The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2005
Jon H. Bechtel, Holland, MI (US);
Joseph S. Stam, Holland, MI (US);
Robert R. Turnbull, Holland, MI (US);
Robert H. Nixon, Burbank, CA (US);
Eric R. Fossum, La Crescenta, CA (US);
Jon H. Bechtel, Holland, MI (US);
Joseph S. Stam, Holland, MI (US);
Robert R. Turnbull, Holland, MI (US);
Robert H. Nixon, Burbank, CA (US);
Eric R. Fossum, La Crescenta, CA (US);
Gentex Corporation, Zeeland, MI (US);
Abstract
An automatically dimming mirror includes a dimming element having variable reflectivity, the degree of reflectivity based on a control signal. An ambient light sensor is positioned to receive light from a region generally in front of the vehicle. The ambient light sensor outputs a discrete ambient light signal based on the amount of light incident on the ambient light sensor over an integration period. A glare sensor is positioned to view the scene generally behind the vehicle operator. The glare sensor outputs a discrete glare signal based on the amount of light incident on the glare sensor over an integration period. A dimming logic determines an ambient light level based on the ambient light signal. The glare integration period is determined based on the ambient light level. The glare signal resulting from the glare integration period determines a mirror glare level used to set the dimming element control signal.