Display mirror assembly

• US 9,598,018 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Ethan J., VanderPloeg, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US14/202,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 359/277, 359245-247, 359/254, 359/242, 349/49, 349/105, 349/107, 250/70, 248/817, 438/929
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a partially reflective, partially transmissive element; and a full display module mounted behind the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the display module having an optic block, and a display in optical communication with the optic block, the display being one an in-place switching liquid crystal display, a fringe filed switching liquid crystal display, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal display.

Claims

1. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element; and

a full display module mounted behind said partially reflective, partially transmissive element, said display module comprising;

an optic block; and

a display in optical communication with said optic block, said display being one of an in-place switching liquid crystal display, a fringe field switching liquid crystal display, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal display, wherein said display comprises;

a substrate;

an electrically conductive layer provided on an outside surface of said substrate; and

an electrically conductive connection to electrically connect said electrically conductive layer to ground to reduce a charge build-up in said display.

2. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, configured for use when the distance of view is less than about 600 mm.

3. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, configured for use when the distance of view is less than about 500 mm.

4. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said full display module has a pixel pitch of less than about 0.15 mm.

5. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising one of three and four source drivers.

6. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said display comprises thin film transistors for each pixels of said display, wherein said thin film transistors comprise low temperature polysilicon.

7. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, configured for use in a vehicle as an interior rearview mirror assembly.

8. The display mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said full display module is configured to be on substantially continuously while a vehicle is in operation.

9. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element; and

a full display module mounted behind said partially reflective, partially transmissive element;

wherein the display mirror assembly is configured to have a steady state luminance of at least about 2000 cd/m²,

wherein said display comprises;

a substrate;

an electrically conductive layer provided on an outside surface of said substrate; and

an electrically conductive connection to electrically connect said electrically conductive layer to ground to reduce a charge build-up in said display.

10. The display mirror assembly of claim 9, configured for use when the distance of view is less than about 600 mm.

11. The display mirror assembly of claim 9, configured for use when the distance of view is less than about 500 mm.

12. The display mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said full display module has a pixel pitch of less than about 0.15 mm.

13. The display mirror assembly of claim 9, configured for use in a vehicle as an interior rearview mirror assembly.

14. The display mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said full display module is configured to be on substantially continuously while a vehicle is in operation.

15. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element; and

a full display module mounted behind said partially reflective, partially transmissive element, said full display module comprising a display;

wherein said display is a fringe field switching liquid crystal display having a pixel pitch of less than about 0.15 mm;

wherein the display mirror assembly is configured to have a steady state luminance of at least about 2000 cd/m² when the distance of view is about 500 mm,

wherein said display comprises;

as substrate;

an electrically conductive layer provided on an outside surface of said substrate; and

an electrically conductive connection to electrically connect said electrically conductive layer to ground to reduce a charge build-up in said display.

16. The display mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said partially reflective, partially transmissive element is an electrochromic element.

17. The display mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said full display module is configured to be on substantially continuously while a vehicle is in operation.