Interior rearview mirror system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9658727-B2
Application number	US-201514753923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Sep 20, 2002
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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, 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 said user input elements are illuminated by backlighting;
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, 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;
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; and
wherein circuitry is disposed in said mirror casing, and wherein at least one of said user input elements 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.

2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , 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.

3. 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 a plurality of actuatable elements are arranged along a portion of said bezel, and wherein said actuatable elements are integrally formed at said portion of said bezel during said molding operation that forms said bezel, said actuatable 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 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 actuatable elements.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1 , wherein said user input elements are backlit by respective light emitting diodes.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 4 , wherein etched portions of said mirror reflector is backlit by respective light emitting diodes.

6. 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, and 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 transparent substrate with a transflective mirror reflector disposed at a surface of said transparent substrate;
a plurality of user input elements disposed at a perimeter region of said transflective reflective element;
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 along a lower perimeter region of said transflective reflective element;
wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, 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 a touch sensor;
wherein said user input elements are illuminated by backlighting;
a plurality of display elements disposed behind said transflec

Assignees

• Donnelly Corp

Inventors

• Lindahl John O
• Whitehead Peter J
• Lynam Niall R
• Uken John T
• Karner Lee
• Hook Richard R

Classifications

• G06F3/0489

  using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof · CPC title

• B60R2011/0033

  Rear-view mirrors · CPC title

• B60R1/08

  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 title

• G02F1/157

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

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title