Electrochromic rearview mirror assembly incorporating a display/signal light

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(12) United States Patent

Tonar et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,042,616 B2 May 9, 2006

(54) ELECTROCHROMIC REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING A DISPLAY/SIGNAL LIGHT

(75) Inventors: William L. Tonar, Holland, MI (US);

Jeffrey A. Forgette, Jenison, MI (US);
John S. Anderson, Holland, MI (US);
David J. Cammenga, Zeeland, MI
(US); Robert R. Turnbull, Holland, MI
(US); Philip B. Hall, Hudsonville, MI
(US); Mark D. Bugno, Stevensville,
MI (US); Alan R. Watson, Buchanan,
MI (US)

(73) Assignee: Gentex Corporation, Zeeland, MI (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/777,846

(22) Filed: Feb. 12, 2004

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2004/0160657 Al Aug. 19, 2004

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 10/115,860, filed on Apr. 3, 2002, now Pat. No. 6,700,692, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/994,218, filed on Nov. 26, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,512,624, which is a continuation of application No. 09/311, 955, filed on May 14, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,356,376, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/206,788, filed on Dec. 7, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,166,848, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/197,400, filed on Nov. 20, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,111,684, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/114,386, filed on Jul. 13, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,064,508, which is a continuation of application No. 08/832,587, filed on Apr. 2, 1997, now Pat. No. 5,818,625, said application No. 09/206,

788 is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/175,984, filed on Oct. 20, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,111,683, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/831,808, filed on Apr. 2, 1997, now Pat. No. 5,825,527, said application No. 10/115,860 is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/425,792, filed on Oct. 22, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,441,943, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/311, 955, filed on May 14, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,356,376, said application No. 10/115,860 is a continuation-inpart of application No. 09/918,213, filed on Jul. 30, 2001, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application No. 09/560,849, filed on Apr. 28, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,268,950, which is a continuation of application No. 09/375,136, filed on Aug. 16, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,057,956, which is a continuation of application No. 08/834,783, filed on Apr. 2, 1997, now Pat. No. 5,940,201.

(60) Provisional application No. 60/124,493, filed on Mar. 15, 1999.

(51) Int. CI.

F02F1/15 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 359/265; 359/267; 359/589;

359/839; 359/843

(58) Field of Classification Search 359/267,

359/265, 275, 273, 589, 839, 271, 843, 269, 359/604,301,494; 362/301,494 See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited

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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

1998 Ford Expedition Brochure, 24 pages, Aug. 1997. Muth Advanced Technologies Smart Mirror Brochure (no date).

Muth Advanced Technologies Signal Mirror Brochure (no date).

International Body Engineering Conference material, "Dichoric Mirrors with Semi-active Covert Displays," John Roberts, 1993, pp. 65-70.

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Ricky L. Mack

Assistant Examiner—Brandi Thomas

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Price, Heneveld, Cooper,

DeWitt & Litton LLP; James E. Shultz, Jr.

(57) ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochromic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic mirror having a variable reflectivity, a glare sensor for sensing levels of light directed towards the front element from the rear of the vehicle, an ambient sensor for sensing levels of ambient light, a display positioned behind the partially transmissive, partially reflective portion of the reflector for displaying information therethrough; and a control circuit coupled to the sensors and the display. The control circuit determines whether daytime or nighttime conditions are present as a function of the ambient light level sensed by the ambient sensor. During daytime conditions, the control circuit responds to light levels sensed by the glare sensor to control a contrast ratio of light originating from the display and light reflecting from the partially transmissive, partially reflective area of the reflector.

36 Claims, 27 Drawing Sheets