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 the driver-side front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant of the vehicle. The camera at least (a) views the driver-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle and (b) views a passenger-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle. The driver of the equipped vehicle is monitored via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera.

The present invention relates to a novel retinal-controlled mirror device. The device is a multipurpose, retinal-controlled mirror system for vehicles. The vehicle mirrors are fitted with a universal retinal scanner that identifies the retinas of the user and tracks their movement to automatically adjust the vehicle mirrors to optimal positions. The vehicle mirrors, when equipped with the universal retinal scanner, ensure that the operator of the motor vehicle always has a clear line of sight through the rear-view and side-view mirrors, which are controlled by the eyes of the operator. Thus, the device prevents distractions and allows multiple users of the same vehicle to automatically adjust mirrors to a desired position.

The technology relates to enhancing or extending the field of view of sensors for vehicles configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. One or more mirrors are used to reflect or redirect beams emitted from onboard sensors that would otherwise be wasted, for instance due to obstruction by a portion of the vehicle or because they are emitted at high pitch angles to the side. The mirrors are also used to redirect incoming beams from the external environment toward one or more of the onboard sensors. Using mirrors for such redirection can reduce or eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. A calibration system may be employed to account for mirror movement due to vibration or wind drag. Each mirror may be a front surface mirror. The mirrors may be positioned on the vehicle body, on a faring, or extending from a sensor housing on the vehicle.

The technology relates to enhancing or extending the field of view of sensors for vehicles configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. One or more mirrors are used to reflect or redirect beams emitted from onboard sensors that would otherwise be wasted, for instance due to obstruction by a portion of the vehicle or because they are emitted at high pitch angles to the side. The mirrors are also used to redirect incoming beams from the external environment toward one or more of the onboard sensors. Using mirrors for such redirection can reduce or eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. A calibration system may be employed to account for mirror movement due to vibration or wind drag. Each mirror may be a front surface mirror. The mirrors may be positioned on the vehicle body, on a faring, or extending from a sensor housing on the vehicle.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micromachined mirror assembly having multiple coating layers. In one example, the micromachined mirror assembly includes a micro mirror having a first thermal expansion coefficient, a reflective layer having a second thermal expansion coefficient, and a compensation layer having a third thermal expansion coefficient. The reflective layer is disposed on a top surface of the micro mirror and is reflective to incident light of the micromachined mirror assembly. The compensation layer is disposed on the reflective layer and is transparent to the incident light of the micromachined mirror assembly. The first thermal expansion coefficient is between the second thermal expansion coefficient and the third thermal expansion coefficient.

The technology relates to enhancing or extending the field of view of sensors for vehicles configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. One or more mirrors are used to reflect or redirect beams emitted from onboard sensors that would otherwise be wasted, for instance due to obstruction by a portion of the vehicle or because they are emitted at high pitch angles to the side. The mirrors are also used to redirect incoming beams from the external environment toward one or more of the onboard sensors. Using mirrors for such redirection can reduce or eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. A calibration system may be employed to account for mirror movement due to vibration or wind drag. Each mirror may be a front surface mirror. The mirrors may be positioned on the vehicle body, on a faring, or extending from a sensor housing on the vehicle.

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.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element assembly. The mirror reflective element assembly includes a main reflective element backing plate and a main reflective element. The main reflective element includes a glass substrate having a mirror reflector coated at a surface thereof. The mirror reflector-coated glass substrate of the main reflective element is attached at the main reflective element backing plate. The mirror reflective element assembly includes an auxiliary reflective element backing plate and an auxiliary wide angle reflective element. The auxiliary wide angle reflective element is positioned on the auxiliary reflective element backing plate. The auxiliary reflective element backing plate is attached to the main reflective element backing plate via an attachment mechanism.

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head, a mirror mounting structure configured to adjustably mount the mirror head at an interior portion of the vehicle, and a receiving portion for receiving a portable accessory module. A retaining element is configured to attach at the mirror casing at the receiving portion to releasably secure the portable accessory module at the receiving portion. With the retaining element at least partially detached from the mirror casing, the portable accessory module is insertable into and removable from the receiving portion. With the portable accessory module inserted into and received at the receiving portion and with the retaining element attached at the mirror casing, the retaining element overlaps a lower portion of the portable accessory module to secure the portable accessory module at the receiving portion.