Rearview assembly with display

• US 7,711,479 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, David W., McCarthy, Kevin C., Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/405,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/208, 701/209, 701/212, 701/49, 701/211, 349/11, 349/114, 340/425.5, 340/815.4, 362/494
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• 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: 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 1/088 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 : specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 : Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 : Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 : Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 : Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 : Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 : Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 : Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 : Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having an opening with curved edges, and a video display positioned in the housing. The video display may generate a display image that extends along and abuts at least a portion of the curved edges of the housing. The video display may be positioned behind a mirror element of the rearview assembly such that a display image is viewable through a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating of the mirror element.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing having an opening with curved edges; and

a video display positioned in said housing, said video display generating a display image that extends along and abuts at least a portion of the curved edges of said housing.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein said video display generates a curved display image to correspond to at least a portion of the curved edges of said housing.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein said video display has a curved edge.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 1 further comprising a control in the vehicle operable to communicate with an external service provider via a wireless communication link between the vehicle and the external service provider, wherein said control receives a user input from a driver of the vehicle and is responsive thereto, said control establishing said wireless communication link between the vehicle and the external service provider, driving instruction information from the external service provider being downloaded to said control via said wireless communication link, said downloaded driving instruction information comprising a plurality of data for instructing the driver how to drive from an initial location to a destination location.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein said control downloads said driving instruction information from the external service provider during a first period of time and while said wireless communication link is established between said control and the external service provider, said control comprising memory for storing said driving instruction information for providing said driving instruction information to the driver of the vehicle after the communication link between said control and the external service provider is disconnected.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 5, wherein said control provides said driving instruction information to the driver of the vehicle in a step-by-step manner, with at least some of said driving instruction steps being provided to the driver of the vehicle after the communication link between said control and the external service provider is disconnected, said control providing said driving instruction information over a second period of time, said second period of time being greater than said first period of time.

7. The rearview assembly of claim 6, wherein said driving instruction information comprises at least two instructions with each of said at least two instructions being coded or associated with or linked to a respective geographic location, said control being operable to provide an output corresponding to each of said at least two instructions in response to a current actual geographic position of the vehicle determined by a vehicle-based global positioning system, said control being operable to provide each instruction only when the then current actual geographic position of the vehicle at least generally corresponds to the particular geographic location associated with said each instruction.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one of (a) said control comprises, at least in part, an element of a vehicular telematics system, and (b) said control comprises, at least in part, an clement of a portable accessory in the vehicle.

9. The rearview assembly of claim 6, wherein said control receives a vocal input from the driver of the vehicle.

10. The rearview assembly of claim 6, wherein said control provides an alert to the driver when the actual geographic position of the vehicle, as determined by said global positioning system, is not where it should be.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein said video display is operable to display icon information and video information.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein said video display is operable to display textual information and video information.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein said video display is operable to display at least one of textual information, graphical information, icon information and video information.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein step-by-step driving instructions are displayed by said video display.

15. The rearview assembly of claim 1 further comprising a seat adjustment system, said seat adjustment system being operable to automatically adjust a seat of the vehicle in response to biometric data received via a data input, said biometric data pertaining to the occupant of the seat of the vehicle.

16. The rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein said data input comprises at least one of (i) a memory device, (ii) a remote source, (iii) an input device, (iv) a communication link, and (v) a portable device.

17. The rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein an interior rearview minor assembly adjusts in response to biometric data received via a data input.

18. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein a camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle is mounted at or near the rear of the vehicle and wherein, upon the driver of the vehicle selecting a reverse gear of the vehicle, a video output of said camera is displayed by a video display at an interior rearview minor assembly of the vehicle so as to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle.