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 vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in a vehicle and including a mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly and views a driver sitting at a driver seat of the equipped vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. A control includes a vision system-on-a-chip image processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The control, via processing at the vision system-on-a-chip image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines driver movement. The vehicular driver monitoring system generates an output responsive at least in part to the determined driver movement.

The invention relates to a side mirror assembly (1) for a ground vehicle, the side mirror assembly (1) comprising two mirrors (5, 6) distributed parallel to a main axis (Z12) of the side mirror assembly (1), and both configured to be secured to the ground vehicle. The side mirror assembly (1) comprises a spacer actuator (20) for moving the two mirrors (5, 6) relative to each other, between a primary position, wherein the mirrors (5, 6) are at a first distance from each other along the main axis (Z12), and a secondary position, wherein the mirrors (5, 6) are at a second distance (Zd2) from each other along the main axis (Z12), the second distance (Zd2) being greater than the first distance. At least when the mirrors (5, 6) are in the secondary position, at least one empty see-through opening (22, 24) is provided along the main axis (Z12), between the mirrors (5, 6), so that a user may see beyond the side mirror assembly (1) through said at least one see-through opening (22, 24).

A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly disposed in a vehicle and including a mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly and views a driver sitting at a driver seat of the equipped vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. A control includes a vision system-on-a-chip image processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The control, via processing at the vision system-on-a-chip image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines driver movement. The vehicular driver monitoring system generates an output responsive at least in part to the determined driver movement.

This invention includes an autonomous driving system for automobiles, comprising: one or more common electronic communication ports of autonomous driving (communication ports) that are built-in on the automobiles; and one or more universal autonomous driving portable controllers (portable controllers) that are to be plugged-in to the said communication ports that are built-in on the automobiles. The interfaces of the communication ports and the portable controllers are both standardized such that the portable controllers can be plugged-in universally to all of the automobiles that are equipped with the built-in communication ports. The communication ports comprise electronic communication of all relevant electronic control units (ECUs) and feedback information of the automobiles, dedicated for the said portable controllers to communicate with and to control the automobiles. In addition to the portable controllers, the communication ports comprise a buffer that is designed to execute a short duration of controls to make emergency stops, in case of loss of connection with the portable controllers due to accidents or other failure conditions. The portable controllers comprise a central control unit (CCU), and a plurality of sensors and processors, and a plurality of data storages, and a plurality of data links, and a Global Positioning System (GPS). The portable controllers have standardized interfaces that match with that of the communication ports. The invention disclosed herein enables all automobiles to be ready for autonomous driving with minimal cost, provided that the said communication ports are adapted to the automobiles. The said portable controllers integrate all the hardware and software relevant to autonomous driving as standalone devices which can share the components, simplify the systems, reduce parasitic material and components, and most importantly, will be safer when multiple sensors and processors that are based on different physics are grouped together to detect objects and environment conditions. A method of compound sensor clustering (CSC) is introduced herein. The CSC method makes the sensors and processors to self-organize and to address real-world driving conditions. The portable controllers can be mass-produced as standard consumer electronics at lower cost. The portable controllers can also be more easily updated with the latest technologies since that they are standalone devices, which would be otherwise hard to achieve when the hardware and software are built-in permanently as part of the automobiles. The invention disclosed herein is more efficient, since that the portable controllers can be plugged-in to the automobiles when th

A mirror assembly for use with mirror housing on autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, including a reflector for collecting and distributing emitted light to a plurality of icon regions, a circuit board, a plurality of light sources mounted to the circuit board and positioned to selectively emit light to illuminate the icon regions, wherein the circuit board provides selective illumination of the icon regions via the light sources in response to one or more received signal inputs from the vehicle indicating an imminent autonomous vehicle maneuver, a mirror having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the reflector is secured at least indirectly to the rear surface and a plurality of icons visible along a driver viewing axis relative to the front surface of the mirror during illumination, wherein the plurality of icons are positioned over the icon regions to allow for selective icon illumination via a selected icon region.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate. The mirror back plate is attached to the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. The mirror back plate includes first structure that is configured to attach at an actuator. An indicator element is disposed at second structure of the mirror back plate. An icon is established through a metallic reflector coating disposed at the glass substrate. The icon includes a light-transmitting aperture and, when the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle, the icon is at an outboard region of the mirror reflective element. When the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle and when a light source of the indicator element is activated, the icon is illuminated and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle.

A rearview mirror having a display instrument function and a control system thereof are provided. The rearview mirror includes LED lights, glass and a glue-filled fluorophor located between the LED lights and the glass. Light rays emitted from the LED lights pass through the glue-filled fluorophor and are directed towards the glass. The glue-filled fluorophor includes a body and an extension portion, the body is flush with the LED lights, the extension portion is above the body and higher than the LED lights. Light-emitting areas are formed on outer surfaces of the body and the extension portion. The control system of the rearview mirror includes an OBD, an MCU and LED lights. The OBD is configured to acquire information on rpm and vehicle speed, and transmits it to the MCU. The MCU receives the information, generates control information and transmits it to a corresponding LED light for display.

An electric system of a vehicle including an electronically controlled braking system. The electric system has a steering angle sensor unit, at least one control module, at least one first inertia sensor and an electronic braking system central control unit EBS ECU. The at least one control module is external to the steering angle sensor unit. The at least one control module is also external to the EBS ECU. At least one of the at least one control module has mounted within it one of the at least one first inertia sensor.

A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a camera disposed at the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly behind and viewing through an electrochromic mirror reflective element into the interior cabin of the vehicle. Supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are integrated into the mirror assembly that, when powered to emit near infrared light, illuminate at least a front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant sitting in the interior cabin of the vehicle. The interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly includes a processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The camera at least views a driver-side front seating area of the vehicle and, via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera, the driver seated at the driver-side front seating area is monitored.