Automatic display mirror assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- an ambient light sensor for sensing an ambient light level and outputting an ambient light signal representative of the sensed ambient light level;
a switchable reflective element that changes states between a high reflection mode and a low reflection mode;
an electrochromic cell positioned in front of said switchable reflective element for variably attenuating light reflected from said switchable reflective element;
a display positioned behind said switchable reflective element for generating a displayed image visible through said switchable reflective element and said electrochromic cell; and
a controller in communication with said ambient light sensor, said electrochromic cell, said switchable reflective element, and said display, said controller compares the ambient light signal to a threshold level, wherein;
if the ambient light signal exceeds the threshold level, said controller activates said display, sets said switchable reflective element to the low reflection mode and sets said electrochromic cell to a clear state with minimum attenuation, andif the ambient light signal does not exceed the threshold level, said controller deactivates said display, sets said switchable reflective element to the high reflection mode and varies attenuation by said electrochromic cell.
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Abstract
A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic cell, a switchable reflective element, a display module, an ambient light sensor, and a controller. The controller automatically selects a display mode or a mirror mode in response to a detected ambient light level. In a display mode, the controller activates the display module, sets the switchable reflective element to a low reflection mode, and sets the electrochromic cell to a clear state with minimum attenuation. In a mirror mode, the controller deactivates the display module, sets the switchable reflective element to a high reflection mode, and varies attenuation by the electrochromic cell.
472 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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an ambient light sensor for sensing an ambient light level and outputting an ambient light signal representative of the sensed ambient light level; a switchable reflective element that changes states between a high reflection mode and a low reflection mode; an electrochromic cell positioned in front of said switchable reflective element for variably attenuating light reflected from said switchable reflective element; a display positioned behind said switchable reflective element for generating a displayed image visible through said switchable reflective element and said electrochromic cell; and a controller in communication with said ambient light sensor, said electrochromic cell, said switchable reflective element, and said display, said controller compares the ambient light signal to a threshold level, wherein; if the ambient light signal exceeds the threshold level, said controller activates said display, sets said switchable reflective element to the low reflection mode and sets said electrochromic cell to a clear state with minimum attenuation, and if the ambient light signal does not exceed the threshold level, said controller deactivates said display, sets said switchable reflective element to the high reflection mode and varies attenuation by said electrochromic cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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an ambient light sensor for sensing an ambient light level and outputting an ambient light signal representative of the sensed ambient light level; a switchable reflective element that changes states between a high reflection mode and a low reflection mode; a display positioned behind said switchable reflective element for generating a displayed image visible through said switchable reflective element; and a controller in communication with said ambient light sensor, said switchable reflective element, and said display, said controller compares the ambient light signal to a threshold level, wherein; if the ambient light signal exceeds the threshold level, said controller activates said display and sets said switchable reflective element to the low reflection mode, and if the ambient light signal does not exceed the threshold level, said controller deactivates said display and sets said switchable reflective element to the high reflection mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A display mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing configured for attachment to a vehicle; a switchable reflective element disposed in said housing for changing states between a high reflection mode and a low reflection mode; a display positioned in said housing behind said switchable reflective element for generating a displayed image visible through said switchable reflective element; and an actuator device for moving said switchable reflective element between two distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position and a second viewing position, wherein a primary reflected image of a rearward scene is reflected from said switchable reflective element, and wherein; when in the first viewing position, said switchable reflective element is positioned to reflect the primary reflected image towards a viewer'"'"'s eyes, when in the second viewing position, said switchable reflective element is positioned such that a reflected image of a headliner of the vehicle is reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes and the primary reflected image is not reflected towards the viewer'"'"'s eyes, and said display is turned on when said switchable reflective element is in the second viewing position and is turned off when said switchable reflective element is in the first viewing position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification