(12) United States Patent
`Heslin et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`45 Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,326,613 B1
`9
`Dec. 4 2001
`
`US006326613B1
`
`(54) VEHICLE INTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY
`AI)ApTEI) FOR CONTAINING A RAIN
`SENSOR
`
`10/1998 Spooner ............................. .. 248/549
`5,820,097
`6,158,655 * 12/2000 DeVries, Jr. et al.
`............. .. 235/380
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Patrick Heslin, Dublin (IE); Niall R.
`Lynam, Holland, MI (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Donnelly Corporation, Holland, MI
`(Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject. to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent 1S extended or adjusted under 35
`USC. 154(b) by() days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/433,467
`(22) Filed.
`NOV 4 1999
`'
`'
`’
`Related U_s_ Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/003,966, filed on Jan. 7,
`1998, n0W Pat N0~ 6,250,143
`
`.................... N H0” 5/02
`Int CL7 .
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`.................................... 250/239, 250/214 AL;
`359/229
`
`0 923 723 A2
`6 243543
`W0 98 14974
`W0 98 30415
`W0 99 14088
`W0 99 23828
`
`7/1999 (EP) ~
`2/1987 (JP) .
`4/1998 (WO) .
`7/1998 (W0) .
`3/1999 (W0).
`5/1999 (WO) .
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S. 09/382,720, filed Aug. 25, 1999, entitled Accessory
`Module for a Vehicle.
`
`U.S. 09/346,352, filed Jul. 2, 1999, entitled Rain Sensor.
`U.S. 09/304,201, filed May 3, 1999, entitled Vehicle Rear-
`view Mirror Display System.
`US. 09/244,726, filed Feb. 5, 1999, entitled Rearview Mirror
`Assembly Incorporating Vehicle Information Display.
`U.S. 09/057,428,
`filed Apr. 8, 1998, entitled Vehicle
`Mounted Trasaction Interface System.
`U.S. 09/033,966, filed Jan. 7, 1998, entitled Rain Sensor
`MOW‘ for Use 1“ a V‘“*hi"1‘°*~
`* cited by examiner
`
`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 250/239, 216,
`250/221, 22711, 214 AL, 214 D, 214 B;
`359/229, 230, 242, 267; 340/485
`
`primary Ex/1mi,1er_Que T. Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn &
`Burkhart, LLP
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a
`housing having a front end releasably attached to the interior
`surface of the vehicle Windshield and a rear end having a ball
`and socket joint for a rearview mirror unit. An internal Wall
`subdivides the interior of the housing into first and second
`compartments. The first compartment contains a rain sensor
`which is preferably biased into contact with the Windshield,
`and the second compartment contains a further electrical
`C.°mp°“e“.t Such as a Compass Sensor a°°eS.S1b1e through a
`5199 °Pe“1“g- A r9m°Vab19 "°"‘°4 mates Wlth the housmg
`aiennd the Opening and eXtendS aleng the Windshield
`towards the vehicle header. Electrical leads for the rain
`sensor and the component are routed under the cover to the
`header,
`
`12 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`Us‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`8/1989 Larson et a1.
`10/1989 o’Farre11 et a1.
`4/1990 Schierbeek et al.
`6/1990 Schofield et al.
`6/1990 Adams et ah
`9/1990 Schierbeek ct 91'
`Ea:3:)rre1;‘:1.a1.‘.
`.. 248/549
`3/1992 Haan et al.
`....... ..
`12/1995 Van Lente et al.
`................ .. 340/525
`1/1996 Hook .................................. .. 248/549
`11/1995 Desmond eta1.
`N 359/265
`11/1996 Blank et al.
`.. 340/438
`4/1997 Hook ......... ..
`248/549
`1/1998 Blank et al.
`....................... .. 340/438
`8/1998 Schofield et al.
`............... .. 250/208.1
`
`
`
`. 307/10.1
`N 250/341
`.... .. 318/483
`.. 248/475.1
`~~ 248/2221
`~~ 318/483
`
`4,859,867
`4,871,917
`4,916,374
`4,930,742
`4:936:53
`4959591
`
`5,100,095
`5,475,366
`5,487,522
`5,572,354
`5,576,687
`5,615,857
`5,708,410
`5,796,094
`
`

`
`Dec. 4, 2001
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`US 6,326,613 B1
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`U.S.Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 2 0f5
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`US 6,326,613 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 3 0f5
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`US 6,326,613 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`US 6,326,613 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 5 0f5
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`US 6,326,613 B1
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`22
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`34
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`I0
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`I0!
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`25
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`30
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`19%
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`FlG.8
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`E ~L\\\\\\\\\§§\\V‘
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`

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`US 6,326,613 B1
`
`1
`VEHICLE INTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY
`ADAPTED FOR CONTAINING A RAIN
`SENSOR
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/003,966, filed
`Jan. 7, 1998, by Niall R. Lynam, entitled RAIN SENSOR
`MOUNT FOR USE IN A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,250,148, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
`reference herein.
`
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a vehicle interior mirror assem-
`
`bly.
`According to the invention there is provided a vehicle
`interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing
`having a front end for releasable attachment to the interior
`surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear end having con-
`nection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror
`unit to the housing, the housing adapted for containing a rain
`sensor and biasing means in use biasing the rain sensor into
`contact with the interior surface of the windshield,
`the
`housing containing at least one further electrical component.
`The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview
`mirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end for
`releasable attachment to the interior surface of the vehicle
`
`windshield, a rear end having connection means for adjust-
`ably mounting a rearview mirror unit to the housing, the
`interior of the housing comprising at least one compartment,
`the compartment having an opening at the front end of the
`housing for facing in use towards the windshield and, the
`compartment adapted for containing a rain sensor and for
`biasing the rain sensor forwardly through the first opening
`into contact with the interior surface of the windshield, and
`the housing also containing at least one further electrical
`component.
`The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview
`mirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end for
`releasable attachment to the interior surface of the vehicle
`
`windshield, a rear end having connection means for adjust-
`ably mounting a rearview mirror unit to the housing, the
`interior of the housing comprising a compartment,
`the
`compartment having a first opening at the front end of the
`housing for facing in use towards the windshield and the
`compartment having a second opening on at least one side
`of the housing, the compartment containing a rain sensor and
`means for biasing the rain sensor forwardly through the first
`opening into contact with the interior surface of the
`windshield, and the compartment containing at least one
`further electrical component accessible through the second
`opening
`According to the present invention there is provided a
`vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a
`housing having a front end for releasable attachment to the
`interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear end having
`connection means for mounting a rearview mirror unit to the
`housing, and an internal wall subdividing the interior of the
`housing into first and second compartments, the first com-
`partment having a first opening at
`the front end of the
`housing for facing in use towards the windshield and the
`second compartment having a second opening on at least
`one side of the housing, the first compartment containing a
`rain sensor and means for biasing the rain sensor forwardly
`through the first opening into contact with the interior
`
`2
`surface of the windshield, and the second compartment
`containing at least one further electrical component acces-
`sible through the second opening.
`The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview
`mirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end for
`releasable attachment to the interior surface of the vehicle
`windshield, a rear end having connection means for releas-
`ably mounting a rearview mirror unit to the housing, a first
`opening at the front end of the housing for facing in use
`towards the windshield, and a second opening on at least one
`side of the housing for facing in use towards the top edge of
`the windshield, the housing containing a rain sensor, means
`for biasing the rain sensor forwardly through the first
`opening into contact with the interior surface of the
`windshield, and at least one further electrical component
`accessible through the second opening. The assembly fur-
`ther preferably including a removable cover which mates
`with the housing around the second opening and in use
`preferably extends along the windshield towards the vehicle
`header, and electrical leads for the rain sensor and the further
`electrical component which in use are routed under the cover
`to the header.
`
`The invention provides the significant advantage that a
`vehicle manufacturer is provided with the possibility of
`optionally including a variety of components with the rear
`view mirror assembly. This possibility is made available for
`example during the assembly line process where the desired
`components to meet a particular specification can be
`included in the rear view mirror assembly. Furthermore, the
`removable cover readily provides for the functional advan-
`tage of readily incorporating a selected component whilst at
`the same time providing a functionally attractive cover. The
`automaker is therefore provided with the considerable
`advantage of the possibility of providing a plurality of
`diverse options quickly and speedily during the assembly
`line process.
