Full mirror display utilizing a trailer camera

Abstract

A video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a video display screen disposed in a mirror head and behind a reflective element of the mirror assembly. When the video mirror system is operating in a mirror mode, the video display screen is deactivated and the reflective element provides a reflected rearward view for the driver of the vehicle. When the video mirror system is in a display mode, the video display screen is activated and displays video images viewable through the reflective element. The video display screen, when activated, displays video images derived from image data captured by a vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera or, with a trailer hitched to the vehicle, a trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. The displayed video images may correspond to a rearward view similar to the field of view provided by the reflective element when in the mirror mode.

1 . A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:
 an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head, said mirror head accommodating a transflective mirror reflective element;   wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said video mirror system;   a display device comprising a video display screen disposed in said mirror head and accommodated behind said transflective mirror reflective element, said transflective mirror reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector;   wherein said video display screen, when activated, displays video images viewable through said transflective mirror reflective element, and wherein said video display screen, when not activated, is covert behind said transflective mirror reflective element;   a vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and having a field of view at least rearward of the vehicle;   a trailer-mounted rear viewing camera disposed at a trailer that is configured to be hitched to the vehicle and that has a field of view at least rearward of the trailer;   wherein said video mirror system operates in a mirror mode or a display mode responsive to actuation of a user input by a driver of the vehicle;   wherein, when said video mirror system operates in the mirror mode, said video display screen is not activated and said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element provides a mirror-reflected rearward view for the driver of the vehicle;   wherein, when said video mirror system operates in the display mode, said video display screen is activated and displays video images through said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element that are viewable by the driver viewing said transflective mirror reflective element;   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with no trailer hitched to the vehicle, displays video images derived from image data captured by the vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera;   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, displays video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera; and   wherein the displayed video images provide a rearward view that is similar to the mirror-reflected rearward view provided by said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element when said video mirror system operates in the mirror mode.   
     
     
         2 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera comprises an analog camera. 
     
     
         3 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera comprises an imaging array having at least one million pixels. 
     
     
         4 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said trailer-mounted rear viewing camera comprises an imaging array having at least two million pixels. 
     
     
         5 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said video mirror system, responsive to determination of hitching to the vehicle of the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera, automatically switches to the display mode and said video display screen displays video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         6 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle shifting to a forward gear, said video display screen displays video images derived from captured image data at an upper region of the field of view of the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         7 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle shifting to a reverse gear, said video display screen displays video images derived from captured image data at a lower region of the field of view of the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         8 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said display device is in wireless communication with said trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         9 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera comprises a digital camera, and wherein the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera comprises an analog camera. 
     
     
         10 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said mirror head and said transflective mirror reflective element are adjustable relative to the interior portion of the vehicle between (i) a mirror mode orientation, where said video mirror system operates in the mirror mode and the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via said transflective mirror reflective element, and (ii) a display mode orientation, where said video mirror system operates in the display mode and said video display screen is activated and the driver of the vehicle views displayed video images through said transflective mirror reflective element. 
     
     
         11 . The video mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said mirror head and said transflective mirror reflective element pivot about a horizontal pivot axis between the mirror mode orientation and the display mode orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The video mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the vehicle comprises an in-cabin surface of a windshield of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:
 an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head, said mirror head accommodating a transflective mirror reflective element;   wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said video mirror system;   a display device comprising a video display screen disposed in said mirror head and accommodated behind said transflective mirror reflective element, said transflective mirror reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector;   wherein said video display screen, when activated, displays video images viewable through said transflective mirror reflective element, and wherein said video display screen, when not activated, is covert behind said transflective mirror reflective element;   a vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and having a field of view at least rearward of the vehicle;   a trailer-mounted rear viewing camera disposed at a trailer that is configured to be hitched to the vehicle and that has a field of view at least rearward of the trailer;   wherein said video mirror system operates in a mirror mode or a display mode responsive to actuation of a user input by a driver of the vehicle;   wherein, when said video mirror system operates in the mirror mode, said video display screen is not activated and said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element provides a mirror-reflected rearward view for the driver of the vehicle;   wherein, when said video mirror system operates in the display mode, said video display screen is activated and displays video images through said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element that are viewable by the driver viewing said transflective mirror reflective element;   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with no trailer hitched to the vehicle, displays video images derived from image data captured by the vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera;   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, displays video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera; and   wherein said video mirror system, responsive to determination of hitching to the vehicle of the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera, automatically switches to the display mode and said video display screen displays video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera.   
     
     
         14 . The video mirror system of  claim 13 , wherein, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle shifting to a forward gear, said video display screen displays video images derived from captured image data at an upper region of the field of view of the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         15 . The video mirror system of  claim 13 , wherein, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle shifting to a reverse gear, said video display screen displays video images derived from captured image data at a lower region of the field of view of the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         16 . The video mirror system of  claim 13 , wherein said display device is in wireless communication with said trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         17 . The video mirror system of  claim 13 , wherein said mirror head and said transflective mirror reflective element are adjustable relative to the windshield of the vehicle between (i) a mirror mode orientation, where said video mirror system operates in the mirror mode and the driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle via said transflective mirror reflective element, and (ii) a display mode orientation, where said video mirror system operates in the display mode and said video display screen is activated and the driver of the vehicle views displayed video images through said transflective mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror head and said transflective mirror reflective element pivot about a horizontal pivot axis between the mirror mode orientation and the display mode orientation. 
     
     
         18 . A video mirror system for a vehicle, said video mirror system comprising:
 an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head, said mirror head accommodating a transflective mirror reflective element;   wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said video mirror system;   a display device comprising a video display screen disposed in said mirror head and accommodated behind said transflective mirror reflective element, said transflective mirror reflective element comprising a transflective mirror reflector;   wherein said video display screen, when activated, displays video images viewable through said transflective mirror reflective element, and wherein said video display screen, when not activated, is covert behind said transflective mirror reflective element;   a vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and having a field of view at least rearward of the vehicle;   a trailer-mounted rear viewing camera disposed at a trailer that is configured to be hitched to the vehicle and that has a field of view at least rearward of the trailer;   wherein said video mirror system operates in a mirror mode or a display mode responsive to actuation of a user input by a driver of the vehicle;   wherein, when said video mirror system operates in the mirror mode, said video display screen is not activated and said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element provides a mirror-reflected rearward view for the driver of the vehicle;   wherein, when said video mirror system operates in the display mode, said video display screen is activated and displays video images through said transflective mirror reflector of said transflective mirror reflective element that are viewable by the driver viewing said transflective mirror reflective element;   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with no trailer hitched to the vehicle, displays video images derived from image data captured by the vehicle-mounted rear viewing camera;   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle shifting to a forward gear, displays video images derived from captured image data at an upper region of the field of view of the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera; and   wherein said video display screen, when said video mirror system is operating in the display mode, and with the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera hitched to the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle shifting to a reverse gear, displays video images derived from captured image data at a lower region of the field of view of the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera.   
     
     
         19 . The video mirror system of  claim 18 , wherein said display device is in wireless communication with said trailer-mounted rear viewing camera. 
     
     
         20 . The video mirror system of  claim 19 , wherein said display device, responsive to receipt of a wireless communication from said trailer-mounted rear viewing camera indicative of the trailer with the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera being hitched to the vehicle, automatically switches to the display mode and said video display screen displays video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rear viewing camera.