Patent ID: 6756912
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: B60Q,B60R,G02B,G10K,G10L,H04R

Abstract:
An information display system suitable for use in a vehicle, said display system comprising:an interior rearview mirror assembly; said interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior portion comprising one of a windshield portion and a header portion; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror case and a variable reflectance reflective element; said reflective element comprising a mirror reflector; said mirror reflector comprising a reflecting metal film, said reflecting metal film comprising at least one selected from a silver metal film, an aluminum metal film, a silver alloy metal film, and an aluminum alloy metal film; said variable reflectance reflective element comprising an electrochromic reflective element; said electrochromic reflective element including a first sheet having a first surface and a second surface, and a second sheet having a third surface and a fourth surface, said second surface of said first sheet opposing said third surface of said second sheet, said second surface of said first sheet being closer to said third surface of said second sheet than said first surface of said first sheet; an electrochromic medium between said second surface of said first sheet and said third surface of said second sheet, said electrochromic medium having a light transmittance which varies when electrical voltage is applied across said electrochromic medium to thereby vary the reflectivity of said reflective element; said first sheet including a transparent electroconductive coating on said second surface thereof; an information display element disposed to the rear of said second sheet of said electrochromic reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly; said information display element comprising a plurality of non-incandescent light emitting elements; wherein said mirror reflector is disposed on said third surface of said second sheet; wherein a region of said mirror reflector disposed on said third surface of said second sheet is adapted to form a light transmitting portion, said adaptation of said mirror reflector comprising an absence of said reflecting metal film at said region of said mirror reflector; wherein said information display element is positioned in said interior rearview mirror assembly at and generally aligned with said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element such that light emitted by said plurality of non-incandescent light emitting elements passes through said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element; a control; said control controlling the light intensity emitted by said plurality of non-incandescent light emitting elements for displaying information observable at said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector of said reflective element by a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is attached to said interior portion of the vehicle; and wherein information displayed by said information display element is formed by selective actuation of at least one light emitting element of said plurality of non-incandescent light emitting elements.