US20020027714A1 - Electro-optic rearview mirror system - Google Patents
Electro-optic rearview mirror system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020027714A1 US20020027714A1 US09/973,272 US97327201A US2002027714A1 US 20020027714 A1 US20020027714 A1 US 20020027714A1 US 97327201 A US97327201 A US 97327201A US 2002027714 A1 US2002027714 A1 US 2002027714A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- mirror
- electro
- vehicle
- optic
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R1/00—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
- B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
- B60R1/08—Rear-view mirror arrangements involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors
- B60R1/083—Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors
- B60R1/088—Anti-glare mirrors, e.g. "day-night" mirrors using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
Abstract
An electro-optic rearriew mirror system for a vehicle comprises a mirror housing (10) containing an electro-optic mirror unit (18). A pair of light sensors (24, 26) for sensing the ambient light level outside the vehicle are also mounted in the mirror housing. Control circuitry mounted on a PCB (36) is responsive to a signal (34) from the light sensors (24, 26) to establish a drive voltage for the electro-optic mirror unit (18). The PCB (36) is mounted in a header (16) on the interior ceiling of the vehicle separate from the mirror housing (10).
Description
- This invention relates to an electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle.
- Electro-optic rearview mirrors are very well known in the art and include a mirror housing containing a variable reflectance electro-optic mirror unit. While many different constructions of variable reflectance electro-optic mirror units are known, a typical construction uses two substantially parallel glass plates, one of which (herein referred to as the rear plate) is coated on one surface with a reflective layer (the other plate is referred to as the front plate). The front and rear plates are separated by a space which contains an electro-optic medium allowing variation in the amount of light transmitted through the medium by varying the strength of an electric field applied across the medium. For example, in liquid crystal rearview mirrors the space between the front and rear plates is filled with a semi-viscous liquid crystal material. In electrochemichromic or electrochromic mirrors, the space contains a liquid, thickened liquid, gel or semi-solid material.
- The mirror unit is mounted in the mirror housing with the front plate facing the viewer, so that light incident externally on the mirror unit returns to the viewer, after reflecticn at the rear plate, only aster a double crossing of the electro-optic medium. Electrode means, for example a respective transparent electrode layer on each plate, permit varying the electrical field across the electro-optic medium, thereby to correspondingly vary the level of reflected light returned to the view and accordingly the reflectivity of the mirror unit as a whole.
- In the simplest case the reflectivity of the mirror unit is switchable manually between a maximum appropriate for daylight use to a minimum appropriate for nighttime use where it is required to reduce the glare from headlights of following vehicles. However, it is also known to mount one or more light sensors in the mirror housing which sense the light levels forwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle and automatically adjust the reflectivity of the mirror unit according to selected criteria. Typical arrangements of the latter kind are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,690, 4,799,768, 4,886,960, 5,193,029, 5,140,455 and 5,151,816.
- Hitherto, in all cases the control circuitry for the electro-optic mirror unit has been contained, usually an a printed circuit board (PCB), within the mirror housing itself.
- However, this has substantial disadvantages. The mirror housing needs to be fairly bulky to accommodate the control circuitry, which is undesirable from an aesthetic point of view, and this is exacerbated by the current trend to located more and more function in the mirror housing such as a compass display, navigational display system and infra-red (IR) sensor for automatic locking system. Also, the control circuitry tends to generate substantial heat, often as high as 2-3 watts, which means the mirror housing has to be designed for adequate ventilation. Further, the mirror is complex to assemble and has a high replacement cost.
- It is an object of the present invention to mitigate these disadvantages.
- Accordingly, the invention provides an electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising a mirror housing containing an electro-optic mirror unit, at least one light sensor for sensing the ambient light level outside the vehicle, and control circuitry responsive to signal(s) from the light sensor(s) to establish a drive voltage for the electro-optic mirror unit, wherein the control circuitry is located outside the mirror housing.
- Preferably, the mirror housing is mounted interior of the vehicle.
- The light sensor(s) may also be located in the mirror housing, but they may alternatively be located elsewhere in the vehicle where an adequate view of the ambient light level exterior of the vehicle can be obtained.
