Mirror assembly

• US 7,683,768 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lindahl, John O., Lynam, Niall R., Whitehead, Peter J., Karner, Lee, Uken, John T., Hook, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/829,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a human machine interface having at least one user actuatable input accessible at a portion of the mirror casing. The user actuatable input provides user input to at least one element of circuitry that is disposed in the mirror casing, the interior rearview mirror assembly and/or an accessory module. The circuitry is associated with at least one of (i) a moisture sensor, (ii) a blower motor, (iii) a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the air within the cabin of the vehicle, (iv) a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the level of carbon monoxide in the air within the cabin of the vehicle, (v) an air intake, (vi) a remote ignition system, (vii) a humidity sensing device, and (viii) a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior rearview mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information.

Claims

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

a mirror casing having a human machine interface thereat;

said human machine interface comprising at least one user actuatable input accessible at a portion of said casing;

circuitry disposed in at least one of (a) said casing, (b) the interior rearview mirror assembly and (c) an accessory module;

said at least one user actuatable input providing user input to at least one element of said circuitry; and

wherein said circuitry is associated with at least one of (i) a moisture sensor for detecting moisture on an interior surface of the vehicle windshield, (ii) a blower motor of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of the vehicle, (iii) a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the air within the cabin of the vehicle, (iv) a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the level of carbon monoxide present in the air within the cabin of the vehicle, (v) an air intake, (vi) a remote ignition system of the vehicle, (vii) a humidity sensing device that detects a humidity level within the cabin of the vehicle, and (viii) a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior rearview mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one user actuatable input comprises at least one of a user actuatable button, a touch sensor and a proximity sensor.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is associated with a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information, and wherein said display device comprises a video screen.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is associated with a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information, and wherein said display device comprises a back-projected microdisplay.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is associated with a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the level of carbon monoxide present in the air within the cabin of the vehicle and, in response to a detection of a carbon monoxide level within the cabin of the vehicle exceeding a threshold level, at least one of (i) an alert is activated, (ii) the engine is deactivated, and (iii) at least one window of the vehicle is opened.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is associated with a moisture sensor for detecting moisture on an interior surface of the vehicle windshield and wherein said moisture sensor comprises a capacitive moisture sensor.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one user actuatable input is illuminated by backlighting.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one element of said at least one user actuatable input is integrally formed at said portion of said casing during a molding operation that forms said casing.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said portion of said casing comprises a bezel portion of said casing.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, including an electrochromic mirror element.

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

a mirror casing having a human machine interface thereat;

said human machine interface comprising at least one user actuatable input accessible at a portion of said casing;

wherein said at least one user actuatable input comprises at least one of a user actuatable button, a touch sensor and a proximity sensor;

circuitry disposed in at least one of (a) said casing, (b) the interior rearview mirror assembly and (c) an accessory module;

said at least one user actuatable input providing user input to at least one element of said circuitry; and

wherein said circuitry is associated with a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior rearview mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information and wherein said display device comprises one of (a) a video screen and (b) a back-projected microdisplay.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said display device comprises a back-projected microdisplay.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said display device comprises a video screen.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one user actuatable input is illuminated by backlighting.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein said portion of said casing comprises a bezel portion of said casing.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, including an electrochromic mirror element.

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

a mirror casing having a human machine interface thereat;

said human machine interface comprising at least one user actuatable input accessible at a portion of said casing;

wherein said at least one user actuatable input comprises at least one of a user actuatable button, a touch sensor and a proximity sensor;

circuitry disposed in at least one of (a) said casing, (b) the interior rearview mirror assembly and (c) an accessory module;

said at least one user actuatable input providing user input to at least one element of said circuitry;

wherein said circuitry is associated with a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior rearview mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information and wherein said display device comprises a video screen;

wherein said portion of said casing comprises a bezel portion of said casing; and

wherein the interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said at least one user actuatable input is illuminated by backlighting.

19. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein at least one element of said at least one user actuatable input is integrally formed at said portion of said casing during a molding operation that forms said casing.