Vehicle rearview mirror system, and vehicle provided with said vehicle rearview mirror system

• US 9,713,985 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2013
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Misato Industries Company Limited (Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Konuki, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKES, ZACHARY W
• Application Number:
  US14/374,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20150043083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 359843, 359844
• 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 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror system is described. A display device constructs an image by an image signal having been output from an image receiving unit of a vehicle-mounted camera and then causes a display screen to display the constructed image. A vehicle mirror main body incorporates the display device. A posture of the vehicle mirror main body is altered between a posture when a driver watches a vehicle rear side appearing in a half mirror and a posture when the driver watches an image which is displayed on the display screen. An operating lever member is employed to alter the posture of the vehicle mirror main body. A power supply switch switches on or off the display device in conjunction with operation of the operating lever member.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror system comprising:

a display device in which is provided a signal processing unit to construct an image by an image signal outputted from an image receiving unit of a vehicle-mounted camera and then cause a display screen to display the constructed image;

a vehicle mirror main body in which the display device is incorporated, a posture of the vehicle mirror main body is altered between a first posture when a driver watches a vehicle rear side reflected in a half mirror and a second posture when the driver watches an image displayed on the display screen of the display device;

an operating lever member to alter the posture of the vehicle mirror main body such that when the operating lever member is in a first position, the vehicle mirror main body is in the first posture, and when the operating lever member is in a second position, the vehicle mirror main body is in the second posture; and

a power supply switch to switch on or off the display device in conjunction with operation of the operating lever member,

wherein when the operating lever member is in the first position, the operating lever member contacts an actuator to cause the power supply switch to switch on the display device.

2. The vehicle rearview mirror system according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle mirror main body has a casing which is supported to be inclinable on a ceiling via a support arm,

the operating lever member is turnably supported by the casing, and

on a circuit board of the display device, the power supply switch is arranged.

3. The vehicle rearview mirror system according to claim 2,

wherein the operating lever member is manually operable.

4. The vehicle rearview mirror system according to claim 2,

wherein a driving member to drive the operating lever member is provided in the support arm, and

the operating lever member is turned by driving of the driving member.

5. The vehicle rearview mirror system according to claim 4,

wherein the display device has a detection circuit portion to detect luminance by the image signal and then compare the detected luminance with a threshold value, and

wherein, when the luminance detected by the detection circuit portion is the threshold value or less, or alternatively, the threshold value or more, the driving member drives the operating lever member so that the posture of the vehicle mirror main body is altered from the second posture to the first posture.

6. A vehicle having the vehicle rearview mirror system according to claim 1 mounted thereon.