Interior mirror assembly with display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9487144-B2
Application number	US-57873209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2009
Priority date	Oct 16, 2008
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror system and assembly includes a variable reflectivity reflective element and a video display screen disposed behind the reflective element and operable to display images viewable through the reflective element by a person viewing the interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle. The video display screen may be operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by the video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of the variable reflectivity reflective element. The mirror system may include an image sensor and a decoder that decodes an output signal of the image sensor. The decoder has a microprocessor operable to control the video display screen, such that the captured image data are processed and images are displayed via operation of a common microprocessor. A compass chip may connect to a vehicle wire harness that extends from a vehicle headliner.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a casing, a variable reflectivity reflective element, and a video display screen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element, said video display screen operable to display images that are viewable through said reflective element by a person viewing said interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system;
wherein said variable reflectivity reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes (i) a glare light sensor for sensing glare light at or near said reflective element and (ii) an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light at said interior rearview mirror assembly;
an image sensor operable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view of said image sensor;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a decoder that decodes analog output signals of said image sensor, said decoder having a microprocessor operable to (i) process image data and (ii) control said video display screen via a digital signal and (iii) control dimming of said electrochromic reflective element;
wherein said decoder is responsive to a glare light output of said glare light sensor and an ambient light output of said ambient light sensor;
wherein said microprocessor of said decoder comprises on screen display capability;
wherein said decoder comprises at least one of on screen display circuitry, image enhancement circuitry, a 2D de-interlacing engine and a high quality scalar;
wherein said decoder is operable to provide at least one of (a) programmable hue of a display displayed by said video display screen, (b) programmable brightness of a display displayed by said video display screen, (c) programmable saturation of a display displayed by said video display screen, (d) programmable contrast of a display displayed by said video display screen, (e) programmable sharpness control of a display displayed by said video display screen, (f) programmable sharpness control of a display displayed by said video display screen with vertical peaking, (g) programmable color transient improvement control of a display displayed by said video display screen, (h) programmable panorama/water-glass scaling of a display displayed by said video display screen, (i) programmable Gamma correction tables for said video display screen, (j) programmable black/white stretch of a display displayed by said video display screen and (k) programmable favorite color enhancement of a display displayed by said video display screen;
wherein, responsive to said outputs of said glare light sensor and said ambient light sensor, said microprocessor of said decoder (i) adjusts the intensity of images displayed by said video display screen and (ii) controls dimming of said electrochromic reflective element, and wherein said microprocessor of said decoder also provides on screen display comprising graphic overlays.

2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , further comprising a transparent organic light emitting diode display element.

3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2 , wherein said transparent organic light emitting diode display element comprises transparent metal cathodes and transparent electrically conductive anodes with an emission layer disposed between said transparent metal cathodes and said transparent electrically conductive anodes, and wherein when an electric current is passed between the electrodes of said transparent organic light emitting diode display element, light is emitted by said transparent organic light emitting diode display element.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 3 , wherein when the electric current is passed between the electrodes of said transparent organic light emitting diode display element, light is emitted with a color that is dependent on the materials of said transparent organic light emitting diode display element.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , further comprising a compass chip having at least two magnetoresponsive sensing elements and compass circuitry established thereon, said compass chip positioned at a mounting base of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said compass chip has at least one connecting element for connecting to a vehicle wire harness that extends downward from a vehicle headliner, said vehicle wire harness providing power to said compass chip when connected thereto and when the vehicle is normally operated.

6. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
an interior rearview mirror comprising a casing, a reflective element, and a video display screen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element;
wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic reflective element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes (i) a glare light sensor for sensing glare light at or near said reflective element and (ii) an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light at said interior rearview mirror assembly;
said video display screen operable to display images that are viewable through said reflective element by a person viewing said interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle;
an image sensor operable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view of said image sensor, said image sensor generating an output signal indicative of captured image data;
a decoder that decodes said output signal of said image sensor, said decoder having a microprocessor operable to (i) process image data, (ii) control said video display screen and (iii) control dimming of said electrochromic reflective element, such that said captured image data are processed and images are displayed and said electrochromic reflective element is dimmed via operation of a common microprocessor; and
wherein said decoder is responsive to a glare light output of said glare light sensor and an ambient light output of said ambient light sensor;
wherein said decoder, when said electrochromic reflective element is dimmed to a darker state, is operable to increase an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen, and wherein said decoder, when said electrochromic reflective element is undimmed to a lighter state, is operable to decrease an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen; and
wherein, responsive to said outputs of said glare light sensor and said ambient light sensor, said microprocessor of said decoder (i) adjusts the intensity of images displayed by said video display screen and (ii) controls dimming of said electrochromic reflective element, and wherein said microprocessor of said decoder also provides on screen display comprising graphic overlays.

7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , wherein said decoder, when said electrochromic reflective element is dimmed to a darker state, is operable to increase an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen.

8. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , wherein said decoder, when said electrochromic reflective element is undimmed to a lighter state, is operable to decrease an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen.

9. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , wherein said analog output signal comprises a NTSC signal and wherein said decoder digitizes said NTSC signal and communicates said digital signal to said video display screen.

10. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , wherein said video display screen comprises a thin film transistor backli

Assignees

• Blank Rodney K
• Larson Mark L
• Lynam Niall R
• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Blank Rodney K
• Larson Mark L
• Lynam Niall R

Classifications

• G02B27/01

  Head-up displays · CPC title

• G02B2027/0118

  comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility · CPC title

• B60R2001/1215

  with information displays · CPC title

• G02F1/157

  Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title