Patent ID: 7329850
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: B60R,G01J,G02B

Abstract:
1. A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising: a variable reflectance transflective electro-optic reflective element, said reflective element comprising a mirror reflector that reflects light incident thereon; an ambient light sensor operable to sense ambient light; a glare light sensor operable to sense glare-producing light at or near said reflective element; a video display screen disposed behind said transflective electro-optic reflective element and operable to display video information through said reflective element and viewable through said transflective electro-optic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle when said video display screen is activated, and substantially non-viewable by the driver of the vehicle when said video display screen is not activated; a circuit responsive to an ambient light value sensed by said ambient light sensor and a glare light value sensed by said glare light sensor; said circuit establishing a reflectance level of said reflective element responsive to said ambient light value and said glare light value; said circuit establishing said reflectance level for said reflective element via a modulating effect; and said circuit operable to control a display intensity of said video display screen, said circuit controlling said display intensity as a function of said ambient light value.