A REARVIEW MIRROR HAVING AN ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT DISPLAY

Abstract: Automotive instruments have traditionally been located in the dashboard about the steering column generally outside the driver's peripheral vision. To see them the driver must take his or her eyes off the road. A novel rearview mirror (13) has an electronic instrument display incorporated into it so that the driver may receive driving information without removing his or her eyes from the road. A speedometer (14), odometer (16), and fuel gauge (15) are easily placed on the mirror (13) so that readouts display through unsilvered portions. 'Trip log' functions (18) and other displays (17, 21 and 22) may also be incorporated. A microprocessor (20) conveniently processes data input and controls the displays.

Description: A REARVIE MIRROR HAVING AN ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT DISPLAY Technical Field This invention relates to a novel rearview mirro which incorporates into it all or most of the instrumen readouts desired in automobiles, trucks, or other simila 5 vehicles. Electronic components, such as microprocessors and LEDs , are mounted behind the usual mirror for the vehi¬ cle. Signals are displayed through unsilvered portions of the mirror. 10 Background Art In Canadian Patent 1 ,063 , 695 , . Li tman discloses a rearview mirror for a motor vehicle which incorporates repeater lamps connected to the direction indicator system for the vehicle. This arrangement provides greater encour- 15 agement for a driver to use the rearview mirror and direc¬ tion indicators, thereby reducing automobile accidents. Litman also discloses means to prevent the repeater lamps from dazzling the driver in low levels of general light. The Litman mirror is a safety advance which merely 20 brushes the surface of available alterations to the interior of a vehicle. Traditionally, automotive instruments have been located in the dashboard about the steering column. The practice arose out of necessity for mounting instruments where they would be visible and rigidly attached. However, 25 continued location in this area hinders safety. The instru- . * ments generally are outside the driver's peripheral vision. m A ' r To see them, the driver must take his or her eyes off the road, at least for an instant. The Litman patent discloses that turn signal indicator lamps can be placed behind the 30 mirror reflective surface. However, the patent does not teach the need for multiple conventional dashboard instru¬ mentation at this more desirable eye level location. As highlighted at pages 45-48 of the Decembe 1980, edition of Radio-Electronics, electronics are quick replacing mechanical and electromechanical instrumen ati in a dashboard. Much more information is available in eas ly read displays, thanks to these advances. However, it recognized that the displays are still located out of t driver's field of view. Hope lies with heads-up displa used in military jet aircraft. By moving the readouts the rearview mirror, the desired result may easily b achieved today. Disclosure of Invention A novel feature of this invention is its incorpor ation of an electronic instrument display for travel infor mation, such as speed, mileage, or fuel, within a rearvie mirror to bring the display into the peripheral vision o the driver while he or she looks straight ahead and to re move the clutter from about the steering column so that ad ditional safety improvements can be made to the dashboar area. Preferably, the mirror contains all the essentia components for the several readouts commonly 'housed in th dashboard. Microprocessors are small enough today to fi within a mirror housing. Sensors about the vehicle need b the only devices outside the mirror. Alternatively, th mirror may have only the readout electronics, such as LED's with the processing devices mounted elsewhere in the vehi cle. The mirror has a housing which is attachable t the vehicle, either to the frame or to the windshield. Th housing holds a mirror and several instrument displays, suc as odometers, speedometers, fuel gauges, systems warnings and turn signal indicators. Preferably the readouts ar placed behind unsilvered portions about the periphery" of th mirror. A microprocessor preferably is mounted in the hous ing to process signals and to display the information on th readouts. Means for electrical communication run from th electronic components in the housing to the vehicle. Fo mirrors glued to the windshield, the means for communicatio include a plurality of wires encapsulated in a transparen film, such as Mylar, which is glued to the windshield also Conventional wiring processors and sensors are found in th vehicle frame. The mirror may also have trip log functio r j l 5 readouts or a common readout with switches for the variou functions. These and other novel features of the presen invention will be apparent from the following description which is given by way of example of a preferred embodiment. 10 Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic of a rearview mirro having an electronic instrument display. Figure 2 is a partially sectional schemati 15 similar to Figure 1 showing a microprocessor mounted behin the partially silvered mirror. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to Fig. 1, a rearview mirror whic 20 incorporates the novel features of " this invention is sche matically shown. The mirror has a housing 10 which is at tachable by suitable means 11 to the frame or windshield o the vehicle. Means for electrical communication 12 extend from the electrical components in the mirror to suitable 25 wiring in the vehicle, which runs to the ordinary sensors for travel information. Preferably, this means 12 includes a plurality of connecting wires of-small diameter, arranged in ribbon form and encapsulated in a transparent plastic film ( ' as shown in Fig. 2) . Mounted in the housing 10 is a 30 mirror 13 which has unsilvered portions. Signal lights, _^_ repeater lamps, or LEDs mounted behind the unsilvered por¬ _ tions emit light which is visible through the mirror 13. Preferably, these unsilvered portions are arranged about the periphery of the mirror 13 so that they do not impair its 35 ordinary function. Alternately, the readouts may be placed around the housing of the mirror or on the glass of the mirror. As an example of the display possible. Fig. shows a digital speedometer 14 in the lower lefthand corne an electronic fuel gauge 15 in the upper lefthand corner, digital odometer 16 in the upper center, systems warni lights 17, such as battery, oil, brakes, or seatbelts, alo the right edge, and a digital readout 18 in the lower ce ter. Arrayed along the bottom of the mirror are separate identified push-button switches 19 controlling a micropr cessor 20 (Fig. 2) to permit display of various "trip lo functions in the readout 18. Preferably, the switches a lighted so that they are identifiable at night. The od meter 16, speedometer 14, and fuel gauge 15 may have indiv dual microprocessors if space permits, or all of the rea outs in the mirror may share one microprocessor 20 (Fig. 2 The intensity of light from the displays is controlled wi a- screw dimmer switch 23. Furthermore, a turn signal ind cator 21 and a hi-low beam indicator 22 may be placed at convenient place in the mirror. The microprocessors might just as easily be placed elsewhere in the vehicl with only the readout components, such as -the LEDs, in t mirror. The odometer 16 preferably features a permane semiconductor memory capable of extended data retention ev with power removed. Thus, if the battery fails, the accum lated mileage will not be lost. Incorporated 'by reference as part of this descri tion, M. B. Weinsteins's article entitled "Electronics your next car," Radio-Electronics, December, 1980, pp. 4 48, discusses the state of the art in electronic displays well as the numerous options available. Especially releva is the discussion of "trip log" functions, such as distan traveled, elapsed time, average speed, estimated time arrival, and distance to destination. The mirror may also incorporate a clock, desired. The clock may be made a part of the "trip lo functions whereby display of the time would appear only selection, or a separate digital readout may be included the mirror. In some circumstances, micro ransmi t ters an microreceivers may be used to communicate between the mir ror's readouts and the vehicle's sensors. Medical technol ogy has recently developed these small components, althoug their use should be avoided if interference causes th transmission to be garbled. Those skilled in the art will recognize numerou modifications to the preferred embodiment shown and describ ed. Therefore, this invention should not be limited unles limitation is necessary due to the prior art or the natur and spirit of the appended claims. ■ JRE

