US6595649B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital electrochromic mirror system
Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
•
Filing: 2002-10-31
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Granted: 2003-07-22
•
Expires: 2022-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly. Each mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto. A drive circuit applies a drive signal to each of the electrochromic reflective elements. The drive circuit may include a digital controller, a master drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a first drive signal to one of the electrochromic reflective elements and a slave drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a second drive signal to a second of the electrochromic reflective elements. The second drive signal may be derived from the first drive signal. The drive circuit may include a digital controller and a switching power supply controlled by the digital controller to produce a drive signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric J. Hoekstra
- 👤 Kenneth L. Schierbeek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system, comprising: at least one electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto; a control circuit applying a drive signal to said electrochromic reflective element establishing a partial reflectance level thereof; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the vehicle; and wherein said control circuit establishes the partial reflectance level as a function of a duty cycle of a pulse-width modulation signal, the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal being a function at least of the temperature sensed with said temperature sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system, comprising: at least one electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto; a control circuit applying a drive signal to said electrochromic reflective element establishing a partial reflectance level thereof; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the vehicle; and wherein said control circuit establishes the partial reflectance level as a function of a duty cycle of a pulse-width modulation signal, the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal being a function at least of the temperature sensed with said temperature sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises a digital controller, said digital controller including a microcomputer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 2 wherein said control circuit monitors voltage across said electrochromic reflective element, the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal being a function also of the voltage across said electrochromic reflective element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor senses a temperature at said at least one electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises a switching power supply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 5 said switching power supply comprises an electronic switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 6 wherein said switching power supply comprises said electronic switch in series electrical connection between said electrochromic reflective element and a voltage potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 7 wherein said voltage potential is chosen from one of vehicle battery voltage and vehicle ignition voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 7 wherein said voltage potential is in the range from 5 volts DC to 16 volts DC.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 6 wherein said electronic switch operates in a saturated mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 6 wherein said control circuit comprises a digital controller, said digital controller operating said electronic switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly further includes at least one accessory selected from the group comprising a headlamp controller, a video camera, a rain sensor, a microphone and a telephone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 12 wherein said at least one accessory shares at least one of: A) a component with said control circuit and B) circuitry with said control circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
158 words
A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system, comprising: at least one electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto; a control circuit applying a drive signal to said electrochromic reflective element establishing a partial reflectance level thereof, said control circuit comprising a digital controller, said digital controller including a microcomputer; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the vehicle; and said control circuit monitoring voltage across said electrochromic reflective element, said control circuit establishing said partial reflectance level as a function of a duty cycle of a pulse-width modulation signal, the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal having a relationship with the voltage across said electrochromic reflective element, the relationship between the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal and the voltage across said electrochromic reflective element being variable as a function of the temperature sensed with said temperature sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
158 words
A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system, comprising: at least one electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an electrochromic reflective element, said electrochromic reflective element assuming a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto; a control circuit applying a drive signal to said electrochromic reflective element establishing a partial reflectance level thereof, said control circuit comprising a digital controller, said digital controller including a microcomputer; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the vehicle; and said control circuit monitoring voltage across said electrochromic reflective element, said control circuit establishing said partial reflectance level as a function of a duty cycle of a pulse-width modulation signal, the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal having a relationship with the voltage across said electrochromic reflective element, the relationship between the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal and the voltage across said electrochromic reflective element being variable as a function of the temperature sensed with said temperature sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 14 wherein said temperature sensor senses a temperature at said at least one electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 14 wherein the relationship between the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal and the voltage across said electrochromic reflective element being non-linear.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 14 wherein said control circuit comprises a switching power supply.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 17 wherein said switching power supply comprises an electronic switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 18 wherein said switching power supply comprises said electronic switch in series electrical connection between said electrochromic reflective element and a voltage potential.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said voltage potential is chosen from one of vehicle battery voltage and vehicle ignition voltage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said voltage potential is in the range from 5 volts DC to 16 volts DC.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 18 wherein said electronic switch operates in a saturated mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 18 wherein said digital controller operates said electronic switch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 14 wherein said mirror assembly further includes at least one accessory selected from the group comprising a headlamp controller, a video camera, a rain sensor, a microphone and a telephone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein said at least one accessory shares at least one of: A) a component with said control circuit and B) circuitry with said control circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
189 words
A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system, comprising: an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an interior electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a drive signal applied thereto; at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an exterior electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a drive signal applied thereto; a control circuit establishing a partial reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element as a function of a duty cycle of a first pulse-width modulation signal and a partial reflectance level of said exterior electrochromic reflective element as a function of a duty cycle of a second pulse-width modulation signal; at least a first temperature sensor monitoring temperature at said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a second temperature sensor monitoring temperature at said exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly; and the duty cycle of said first pulse-width modulation signal being a function at least of the temperature sensed with said first temperature sensor and the duty cycle of said second pulse-width modulation signal being a function at least of the temperature sensed with said second temperature sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
189 words
A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system, comprising: an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an interior electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a drive signal applied thereto; at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly having an exterior electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a drive signal applied thereto; a control circuit establishing a partial reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element as a function of a duty cycle of a first pulse-width modulation signal and a partial reflectance level of said exterior electrochromic reflective element as a function of a duty cycle of a second pulse-width modulation signal; at least a first temperature sensor monitoring temperature at said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a second temperature sensor monitoring temperature at said exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly; and the duty cycle of said first pulse-width modulation signal being a function at least of the temperature sensed with said first temperature sensor and the duty cycle of said second pulse-width modulation signal being a function at least of the temperature sensed with said second temperature sensor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 26 wherein said control circuit comprises a digital controller, said digital controller including a microcomputer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 27 wherein said control circuit monitors voltage across at least one of said electrochromic reflective elements and the duty cycles of said first and second pulse-width modulation signals being functions also of the voltage across said at least one of said electrochromic reflective elements.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 26 wherein said control circuit comprises at least one switching power supply.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 29 wherein said at least one switching power supply comprises an electronic switch.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said at least one switching power supply comprises said electronic switch in series electrical connection between said electrochromic reflective element and a voltage potential.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 31 wherein said voltage potential is chosen from one of vehicle battery voltage and vehicle ignition voltage.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 31 wherein said voltage potential is in the range from 5 volts DC to 16 volts DC.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said electronic switch operates in a saturated mode.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 30 wherein said control circuit comprises a digital controller, said digital controller operates said electronic switch.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
45 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 20 wherein at least one of said interior and exterior mirror assemblies further includes at least one accessory selected from the group comprising a headlamp controller, a video camera, a rain sensor, a microphone and a telephone.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system of claim 36 wherein said at least one accessory shares at least one of: A) a component with said control circuit and B) circuitry with said control circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-21 | 2007-01-20 | 2007-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-21 | 2011-01-20 | 2011-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-21 | 2015-01-20 | 2015-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |