Vehicle mirror digital network and dynamically interactive mirror system

Claim 2

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, said mirror system comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis; an interface and control module positioned within said housing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, said control module interconnected to a plurality of input and/or output devices, said plurality of devices selected from the group consisting of an intrusion detector, an intelligent vehicle highway system, a global positioning system, a garage door opener system, a keyless entry system, a blind spot detection system, an interactive dynamically adjustable mirror system, a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater, an antenna, an electro-optical element, a light sensor, a heading sensor, a position encoder, said actuator and an image capture device; and said control module interconnected with a vehicle communication network for sending to and/or receiving data from the vehicle communication network.

Claim 3

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes a microprocessor-based control that formats data for the vehicle communication network and/or decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

Claim 4

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, a cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

Claim 5

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus and wherein said control module includes a serial bus node for communication with said vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

Claim 6

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of devices comprises at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater, an electro-optical element and said actuator.

Claim 7

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said image capture device comprises a solid-state image capture device.

Claim 8

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 6 wherein said image capture device comprises a solid-state imaging array.

Claim 9

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of devices comprises at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater, an electro-optical element and said actuator.

Claim 10

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 8 wherein said at least two devices are positioned within said housing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly.

Claim 11

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises an electro-optical element and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a security light, a stop signal, a heater and said actuator.

Claim 12

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises said actuator and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, a heater and an electro-optical element.

Claim 13

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 11 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said actuator.

Claim 14

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a heater and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a security light, said actuator and an electro-optical element.

Claim 15

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 13 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said heater.

Claim 16

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 14 wherein said heater is in heat transfer association with said reflective element.

Claim 17

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a security light and an other is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal, a stop signal, a heater, said actuator and an electro-optical element.

Claim 18

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 16 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said security light.

Claim 19

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 16 wherein said control module receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

Claim 20

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a turn signal and an other is selected from the group consisting of a security light, a stop signal, a heater, said actuator and an electro-optical element.

Claim 21

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said turn signal.

Claim 22

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said control module provides an output to operate said electro-optical element.

Claim 23

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19 wherein said reflective element comprises said electro-optical element and wherein said control module provides an output to establish a partial reflectance level of said electro-optical reflective element.

Claim 24

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 22 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.

Claim 25

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, said mirror system comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a microprocessor-based control, said control controlling a plurality of devices housed within said exterior rearview mirror housing, said plurality of devices comprising at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a heater element in heat transfer association with said reflective element, said actuator for adjustably positioning said reflective element, a security light incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly, a turn signal incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly, a stop signal incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly and an electro-optical element; and said control providing outputs to operate said at least two devices; wherein said microprocessor-based control includes a node configured to interconnect with a vehicle communication network.

Claim 26

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, said mirror system comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a microprocessor-based control, said control controlling a plurality of devices housed within said exterior rearview mirror housing, said plurality of devices comprising at least two devices selected from the group consisting of a heater element in heat transfer association with said reflective element, said actuator for adjustably positioning said reflective element, a security light incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly, a turn signal incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly, a stop signal incorporated in said exterior rearview mirror assembly and an electro-optical element; and said control providing outputs to operate said at least two devices; wherein said microprocessor-based control includes a node configured to interconnect with a vehicle communication network.

Claim 27

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein said microprocessor-based control formats data for the vehicle communication network and/or decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

Claim 28

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein said microprocessor-based control communicates with at least one antenna.

Claim 29

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 26 wherein said antenna comprises one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, a cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

Claim 30

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 24 wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus and wherein said node comprises a serial bus node for communication with said vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

Claim 31

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises said actuator.

Claim 32

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a heater element.

Claim 33

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a turn signal.

Claim 34

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises a security light.

Claim 35

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 32 wherein said microprocessor-based control receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

Claim 36

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 28 wherein one of said at least two devices comprises an electro-optical element.

Claim 37

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 34 wherein said reflective element comprises said electro-optical element and wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to establish a partial reflectance level of said electro-optical reflective element.

Claim 38

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 35 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.

Claim 39

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus, said mirror system comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis; at least one other device housed within said exterior rearview mirror housing, said device selected from the group consisting of a heater element in heat transfer association with said reflective element, a security light, a turn signal, and a stop signal; and a microprocessor-based control providing an output to operate at least one of said actuator and said at least one other device; wherein said microprocessor-based control includes a node configured to interconnect with a vehicle communication network, said node comprising a serial bus node for communication with a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

Claim 40

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle having a vehicle communication network, wherein the vehicle communication network comprises a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus, said mirror system comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element positioned within said housing, said reflective element mechanically coupled with an actuator which adjustably positions said reflective element about at least one axis; at least one other device housed within said exterior rearview mirror housing, said device selected from the group consisting of a heater element in heat transfer association with said reflective element, a security light, a turn signal, and a stop signal; and a microprocessor-based control providing an output to operate at least one of said actuator and said at least one other device; wherein said microprocessor-based control includes a node configured to interconnect with a vehicle communication network, said node comprising a serial bus node for communication with a vehicle-multiplexed communication bus.

Claim 41

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said actuator.

Claim 42

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said heater element.

Claim 43

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said turn signal.

Claim 44

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said stop signal.

Claim 45

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to operate said security light.

Claim 46

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 42 wherein said microprocessor-based control receives an input from a keyless entry receiver system to actuate said security light.

Claim 47

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control communicates with at least one antenna.

Claim 48

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 44 wherein said antenna comprises one of a global positioning system antenna, an intelligent vehicle highway system antenna, a cellular telephone antenna, a keyless entry antenna, a garage door opener antenna, a radio antenna and a radar antenna.

Claim 49

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 37 wherein said microprocessor-based control formats data for the vehicle communication network and/or decodes messages from the vehicle communication network.

Claim 50

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 46 wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optical element.

Claim 51

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 47 wherein said microprocessor-based control provides an output to establish a partial reflectance level of said electro-optical reflective element.

Claim 52

The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 48 wherein said electro-optical element comprises an electrochromic mirror element.