Rearview mirror assembly with utility functions

• US 7,012,727 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Lindahl, John O., DeWind, Darryl P., Hutzel, Barry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US10/668,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/850, 359/854, 359/855, 359/865, 359/871, 359/872, 359/267, 359/265, 348/148, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/461, 340/462, 340/815.45, 340/815.83, 362/494
• US Class Current: 359/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element, a housing or casing supporting the reflective element, and the casing including a storage space. The storage space provides storage for at least one accessory and for storing the accessory in the location easily accessible by an occupant of the vehicle whereby the accessory can be inserted into and removed from the storage space for use by an occupant of the vehicle. The storage space may take the form of a recess provided in a top wall of the casing, a recessed portion provided in a front wall, back wall, or end wall of the casing. In one form, the recessed portion houses a pendent accessory which is movable between a retracted position within the recess to an extended position for viewing by an occupant of the vehicle. For example, the pendent accessory may include a reflective element or a display element, for displaying information to an occupant of the vehicle.

Claims

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

a rearview mirror assembly, said rearview mirror assembly having a mirror casing, said mirror casing including a reflective element, and a support for mounting said mirror casing to a header portion or a windshield portion of a vehicle whereby adjustment of said rearview mirror assembly provides a rearward view through a rear window of the vehicle to a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle;

an information display repositionable between a viewing position viewable to an occupant of the vehicle wherein said information display is extended from said mirror casing and a non-viewing position fully retracted in said mirror casing wherein said information display is disposed to the rear of said reflective element and is not viewable by the driver; and

said information display comprising a display chosen from a video screen, an incandescent display, a vacuum fluorescent display, an electro-illuminescent display, a light emitting diode display, a cathode ray tube display, a field emission display, an E-ink display, and an organic emitting polymer display and displaying one chosen from an output of a camera, vehicle status information, a compass display, a temperature display, a computer display, a train warning display, a clock display, and a television image to provide information to a driver of the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle, said information display being pivotal at least about a generally vertical axis independent of said mirror casing and said reflective element wherein said information display may be adjusted to face the driver of the vehicle or the passenger of the vehicle independent of said mirror casing and said reflective element.

2. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrically operated rearview mirror system and includes a wire harness, said information display being powered by said wire harness.

3. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 2, wherein said rearview mirror assembly includes an electra-optic reflective element.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 3, wherein said electro-optic reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said information display displays an output of a camera.

6. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 5, wherein said information display displays an output of an internal surveillance camera.

7. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 6, further comprising a camera, said camera being mounted at said rearview mirror assembly.

8. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said information display is adapted to display multiple display functions.

9. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 8, further comprising a housing, said housing including said display.

10. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes at least one light emitting diode, said light emitting diode providing back lighting for said display.

11. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 9, wherein said housing is supported from said mirror assembly by a support, said housing being pivotally mounted to said support to permit repositioning of said information display.

12. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 11, wherein said housing further includes a circuit board, said circuit board supporting electronics for displaying information on said information display.

13. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 12, wherein said housing is adapted for extension from and retraction into said casing.

14. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mirror casing includes a recessed portion, said information display repositionable from said viewing position extended from said mirror casing to said non-viewing position in said recessed portion when moved to said non-viewing position.

15. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 14, wherein said recessed portion extends into said casing behind said reflective element.

16. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said mirror casing including at least one indicator.

17. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit board in communication with said information display.

18. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 17, wherein said circuit board includes at least one light source for providing back lighting for said information display.

19. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 18, wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

20. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 17, wherein said circuit board and said information display are fully retracted into said mirror casing when said information display is moved to its non-viewing position.

21. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 1, wherein said information display comprises a pendent accessory, said pendent accessory including an extendible support to move said information display between its viewing and non-viewing positions.

22. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said information display is pivotally mounted about said extendable support.

23. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 22, wherein said extendable support include a ball joint, said information display being pivotally mounted about said extendable support by said ball joint.

24. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 21, wherein said pendent accessory includes an outer surface, said mirror casing having an outer surface, said outer surface of said pendent accessory generally flush with said outer surface of said casing when said information display is moved to its non-viewing position.

25. The interior rearview mirror system according to claim 24, wherein said outer surface of said mirror casing has a contour, said outer surface of said pendent accessory generally following said contour of said outer surface of said casing when said information display is moved to its non-viewing position.