Patent Application
20230211732
The present disclosure relates, in general, to rearview assemblies and, more particularly, to rearview assemblies having a display.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a rearview assembly is disclosed. The rearview assembly may comprise: a housing and a display. The housing may be operably mounted to a vehicle. More specifically, the housing may be mounted to the vehicle interior. The display may be associated with the housing. Additionally, the display may have a first region and a second region. The first region may be substantially aligned with the housing. The second region may extend substantially beyond the housing. In some embodiments, the second region may extend at least 30 mm beyond the first region in at least two directions. In some embodiments, the second region may substantially circumscribe the first region. In some embodiments, the display may be a substantially transparent OLED display. Further, a driver of the vehicle may be operable to view a scene forward relative the vehicle through the second region of the display.
In some embodiments, the first region may be operable to display a first part of an image corresponding to a scene rearward relative the vehicle. In some such embodiments, the second region may be operable to display a graphic. Further, the second region may be otherwise substantially transparent beyond the graphic. In other such embodiments, the second region is operable to display a second image corresponding to a scene at least one of sideward or rearward relative the vehicle. The second image may correspond to the vehicle's blind spot. In some instances, the second image may be displayed based, at least in part, on the detection of an object in the vehicle's blind spot. In yet other such embodiments, the second region may be operable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second region may be substantially transparent. In the second state, the second region may display a second part of the image, the second part being an extension of the first part of the image.
In other embodiments, the display may be operable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first region displays a first part of an image corresponding to a scene rearward relative the vehicle and the second region may be substantially transparent. In the second state, the first and second regions may conjointly display the first part of the image.
In some embodiments, the display may be touch screen. In some such embodiments, the touch screen may comprise user interface touch buttons in the second region of the display. These touch buttons may be located substantially along a bottom of the display according to normal operating conditions of the rearview assembly.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. Further, features of each embodiment disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with, or as a replacement for, features in other embodiments.
In the drawings:
For the purposes of description herein, the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in this disclosure are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific characteristics relating the embodiments disclosed herein are not limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Housing 110 may be operable to be mounted to the vehicle. Additionally, housing 100 may be operable to, directly or indirectly, support display 120. In some embodiments, housing 110 may define a cavity for housing one or more electrical components of rearview assembly 100. Further, when viewing rearview assembly 100 in a first direction 10, housing 110 may define a perimeter 111. Viewing rearview assembly 100 in the first direction 10 may substantially correspond to the driver's point of view of rearview assembly 100 under normal operating conditions.
Display 120 may be operable to display, at least part of, a first image 30, as shown in
Additionally, display 120 may comprise a plurality of regions. Further, display 120 may be substantially oversized relative housing 110. For example, display 120 may have a first region 121 and a second region 122. First region 121 may be substantially aligned with housing 110, when viewed in the first direction 10. In some such embodiments, first region 121 may be substantially defined by the alignment with housing 110. For example, first region 121 may be within perimeter 111. Second region 122 may not be in substantial alignment with housing 110, when viewed in the first direction 10. Therefore, second region 122 may extend substantially beyond housing 110. For example, second region 122 may be outside perimeter 111. In some embodiments, second region 122 may be greater than or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, or 75% of the area of display 120. In some embodiments, second region 122 may form wings on either side of the housing 110. Further, second region 122 may extend at least 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 mm outward from first region 121. In some embodiments, first region 121 may be immediately adjacent second region 122. As such, first region 121 may seamlessly meet second region 122. In some such embodiments, second region 122 may substantially be an entire remainder of display 120 not within first region 121. In some embodiments, second region 122 may substantially circumscribe first region 121. In some embodiments, where display 120 is a substantially transparent OLED display and second region 122 is not in alignment with, and thus extends beyond, housing 110, the driver may be operable to view a scene forward relative the vehicle through second region 122. Thus, second region 122 may be operable to increase the size of display 120 for rearview assembly 100, without reducing the driver's possible forward field of view.
In first state 101, such as shown in
In second state 102, such as shown in
In third state 103, such as shown in
In fourth state 104, such as shown in
In some embodiments, display 120 may be operable to display a graphic overlay 70. Further, display 120 may be operable to display graphic overlay 70 in the first, second, third, and/or fourth states 101, 102, 103, 104. More specifically, second region 122 may be operable to display graphic overlay 70. In states where second region 122 displays part of the first and/or second images 30, 40, graphic overlay 70 may partially occlude part of the displayed first and/or second images 30, 40. In states where second region 122 is in a substantially transparent state, second region 122 may be substantially transparent with the exception of the graphic overlay 70. Additionally, graphic overlay 70 may, for example, be a graphic communicating navigation information, location, traffic information, notifications, and/or entertainment information.
