Vehicular rearview mirror system

• US 8,625,815 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan E., Lynam, Niall R., Spooner, Ralph A., March, Philip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US12/962,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/91, 381/92, 381/122, 381111-113, 381/355, 381/356, 381/361, 381/365, 381 711- 714, 381 941- 943, 381/302, 381/389, 362/494, 248/549, 296/1.11, 348/148
• US Class Current: 381/86
• 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 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a control. The interior rearview mirror assembly may include a video display device operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle through an electrochromic reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly. The control may include a digital signal processor disposed in the interior rearview mirror assembly. The interior rearview mirror assembly may include a vehicle bus node. When the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, the vehicle bus node may be connected to a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle, and at least one of (a) the control conveys signals to the vehicle bus via the vehicle bus node and (b) the vehicle bus conveys signals to the control via the vehicle bus node.

Claims

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

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a mirror reflector;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a video display device operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element and wherein, when operated, said video display device displays video information that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said electrochromic reflective element;

wherein, during a period when a reverse gear of the equipped vehicle is selected and the driver of the equipped vehicle is executing a reverse maneuver, said video display device displays video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reverse maneuver, said display device is operable to display other information;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a vehicle bus node; and

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the equipped vehicle, said vehicle bus node is connected to a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle, and wherein at least one of (a) said control conveys signals to said vehicle bus via said vehicle bus node and (b) said vehicle bus conveys signals to said control via said vehicle bus node.

2. The rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to control dimming of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light level detected by at least one light sensor of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

3. The rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said at least one light sensor comprises at least one of (a) a glare sensor facing rearward with respect to the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle and (b) an ambient light sensor.

4. The rearview mirror system of claim 2 further comprising an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an exterior electrochromic reflective element, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly receives a signal from said control of said interior rearview mirror assembly to control the dimming of said exterior electrochromic reflective element of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly receives said signal via a vehicle bus.

5. The rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a second vehicle bus node, and wherein said second vehicle bus node receives said signal from said control.

6. The rearview mirror system of claim 5, wherein said signal is communicated from said control to said second vehicle bus node via said vehicle bus.

7. The rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein said vehicle bus node of said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a first mechatronic node of said vehicle bus and wherein said second vehicle bus node of said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a second mechatronic node of said vehicle bus.

8. The rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises an exterior vehicle bus node that is connected to said vehicle bus when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle.

9. The rearview mirror system of claim 8, wherein said exterior vehicle bus node is operable to receive a signal for controlling at least one of (i) an exterior mirror reflector positioning actuator, (ii) an exterior mirror assembly-located security light, (iii) an exterior mirror turn signal indicator, (iv) an exterior mirror reflector defrosting heater, (v) an exterior mirror assembly powerfold mechanism and (vi) said exterior electrochromic reflective element.

10. The rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said exterior vehicle bus node comprises an exterior mechatronic node.

11. The rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, after deselection of the reverse gear, said display device returns to operating in the manner that said display device was operating before selection of the reverse gear of the equipped vehicle.

12. The rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein, after deselection of the reverse gear, said display device is operable to display information.

13. The rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said displayed information comprises images captured by another camera of the equipped vehicle.

14. The rearview mirror system of claim 13, wherein said another camera comprises an interior monitoring camera of the equipped vehicle.

15. The rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a display screen backlit by a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes, and wherein said information displayed by said display device is viewable through said mirror reflector when said display screen is backlit by said plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes.

16. The rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes at least one microphone, said at least one microphone generating at least one signal indicative of a vocal input with vehicle cabin noise included therewith, and wherein said control comprises a digital signal processor for processing said at least one signal and providing an output signal with reduced vehicle cabin noise, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and said at least one microphone is located at a location chosen from the group consisting of a rear portion of said mirror casing, a bezel portion of said mirror casing, a side portion of said mirror casing, an upper portion of said mirror casing, and a lower portion of said mirror casing.

17. The rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said digital signal processor comprises a microprocessor, and wherein said microprocessor is operable to execute at least one million instructions per second.

18. The rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said microprocessor is operable to execute at least five million instructions per second.

19. The rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said digital sound processing system includes an indicator operable to indicate at least one of clarity of said output signal and volume of said output signal, and wherein said indicator provides an indication of the status of a security alarm.

20. The rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said at least one microphone provides an input to a vehicular telematics system via said vehicle bus node.

21. The rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said output signal is provided to at least one of a cellular phone, an emergency communication system, a voice recorder and a voice command system.

22. The rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said digital signal processor processes at least one of an echo cancellation algorithm, a beam forming algorithm, and a noise cancellation algorithm.

23. The rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said control comprises a digital signal processor in said interior rearview mirror assembly.

24. The rearview mirror system of claim 23, wherein said digital signal processor is operable at a computational speed of at least 75 million instructions per second.

25. The rearview mirror system of claim 24, wherein said digital signal processor comprises at least one of (a) at least 40 kilobytes of on-chip memory, (b) at least one serial port, (c) at least one DMA port, (d) at least one timer and (e) at least one interrupt capability.

26. The rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said digital signal processor is operable at a computational speed of at least 100 million instructions per second.

27. The rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reverse maneuver, said display device is operable to display other video information.

28. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a mirror reflector;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control;

wherein said control comprises a digital signal processor disposed in said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said digital signal processor comprises at least one of (a) at least 40 kilobytes of on-chip memory, (b) at least one serial port, (c) at least one DMA port, (d) at least one timer and (e) at least one interrupt capability;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a vehicle bus node; and

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicle bus node is connected to a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle, and wherein at least one of (a) said control conveys signals to said vehicle bus via said vehicle bus node and (b) said vehicle bus conveys signals to said control via said vehicle bus node.

29. The rearview mirror system of claim 28, wherein said digital signal processor is operable at a computational speed of at least 75 million instructions per second.

30. The rearview mirror system of claim 29, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a video display device operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle, wherein said video display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element and wherein, when operated, said video display device displays video information that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said electrochromic reflective element.

31. The rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein, during a period when a reverse gear of the equipped vehicle is selected and the driver of the equipped vehicle is executing a reverse maneuver, said video display device displays video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle.

32. The rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reverse maneuver, said display device is operable to display other information.

33. The rearview mirror system of claim 32, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reverse maneuver, said display device is operable to display other video information.

34. The rearview mirror system of claim 28, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to control dimming of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light level detected by at least one light sensor of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

35. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a mirror reflector;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control;

wherein said control comprises a digital signal processor disposed in said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said digital signal processor is operable at a computational speed of at least 75 million instructions per second;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a vehicle bus node; and

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicle bus node is connected to a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle, and wherein at least one of (a) said control conveys signals to said vehicle bus via said vehicle bus node and (b) said vehicle bus conveys signals to said control via said vehicle bus node.

36. The rearview mirror system of claim 35, wherein said digital signal processor comprises at least one of (a) at least 40 kilobytes of on-chip memory, (b) at least one serial port, (c) at least one DMA port, (d) at least one timer and (e) at least one interrupt capability.

37. The rearview mirror system of claim 35, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a video display device operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle, wherein said video display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element and wherein, when operated, said video display device displays video information that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said electrochromic reflective element, and wherein, during a period when a reverse gear of the equipped vehicle is selected and the driver of the equipped vehicle is executing a reverse maneuver, said video display device displays video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle.

38. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element comprising a mirror reflector;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control;

wherein said control comprises a digital signal processor disposed in said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said digital signal processor is operable at a computational speed of at least 75 million instructions per second;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a vehicle bus node;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicle bus node is connected to a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said vehicle bus conveys signals to said control via said vehicle bus node; and

wherein said digital signal processor comprises at least one of (a) at least 40 kilobytes of on-chip memory, (b) at least one serial port, (c) at least one DMA port, (d) at least one timer and (e) at least one interrupt capability.

39. The rearview mirror system of claim 38, wherein said digital signal processor is operable at a computational speed of at least 100 million instructions per second.

40. The rearview mirror system of claim 39, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a video display device operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle, wherein said video display device is disposed behind said electrochromic reflective element and wherein, when operated, said video display device displays video information that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle through said electroehromic reflective element.

41. The rearview mirror system of claim 40, wherein, during a period when a reverse gear of the equipped vehicle is selected and the driver of the equipped vehicle is executing a reverse maneuver, said video display device displays video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle.

42. The rearview mirror system of claim 41, wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reverse maneuver, said display device is operable to display other information.

43. The rearview mirror system of claim 42, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to control dimming of said electrochromic reflective element responsive to a light level detected by at least one light sensor of said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said at least one light sensor comprises at least one of (a) a glare sensor facing rearward with respect to the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle and (b) an ambient light sensor.