Interior rearview mirror system

• US 9,067,542 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lindahl, John O., Whitehead, Peter J., Lynam, Niall R., Uken, John T., Karner, Lee, Hook, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Daniell L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US13/422,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element. The transflective reflective element has an electrochromic active region, and a plurality of user input elements is disposed outside of the electrochromic active region and below the electrochromic active region. Each of the individual user input elements is a touch or proximity sensor. A plurality of display elements is disposed behind the transflective reflective element at the electrochromic active region, and each display element is selectively activated by activation of a respective user input element. Each of the individual display elements and its associated respective one of the individual user input elements are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of a respective user input element and activation of its associated display element is established.

Claims

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

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element;

wherein said transflective reflective element comprises a front transparent substrate and a rear transparent substrate;

wherein said front transparent substrate is spaced apart from and is joined to said rear transparent substrate by a seal;

wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity established by said seal between said front transparent substrate and said rear transparent substrate;

wherein said transflective reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface of said rear transparent substrate;

wherein said electrochromic medium of said transflective reflective element establishes an electrochromic active region and wherein said electrochromic medium is operable to electrically vary the reflectivity of said transflective reflective element at said electrochromic active region by applying a voltage thereto;

a plurality of user input elements disposed outside of said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system, said plurality of user input elements is disposed below said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, the individual user input elements of said plurality of user input elements are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another;

wherein each of said individual user input elements comprises at least one of (i) a touch sensor and (ii) a proximity sensor;

wherein at least one of said individual user input elements comprises a user input element for at least one of (a) a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (b) an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle, (c) a compass system of the equipped vehicle, (d) a navigation system of the equipped vehicle, (e) an imaging system of the equipped vehicle, (f) a communication system of the equipped vehicle, (g) an accessory system of the equipped vehicle and (h) an audio system of the equipped vehicle;

a plurality of display elements disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective reflective element at said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, the individual display elements of said plurality of display elements are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another;

wherein each individual display element of said plurality of display elements is associated with a respective one of said user input elements;

wherein a display element is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element, and wherein each of said plurality of display elements, when activated, displays through said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective reflective element and through said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic active region; and

wherein each of said individual display elements and its associated respective one of said individual user input elements are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of a respective user input element and activation of its associated display element is established.

2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein circuitry is disposed in said mirror casing, and wherein said at least one user input element is operable to provide a user input to at least one element of said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry is associated with a display device disposed behind said transflective mirror reflector of said interior rearview mirror assembly and visible through said transflective mirror reflector to the driver when displaying information, and wherein said display device comprises a video screen.

3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said circuitry comprises, at least in part, a part of a humidity control system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein a sensor is operable to sense a condition at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, responsive to said sensing by said sensor, an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle is activated.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user input element is illuminated by backlighting.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror casing comprises a bezel formed of a molded plastic material in a molding operation, and wherein said user input elements are arranged along a portion of said bezel, and wherein said user input elements are integrally formed at said portion of said bezel during said molding operation that forms said bezel, said user input elements each comprising a molded plastic material body portion and a molded plastic material flexible portion, said molded plastic material flexible portion connecting said molded plastic material body portion to the remainder of said bezel so that said body portion is movable relative to the remainder of said bezel via flexing of said flexible portion when said user actuatable element is actuated by a user pressing said body portion, and wherein circuitry is disposed within said casing and has electrical actuation switches located generally proximate to and rearward of said body portions of said user input elements.

6. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of user input elements disposed outside of said electrochromic active region is disposed at a bezel potion of said mirror casing.

7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one accessory comprising at least one of a microphone, a light and an antenna.

8. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 7, wherein at least one of said at least one accessory is integrally molded at a portion of said mirror casing.

9. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least some of said individual user input elements comprise an enhancement to enhance a user'"'"'s awareness of the presence or function of said individual user input elements.

10. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of a color, a shape and a texture of said at least some of said individual user input elements.

11. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of text, an icon, a character, a logo and a letter established at said at least some of said individual user input elements.

12. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said enhancement comprises backlighting of said at least some of said individual user input elements.

13. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said at least some of said individual user input elements are backlit by a respective light emitting diode.

14. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 13, wherein said enhancement includes an etched portion of said mirror reflector and wherein said etched portion is backlit by the respective light emitting diode.

15. The interior rearview minor system of claim 14, wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of (i) a backlit etched character formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (ii) a backlit etched icon formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (iii) a backlit etched logo formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector and (iv) a backlit etched letter formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector.

16. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said individual user input elements are backlit by a respective light emitting diode.

17. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a cabin air monitor.

18. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said individual user input elements comprise at least one of capacitive touch sensors, resistive touch sensors and inductive touch sensors.

19. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said individual user input elements comprise transparent conductive elements.

20. An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing and a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises a front transparent substrate and a rear transparent substrate;

wherein said front transparent substrate is spaced apart from and is joined to said rear transparent substrate by a seal;

wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity established by said seal between said front transparent substrate and said rear transparent substrate;

wherein said reflective element comprises a mirror reflector disposed at a surface of said rear transparent substrate;

wherein said electrochromic medium of said reflective element establishes an electrochromic active region and wherein said electrochromic medium is operable to electrically vary the reflectivity of said reflective element at said electrochromic active region by applying a voltage thereto;

a plurality of user input elements disposed outside of said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system, said plurality of user input elements is disposed below said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, the individual user input elements of said plurality of user input elements are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another;

wherein at least some of said individual user input elements comprise touch sensors;

wherein said touch sensors comprise an enhancement to enhance a user'"'"'s awareness of the function of said touch sensors;

wherein at least one of said individual user input elements comprises a user input element for at least one of (a) a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (b) an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle, (c) a compass system of the equipped vehicle, (d) a navigation system of the equipped vehicle, (e) an imaging system of the equipped vehicle, (f) a communication system of the equipped vehicle, (g) an accessory system of the equipped vehicle and (h) an audio system of the equipped vehicle;

a plurality of display elements disposed behind said reflective element at said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, the individual display elements of said plurality of display elements are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another;

wherein each individual display element of said plurality of display elements is associated with a respective one of said user input elements;

wherein a display element is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element, and wherein each of said plurality of display elements, when activated, displays through said reflective element and through said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic active region; and

wherein each of said individual display elements and its associated respective one of said individual user input elements are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of a respective user input element and activation of its associated display element is established.

21. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said reflective element comprises a transflective reflecting element and wherein said mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein, when activated, said individual display elements display through said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective reflective element.

22. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said individual display elements are disposed behind an etched portion of said mirror reflector and wherein, when activated, said individual display elements display through said etched portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element.

23. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 22, wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of (i) an etched character formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (ii) an etched icon formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (iii) an etched logo formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector and (iv) an etched letter formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector.

24. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 23, wherein said enhancement is associated with a telematics system of the vehicle.

25. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 23, wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of text, an icon, a character, a logo and a letter established at said at least some of said individual user input elements.

26. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of a color, a shape and a texture of said at least some of said individual user input elements.

27. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said enhancement comprises backlighting of said at least some of said individual user input elements.

28. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 27, wherein said at least some of said individual user input elements are backlit by a respective light emitting diode.

29. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 28, wherein said enhancement includes an etched portion of said mirror reflector and wherein said etched portion is backlit by the respective light emitting diode.

30. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 20, wherein said touch sensors comprise at least one of capacitive touch sensors, resistive touch sensors and inductive touch sensors.

31. An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing and a reflective element;

wherein said reflective element comprises a front transparent substrate and a rear transparent substrate;

wherein said front transparent substrate is spaced apart from and is joined to said rear transparent substrate by a seal;

wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity established by said seal between said front transparent substrate and said rear transparent substrate;

wherein said reflective element comprises a mirror reflector disposed at a surface of said rear transparent substrate;

wherein said electrochromic medium of said reflective element establishes an electrochromic active region and wherein said electrochromic medium is operable to electrically vary the reflectivity of said reflective element at said electrochromic active region by applying a voltage thereto;

a plurality of user input elements disposed outside of said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system, said plurality of user input elements is disposed below said electrochromic active region;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, the individual user input elements of said plurality of user input elements are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another;

wherein at least some of said individual user input elements comprise touch sensors;

wherein said touch sensors comprise an enhancement to enhance a user'"'"'s awareness of the function of said touch sensors;

wherein said enhancement comprises at least one of (a) an etched character formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (b) an etched icon formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (c) an etched logo formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (d) an etched letter formed in a reflective layer of said mirror reflector, (e) text, (f) an icon, (g) a character, (h) a logo, (i) a letter, (j) a color, (k) a shape and (l) a texture; and

wherein said individual user input elements are backlit by a respective light emitting diode.

32. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein at least one of said individual user input elements comprises a user input element for at least one of (a) a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (b) an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle, (c) a compass system of the equipped vehicle, (d) a navigation system of the equipped vehicle, (e) an imaging system of the equipped vehicle, (f) a communication system of the equipped vehicle, (g) an accessory system of the equipped vehicle and (h) an audio system of the equipped vehicle.

33. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 31, comprising a plurality of display elements disposed behind said reflective element at said electrochromic active region, and wherein each individual display element of said plurality of display elements is associated with a respective one of said user input elements, and wherein each of said individual display elements and its associated respective one of said individual user input elements are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of a respective user input element and activation of its associated display element is established.

34. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 33, wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, the individual display elements of said plurality of display elements are arranged generally linearly and horizontally one to another.

35. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 33, wherein a display element is selectively activated by activation of its respective user input element, and wherein each of said plurality of display elements, when activated, displays through said reflective element and through said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic active region.

36. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein said touch sensors comprise at least one of capacitive touch sensors, resistive touch sensors and inductive touch sensors.