Abstract: An internet-connected garage door control system is disclosed that includes a garage door opener for opening and closing a garage door in response to signals received through the internet, and an in-vehicle remote garage door opener integrated into a vehicle for transmitting the signals through the internet to the garage door opener. The in-vehicle remote garage door opener includes an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, a trainable RF transceiver for transmitting an RF signal to the garage door opener, a user-actuated input, an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, and a controller, wherein, upon actuation of the user-actuated input, the controller is configured to at least one of (a) request a signal to be transmitted by the internet-connected device through the internet to the garage door opener, and (b) cause the trainable RF transceiver to transmit the RF signal to the garage door opener.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver module for operating a home operating system includes a housing, a photovoltaic unit supported by the housing and accessible to sunlight, a rechargeable power source, a trainable transceiver, and a one or more activation switches.

Abstract: An imager module for a vehicle includes a support having a first side and a second side. A shroud is operably coupled with the first side. The support and the shroud define a cavity. A viewing aperture is disposed in one of the support and the shroud. An imager system is disposed in the cavity. An electrical connector is configured to provide communication with the imager system. The electrical connector is disposed outside the cavity in abutting contact with the second side of the support.

Abstract: An internet-connected garage door control system is disclosed that includes a garage door opener for opening and closing a garage door in response to signals received through the internet, and an in-vehicle remote garage door opener integrated into a vehicle for transmitting the signals through the internet to the garage door opener. The in-vehicle remote garage door opener includes an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, a trainable RF transceiver for transmitting an RF signal to the garage door opener, a user-actuated input, an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, and a controller, wherein, upon actuation of the user-actuated input, the controller is configured to at least one of (a) request a signal to be transmitted by the internet-connected device through the internet to the garage door opener, and (b) cause the trainable RF transceiver to transmit the RF signal to the garage door opener.

Abstract: A blind spot detection system for a vehicle having an external rearview device including a substrate having an at least partially transmissive portion. An imaging device positioned behind the at least partially transmissive portion and including a field of view that extends through the substrate at an angle away from the vehicle in the general direction of a vehicle blind spot.

Abstract: An internet-connected garage door control system is disclosed that includes a garage door opener for opening and closing a garage door in response to signals received through the internet, and an in-vehicle remote garage door opener integrated into a vehicle for transmitting the signals through the internet to the garage door opener. The in-vehicle remote garage door opener includes an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, a trainable RF transceiver for transmitting an RF signal to the garage door opener, a user-actuated input, an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, and a controller, wherein, upon actuation of the user-actuated input, the controller is configured to at least one of (a) request a signal to be transmitted by the internet-connected device through the internet to the garage door opener, and (b) cause the trainable RF transceiver to transmit the RF signal to the garage door opener.

Abstract: An optical lighting assembly for use with a vehicular outside rearview mirror includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) mounted thereon. An optical device such as a light pipe is positioned adjacent to the LED for propagating light away from the LED. A mirror element includes at least one indicia where light escaping from the light pipe is used to illuminate the indicia.

Abstract: An internet-connected garage door control system is disclosed that includes a garage door opener for opening and closing a garage door in response to signals received through the internet, and an in-vehicle remote garage door opener integrated into a vehicle for transmitting the signals through the internet to the garage door opener. The in-vehicle remote garage door opener includes an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, a trainable RF transceiver for transmitting an RF signal to the garage door opener, a user-actuated input, an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, and a controller, wherein, upon actuation of the user-actuated input, the controller is configured to at least one of (a) request a signal to be transmitted by the internet-connected device through the internet to the garage door opener, and (b) cause the trainable RF transceiver to transmit the RF signal to the garage door opener.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver module for operating a home operating system includes a housing, a photovoltaic unit supported by the housing and accessible to sunlight, a rechargeable power source, a trainable transceiver, and a one or more activation switches.

Abstract: A blind spot detection system for a vehicle having an external rearview device including a substrate having an at least partially transmissive portion. An imaging device positioned behind the at least partially transmissive portion and including a field of view that extends through the substrate at an angle away from the vehicle in the general direction of a vehicle blind spot.

