Gentex Corporation

Guardian Industries Corporation

Centre Luxembourgeois De Recherches Pour Le Verre Et La Ceramique S.a. (c.r.v.c.)

John A VanderPloeg

Ethan J Lee

David A Theiste

Andrew D Weller

George A Neuman

Thomas F Guarr

Kelvin L Baumann

Henry A Luten

Mark A VanVuuren

John S Anderson

Willem Den Boer

Philip J Lingle

Yiwei Lu

Anton Dietrich

David A Blaker

William L Tonar

Danny L Minikey, Jr

Desaraju V Varaprasad

Yei-Ping (Mimi) H Wang

Mark R Roth

Leroy J Kloeppner

G Bruce Poe

Sue F Franz

Eric S Sloterbeek

Jean-Marc Sol

Herbert Lage

Michael G Hendricks

Marcel Schloremberg

Daniel B Lee

Lutz Henkel

Craig R Myers

Henry W Luten

Carsten Schaudel

Mark A Vanvuuren

This application is directed to a rearview assembly. The rearview assembly may have a support member, a camera, a backlight, and/or a display. The support member may be substantially transparent to infra-red light. The camera may be disposed in a first direction relative the support member and configured to capture one or more infra-red images. The backlight may comprise a light guide and an edge light configured to emit light into an edge of the light guide. The light guide may be configured to direct the light in a second direction. The second direction may be opposite the first direction. The display may be associated with and supported by the backlight and support member. Further, the display may be disposed in the second direction relative the backlight, configured to receive light from the backlight, and configured to present one or more images for viewing by a user.

Display assembly

A display system for a vehicle comprises a display device disposed inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The passenger compartment is configured to receive light from a first polarization filter disposed on a light-transmissive panel of the vehicle. The first polarization filter is oriented in a first orientation and the display device is configured to display video data from a display screen. The display device comprises an electro-optic element comprising a plurality of substrates and a second polarization filter disposed on at least one of the plurality of substrates. The second polarization filter is oriented in a second orientation parallel to the first orientation.

Vehicle display system with reflection control

A vehicle display device is disclosed. The device comprises an image sensor comprising an imager configured to capture image data and a display. The display comprises a plurality of display elements forming a display surface. The display surface forms a display perimeter. The display elements surround the image sensor on the display surface such that the image sensor is disposed within the display perimeter.

Display assembly incorporating an image sensor

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing configured for attachment to the vehicle; a prismatic element positioned in the housing; a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating provided on a rear surface of the prismatic element; a display mounted behind the prismatic element within the housing; and an actuator device for moving the prismatic element between three distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position, a second viewing position wherein the prismatic element is tilted higher than in the first viewing position, and a third viewing position wherein the prismatic element is tilted higher than in the second viewing position.

Tri-modal display mirror assembly

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a display apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a display panel retained in a housing and configured to display image data on a display surface in a display direction. The apparatus further comprises a focal distance correction feature disposed in front of the display surface in the display direction. The focal distance correction feature is configured to project the image data at a projected distance behind the display surface relative to the display direction such that the image data appears to originate from behind the display surface.

Vehicle display comprising focal distance correction feature

An electro-optic (EO) display includes one or more adjustable-intensity color filters; a transparent backlight; and a transflective layer positioned between the adjustable-intensity color filter(s) and the transparent backlight, wherein the transflective layer reflects light off of one surface of the transflective layer and allows light through another surface of the transflective layer.

Selectively-transparent electrochromic display

A rearview device system includes a partially reflective, partially transmissive element, a display module in optical communication with the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, a display element, an optic block in optical communication with the display element, a first circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through the optic block and edge light the display element, an optic holder operably connected to the optic block, defining at least one aperture, a second circuit board comprising at least one light source configured to emit illumination that propagates through the at least one aperture and the optic block to back light at least one of a portion of the display element and an icon, and wherein light emitted by the light source of the first circuit board and the light source of the second circuit board is visible through the partially reflective, partially transmissive element.

Rearview mirror system with a display

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic cell, a switchable reflective element, a display module, an ambient light sensor, and a controller. The controller automatically selects a display mode or a mirror mode in response to a detected ambient light level. In a display mode, the controller activates the display module, sets the switchable reflective element to a low reflection mode, and sets the electrochromic cell to a clear state with minimum attenuation. In a mirror mode, the controller deactivates the display module, sets the switchable reflective element to a high reflection mode, and varies attenuation by the electrochromic cell.

Automatic display mirror assembly

A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a housing for attachment to the vehicle, a glass element disposed in the housing and a display disposed behind the mirror element in the housing. The display contains a light source for emitting light, a first brightness enhancement film having a first plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction and positioned to receive light emitted from the light source, a diffuser configured to transmit about 97% of light from the first brightness enhancing film, a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting the diffuser, and a display element disposed to receive light from the second brightness enhancement film with the display element having a second plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction. The first direction is substantially vertical and the second direction is substantially horizontal.

Low cost optical film stack

An electro-optic system is provided that includes a front element having first and second surfaces, a rear element including third and fourth surfaces, wherein the front and rear elements are sealably bonded together in a spaced-apart relationship to define a chamber, and an electro-optic medium contained in the chamber, and the electro-optic medium is adapted to be in at least a high transmittance state and a low transmittance state. The electro-optic system further includes a display device in optical communication with the electro-optic element, the display device including at least one light source and is configured to emit at least a first primary and a second primary, the first and second primaries each having a first hue (h) when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the high transmittance state and a second hue (h') when viewed through the electro-optic element in approximately the low transmittance state, wherein a change in the first and second hues (&#x394;h) for both first and second primaries is less than approximately 31 degrees.

Electro-optic system configured to reduce a perceived color change

The embodiments described herein generally relate to a rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle. More particularly, they relate to a rearview mirror assembly including a switchable reflective element and a display. The switchable reflective element is a type that is selectively switchable between a reflective mode and a transmissive mode. The display is positioned behind the switchable reflective element for displaying images through the switchable reflective element when in the transmissive mode. The rearview mirror assembly may further include either an anti-reflection coating provided on at least one of the front and rear sides of the switchable reflective element, or first and second prisms provided on opposite sides of the switchable reflective element.

Switchable rearview mirror element with anti-reflection mechanisms for use with a display

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a partially reflective, partially transmissive element; and a full display module mounted behind the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the display module having an optic block, and a display in optical communication with the optic block, the display being one an in-place switching liquid crystal display, a fringe filed switching liquid crystal display, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal display.

Display mirror assembly

A backlight assembly for a display having a polarized transmission axis is provided including a light source for emitting light; a first brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a first direction, and positioned to receive light emitted from the light source; and a second brightness enhancement film having a plurality of prismatic elements extending in a second direction and positioned to receive light exiting the first brightness enhancement film, wherein the first direction extends at an angle of between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees offset from the polarized transmission axis of the display and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Growing community of inventors

Zeeland, MI, United States of America

John A VanderPloeg