| US 7,474,963 B2 | ||
| Navigational mirror system for a vehicle | ||
| David W. Taylor, Fenton, Mich. (US); Kevin C. McCarthy, Tucson, Ariz. (US); Niall R. Lynam, Holland, Mich. (US); and Kenneth Schofield, Holland, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Donnelly Corporation, Holland, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 18, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/624,356. | ||
| Application 11/624356 is a continuation of application No. 10/645762, filed on Aug. 20, 2003, granted, now 7,167,796. | ||
| Application 10/645762 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/456599, filed on Jun. 06, 2003, granted, now 7,004,593. | ||
| Application 10/456599 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/287178, filed on Nov. 04, 2002, granted, now 6,678,614. | ||
| Application 10/287178 is a continuation of application No. 09/799414, filed on Mar. 05, 2001, granted, now 6,477,464. | ||
| Application 11/624356 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/755915, filed on Jan. 13, 2004, granted, now 7,446,650. | ||
| Application 10/755915 is a continuation of application No. 09/793002, filed on Feb. 26, 2001, granted, now 6,690,268. | ||
| Application 11/624356 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/054633, filed on Jan. 22, 2002, granted, now 7,195,381. | ||
| Application 10/054633 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/793002, filed on Feb. 26, 2001, granted, now 6,690,268. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/406166, filed on Aug. 27, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/405392, filed on Aug. 23, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/404906, filed on Aug. 21, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/187960, filed on Mar. 09, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/263680, filed on Jan. 23, 2001. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/243986, filed on Oct. 27, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/238483, filed on Oct. 06, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/237077, filed on Sep. 30, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/234412, filed on Sep. 21, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/218336, filed on Jul. 14, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/186520, filed on Mar. 02, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/346733, filed on Jan. 07, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/263680, filed on Jan. 23, 2001. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/271466, filed on Feb. 26, 2001. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/315384, filed on Aug. 28, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0118287 A1, May 24, 2007 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G01C 21/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 701—213 [701/207; 701/209; 701/200; 340/815.4; 340/525] | 25 Claims |
| 1. A navigational mirror system for a vehicle, said navigational mirror system comprising:
an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly mountable at an interior portion of a vehicle, said interior rearview
mirror assembly comprising a reflective element, said reflective element having a front portion that faces generally toward
a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle, and having a rear portion that
is generally opposite said front portion;
said reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector, said reflective element being at least about 15 percent
transmitting to visible light incident at said rear portion of said reflective element, and at least about 60 percent reflective
to visible light incident at said front portion of said reflective element;
a video display disposed to the rear of said rear portion of said reflective element, said video display emitting light when
actuated that passes through said reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing said front portion of
said reflective element;
a user input from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location, said user input comprising
a destination address;
said video display displaying driving instructions, said driving instructions providing instructions to said destination address,
said driving instructions being viewable by a person viewing said front portion of said reflective element;
wherein a particular instruction of said driving instructions is displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular
instruction to the driver of the vehicle by actuating said video display disposed behind said reflective element and wherein
actuation of said video display ceases once the driver successfully completes the particular instruction displayed;
wherein said video display is back lit by at least one of (i) a cold cathode vacuum fluorescent light source and (ii) at least
one light emitting diode; and
wherein said video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 200 candelas
per square meter when said interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly is mounted, operated and viewed in the vehicle.
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