Auto-switch display intelligent rearview mirror system

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a rearview mirror display system with a visible surface and having a mirror mode and a display mode. The visible surface functions as a mirror in the mirror mode. The visible surface displays an electronically produced image in the display mode. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the rearview mirror display system. The electronic processor detects that the display mode is not operating properly, and, in response to the detecting, automatically switches the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror display arrangement comprising: a rearview mirror display system including a visible surface and having a mirror mode and a display mode, the visible surface functioning as a mirror in the mirror mode, the visible surface displaying electronically produced images in the display mode; and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the rearview mirror display system, the electronic processor being configured to: ascertain that a motor vehicle is in a Park gear or a Reverse gear; and in response to the ascertaining, automatically switch the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a user-actuatable switch, the electronic processor being configured to switch the rearview mirror display system from the mirror mode to the display mode in response to a user actuating the switch.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising an image capturing device communicatively coupled to the electronic processor and configured to capture images of a scene behind the motor vehicle, wherein the electronically produced images displayed by the visible surface in the display mode are based on images captured by the image capturing device.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a user-actuatable switch configured to enable a user to switch the rearview mirror display system back and forth between the mirror mode and the display mode.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the electronic processor is configured to: establish that the switch is inoperative; and in response to the establishing, automatically switch the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

6. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the electronic processor is configured to: establish that the switch is stuck; and in response to the establishing, automatically switch the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a rearview camera, the electronically produced images having been captured by the rearview camera.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electronic processor is configured to: detect that the display mode is not operating properly; and in response to the detecting, automatically cease operating the rearview mirror display system in the display mode.

9. A vehicular rearview mirror display arrangement comprising: a rearview mirror display system including a visible surface and having a mirror mode and a display mode, the visible surface functioning as a mirror in the mirror mode, the visible surface displaying electronically produced images in the display mode; a user-actuatable switch; and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the rearview mirror display system, the electronic processor being configured to: switch the rearview mirror display system from the mirror mode to the display mode in response to a user actuating the switch; establish that the switch is inoperative; and in response to the establishing, automatically switch the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the electronic processor is configured to: ascertain that a motor vehicle is in a Park gear or a Reverse gear; and in response to the ascertaining, automatically switch the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

11. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the electronic processor is configured to: establish that the switch is stuck; and in response to the establishing that the switch is stuck, automatically switch the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

12. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the electronic processor is configured to: detect that the display mode is not operating properly; and in response to the detecting, automatically cease operating the rearview mirror display system in the display mode.

13. A rearview mirror display method for a motor vehicle comprises: providing a rearview mirror display system with a visible surface, a mirror mode and a display mode; operating the visible surface as a mirror in the mirror mode; using the visible surface to display electronically produced images in the display mode; ascertaining that the motor vehicle is in a Park gear or a Reverse gear; and in response to the ascertaining, automatically switching the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising capturing images of a scene behind the motor vehicle, wherein the electronically produced images displayed by the visible surface in the display mode are based on the images captured of the scene behind the motor vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the motor vehicle with a user-actuatable switch to switch the rearview mirror display system from the mirror mode to the display mode in response to a user actuating the switch.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: establishing that the switch is inoperative; and in response to the establishing, automatically switching the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising: establishing that the switch is stuck; and in response to the establishing, automatically switching the rearview mirror display system from the display mode to the mirror mode.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising: detecting that the display mode is not operating properly; and in response to the detecting, automatically operating the rearview mirror display system in the mirror mode.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the motor vehicle with a user-actuatable switch to enable a user to switch the rearview mirror display system back and forth between the mirror mode and the display mode in response to a user actuating the switch.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising: detecting that the display mode is not operating properly; and in response to the detecting, automatically ceasing to operate the rearview mirror display system in the display mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display arrangement of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display method of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display method of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a flow chart of yet another embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display arrangement 10 of the present invention for a motor vehicle 12. Arrangement 10 includes an intelligent rearview mirror system (IRMS) 14, a rearview camera 16, a dash display 18, a controller area network (CAN) bus 20, a gear position control 22, an engine control unit 24 and a vehicle speed sensor 26.

(7) IRMS 14 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 28, a display screen 30, a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) deserializer 32, a status LED 34, a CAN transceiver 36, a mirror 38, a motor 40, an actuator 42, and a pushbutton 44. Display screen 30 may be disposed adjacent a midpoint of a top edge of the windshield, in approximately the same space in which a conventional rearview mirror may be disposed. Display screen 30 includes an LCD driver 46 and a panel line and driver circuit check mechanism (not shown). Status LED 34 may indicate whether arrangement 10 is in a display mode or a rearview mirror mode. CAN transceiver 36 interconnects CPU 28 and CAN bus 20. CPU 28 may control the orientation of mirror 38 by transmitting signals to actuator 42, and actuator 42, in turn, may control motor 40 based on the signals. Motor 40 may thereby move mirror 38 to the desired orientation.

(8) Rearview camera 16 includes an LVDS serializer 48, an MPU motion tracking device 50, and a CAN transceiver 52 which interconnects device 50 and CAN bus 20.

(9) Dash display 18 may be located on the instrument cluster or on the center stack.

(10) ECU 24 includes a CAN transceiver 54 which interconnects ECU 24 and CAN bus 20.

(11) FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display method 200 of the present invention. In a first step 202, it is determined whether the vehicle's gear position is in Park or Neutral. If not, then in step 204 the system goes into IRMS display mode. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 202 that the vehicle is in the Park or Neutral gear positions, then in step 206 the system goes into IRMS rearview mirror mode.

(12) If the system has gone into IRMS rearview mirror mode, then in step 208 it is determined whether the user has pressed a switch, such as pushbutton 44. If the user has pressed the switch, then in step 204 the system goes into IRMS display mode. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 208 that the user has not pressed the switch, then in step 206 the system goes into IRMS rearview mirror mode.

(13) There may be automatic switching from the display mode to the rearview mirror mode in response to the vehicle being put in a Reverse gear position; the vehicle being put in a Park gear position; or the vehicle stopping at a signal light with a speed of less than five miles per hour. When these three conditions are no longer present, the system may automatically switch from rearview mirror mode to display mode, unless the user has taken action to keep the system in rearview mirror mode. In Drive gear, the system may switch to display mode.

(14) FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display method 300 of the present invention. In a first step 302, it is determined whether the user has pressed a switch, such as pushbutton 44. If the user has not pressed the switch, then in step 304 the system goes into IRMS rearview mirror mode. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 302 that the user has pressed the switch, then in step 306 the system goes into IRMS display mode.

(15) In a next step 308, it is determined whether the switch is stuck and is thus malfunctioning. If the switch is stuck, then in step 304 the system goes into IRMS rearview mirror mode. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 308 that the switch is not stuck, then in step 306 the system goes into IRMS display mode.

(16) FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of a vehicular rearview mirror display method 400 of the present invention for a motor vehicle. In a first step 402, a rearview mirror display system is provided with a visible surface, a mirror mode and a display mode. For example, IRMS 14 includes a visible display screen 30 and has a mirror mode wherein screen 30 functions as a mirror, and a display mode wherein screen 30 presents an electronically produced image.

(17) Next, in step 404, the visible surface is operated as a mirror in the mirror mode. That is, display screen 30 may function as a conventional automotive rearview mirror.

(18) In a next step 406, the visible surface is used to display electronically produced images in the display mode. That is, display screen 30 may function as a display screen to present images that may be produced and provided by CPU 28.

(19) In step 408, it is detected that the display mode is not operating properly. For example, CPU 28 may receive a signal from display screen 30 indicating that display screen 30 is operating in an error mode.

(20) In a final step 410, in response to the detecting, the rearview mirror display system is automatically switched from the display mode to the mirror mode. For example, in response to receiving a signal from display screen 30 indicating that display screen 30 is operating in an error mode, CPU 28 may automatically switch IRMS 14 from the display mode to the mirror mode.

(21) The foregoing description may refer to “motor vehicle”, “automobile”, “automotive”, or similar expressions. It is to be understood that these terms are not intended to limit the invention to any particular type of transportation vehicle. Rather, the invention may be applied to any type of transportation vehicle whether traveling by air, water, or ground, such as airplanes, boats, etc.

(22) The foregoing detail description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.