirror function or a passenger-side electrochromic function.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior reflective element assuming an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

a housing for said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a circuit board;

a digital electrochromic drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying a drive signal to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter and a logic circuit, said logic circuit supplying signals to said transmitter for transmitting garage door opening signals;

said circuit board including a microcontroller, said microcontroller shared, at least in part, by said electrochromic drive circuit and said logic circuit;

said microcontroller controlling over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function;

said at least one other vehicle function comprising at least two other vehicle functions;

one of said two other vehicle functions comprising control of a driver-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a driver-side partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

the other of said two other vehicle functions comprising control of a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a passenger-side partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal; and

wherein said microcontroller controls said driver-side partial reflectance level of said driver-side mirror assembly over said network and wherein said microcontroller controls said passenger-side partial reflectance level of said passenger-side mirror assembly over said network.

2. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired network connection.

3. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 2 wherein said vehicle network comprises a protocol selected from the group consisting of a LIN, a CAN and a LAN.

4. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 3 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one of a wire, a cable and a fiber-optic connection.

5. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least partially a wireless network.

6. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 5 wherein said wireless network comprises a short-range wireless connection.

7. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 6 wherein said wireless network comprises a BLUETOOTH protocol.

8. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 5 wherein said wireless network comprises at least one of an infrared and a radio-frequency connection.

9. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 including a battery supplying power to said digital drive circuit and said garage door opener that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

10. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein said battery is rechargeable.

11. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 10 including a solar system for charging said battery.

12. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said housing includes said circuit board.

13. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

14. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

15. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a function associated with at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit and wherein ambient light level information is provided to said at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit over said network.

16. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 15 wherein said ambient light level information is developed by said digital electrochromic drive circuit.

17. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a reverse gear detection function and wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit responds to reverse gear information sent over said network to establish a high reflectance level of said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element.

18. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 including a positioning system for positioning a reflective element and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a memory function and wherein said network supplies memory values to operate said positioning system.

19. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 further including a digital sound-processing system, wherein said digital sound-processing system has components in common with said digital electrochromic drive circuit and said garage door opener.

20. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

21. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal is greater than said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

22. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a phototransistor.

23. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a photodiode.

24. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller comprises a microprocessor.

25. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least a wired connection comprising no more than three wires.

26. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a remote keyless entry function.

27. The vehicle rearview mirror sys em of claim 1 wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a navigational system function.

28. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 27 wherein said navigational system function comprises a global-positioning system function.

29. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a telematics function.

30. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 29 wherein said interior mirror system includes at least one microphone.

31. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said telematics function comprises a speech-recognition mode.

32. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 31 wherein said interior mirror system includes a user control, actuation of which is transmitted over said network.

33. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 32 wherein said user control comprises a user-operable button.

34. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said interior mirror system comprises a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller.

35. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 34 wherein said forward-facing camera comprises at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

36. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a display function.

37. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 36 wherein said display function comprises a vehicle heading information display function.

38. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein information from a magnetic sensor is supplied over said network.

39. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said display function comprises a seatbelt warning status display function.

40. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said interior mirror system receives at least one of gear status information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

41. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said interior mirror system receives information over said network.

42. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 41 wherein said information comprises at least one of gear status information, magnetic sensor information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

43. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 41 wherein said information comprises door opener information.

44. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 43 wherein said rearview mirror system activates general lighting of the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

45. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said garage door opener serves as a receiver for a tire pressure monitoring system.

46. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit has components in common with said garage door opener.

47. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit is on said circuit board.

48. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 47 wherein said garage door opener is at least partially on said circuit board.

49. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior reflective element assuming an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

a housing for said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a circuit board;

a digital electrochromic drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying a drive signal to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter and a logic circuit, said logic circuit supplying signals to said transmitter for transmitting garage door opening signals;

said circuit board including a microcontroller, said microcontroller shared, at least in part, by said electrochromic drive circuit and said logic circuit;

a vehicle network;

at least one of;

a) a driver-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a driver-side partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal and wherein said microcontroller controls said driver-side partial reflectance level of said driver-side mirror assembly over said network, and b) a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a passenger-side partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal, and wherein said microcontroller controls said passenger-side partial reflectance level of said passenger-side mirror assembly over said network; and

wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a light sensor, said light sensor comprising one of a photodiode and a phototransistor.

50. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired network connection.

51. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 50 wherein said vehicle network comprises a protocol selected from the group consisting of a LIN, a CAN and a LAN.

52. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 51 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one of a wire, a cable and a fiber-optic connection.

53. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least partially a wireless network.

54. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 53 wherein said wireless network comprises a short-range wireless connection.

55. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 54 wherein said wireless network comprises a BLUETOOTH protocol.

56. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 53 wherein said wireless network comprises at least one of an infrared and a radio-frequency connection.

57. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 including a battery supplying power to said digital drive circuit and said garage door opener that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

58. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 57 wherein said battery is rechargeable.

59. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 58 including a solar system for charging said battery.

60. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said housing includes said circuit board.

61. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

62. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said passenger-side exterior minor assembly and wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

63. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a function associated with at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit and wherein ambient light level information is provided to said at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit over said network.

64. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 63 wherein said ambient light level information is developed by said digital electrochromic drive circuit.

65. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a reverse gear detection function and wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit responds to reverse gear information sent over said network to establish a high reflectance level of said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element.

66. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 including a positioning system for positioning a reflective element, wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a memory function and wherein said network supplies memory values to operate said positioning system.

67. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 further including a digital sound-processing system, wherein said digital sound-processing system has components in common with said digital electrochromic drive circuit and said garage door opener.

68. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly, and wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

69. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 68 wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal is greater than said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

70. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said light sensor comprises a phototransistor.

71. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said light sensor comprises a photodiode.

72. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller comprises a microprocessor.

73. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired connection comprising no more than three wires.

74. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a remote keyless entry function.

75. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a navigational system function.

76. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 75 wherein said navigational system function comprises a global-positioning system function.

77. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a telematics function.

78. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 77 wherein said interior mirror system includes at least one microphone.

79. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 78 wherein said telematics function comprises a speech-recognition mode.

80. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 79 wherein said interior mirror system includes a user control, actuation of which is transmitted over said network.

81. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 80 wherein said user control comprises a user-operable button.

82. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said interior mirror system comprises a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller.

83. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 82 wherein said forward-facing camera comprises at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

84. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said microcontroller controls over said vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a display function.

85. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 84 wherein said display function comprises a vehicle heading information display function.

86. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 85 wherein information from a magnetic sensor is supplied over said network.

87. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 84 wherein said display function comprises a seatbelt warning status display function.

88. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said interior mirror system receives at least one of gear status information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

89. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said interior mirror system receives information over said network.

90. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 89 wherein said information comprises at least one of gear status information, magnetic sensor information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

91. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 89 wherein said information comprises door opener information.

92. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 91 wherein said rearview mirror system activates general lighting of the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

93. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said garage door opener serves as a receiver for a tire pressure monitoring system.

94. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit has components in common with said garage door opener.

95. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 49 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit is on said circuit board.

96. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 95 wherein said garage door opener is at least partially on said circuit board.

97. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior reflective element assuming an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

a housing for said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a circuit board;

a digital electrochromic drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying a drive signal to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter and a logic circuit, said logic circuit supplying signals to said transmitter for transmitting garage door opening signals;

said circuit board including a microcontroller, said microcontroller shared, at least in part, by said electrochromic drive circuit and said logic circuit;

at least one of;

a) a driver-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a driver-side partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal and wherein said microcontroller controls said driver-side partial reflectance level of said driver-side mirror assembly, and b) a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a passenger-side partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal, and wherein said microcontroller controls said passenger-side partial reflectance level of said passenger-side mirror assembly; and

wherein said interior mirror system comprises a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller.

98. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle network and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired network connection.

99. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 98 said vehicle includes a vehicle network and wherein said vehicle network comprises a protocol selected from the group consisting of a LTN, a CAN and a LAN.

100. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 99 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one of a wire, a cable and a fiber-optic connection.

101. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle network and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least partially a wireless network.

102. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 101 wherein said wireless network comprises a short-range wireless connection.

103. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 102 wherein said wireless network comprises a BLUETOOTH protocol.

104. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 101 wherein said wireless network comprises at least one of an infrared and a radio-frequency connection.

105. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 including a battery supplying power to said digital drive circuit and said garage door opener that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

106. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 105 wherein said battery is rechargeable.

107. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 106 including a solar system for charging said battery.

108. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said housing includes said circuit board.

109. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

110. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

111. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a function associated with at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit and wherein ambient light level information is provided to said at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit over said network.

112. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 111 wherein said ambient light level information is developed by said digital electrochromic drive circuit.

113. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a reverse gear detection function and wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit responds to reverse gear information sent over said network to establish a high reflectance level of said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element.

114. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 including a positioning system for positioning a reflective element, wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a memory function and wherein said network supplies memory values to operate said positioning system.

115. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 further including a digital sound processing system, wherein said digital sound-processing system has components in common with said digital electrochromic drive circuit and said garage door opener.

116. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly, and wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

117. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 116 wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal is greater than said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

118. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a phototransistor.

119. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a photodiode.

120. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller comprises a microprocessor.

121. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired connection comprising no more than three wires.

122. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a remote keyless entry function.

123. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a navigational system function.

124. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 123 wherein said navigational system function comprises a global-positioning system function.

125. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a telematics function.

126. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 125 wherein said interior mirror system includes at least one microphone.

127. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 126 wherein said telematics function comprises a speech-recognition mode.

128. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 127 wherein said interior mirror system includes a user control, actuation of which is transmitted over said network.

129. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 128 wherein said user control comprises a user-operable button.

130. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a light sensor, said light sensor comprising one of a photodiode and a phototransistor.

131. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said forward-facing camera comprises at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

132. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a display function.

133. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 132 wherein said display function comprises a vehicle heading information display function.

134. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 133 wherein information from a magnetic sensor is supplied over said network.

135. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 132 wherein said display function comprises a seatbelt warning status display function.

136. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said interior mirror system receives at least one of gear status information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

137. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said interior mirror system receives information over said network.

138. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 137 wherein said information comprises at least one of gear status information, magnetic sensor information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

139. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 137 wherein said information comprises door opener information.

140. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 139 wherein said rearview mirror system activates general lighting of the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

141. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said garage door opener serves as a receiver for a tire pressure monitoring system.

142. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit has components in common with said garage door opener.

143. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said microcontroller controls said driver-side partial reflectance level of said driver-side mirror assembly over said network.

144. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one of said driver-side exterior mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprises said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said microcontroller controls said passenger-side partial reflectance level of said passenger-side mirror assembly over said network.

145. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 97 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit is on said circuit board.

146. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 145 wherein said garage door opener is at least partially on said circuit board.

147. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an interior rearview mirror system comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, said interior reflective element assuming an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element partial reflectance level in response to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

a housing for said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a circuit board;

a digital electrochromic drive circuit, said drive circuit supplying a drive signal to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element;

a garage door opener, said garage door opener including a transmitter and a logic circuit, said logic circuit supplying signals to said transmitter for transmitting garage door opening signals;

said circuit board including a microcontroller, said microcontroller shared, at least in part, by said electrochromic drive circuit and said logic circuit;

said microcontroller comprising a microprocessor; and

wherein said microcontroller controls at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a telematics function.

148. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle network and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired network connection.

149. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 148 wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle network and wherein said vehicle network comprises a protocol selected from the group consisting of a LIN, a CAN and a LAN.

150. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 149 wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one of a wire, a cable and a fiber-optic connection.

151. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said vehicle includes a vehicle network and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least partially a wireless network.

152. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 151 wherein said wireless network comprises a short-range wireless connection.

153. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 152 wherein said wireless network comprises a BLUETOOTH protocol.

154. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 151 wherein said wireless network comprises at least one of an infrared and a radio-frequency connection.

155. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 including a battery supplying power to said digital drive circuit and said garage door opener that is separate from the vehicle ignition.

156. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 155 wherein said battery is rechargeable.

157. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 156 including a solar system for charging said battery.

158. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said housing includes said circuit board.

159. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 including a driver-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a driver-side partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal and wherein said microcontroller controls said driver-side partial reflectance level of said driver-side mirror assembly, and wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

160. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 159 including a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a passenger-side partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal, and wherein said microcontroller controls said passenger-side partial reflectance level of said passenger-side mirror assembly, and wherein said partial reflectance level of said interior reflective element assumed in response to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

161. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a function associated with at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit and wherein ambient light level information is provided to said at least one of an instrument panel and a headlight control circuit over said network.

162. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 161 wherein said ambient light level information is developed by said digital electrochromic drive circuit.

163. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a reverse gear detection function and wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit responds to reverse gear information sent over said network to establish a high reflectance level of said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element.

164. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 including a positioning system for positioning a reflective element, wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function includes a memory function and wherein said network supplies memory values to operate said positioning system.

165. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 further including a digital sound-processing system, wherein said digital sound-processing system has components in common with said digital electrochromic drive circuit and said garage door opener.

166. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 including:

a) a driver-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a driver-side partial reflectance level in response to a driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal and wherein said microcontroller controls said driver-side partial reflectance level of said driver-side mirror assembly, and b) a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly that includes a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element that assumes a passenger-side partial reflectance level in response to a passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal, and wherein said microcontroller controls said passenger-side partial reflectance level of said passenger-side mirror assembly, and wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

167. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 166 wherein said partial reflectance level of said driver-side reflective element assumed in response to said driver-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal is greater than said partial reflectance level of said passenger-side reflective element assumed in response to said passenger-side exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

168. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a phototransistor.

169. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a photodiode.

170. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a headlamp controller.

171. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said vehicle network comprises at least one wired connection comprising no more than three wires.

172. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls ver a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a remote keyless entry function.

173. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a navigational system function.

174. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 173 wherein said navigational system function comprises a global-positioning system function.

175. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said interior mirror system comprises a forward-facing camera, said forward-facing camera at least partially controlled by said microcontroller.

176. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said interior mirror system includes at least one microphone.

177. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 176 wherein said telematics function comprises a speech-recognition mode.

178. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 177 wherein said interior mirror system includes a user control, actuation of which is transmitted over a vehicle network.

179. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 178 wherein said user control comprises a user-operable button.

180. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller receives an input from a light sensor, said light sensor comprising one of a photodiode and a phototransistor.

181. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said forward-facing camera comprises at least one of a headlamp-controlling camera and a rain-sensing camera.

182. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said at least one other vehicle function comprises a display function.

183. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 182 wherein said display function comprises a vehicle heading information display function.

184. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 182 wherein information from a magnetic sensor is supplied over said network.

185. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 182 wherein said display function comprises a seatbelt warning status display function.

186. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said interior mirror system receives at least one of gear status information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

187. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said interior mirror system receives information over said network.

188. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 187 wherein said information comprises at least one of gear status information, magnetic sensor information, engine information, alarm information and door opener information.

189. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 187 wherein said information comprises door opener information.

190. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 189 wherein said rearview mirror system activates general lighting of the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

191. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said garage door opener serves as a receiver for a tire pressure monitoring system.

192. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit has components in common with said garage door opener.

193. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 including a driver-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said microcontroller controls over a vehicle network at least one other vehicle function and wherein said microcontroller controls a partial reflectance level of an electrochromic reflective element of said driver-side mirror assembly over said network.

194. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 193 including a passenger-side exterior mirror assembly and wherein said microcontroller controls a partial reflectance level of an electrochromic reflective element of said passenger-side mirror assembly over said network.

195. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 147 wherein said digital electrochromic drive circuit is on said circuit board.

196. The vehicle rearview mirror system of claim 195 wherein said garage door opener is at least partially on said circuit board.