Claims: Claims I claim: 1. A rearview mirror having an electronic instrumen display in it for use in an automobile, truck, or simila vehicle, comprising: (a) a housing attachable to the vehicle; (b) a mirror attached to the housing for rea viewing; (c) a readout for indicating travel informatio attached to the housing; and (d) means for electrical communication between th vehicle and the readout. 2. The mirror of claim 1 wherein the readout i behind an unsilvered portion of the mirror. 3. The mirror of claim 1 wherein the readout is speedometer. 4. A rearview mirror having an electronic instrumen display in it for use in an automobile, truck, or simila vehicle, ' comprising: (a) ' a housing attachable to the vehicle; (b) * a mirror attached to the housing for rea viewing; (c) a speedometer readout attached to the housing; ' (d) an odometer readout attached to the housing; (e) a fuel gauge attached to the housing; and (f) means for electrical communication between the vehicle and the readouts in the housing. 5. The mirror of claim 4 wherein the three readouts are behind unsilvered portions of the mirror. 6. The mirror of claim 5, further comprising a micro¬ processor mounted in the housing to process information and to -display it in the several readouts. 7. The mirror of claim 5 or claim 6, further compris ing systems warning lights behind unsilvered portions. 8. The mirror of claim 4, further comprising a digi tal readout for trip log functions and switches to change th display readout for the functions. 9. The mirror of claim 6, further comprising a digi¬ tal readout for trip log functions and switches to change the display readout for the functions. 10. The mirror of claim 9, further comprising systems warning lights behind unsilvered portions. 11. The mirror of claim 10, further comprising turn signal indicators behind unsilvered portions of the mirror. 12. The ' mirror of claim 11, further comprising hi-low beam indicators for the vehicle behind an unsilvered portion of the mirror. 13. The mirror of claim 4 wherein the odometer has a permanent semiconductor memory capable of extended data reten¬ tion even with power removed. 14. The mirror of claim 1, claim 4, or claim 13 where¬ in the means for electrical communication have a plurality of wires encapsulated in a transparent film. 15. The mirror of claim 4 wherein the several readouts have LEDs for digital displays.

Inventors: HACKEWICZ CHESTER
Applicants: HACKEWICZ CHESTER
Application year: 1981
Main classification: G08B19
IPC codes: B60K35, B60R1, G07C5