- The control circuitry is preferably located in a header, which is a shallow housing mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle, preferably located behind the rearview mirror housing overhead and centrally between the driver and the front passenger seats.
- An advantage of the invention is that the mirror housing does not require space to be allocated to the control circuitry and therefore the mirror housing can be reduced in size or, if desired, can accommodate extra functions, such as a compass display, navigational display system or infra-red (IR) sensor as referred to above, without unduly increasing the size of the housing.
- Further, the heat generated in the mirror housing is reduced, and also the constructional complexity and replacement cost is reduced. Also, the reduction in components in the mirror, and the use of a black seal on the perimeter of the electro-optic element, permits a simpler assembly method to be used.
- Preferably the control circuitry shares a processor which is used for other control functions of the vehicle. This has further advantages.
- First, it allows additional functions contained in the mirror housing to be connected to a vehicle bus system without the cost and complexity of adding a separate bus connection node in the mirror. Also, switches and indicators presently located in the mirror housing can be grouped in a central location with other controls. Further, there is the ability to have the electro-optic mirror sensitivity adjusted to customer preferences at dealer service intervals. Additionally, sensors and other features located in the mirror housing can be used for multiple functions, for example, the light sensors used for the electro-optic mirror unit can be used for automatic headlight control.
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the components inside the mirror housing in the mirror system of FIG. 1; and
- FIG. 3 is a crossed-sectional view of one example of the physical layout inside a vehicle of the mirror system of FIG. 1.
- Referring to the drawings, a vehicle rearview mirror system includes an
interior mirror housing 10 mounted in conventional manner via a ball and socket join 12 to the lower end of amirror support bracket 14. The upper end of thesupport bracket 14 is secured to the forward end of a shallow housing (header) 16 mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle behind the mirror housing 10 overhead and centrally between the driver and the front passenger seats. Alternatively the upper end of thebracket 14 can be secured directly to the interior surface of the vehicle windscreen. - The
mirror housing 10 contains an electro-optic mirror unit 18 having aground lead 20 and avoltage supply lead 22. Themirror housing 10 also contains a air oflight sensors 24 and 25 mounted or aPCB 27 and respectively positioned to sense the ambient light levels forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle through appropriate apertures in the mirror housing in known manner. The light sensors are connected in series between a sensorvoltage supply lead 28 and theground lead 20. Aresistor 30 in series with thesensor 24 and aresistor 32 in parallel with thesensor 26 establish appropriate biassing of thesensors sensor output lead 34 provides a voltage signal which is a function of the ambient light levels forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle. It will be understood that the particular sensor circuit shown in FIG. 2 is just one a number which could be used, of varying sophistication and complexity, providing one or more sensor outputs as is known in the art. - The
support bracket 14 is hollow. The four leads 20, 22, 28 and 34 enter the lower end of thehollow bracket 14, travel up and emerge from the top end of thebracket 14, and are connected to aPCB 36 mounted in theheader 16. Aconnector 38 at the too end of thebracket 14 permits ready removal and replacement of the mirror housing and bracket without needing to disconnect and reconnect the leads at thePCB 36. - Micro-processor-based signal processing and
communications circuitry 40, powered by a regulatedpower supply 42 derived from the vehicle battery, is mounted an the PCB 36. Thecircuitry 40 is a master controller for many vehicle functions, from which it sends and receives signals via input andoutput lines 44. To the extent these functions are unrelated to mirror control, they are of no concern to the present invention. - A
part 46 of thecontroller 40 constitutes the control circuitry for the mirror unit 18 (it will be understood that although themirror control circuitry 46 is shown as a discrete portion of thecontroller 40, much of it will be shared with other control functions). Themirror control circuitry 46 includes logic circuitry to process the sensor output signal on thelead 34 to determine the appropriate level of mirror reflectivity, and drive circuitry which establishes the resultant drive voltage to be applied via thelead 22 across the electro-optic medium in themirror unit 18 to set the reflectivity accordingly. Such functions are well understood in the art. - In the embodiment shown in FIGS.1 to 3, the
mirror control circuitry 46 also controls the reflectivity of a pair of exterior electro-optic mirror assemblies leads element 18, and the voltages or the leads 54 to 60 control the reflectivity thereof in response to the sensor output signal on thelead 34. Theleads 54 to 60 are connected from thePCB 36 to themirror assemblies connectors mirror assemblies PCB 36. - The PCB36 also mounts a
mirror control switch 66, accessible from below theheader 16, to permit the driver to manually disable thecontrol circuitry 46 if desired, for example when the vehicle is reversing at night and the driver does not wish the reflectivity of the mirror to be reduced. Themirror control switch 60 may alternatively be located at themirror housing 10. Alternatively, the operation of thecontrol circuitry 46 may be automatically overridden by thecontroller 40 when the latter determines that the vehicle is in reverse gear, as indicated by a sensor input at 44. - In an alternative embodiment of the invention the
sensors mirror housing 10, but are fitted to the forward end of theheader 16 at a position where an adequate view of the ambient light levels forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle can be obtained. This alternate location is indicated in dashed lines at 24′, 26′ in FIG. 3. This further reduces the complexity of the mirror assembly. The other details of this embodiment are the same as previously described. - The invention is not limited to the embodiment of described and exemplified, which can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (9)
1. An electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising a mirror housing (10) containing an electro-optic mirror unit (18), at least one light sensor (24, 26) for sensing the ambient light level outside the vehicle, and control circuitry (40, 46) responsive to signal(s) from the light sensor(s) (24, 26) to establish a drive voltage for the electro-optic mirror unit (18), characterised in that the control circuitry is located outside the mirror housing (10).
2. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mirror housing (10) is mounted in the interior of the vehicle.
3. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mirror housing (10) is supported by a hollow bracket (14) and the control circuitry (40, 45) is connected to the electro-optic mirror unit (18) by leads (20, 22, 28, 34) extending within the hollow bracket (14).
4. A rearview mirror system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control circuitry (40, 45) is located in a housing (16) mounted on the interior ceiling of the vehicle.
5. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the control circuit housing (16) is located behind the rearview mirror housing (10) overhead and centrally between tie driver and the front passenger seats.
6. A rearview mirror system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the light sensor(s) (24, 25) are also located in the mirror housing (10).
7. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the light sensor(s) (24, 26) are located in the control circuit housing (6).
8. A rearview mirror system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control circuitry (40, 46) shares a processor which is used for other control functions of the vehicle.
9. A rearview mirror system as claimed in claim 8 , also including at least one further mirror housing (50, 52) mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and containing a further electro-optic mirror unit, the control circuitry (40, 46) further being responsive to the signal(s) from the light sensor(s) (24, 25) to establish a drive voltage for the further electro-optic mirror unit.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/973,272 US6447124B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2001-10-09 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IE960227 | 1996-03-19 | ||
IES960227 | 1996-03-19 | ||
US09/155,040 US6099131A (en) | 1996-03-19 | 1997-03-19 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
US09/633,611 US6299316B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2000-08-07 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
US09/973,272 US6447124B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2001-10-09 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/633,611 Continuation US6299316B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2000-08-07 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020027714A1 true US20020027714A1 (en) | 2002-03-07 |
US6447124B1 US6447124B1 (en) | 2002-09-10 |
Family
ID=11041116
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/155,040 Expired - Fee Related US6099131A (en) | 1996-03-19 | 1997-03-19 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
US09/633,611 Expired - Lifetime US6299316B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2000-08-07 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
US09/973,272 Expired - Fee Related US6447124B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2001-10-09 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
Family Applications Before (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/155,040 Expired - Fee Related US6099131A (en) | 1996-03-19 | 1997-03-19 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
US09/633,611 Expired - Lifetime US6299316B1 (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2000-08-07 | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US6099131A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0897347B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2304997A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69710058T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2171920T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997034780A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (65)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5910854A (en) | 1993-02-26 | 1999-06-08 | Donnelly Corporation | Electrochromic polymeric solid films, manufacturing electrochromic devices using such solid films, and processes for making such solid films and devices |
US5668663A (en) | 1994-05-05 | 1997-09-16 | Donnelly Corporation | Electrochromic mirrors and devices |
US6891563B2 (en) | 1996-05-22 | 2005-05-10 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicular vision system |
US6099131A (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2000-08-08 | Donnelly Corporation | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
US5796176A (en) * | 1996-07-11 | 1998-08-18 | Donnelly Corporation | Memory mirror system for vehicles |
US5798575A (en) | 1996-07-11 | 1998-08-25 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle mirror digital network and dynamically interactive mirror system |
US6326613B1 (en) | 1998-01-07 | 2001-12-04 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle interior mirror assembly adapted for containing a rain sensor |
US8294975B2 (en) | 1997-08-25 | 2012-10-23 | Donnelly Corporation | Automotive rearview mirror assembly |
US6172613B1 (en) | 1998-02-18 | 2001-01-09 | Donnelly Corporation | Rearview mirror assembly incorporating vehicle information display |
US6124886A (en) | 1997-08-25 | 2000-09-26 | Donnelly Corporation | Modular rearview mirror assembly |
US6278377B1 (en) | 1999-08-25 | 2001-08-21 | Donnelly Corporation | Indicator for vehicle accessory |
US6124647A (en) | 1998-12-16 | 2000-09-26 | Donnelly Corporation | Information display in a rearview mirror |
US6445287B1 (en) | 2000-02-28 | 2002-09-03 | Donnelly Corporation | Tire inflation assistance monitoring system |
US8288711B2 (en) | 1998-01-07 | 2012-10-16 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior rearview mirror system with forwardly-viewing camera and a control |
US6329925B1 (en) | 1999-11-24 | 2001-12-11 | Donnelly Corporation | Rearview mirror assembly with added feature modular display |
US6693517B2 (en) | 2000-04-21 | 2004-02-17 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle mirror assembly communicating wirelessly with vehicle accessories and occupants |
US6420975B1 (en) | 1999-08-25 | 2002-07-16 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior rearview mirror sound processing system |
US6477464B2 (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2002-11-05 | Donnelly Corporation | Complete mirror-based global-positioning system (GPS) navigation solution |
US6405105B1 (en) * | 1998-12-17 | 2002-06-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method means and device for limiting the light penetration through one or more pane in a single viewing port |
AU2001243285A1 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2001-09-12 | Donnelly Corporation | Video mirror systems incorporating an accessory module |
US7480149B2 (en) * | 2004-08-18 | 2009-01-20 | Donnelly Corporation | Accessory module for vehicle |
US7167796B2 (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2007-01-23 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle navigation system for use with a telematics system |
WO2007053710A2 (en) | 2005-11-01 | 2007-05-10 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior rearview mirror with display |
US7370983B2 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2008-05-13 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior mirror assembly with display |
US6318870B1 (en) * | 2000-03-23 | 2001-11-20 | Donnelly Corporation | Toggle assembly for rearview mirror |
US6396408B2 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2002-05-28 | Donnelly Corporation | Digital electrochromic circuit with a vehicle network |
US6877709B2 (en) * | 2000-12-21 | 2005-04-12 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior rearview mirror assembly with polymeric components |
US7255451B2 (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2007-08-14 | Donnelly Corporation | Electro-optic mirror cell |
ES2287266T3 (en) | 2001-01-23 | 2007-12-16 | Donnelly Corporation | IMPROVED VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM. |
US7581859B2 (en) | 2005-09-14 | 2009-09-01 | Donnelly Corp. | Display device for exterior rearview mirror |
US6759945B2 (en) * | 2001-03-29 | 2004-07-06 | Vtec Technologies, Inc. | Variable transmittance birefringent device |
US6733160B2 (en) | 2001-06-04 | 2004-05-11 | Devolpi Dean R. | Shuttering strobing oncoming headlight glare reduction system |
US6824281B2 (en) * | 2002-01-31 | 2004-11-30 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle accessory module |
AU2003225513A1 (en) * | 2002-04-26 | 2003-11-11 | Magna Donnelly Electronics Naas Limited | Rearview mirror assemblies |
US6918674B2 (en) | 2002-05-03 | 2005-07-19 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle rearview mirror system |
WO2003105099A1 (en) | 2002-06-06 | 2003-12-18 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior rearview mirror system with compass |
US7329013B2 (en) | 2002-06-06 | 2008-02-12 | Donnelly Corporation | Interior rearview mirror system with compass |
WO2004103772A2 (en) | 2003-05-19 | 2004-12-02 | Donnelly Corporation | Mirror assembly for vehicle |
US7310177B2 (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2007-12-18 | Donnelly Corporation | Electro-optic reflective element assembly |
AU2003278863A1 (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2004-04-08 | Donnelly Corporation | Mirror reflective element assembly |
TW557266B (en) * | 2002-11-21 | 2003-10-11 | Exon Science Inc | Outdoor vehicle and reflectivity control method of same |
US7446924B2 (en) | 2003-10-02 | 2008-11-04 | Donnelly Corporation | Mirror reflective element assembly including electronic component |
US7308341B2 (en) | 2003-10-14 | 2007-12-11 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle communication system |
US8256821B2 (en) | 2004-12-15 | 2012-09-04 | Magna Donnelly Engineering Gmbh | Accessory module system for a vehicle window |
US20060140502A1 (en) * | 2004-12-25 | 2006-06-29 | Allan Tseng | Active visor system for eliminating glare in field-of-vision from mobile and transient light sources and reflective surfaces |
US9070850B2 (en) | 2007-10-31 | 2015-06-30 | Cree, Inc. | Light emitting diode package and method for fabricating same |
EP1883855B1 (en) | 2005-05-16 | 2011-07-20 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle mirror assembly with indicia at reflective element |
US8669572B2 (en) * | 2005-06-10 | 2014-03-11 | Cree, Inc. | Power lamp package |
US7675145B2 (en) * | 2006-03-28 | 2010-03-09 | Cree Hong Kong Limited | Apparatus, system and method for use in mounting electronic elements |
US8748915B2 (en) * | 2006-04-24 | 2014-06-10 | Cree Hong Kong Limited | Emitter package with angled or vertical LED |
US8735920B2 (en) | 2006-07-31 | 2014-05-27 | Cree, Inc. | Light emitting diode package with optical element |
US9711703B2 (en) * | 2007-02-12 | 2017-07-18 | Cree Huizhou Opto Limited | Apparatus, system and method for use in mounting electronic elements |
CN101388161A (en) * | 2007-09-14 | 2009-03-18 | 科锐香港有限公司 | LED surface mounting device and LED display with the device |
US10256385B2 (en) | 2007-10-31 | 2019-04-09 | Cree, Inc. | Light emitting die (LED) packages and related methods |
US8866169B2 (en) | 2007-10-31 | 2014-10-21 | Cree, Inc. | LED package with increased feature sizes |
US8154418B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2012-04-10 | Magna Mirrors Of America, Inc. | Interior rearview mirror system |
US9487144B2 (en) | 2008-10-16 | 2016-11-08 | Magna Mirrors Of America, Inc. | Interior mirror assembly with display |
US8791471B2 (en) * | 2008-11-07 | 2014-07-29 | Cree Hong Kong Limited | Multi-chip light emitting diode modules |
US8570374B2 (en) | 2008-11-13 | 2013-10-29 | Magna Electronics Inc. | Camera for vehicle |
US20110037083A1 (en) * | 2009-01-14 | 2011-02-17 | Alex Chi Keung Chan | Led package with contrasting face |
US8368112B2 (en) | 2009-01-14 | 2013-02-05 | Cree Huizhou Opto Limited | Aligned multiple emitter package |
US9601670B2 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2017-03-21 | Cree, Inc. | Method to form primary optic with variable shapes and/or geometries without a substrate |
US10622522B2 (en) | 2014-09-05 | 2020-04-14 | Theodore Lowes | LED packages with chips having insulated surfaces |
US10994042B2 (en) | 2016-01-25 | 2021-05-04 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Heated air freshener |
CN106773439B (en) * | 2017-04-11 | 2021-04-09 | 吉晟光电(深圳)有限公司 | Electrochromic system, control method and electrochromic rearview mirror |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2366958A1 (en) * | 1976-10-08 | 1978-05-05 | Brisard Gerard | Vehicle rear view mirror - has liq. crystal film between mirror and outer glass to make mirror opaque eliminating glare from following headlights |
DE3722348A1 (en) * | 1987-07-07 | 1988-10-06 | Schott Glaswerke | Rear view mirror system with continuously adjustable reflection |
US5883605A (en) * | 1992-02-25 | 1999-03-16 | Gentex Corporation | Automatic electrochromic control of light level of vacuum fluorescent display |
US5812321A (en) * | 1994-07-19 | 1998-09-22 | Donnelly Corporation | Automatic sensitivity adjustment for electro-optic mirror and headlight activation control |
US5659423A (en) * | 1994-09-30 | 1997-08-19 | Donnelly Corporation | Modular variable reflectance mirror assembly |
US5671996A (en) * | 1994-12-30 | 1997-09-30 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle instrumentation/console lighting |
US5669698A (en) * | 1995-05-24 | 1997-09-23 | Veldman; Roger L. | Modular rearview mirror assembly and method for making same |
US5971552A (en) * | 1995-12-08 | 1999-10-26 | Donnelly Corporation | Vehicle global positioning system |
US5790973A (en) * | 1995-12-19 | 1998-08-04 | Prince Corporation | Last exit warning system |
US6099131A (en) | 1996-03-19 | 2000-08-08 | Donnelly Corporation | Electro-optic rearview mirror system |
-
1997
- 1997-03-19 US US09/155,040 patent/US6099131A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-03-19 WO PCT/IE1997/000019 patent/WO1997034780A2/en active IP Right Grant
- 1997-03-19 ES ES97915657T patent/ES2171920T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-19 DE DE69710058T patent/DE69710058T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-19 AU AU23049/97A patent/AU2304997A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-03-19 EP EP97915657A patent/EP0897347B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2000
- 2000-08-07 US US09/633,611 patent/US6299316B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-10-09 US US09/973,272 patent/US6447124B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69710058T2 (en) | 2002-09-26 |
US6447124B1 (en) | 2002-09-10 |
AU2304997A (en) | 1997-10-10 |
US6099131A (en) | 2000-08-08 |
US6299316B1 (en) | 2001-10-09 |
WO1997034780A3 (en) | 1999-02-11 |
EP0897347B1 (en) | 2002-01-23 |
ES2171920T3 (en) | 2002-09-16 |
DE69710058D1 (en) | 2002-03-14 |
WO1997034780A2 (en) | 1997-09-25 |
EP0897347A2 (en) | 1999-02-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6099131A (en) | Electro-optic rearview mirror system | |
US6089721A (en) | Digital electrochromic mirror system | |
US5659423A (en) | Modular variable reflectance mirror assembly | |
US4669827A (en) | Detection of manipulation of position apparatus for dazzle-free mirror | |
EP0280278A2 (en) | Light-reflectivity controller for use with automotive rearview mirror using electrochromic element | |
US6630888B2 (en) | Rearview mirror assembly with integral display element and camera | |
US5223814A (en) | Sensor for vehicle accessories | |
US7858905B2 (en) | Vehicular mirror with heater circuit module | |
US5122647A (en) | Vehicular mirror system with remotely actuated continuously variable reflectance mirrors | |
GB2284512A (en) | Light controlling device for a motor vehicle | |
GB2315136A (en) | Vehicle mirror control network and dynamically interactive mirror system | |
US10232779B2 (en) | Exterior mirror with heater pad | |
IE970014A1 (en) | A vehicle rearview mirror and a vehicle control system¹incorporating such mirror | |
JPH07266928A (en) | Rearview mirror | |
CN113412210A (en) | Mirror replacing system with infrared light emitting diode overheating management | |
EP0962360A2 (en) | Rear view mirror apparatus with variable reflectance, and method for controlling the same | |
US20230022541A1 (en) | Vehicular rearview mirror control system | |
JPH0332493B2 (en) | ||
CN213007866U (en) | Vehicle camera device, outside rear-view mirror assembly, panoramic image system and vehicle | |
JPH0417386Y2 (en) | ||
JP6984974B2 (en) | Vehicle door mirror device | |
JPH0518209Y2 (en) | ||
CN219428022U (en) | Electronic rearview mirror system | |
JPH0521487Y2 (en) | ||
GB2039176A (en) | Supplying vehicle road lights and window wipers |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
CC | Certificate of correction | ||
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20140910 |