US 6,806,452 · Granted 2004-10-19
The Smart Mirror That Watches the Road for You
Imagine a rearview mirror that's actually watching the road ahead through your windshield. When it detects rain or fog, it automatically turns on your wipers, headlights, or defogger without you having to touch anything. It's like having a co-pilot built into your mirror.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a rearview mirror system where a camera sensor is mounted inside the mirror housing and pointed forward through the windshield. What's protected here is the specific combination of the imaging sensor positioned at the mirror, its ability to detect precipitation and weather conditions on the glass, and the automatic control system that triggers vehicle responses (wipers, headlamps, defoggers, windows) based on what the sensor sees. Anyone making a mirror with a forward-facing camera that automatically activates these vehicle systems would infringe on this patent's core claims.
Why it matters
This patent represents an early application of computer vision to automotive safety, turning a simple mirror into an intelligent weather-monitoring system. By automating responses to environmental conditions, it reduces driver distraction and reaction time during hazardous weather. Donnelly Corporation, a major supplier of automotive glass and mirror systems, secured this technology to create a competitive advantage in the aftermarket and OEM mirror space. The patent effectively blocks competitors from bundling forward-facing imaging directly into rearview mirrors without licensing the technology.
Real-world use
When you're driving into a sudden rainstorm, the sensor embedded in your mirror detects the rain on the windshield and automatically activates your wipers before you consciously realize you need them.
Original USPTO abstract
An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a housing and a reflective element included within the housing. The mirror system further includes a video device (which includes an imaging sensor) and a control. The imaging sensor is positioned at the interior rearview mirror assembly and has a field of view forward and through the windshield. The imaging sensor is operable to at least sense precipitation at an interior and/or exterior surface of the windshield. The control receives a signal from the imaging sensor and is operable to control at least one of a headlamp of the vehicle, a windshield wiper of the vehicle, a defogging system of the vehicle and a movable window of the vehicle in response to the signal.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,806,452
- Filing date
- 2001-11-05
- Grant date
- 2004-10-19
- Assignee
- Donnelly Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- BOS BRENT J., SCHOFIELD KENNETH, LARSON MARK L., LYNAM NIALL R.
- CPC class
- B60N2/002
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