`An embodiment of the invention will now be described,
`by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
`drawings, in which:
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle
`
`interior mirror assembly according to the invention attached
`to the interior surface of a windshield;
`FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the mirror assembly of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the mirror assembly;
`FIG. 4 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking
`into the opening 18;
`FIG. 5 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking
`into the opening 20;
`FIG. 6 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking
`from underneath;
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wiring cover forming
`part of the mirror assembly;
`FIG. 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of
`
`vehicle interior mirror assembly according to the invention;
`and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`FIG. 9 is a schematic view of yet a further embodiment of
`a vehicle into rear mirror assembly according to the inven-
`tion.
`
`60
`
`In certain of the figures some components are omitted or
`shown in dashed outline to reveal the underlying structure.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`65
`
`Referring to the drawings, a vehicle interior rearview
`mirror assembly comprises a die cast metal housing 10 (or
`
`

`
`US 6,326,613 B1
`
`3
`optionally may be formed from a plastic moulding such as
`engineering polymeric resin such as a filled nylon or the
`like) having a front end 12 and a rear end 14, the front end
`12 being releasably attached to the interior surface of the
`vehicle windshield 22 in a manner to be described. The
`interior of the housing 10 is subdivided by an internal wall
`16 into first and second compartments 18, 20 respectively,
`the first compartment 18 having an opening 18a at the front
`end of the housing 10 which in use, and as shown in FIGS.
`1 and 2, faces towards the windshield 22 and the second
`compartment having an opening 20a on the side of the
`housing which in use faces towards the vehicle header 24 at
`the top edge of the windshield. The front end 12 of the
`housing 10 is releasably attached to the windshield 22 using
`an annular mounting button, not shown,
`in the manner
`described in EP 0 928 723 and U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/003,966, entitled “Rain Sensor Mount for Use in a
`Vehicle” to Niall R Lynam, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,148, the
`disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
`The compartment 18 contains a rain sensor 26, preferably
`a compact rain sensor module available from ITT Automo-
`tive Europe GmbH of Frankfurt, Germany. The compart-
`ment 18 preferably also contains an arcuate steel spring
`finger 28 which is secured to the base of the compartment 18
`behind the rain sensor 26 and preferably serves to bias the
`rain sensor 26 through the aperture in the mounting button
`and the opening 18a into optical contact with the windshield
`22. Most preferably, rain sensor 26 is a module which has a
`cross section diameter of at least 25 millimeters (mm), more
`preferably at least 30 mm, but with a maximum diameter
`§50 mm, more preferably §40 mm, and most preferably
`§35 mm.
`
`The compartment 20 contains at least one further electri-
`cal component which is accessible through the opening 20a.
`In the present embodiment the component is a printed circuit
`board 30 bearing a compass sensor such as a flux gate,
`magnetoinductive, magnetoresistive or magnetocapacitive
`sensor.
`
`At its rear end 14 the housing 10 has an integral ball 32
`for releasably and adjustably mounting a rearview mirror
`unit 34 to the housing 10 generally in conventional manner.
`The mirror unit 34 comprises a mirror housing 36 containing
`a mirror 38 which is preferably an electro-optic mirror
`comprising front and rear plates separated by a space which
`contains an electro-optic medium such as an electrochromic
`medium allowing variation in the amount of light transmit-
`ted through the medium by varying the strength of an
`electric field applied across the medium. Alternatively a
`prismatic mirror element can be used. Such mirrors are well
`known in the art. The ball 32 constitutes one part of a ball
`and socket joint, the socket 36 being carried by the mirror
`housing 36. The mirror housing is adjustable about the ball
`and socket joint. Advantageously, the housing 10 is fixedly
`attached to the windshield when mounted thereto. Thus,
`adjustment of the mirror housing to set the field of rearward
`view of the mirror reflective element therein does not effect
`
`the position/orientation of rain sensor and any other acces-
`sory housed in fixedly-attached housing 10. This is particu-
`larly advantageous when the electrical accessory in housing
`10 comprises a compass sensor such as a magneto-resistive
`sensor, a magneto-inductive sensor, a magneto-capacitive
`sensor or a flux-gate sensor. By having the housing 10 be
`fixedly attached, and by having it accommodate at least two
`electrical accessories (at
`least one of which preferably
`comprises a rain sensor that is mounted in the housing 10 so
`as to view through and preferably contact the windshield
`inner surface, and with the rain sensor attached to the
`
`10
`
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`20
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`65
`
`4
`windshield generally coaxial with the mirror unit that is
`adjustable about housing 10), a compact overall interior
`mirror system is provided comprising a housing accommo-
`dating a plurality of electrical accessories,
`the housing
`fixedly and detachably mounted to a receiving structure on
`the inner surface (typically a glass surface) of the vehicle
`windshield and with a mirror unit comprising a mirror
`support arm and a mirror housing including a reflector
`element,
`the mirror support arm/mirror housing being
`adjustable about the fixed housing (and optionally detach-
`able therefrom). In this manner, the housing 10 presents a
`minimal footprint when viewed from outside the vehicle
`through the vehicle windshield.
`The assembly further includes a removable cover 40
`which mates with the housing 10 around the opening 20a
`and extends along the windshield to the vehicle header 24.
`The cover 40, which is longitudinally symmetric, is moulded
`from a resilient, polymeric or plastics material and com-
`prises a pair of opposite, substantially coplanar, longitudinal
`side edges 42, FIG. 7, which diverge from a relatively
`narrow rear end 44 of the cover 40 to a relative wide flared
`
`front end 46. The flared front end 46 of the cover is open,
`and there is also a small opening 48 at the narrow rear end
`44. The cover 40 has an internal strengthening wall 50
`whose free edge 52 is recessed below the level of the edges
`42. At its flared front end the cover 40 has a pair of forward
`projections 54, and the inside surface of the cover has a pair
`of raised ridges 56 (only one is seen in FIG. 7) each
`extending along a respective side of the cover adjacent to the
`front end 46.
`
`The exterior surface of the housing 10 has a correspond-
`ing pair of elongated grooves or depressions 58 along each
`side of the opening 20a, the exterior width of the housing
`across the opening 20a being substantially the same as the
`interior width of the cover 40 across the grooves 58.
`The cover 40 is fitted to the housing 10 by first inserting
`the projections 54 into a recess 60, FIGS. 2 and 5, above the
`opening 20a and then rotating the cover towards the wind-
`shield until the ribs 56 snap-engage the grooves 58 (the
`cover 40 is sufficiently resilient to permit this) and the edges
`42 of the cover come to lie flat against the interior surface
`of the windshield 22, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover 40
`may be removed by pulling the narrow end 44 away from the
`windshield until the ribs 56 disengage the grooves 58 and
`then withdrawing the projection 54 from the recess 60.
`The cover 40 serves a dual purpose. First, it protects the
`compartment 20a and hence the component 30 against the
`ingress of dust and other contaminants, yet
`it
`is easily
`removed to allow the component 30 to be serviced or
`replaced, if necessary after removing the mirror unit 34.
`Secondly, it provides a conduit for electrical leads 62, 64 and
`66 respectively from the rain sensor 26, component 30 and
`(if fitted) the electro-optic or other electrically operated
`mirror 38.
`
`As seen in FIG. 1, these leads are routed under the cover
`40 and through the opening 48 at the rear end 44 of the cover
`into the vehicle header 24 where they are connected into the
`vehicle electrical system.
`As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the ball joint 32 includes a
`passageway or a conduit through which can pass the elec-
`trical leads connecting to a component such as a eletrochro-
`mic mirror element 38 or compass display in the mirror head
`34. In particular, there is shown a lead 68 connected to a
`compass display 70 which displays through the mirror
`element. Alternatively, the display 70 can be located at other
`positions in the interior rear view mirror assembly, such as
`in a chin portion or in an eyebrow portion.
`
`

`
`US 6,326,613 B1
`
`5
`least one
`the removable cover includes at
`Optionally,
`opening 100 or port through which a pointed object such as
`the tip of a ball point pen or a needle or the like can be
`inserted to activate switches on a PCB located in one of the
`compartments. Thus, for example,
`the zone and/or the
`calibration of a compass PCB can be adjusted without the
`necessity to remove the removable cover.
`Also, a camera may be located on the assembly for
`example on the housing, or mirror unit or cover and arranged
`to look either forwardly or rearwardly in terms of the
`direction of motion of the vehicle, or in another desired
`direction. In FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown schematic views
`of other embodiments of the invention. Thus, in FIG. 8 there
`is shown the housing 10 containing a rain sensor 26 and
`another electrical component for example a printed circuit
`board of a compass sensor 30, with the housing attached to
`the vehicle windshield 22. The mirror unit 34 is adjustably
`attached to the housing 10 by a double ball adjustable mirror
`support arm 101.
`In FIG. 9, the mirror support arm 101 is attached to a
`mirror assembly mount 102. The housing 10 also comprises
`a mirror assembly mount button 103 which may be fixed to
`the housing 10 or integrally formed therewith. The mount
`102 is detachably attached to the mirror assembly mount
`button 103.
`
`Although the component 30 has been described as a
`compass sensor PCB, it can be any of a number of sensors
`or circuits which can be made small enough to fit in the
`compartment 20. Preferably, component 30 is provided as a
`unitary module that is received within compartment 20.
`Most preferably, component 30 is electrically connected
`with the electric/electronic wiring provided to the rear view
`mirror assembly. Thus, an electronic accessory can be pro-
`vided as a module, can be inserted and received in the rear
`view mirror assembly, and can make electrical connection
`(such as by a plug and socket
`to the rear view mirror
`assembly). This facilitates and enables the manufacture and
`supply of the rear view mirror assembly, by a mirror
`assembly manufacturer, to a vehicle assembly line, and the
`separate manufacture and supply of the electrical/electronic
`module to that vehicle assembly line, with the automaker
`conveniently inserting the electric/electronic module into
`the compartment of the rear view mirror assembly when the
`rear view mirror assembly is being mounted on a vehicle
`passing down a vehicle assembly line.
`For example, the compartment 20 may contain a sensor or
`sensors for vehicle altitude and/or incline, seat occupancy or
`air bag activation enable/disable, or (if a viewing aperture is
`made in the housing 10) photosensors for headlamp
`intensity/daylight intensity measurement. Alternatively, the
`compartment 20 may contain a transmitter and/or receiver,
`along with any associated sensors, for geographic position-
`ing satellite (GPS) systems, pagers, cellular phone systems,
`ONSTARTM wireless communication, systems, vehicle
`speed governors, security systems, tire monitoring systems,
`remote fueling systems where vehicle fueling and/or
`payment/charging for fuel
`is remotely achieved, remote
`keyless entry systems, garage and/or security door opener
`systems, INTERNET interfaces, vehicle tracking systems,
`remote car door unlock systems, e-mail systems, toll booth
`interactions systems, highway information systems, traffic
`warning systems, home access systems, garage door openers
`and the like. Of course, any of the above may be mounted
`under the cover 40, in addition to the component 30 in the
`compartment 20.
`Where the component 30 is a transmitter or receiver, or
`where a further component mounted under the cover 40 is a
`
`10
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`15
`
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`6
`transmitter or receiver, the cover 40 may include an asso-
`ciated antenna. The antenna may mounted as a separate item
`under the cover 40, or the cover itself may serve as the
`antenna, being either coated with a layer of conductive
`material or moulded from a conductive plastics material.
`Also, a photosensor may be included in a compartment of
`the housing, preferably a skyward facing photosensor that
`views skyward through the vehicle windshield for the pur-
`pose of providing automatic headlamp activation/
`deactivation at dusk/dawn. Also, the housing may include a
`single microphone or a plurality of microphones for detect-
`ing vocal inputs from vehicle occupants for the purpose of
`cellular phone wireless communication.
`Most preferably such microphones provide input to an
`audio system that transmits and communicates wirelessly
`with a remote transceiver, preferably in voice recognition
`mode. Such systems are described in commonly assigned,
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/382,720, filed Aug. 25,
`1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,003, the disclosure of which
`is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
`In this regard it may be desirable to use audio processing
`techniques such as digital sound processing to ensure that
`vocal
`inputs to the vehicular audio system are clearly
`distinguished from cabin ambient noise such as from wind
`noise, HVAC, and the like.
`Preferably the housing includes an analog to digital
`converter and or a digital analog converter for the purpose
`of converting the analog output of the microphone to a
`digital signal for input to a digital sound processor and for
`conversion of the digital output of a digital sound processor
`to an analog signal for wireless transmission to a remote
`transceiver.
`
`The housing may include a variety of information dis-
`plays such as a PSIR (Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint)
`display, an SIR (Side-Airbag Inflatable Restraint), compass/
`temperature display, a tire pressure status display or other
`desirable displays, such as those described in commonly
`assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/244,726, filed
`Feb. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,613, the disclosure of
`which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
`For example, the interior rearview mirror assembly may
`include a display of the speed limit applicable to the location
`where the vehicle is travelling. Conventionally, speed limits
`are posted as a fixed limit (for example, 45 MPH) that is read
`by the vehicle driver upon passing a sign. As an improve-
`ment to this, an information display (preferably an alpha-
`numerical display and more preferably, a reconfigurable
`display) can be provided within the vehicle cabin, readable
`by the driver,
`that displays the speed limit at whatever
`location on the road/highway the vehicle actually is at any
`moment. For example, existing speed limit signs could be
`enhanced to include a transmitter that broadcasts a local
`
`speed limit signal, such signal being received by an
`in-vehicle receiver and displayed to the driver. The speed
`limit signal can be transmitted by a variety of wireless
`transmission methods, such as radio transmission, and such
`systems can benefit from wireless transmission protocols
`and standards, such as the BLUETOOTH low-cost, low-
`power radio based cable replacement or wireless link based
`on short-range radio-based technology. Preferably,
`the
`in-vehicle receiver is located at and/or the display of local
`speed limit is displayed at the interior mirror assembly (for
`example, a speed limit display can be located in a chin or
`eyebrow portion of the mirror case, such as in the mirror
`reflector itself, such as in the cover 40, or such as in a pod
`attached to the interior mirror assembly). More preferably,
`
`

`
`US 6,326,613 B1
`
`7
`the actual speed of the vehicle can be displayed simulta-
`neously with and beside the local speed limit in-vehicle
`display and/or the difference or excess thereto can be dis-
`played. Optionally, the wireless-based speed limit transmis-
`sion system can actually control the speed at which a subject
`vehicle travels in a certain location (such as by controlling
`an engine governor or the like). Thus, a school zone speed
`limit can be enforced by transmission of a speed-limiting
`signal into the vehicle. Likewise, different speed limits for
`the same stretch of highway can be set for different classes
`of vehicles. The system may also require driver identifica-
`tion and then set
`individual speed limits for individual
`drivers reflecting their skill level, age, driving record and the
`like. Moreover, a global positioning system (GPS) can be
`used to locate a specific vehicle, calculate its velocity on the
`highway, verify what the allowed speed limit
`is at that
`specific moment on that specific stretch of highway, transmit
`that specific speed limit to the vehicle for display (preferably
`at the interior rearview mirror that the driver constantly
`looks at as part of the driving task) and optionally alert the
`driver or retard the driver’s ability to exceed the speed limit
`as deemed appropriate. A short-range, local communication
`system such as envisaged in the BLUETOOTH protocol
`finds broad utility in vehicular applications, and particularly
`where information is to be displayed at the interior mirror
`assembly, or where a microphone or user-interface (such as
`buttons to connect/interact with a remote wireless receiver)
`is to be located at the interior (or exterior) rearview mirror
`assembly. For example, a train approaching a railway cross-
`ing may transmit a wireless signal such as a radio signal
`(using the BLUETOOTH protocol or another protocol) and
`that signal may be received by and/or displayed at
`the
`interior rearview mirror assembly (or the exterior sideview
`mirror assembly). Also, the interior rearview mirror and/or
`the exterior side view mirrors can function as transceivers/
`display locations/interface locations for intelligent vehicle
`highway systems, using protocols such as the BLUE-
`TOOTH protocol. Protocols such as BLUETOOTH, as
`known in the telecommunications art, can facilitate voice/
`data, voice over data, digital and analogue communication
`and vehicle/external wireless connectivity, preferably using
`the interior and/or exterior mirror assemblies as transceiver/
`display/user-interaction sites. Electronic accessories to
`achieve the above can be accommodated in housing 10,
`and/or elsewhere in the interior mirror assembly (such as in
`the mirror housing). Examples of such electronic accessories
`include in-vehicle computers, personal organizers/palm
`computers such as the Palm Pilot” personal display acces-
`sory (PDA), cellular phones and pagers, remote transaction
`interfaces/systems such as described in commonly assigned,
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/057,428, filed Apr. 8,
`1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,655, the disclosure of which
`is hereby incorporated by reference herein, automatic toll
`booth payment systems, GPS systems, e-mail receivers/
`displays, a videophone, vehicle security systems, digital
`radio station transmission to the vehicle by wireless com-
`munication as an alternate to having an in-vehicle dedicated
`conventional radio receiver, traffic/weather broadcast to the
`vehicle, preferably digitally, and audio play and/or video
`display thereof in the vehicle, most preferably at the interior
`rearview mirror, highway hazard warning systems and the
`like.
`
`The information display at the interior rearview mirror
`assembly (such as at the mirror housing or viewable in the
`mirror reflector) may be formed using electronic ink tech-
`nology and can be reconfigurable. Examples of electronic
`ink technology include small plastic capsules or
`
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`8
`typically 1/10 of a millimeter across or
`microcapsules,
`thereabouts, that are filled with a dark ink and that have in
`that ink white particles which carry a charge such as a
`positive charge. Electrodes place an electric field across the
`capsules and the electric field can attract or repel the charged
`particles in the capsules. If the white particle is attracted to
`the top of a capsule so that it is closest to a viewer, the
`display element/pixel appears white to the viewer. If the
`white particle is attracted to the bottom of the capsule (away
`from the viewer), the display element/pixel appears dark as
`the viewer now sees the dark ink in the capsule. Such
`displays are available from E Ink of Cambridge, Mass. Such
`electronic ink displays have the advantage of forming text or
`graphics that, once formed, do not disappear when the
`display powering voltage is disconnected (i.e. they have a
`long display memory). Alternately, GYRICONTM electronic
`ink technology developed by XEROX Corporation can be
`used. Here, microbeads are used that are black (or another
`dark color) on one side and white (or another light color) on
`the other side. The beads are dipolar in that one hemisphere
`carries a stronger (and hence different) charge than the
`opposing other hemisphere. The beads are small (about 1/10th
`of a millimeter diameter) and turn or flip when placed in an
`electric field, with the respective poles of the dipolar beads
`being attracted to the corresponding polarity of the applied
`electric field. Thus, a white pixel or a black pixel can be
`electrically written. Once the bead has turned or flipped, it
`remains turned or flipped unless an electric potential of the
`opposite polarity is applied. Thus, the display has memory.
`Other types of information displays can be used at the
`interior mirror location. For example, a field-emission dis-
`play such as the field-emission display available from Can-
`descent Technologies of San Jose, Calif. can be used.
`Field-emission displays include a plurality of charge emit-
`ting sources or guns that bombard a phosphor screen. For
`example, a myriad of small or microscopic cones (<1 micron
`tall, for example and made of a metal such as molybdenum)
`are placed about a millimeter from phosphors on a screen.
`The cones emit electrons from their tips or apexes to
`bombard the phosphors under an applied electric field. This
`technology is adaptable to provide thin display screens (such
`as less than 10 mm or so). Alternately, field-emission dis-
`plays can be made using carbon nanotubes which are
`cylindrical versions of buckminsterfullerene, and available
`from Motorola. Such field-emission displays are particularly
`useful for video displays as they have high brightness and
`good contrast ratio, even under high ambient lighting con-
`ditions such as in a vehicle cabin by day. Such displays can
`be located at
`the interior rearview mirror, preferably, or
`optionally elsewhere in the vehicle cabin such as in the dash,
`in the windshield header at the top interior edge of the
`windshield, in a seat back, or the like.
`A further advantage of providing a housing 10 which
`accommodates multiple electrical accessories, preferably in
`individ