Patent ID: 7583184
Filing Date: 2009-09-01
Classification: B60C,B60K,B60Q,B60R,B60S,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electrochromic reflective element, said reflective element providing a rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; said electrochromic reflective element comprising an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate; said first substrate being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second substrate when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; said first substrate having a first surface and a second surface; said first surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said second surface when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; said second substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface; said third surface being closer to the driver of the vehicle than said fourth surface when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle; a transparent electrical conductor disposed at said second surface of said first substrate; a mirror reflector disposed at said third surface of said second substrate; said mirror reflector comprising a metal layer; said metal layer comprising at least one of (i) silver, (ii) aluminum, (iii) an alloy of silver, and (iv) an alloy of aluminum; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a video screen; said video screen disposed to the rear of said fourth surface of said second substrate; said video screen comprising a back-lit liquid crystal device; said video screen emitting light when actuated to display a video image, said emitted light passing through said electrochromic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle; said mirror reflector comprising a transflective mirror reflector and wherein the presence of said video screen disposed to the rear of said fourth surface of said second substrate is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until said video screen is actuated to emit light that passes through said electrochromic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising control circuitry; said control circuitry receiving a signal indicative of selection of a reverse gear of the vehicle by the driver of the vehicle; wherein said control circuitry actuates said video screen upon selection of a reverse gear by the driver of the vehicle in order to display video images captured by a video imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle; wherein said control circuitry deactuates said video screen upon deselection of a reverse gear of the vehicle in order to cease display of video images captured by said video imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle; wherein said video mirror system includes indicia overlaying the video images as seen on said video screen; and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one light emitting diode, said at least one light emitting diode emitting white light when actuated.