Vehicle information display

• US 7,734,392 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Cooprider, Troy O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/428,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

An information display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle and a video display screen disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. The video display screen is operable to display information including video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver, and the video display screen is further operable to display information including at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle. The display of the instruction includes at least one of (a) text pertaining to the accessory, (b) an icon pertaining to the accessory and (c) an image pertaining to the accessory.

Claims

1. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver; and

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, said display of said instruction including at least one of (a) text pertaining to said accessory, (b) an icon pertaining to said accessory and (c) an image pertaining to said accessory, wherein said video display screen is operable to display information pertaining to an owner'"'"'s manual of the vehicle.

2. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said accessory comprises at least one of (a) an accessory of a communication system, (b) a voice recorder, (c) a garage door opener, (d) an accessory of a memory mirror system, (e) an accessory of a hands-free phone, (f) a video device for internal cabin surveillance, (g) an accessory of a video telephone function, (h) an accessory of a compass system, (i) an accessory of a navigation system, (j) an accessory of a tire pressure monitoring system, (k) a tire changing device, (l) a trip computer, (m) a remote starter control, (n) a clock, (o) a radio, (p) an interior light, (q) an exterior light and (r) an accessory of a telematics system.

3. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information displayed includes text pertaining to said accessory.

4. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information displayed includes an image pertaining to said accessory.

5. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can access an electronically stored instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle or pertaining to the vehicle itself.

6. The information display system of claim 5, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can scroll through and access electronically stored instructions.

7. The information display system of claim 5, wherein said accessing of electronically stored instructions is responsive to a user input by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

8. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system downloads instructions via a telematics system of the vehicle.

9. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen is operable to display an image to assist the driver in performing a selected task.

10. The information display system of claim 9, wherein said video display screen provides a text instruction and further provides an image to enhance the driver'"'"'s understanding of the text instruction.

11. The information display system of claim 10, wherein said video display screen, responsive to the driver selecting an instruction on how to operate an accessory of the vehicle, displays at least one of a text instruction and an image relating to said accessory.

12. The information display system of claim 11, wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener, and wherein said instruction pertains to said garage door opener.

13. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver; and

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, said display of said instruction including at least one of (a) text pertaining to said accessory, (b) an icon pertaining to said accessory and (c) an image pertaining to said accessory, wherein said video display screen, responsive to a detection of a fault condition of the vehicle, displays an alert to the driver of the vehicle and displays an instruction pertaining to the detected fault condition.

14. The information display system of claim 13, wherein said video display screen, responsive to a detection of a low inflation tire, displays an alert that the tire inflation is low and displays an instruction to assist the driver in changing a tire of the vehicle.

15. The information display system of claim 13, wherein said video display screen displays information comprising video images captured by said rearward facing camera of the vehicle responsive to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

16. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview minor assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a minor reflective element having a transflective minor reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver; and

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, said display of said instruction including at least one of (a) text pertaining to said accessory, (b) an icon pertaining to said accessory and (c) an image pertaining to said accessory, wherein said video display screen is operable to only display said instruction when the vehicle is one of (a) shifted into park and (b) traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

17. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver; and

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, said display of said instruction including at least one of (a) text pertaining to said accessory, (b) an icon pertaining to said accessory and (c) an image pertaining to said accessory, further comprising an in-vehicle communication control and a human-machine interface located at said interior rearview mirror assembly, said human-machine interface being connected to said in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control, and wherein a global positioning system communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to one of said interior rearview mirror assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior rearview mirror assembly.

18. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener; and

wherein said display of at least one instruction includes at least one of (a) text, (b) an icon and (c) an image, wherein said video display screen is operable to display information pertaining to an owner'"'"'s manual of the vehicle.

19. The information display system of claim 18, wherein said display of an instruction includes at least one of (a) a text instruction pertaining to said garage door opener and (b) an image pertaining to said garage door opener.

20. The information display system of claim 18, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can access an electronically stored instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle or pertaining to the vehicle itself.

21. The information display system of claim 18, wherein said video display screen is operable to display an image to assist the driver in performing a selected task.

22. The information display system of claim 18, wherein said video display screen displays information comprising video images captured by said rearward facing camera of the vehicle responsive to the vehicle being shifted into reverse.

23. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener;

wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can access an electronically stored instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle or pertaining to the vehicle itself; and

wherein said display of at least one instruction includes at least one of (a) text, (b) an icon and (c) an image, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can scroll through and access electronically stored instructions.

24. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disclosed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener; and

wherein said display of at least one instruction includes at least one of (a) text, (b) an icon and (c) an image, wherein said information display system downloads instructions via a telematics system of the vehicle.

25. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener; and

wherein said display of at least one instruction includes at least one of (a) text, (b) an icon and (c) an image, and wherein said video display screen is operable to display an image to assist the driver in performing a selected task, and wherein said video display screen provides a text instruction and further provides an image to enhance the driver'"'"'s understanding of the text instruction.

26. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener; and

wherein said display of at least one instruction includes at least one of (a) text, (b) an icon and (c) an image, wherein said video display screen, responsive to a detection of a fault condition of the vehicle, displays an alert to the driver of the vehicle and displays an instruction pertaining to the detected fault condition.

27. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein said video display screen is further operable to display information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory comprises a garage door opener; and

wherein said display of at least one instruction includes at least one of (a) text, (b) an icon and (c) an image, wherein said video display screen is operable to only display said instruction when the vehicle is one of (a) shifted into park and (b) traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

28. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface thereof;

a video display screen disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when operated to display information, said video display screen displays information that is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to the vehicle being shifted into reverse, said video display screen displays information comprising video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein, responsive to a user input by the driver of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen displays information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle, said display of said instruction including text pertaining to said accessory and at least one of (a) an icon pertaining to said accessory and (b) an image pertaining to said accessory; and

wherein said text provides instructions comprising at least one of (a) instructions on how to operate said accessory or component thereof, (b) instructions on how to control said accessory or component thereof, (c) instructions on how to adjust said accessory or component thereof, (d) instructions on how to repair said accessory or component thereof, (e) instructions on how to replace said accessory or component thereof.

29. The information display system of claim 28, wherein said video display screen displays information comprising at least one instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle responsive to one of (a) the vehicle being shifted into park and (b) the vehicle traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

30. The information display system of claim 28, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can access an electronically stored instruction pertaining to an accessory of the vehicle or pertaining to the vehicle itself.

31. The information display system of claim 28, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the vehicle can scroll through and access electronically stored instructions.

32. The information display system of claim 28, wherein said information display system downloads instructions via a telematics system of the vehicle.

33. The information display system of claim 28, wherein said video display screen is operable to display an image to assist the driver in performing a selected task.

34. The information display system of claim 33, wherein said video display screen provides a text instruction and further provides an associated image to enhance the driver'"'"'s understanding of the text instruction.

35. The information display system of claim 28, wherein said video display screen, responsive to a detection of a fault condition of the vehicle, displays an alert to the driver of the vehicle and displays an instruction pertaining to the detected fault condition.