US 11,807,164 B2
Vehicular video camera display system
Rodney K Blank, Zeeland, MI (US); Mark L Larson, Grand Haven, MI (US); and Niall R. Lynam, Holland, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/167,930.
Application 18/167,930 is a continuation of application No. 17/303,404, filed on May 28, 2021, granted, now 11,577,652.
Application 17/303,404 is a continuation of application No. 16/812,864, filed on Mar. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,021,107, issued on Jun. 1, 2021.
Application 16/812,864 is a continuation of application No. 15/344,865, filed on Nov. 7, 2016, granted, now 10,583,782, issued on Mar. 10, 2020.
Application 15/344,865 is a continuation of application No. 12/578,732, filed on Oct. 14, 2009, granted, now 9,487,144, issued on Nov. 8, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/219,214, filed on Jun. 22, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/187,069, filed on Jun. 15, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/117,301, filed on Nov. 24, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/105,903, filed on Oct. 16, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2023/0191995 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 5/262 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); G02B 27/01 (2006.01); H04N 23/63 (2023.01); H10K 59/50 (2023.01); H10K 59/65 (2023.01); G02F 1/153 (2006.01); G02F 1/157 (2006.01); G02B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 1/12 (2013.01) [G02B 27/01 (2013.01); G02F 1/157 (2013.01); G02F 1/1533 (2013.01); H04N 23/63 (2023.01); H10K 59/50 (2023.02); H10K 59/65 (2023.02); B60R 2001/1215 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1253 (2013.01); G02B 5/003 (2013.01); G02B 2027/014 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0118 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0138 (2013.01)] 55 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular video camera display system, the vehicular video camera display system comprising:
an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular video camera display system;
wherein the interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a casing and an electrochromic reflective element;
wherein the electrochromic reflective element comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate with an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;
wherein the front glass substrate comprises a planar first side and a planar second side separated by a thickness of the front glass substrate, and wherein a transparent electrically conductive coating is disposed at the planar second side of the front glass substrate;
wherein the rear glass substrate comprises a planar third side and a planar fourth side separated by a thickness of the rear glass substrate, and wherein a mirror reflector is disposed at the planar third side of the rear glass substrate;
wherein the electrochromic medium is disposed in a cavity between the planar second side of the front glass substrate and the planar third side of the rear glass substrate;
wherein the cavity is established by a seal that spaces the planar second side of the front glass substrate from the planar third side of the rear glass substrate;
wherein no part of the rear glass substrate extends beyond any part of the front glass substrate;
wherein the electrochromic medium contacts the transparent electrically conductive coating disposed at the planar second side of the front glass substrate and contacts the mirror reflector disposed at the planar third side of the rear glass substrate;
wherein the mirror reflector disposed at the planar third side of the electrochromic reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector that at least partially reflects light incident thereon and that at least partially transmits incident light therethrough;
wherein a video display device is disposed in the casing behind the electrochromic reflective element;
wherein, with the interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electrochromic reflective element by a driver of the equipped vehicle who is viewing the interior rearview mirror assembly disposed at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
a rearward-viewing video camera disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
the rearward-viewing video camera viewing at least rearward of the equipped vehicle;
the rearward-viewing video camera comprising a CMOS imaging array sensor operable to capture image data representative of a scene viewed by the rearward-viewing video camera;
wherein control circuitry is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly links to a vehicular bus network system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a microprocessor;
wherein the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly comprises circuitry operable to control dimming of the electrochromic reflective element;
wherein image data captured by the rearward-viewing video camera is communicated as a digital signal from the rearward-viewing video camera via a cable to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a decoder that decodes the digital signal communicated from the rearward-viewing video camera via the cable;
wherein the communication via the cable of captured image data from the rearward-viewing video camera to the control circuitry uses low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS); and
wherein the video display device displays video images that are derived, at least in part, from image data communicated via the cable from the rearward-viewing video camera to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly.