Various expandable mirrors and a vehicle having the same are described. An expandable mirror may include a first pane having a first reflective surface and a second pane having a second reflective surface. The expandable mirror may also include a mechanism connected with each of the first and second panes. The mechanism may be actuated to expand a viewing area of the mirror such that the expanded viewing area includes both the first and second reflective surfaces. The expandable mirror may also include a third pane having a third reflective surface that contributes to the viewing area when the mirror is expanded. The expandable mirror may also include a manual button configured to actuate or de-actuate the mechanism when pressed. The expandable mirror may also include a positioning motor configured to adjust the orientation of the viewing area of the mirror.

A signal display sun visor may include a camera photographing an object in front of vehicle; a folding detector sensing whether or not the sun visor is opened; a traffic light detector determining a current location of the vehicle by receiving a GPS signal and whether a traffic light exists in front of the vehicle based on the current location by using map information; an image processor determining a traffic light from a digital image by processing and analyzing the digital image and a signal of the determined traffic light; a signal display unit displaying the signal of the traffic light determined by the image processor; and a controller controlling operation of the respective constituent elements, operating when the sun visor is opened at greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, and controlling the camera to photograph a traffic light when the traffic light exists in front of the vehicle.

A rear backup system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the vehicle. When the vehicle transmission is shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images are displayed and an overlay is also displayed to guide the driver when hitching a trailer hitch of the vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer. When the trailer hitch of the vehicle is within the field of view of the rear backup video camera, the overlay guides the driver to connect the trailer hitch of the vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer. Display by the video screen of the video images continues during short term forward movement of the vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle to connect the trailer hitch of the vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.

A rear backup system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device including a video display screen operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the vehicle. When a transmission of the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images derived from image data captured by the rear backup video camera are displayed at the video display screen of the display device. Display of the video backup images continues after shifting of the transmission out of reverse gear. Display of the video backup images at the video display screen ceases once a threshold condition is met. The threshold condition may include a threshold period of time elapsing after the transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear. The rear backup video camera continues to capture image data at least until the threshold condition is met.

Various expandable mirrors and a vehicle having the same are described. An expandable mirror may include a first pane having a first reflective surface and a second pane having a second reflective surface. The expandable mirror may also include a mechanism connected with each of the first and second panes. The mechanism may be actuated to expand a viewing area of the mirror such that the expanded viewing area includes both the first and second reflective surfaces. The expandable mirror may also include a third pane having a third reflective surface that contributes to the viewing area when the mirror is expanded. The expandable mirror may also include a manual button configured to actuate or de-actuate the mechanism when pressed. The expandable mirror may also include a positioning motor configured to adjust the orientation of the viewing area of the mirror.

A rear backup system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device including a video display screen operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the vehicle. When a transmission of the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images derived from image data captured by the rear backup video camera are displayed at the video display screen of the display device. Display of the video backup images continues after shifting of the transmission out of reverse gear. Display of the video backup images at the video display screen ceases once a threshold condition is met. The threshold condition may include a threshold period of time elapsing after the transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear. The rear backup video camera continues to capture image data at least until the threshold condition is met.

Various expandable mirrors and a vehicle having the same are described. An expandable mirror may include a first pane having a first reflective surface and a second pane having a second reflective surface. The expandable mirror may also include a mechanism connected with each of the first and second panes. The mechanism may be actuated to expand a viewing area of the mirror such that the expanded viewing area includes both the first and second reflective surfaces. The expandable mirror may also include a third pane having a third reflective surface that contributes to the viewing area when the mirror is expanded. The expandable mirror may also include a manual button configured to actuate or de-actuate the mechanism when pressed. The expandable mirror may also include a positioning motor configured to adjust the orientation of the viewing area of the mirror.

A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes a plurality of cameras viewing exterior the equipped vehicle and at least one non-visual sensor sensing exterior of the equipped vehicle. Captured image data and sensor data are provided to a central data processor. At the central data processor, image data is fused with sensor data and processed in order to detect vehicles that are present external the equipped vehicle. The central data processor includes a digital signal processor operable to process data at a data processioning speed of at least 30 MIPS. Via processing at the central data processor of image data and sensor data, a potential hazard present exterior the equipped vehicle is determined to exist. The potential hazard arises from presence of rear-approaching traffic in at least one of (i) a side lane to the equipped vehicle and (ii) a rear lane to the equipped vehicle.

A signal display sun visor may include a camera photographing an object in front of vehicle; a folding detector sensing whether or not the sun visor is opened; a traffic light detector determining a current location of the vehicle by receiving a GPS signal and whether a traffic light exists in front of the vehicle based on the current location by using map information; an image processor determining a traffic light from a digital image by processing and analyzing the digital image and a signal of the determined traffic light; a signal display unit displaying the signal of the traffic light determined by the image processor; and a controller controlling operation of the respective constituent elements, operating when the sun visor is opened at greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, and controlling the camera to photograph a traffic light when the traffic light exists in front of the vehicle.

A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes a plurality of cameras viewing exterior the equipped vehicle and at least one non-visual sensor sensing exterior of the equipped vehicle. Captured image data and sensor data are provided to a central data processor. At the central data processor, image data is fused with sensor data and processed in order to detect vehicles that are present external the equipped vehicle. The central data processor includes a digital signal processor operable to process data at a data processioning speed of at least 30 MIPS. Via processing at the central data processor of image data and sensor data, a potential hazard present exterior the equipped vehicle is determined to exist. The potential hazard arises from presence of rear-approaching traffic in at least one of (i) a side lane to the equipped vehicle and (ii) a rear lane to the equipped vehicle.