Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-01-30
Lieu, Julie (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
C340S438000, C340S439000, C248S475100, C248S479000, C248S484000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181242
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to vehicle information displays, and more particularly to an interior rearview mirror assembly having an information display that rotates independently of the rearview mirror to allow the driver and front passengers to observe the display simultaneously.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the art relating to vehicle information display to typically display information concerning the operation of the vehicle, time, outside temperature and the like, in the vehicle instrument panel. In order to view any one or more of the displays in the panel, the driver must look down to the panel. The location of the information displays in the vehicle instrument panel is usually only observable by the driver.
To correct this situation, information displays have been mounted on or in the interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle. In one application, the display was located behind the prism of the interior rearview mirror assembly. In another application, the information display was mounted on or in the mirror frame so as not to interfere with the field of view of the mirror. With these types of rearview mirrors, the display moves or rotates with the mirror. A problem with these types of configurations is that when the rearview mirror is rotated toward the driver, the display is rotated away from other front passengers. Therefore, there is a need for a rearview mirror assembly that allows the displayed information to be positioned for maximum simultaneous observation by both the driver and front passengers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an interior rearview mirror assembly having an information display device mounted thereon. The information display device rotates independently of the rearview mirror to allow both the driver and the front passengers to observe the display simultaneously.
The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing for holding a rearview mirror or other type of reflective element. The mirror housing has a top side and a bottom side. The mirror housing is pivotally mounted to the vehicle to allow the mirror housing to be adjusted by the driver into a desired position. The information display device may be mounted on the top or bottom side of the mirror housing. The display device has a display window to display the status of various vehicle systems. For example, the display device may include a speed indicator, odometer, clock, trip computer, or the like. The display device is pivotally mounted on the mirror housing such that the display may be rotated independently of the mirror housing which allows the display window to be observable by the driver and the front passengers of the vehicle. Further, the assembly mounting limits the pivotal motion of the display device to help maintain this display in a position that is visible to all front passengers and to avoid twisting and damaging of the electrical wires connected between the display device and a remote power source.
The display device is attached to the mirror housing through a hollow tubular support arm which has opposite first and second ends. One of the ends is attached to the mirror housing. A pivotal connection is disposed at the other end for rotating the information display device between various positions. Electrical wires extend through the hollow tubular support arm and connect the display device to the various systems of the vehicle and a power source. A stop element engages the pivot connection to limit the angle of rotation of the connection thereby limiting pivotal motion.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of certain specific embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4930742 (1990-06-01), Schofield et al.
patent: 5223814 (1993-06-01), Suman
patent: 5253115 (1993-10-01), Ueno
patent: 5408357 (1995-04-01), Beukema
patent: 5455716 (1995-10-01), Suman et al.
patent: 5576687 (1996-11-01), Blank et al.
patent: 5631638 (1997-05-01), Kaspar et al.
patent: 5708410 (1998-01-01), Blank et al.
patent: 5788358 (1998-08-01), Davis
patent: 5790973 (1998-08-01), Blaker et al.
General Motors Corporation
Lieu Julie
Sedlar Jeffrey A
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