US 2,002,003,571 · Filed 2001-02-26
The Rearview Mirror That Hides a Video Screen
Imagine a rearview mirror in a car that can also display video when you need it, but tucks away out of sight when you don't. This patent protects a system where a regular mirror and a small video screen are both mounted inside your car and can swivel or fold so you see only what you want at any moment.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a combined mirror-and-video-display system mounted in a vehicle interior where both components can rotate or adjust independently. What's protected here is the specific way the mirror casing and video display housing attach to mounting brackets that allow each to pivot or move into a stowed (hidden) position. The video screen can fold away so it's not visible to the driver, reducing distraction while keeping the traditional mirror function intact.
Why it matters
This patent bridges two automotive technologies—traditional mirrors and emerging in-car video systems—into a single assembly. As vehicles began integrating backup cameras and video displays in the early 2000s, manufacturers needed to mount these without cluttering the dashboard or obstructing the driver's view. This design lets a car offer video capability on demand while preserving the simplicity and reliability of a standard rearview mirror.
Real-world use
When backing up, a driver might flip the video display down to see a camera feed, then rotate it away to use the traditional mirror when driving forward.
Original USPTO abstract
A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a video display assembly. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing incorporating a reflective element. The reflective element has a rearward field of view when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted in a vehicle. The mirror assembly further includes a mirror-mounting portion, which is adapted to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of the vehicle, such as a windshield portion or a header portion. The mirror casing is adjustable about the mirror-mounting portion for adjusting the rearward field of view of the reflective element. The video display assembly includes a video screen which is incorporated in a video display housing. The video display assembly also includes a display-mounting portion, which is adapted to mount the video display assembly at the interior portion of the vehicle. The display housing is adapted to be adjustable about the display-mounting portion for adjusting the orientation of the video screen and, further, for moving the display housing to a stowed position whereby the video screen is generally not viewable by a driver when seated in a vehicle seat in the vehicle to thereby minimize the distraction to the driver of the vehicle.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,002,003,571
- Filing date
- 2001-02-26
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Kenneth Schofield / O'brien Frank / Bingle Robert L. / Lynam Niall R.
- Inventor(s)
- SCHOFIELD KENNETH, O'BRIEN FRANK, BINGLE ROBERT L., LYNAM NIALL R.
- CPC class
- B60Q1/50
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