In some embodiments, display 120 may have a touchscreen surface. The touchscreen surface, for example, may comprise a resistive touch, capacitive touch, or infra-red touch technology. Further, display 120 may comprise a user interface of one or more touch buttons 123. These touch buttons 123 may be located in second region 122 of display 120. Thus, from the driver's perspective, the one or more touch buttons 123 may be substantially located to the side or centrally along the bottom of the display according to normal operating conditions of rearview assembly 100. In some embodiments, the one or more touch buttons 123 may be operable to switch rearview assembly 100 between the first, second, third, and/or fourth sates 101, 102, 103, 104.
Controller 130 may comprise a memory 131 and/or a processor 132. Memory 131 may be operable to store one or more algorithms configured to carry out the functions of controller 130 and processor 132 may be operable to execute the one or more algorithms. In some embodiments, controller 130 may be disposed within housing 110. Additionally, controller 130 may be communicatively connected to display 120. As used herein, “communicatively connected” may mean connected directly or indirectly though one or more electrical components. Further, controller 120 may be operable to communicate images, such as the first and/or second images 30, 40, to display 120. These images may be received from one or more imagers associated with the vehicle. Furthermore, in some embodiments, controller 120 may be operable to receive a user input from the one or more touch buttons 123. Based, at least in part, on the input from the one or more touch buttons 123, controller 130 may be operable to change the state that rearview assembly 100 is in. Accordingly, controller 130 may be operable to switch rearview assembly 100 between the first, second, third, and/or fourth states. 101, 102, 103, 104 based, at least in part, on user input. Similarly, in some embodiments, controller 120 may receive or be operable to receive one or more input from one or more sensor 200. Sensor 200 may be a device operable to sense or detect a parameter, such as a location or speed of the vehicle, or the detection of an object, such as another vehicle in a blind spot of vehicle. Accordingly, controller 130 may be operable to switch rearview assembly 100 between the first, second, third, and/or fourth states 101, 102, 103, 104 based, at least in part, on the received input from the one or more sensor 200. Therefore, display 120 may be adaptive between the first, second, third, and/or fourth states 101, 102, 103, 104 in order to suit the driver's changing needs. For example, rearview assembly 100 may: enter third state 103 based, at least in part, on detection of another vehicle in the vehicle's blind spot, in order to provide the driver with an additional view showing the other vehicle's presence; enter the second or fourth states 102, 104 based, at least in part, on the vehicle's location being within a city or a slow speeds where a greater field of view may be beneficial; and enter first state 101 based, at least in part, on the vehicle's location being in a rural location or at high speeds where a greater field of view may be of a lesser benefit and the needs of the forward field of view outweigh the benefit of the increased rearward field of view.
Embodiments of rearview assembly 100 may have one or more advantage over prior rearview assemblies. In some embodiments, rearview assembly 100 may be operable to communicate information to the driver via the graphic overlay 70 with reduced or eliminated occlusion of the driver's field of view provided by rearview assembly 100. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, rearview assembly 100 may have the advantage of an increased display size to either enlarge the displayed image or expand the field of view without permanently increasing the size so as to permanently reduce the driver's overall forward field of view. Further, the increased display size may also have an added benefit to the driver of reduced visual accommodations problems associated with transitioning from looking at an object far off to a near display.
As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of the two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
In this document, relational terms, such as “first,” “second,” and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.
The term “transparent” is applied in the relative sense. “Transparent” refers to an optical element or material that is substantially transmissive of at wavelengths in question and thus generally allows light at such wavelengths to pass therethrough. The wavelengths in question will vary based on the context. However, in the event the wavelengths in question is not readily apparent, the wavelengths in question shall generally refer to visible light.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “associated” generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
The term “substantially,” and variations thereof, will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art as describing a feature that is equal or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a “substantially planar” surface is intended to denote a surface that is planar or approximately planar. Moreover, “substantially” is intended to denote that two values are equal or approximately equal. If there are uses of the term which are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the context in which it is used, “substantially” may denote values within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.
The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
It is to be understood that although several embodiments are described in the present disclosure, numerous variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications may be understood by one skilled in the art, and the present disclosure is intended to encompass these variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications as within the scope of the appended claims, unless their language expressly states otherwise.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/294,919 filed on Dec. 30, 2021, entitled “Rearview Assembly,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63294919 | Dec 2021 | US |