Abstract: An imager module for a vehicle includes a support having a first side and a second side. A shroud is operably coupled with the first side. The support and the shroud define a cavity. A viewing aperture is disposed in one of the support and the shroud. An imager system is disposed in the cavity. An electrical connector is configured to provide communication with the imager system. The electrical connector is disposed outside the cavity in abutting contact with the second side of the support.

Abstract: An optical lighting assembly for use with a vehicular outside rearview mirror includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) mounted thereon. An optical device such as a light pipe is positioned adjacent to the LED for propagating light away from the LED. A mirror element includes at least one indicia where light escaping from the light pipe is used to illuminate the indicia.

Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly (600) includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element (303) and a printed circuit board (603) for mounting electrical components. A liquid crystal display (LCD) (615) is mounted to the printed circuit board (603), while a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (608) are also mounted to the same printed circuit board below the LCD (603) for providing backlighting.

Abstract: Various structures for variable reflectance rearview mirrors and variable transmittance windows are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to the provision of a polarized reflector in a rearview mirror. Another embodiment pertains to the provision of a switchable cholesteric liquid crystal element in a window. Yet another embodiment pertains to the provision of a plurality of apertures in a reflector layer of a rearview mirror where the apertures are sized and positioned in alignment with light emitting areas of a display positioned behind the reflector layer. In another embodiment, a moveable display or mirror element is attached to a rearview mirror housing.

Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror assembly (600) includes an electrochromic (EC) glass element (303) and a printed circuit board (603) for mounting electrical components. A liquid crystal display (LCD) (615) is mounted to the printed circuit board (603), while a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (608) are also mounted to the same printed circuit board below the LCD (603) for providing backlighting.

Abstract: Various structures for variable reflectance rearview mirrors and variable transmittance windows are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to the provision of a polarized reflector in a rearview mirror. Another embodiment pertains to the provision of a switchable cholesteric liquid crystal element in a window. Yet another embodiment pertains to the provision of a plurality of apertures in a reflector layer of a rearview mirror where the apertures are sized and positioned in alignment with light emitting areas of a display positioned behind the reflector layer. In another embodiment, a moveable display or mirror element is attached to a rearview mirror housing.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a rearview mirror comprises a first substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, a reflective coating disposed on a surface of the first substrate, and an electronic circuit component secured to the rear surface of the first substrate. The mirror element may be an electrochromic mirror element comprising a transparent second substrate positioned in front of the first substrate. The electronic component secured to the rear surface may be a component of a drive circuit for the electrochromic mirror element. The rearview mirror element may further comprise electrically conductive tracings provided on the rear surface of the first substrate electrically coupled to the electrical component. The tracings may be used to electrically couple the drive circuit to the electrodes of the electrochromic mirror element. The tracings may be deposited on the rear surface using numerous methods including inkjet printing techniques.

Abstract: A traffic system for alerting a driver of a vehicle to a traffic sign includes a sensor and a control unit. The sensor may be an image sensor and the control unit may comprise a graphic processing unit (GPU) to detect the optical flow of objects in the captured images so as to distinguish moving vehicles from non-moving objects. The speed of vehicles may be detected such that the system may (1) activate lights to warn a driver if he is traveling too fast or (2) display the speed to either the driver or a police officer. The system may also be implemented and used as a geographic border monitoring system.

Abstract: A mirror includes an electro-optic mirror subassembly, and a thin-profiled bezel attached around a perimeter of the electrochromic mirror subassembly. The electro-optic mirror subassembly is supported on a carrier by an adheringly bonded heater and foam tape in a laminar arrangement. The bezel may be bonded to an edge of the front surface of the front element of the electro-optic mirror subassembly, and/or may be bonded and/or interlockingly mechanically attached to an edge of the carrier. Alternatively, the bezel can be a strip of paint or thin coating material. The bezel can be molded in place, or can be pre-molded and elastically stretched to permit assembly. In one form, the bezel includes a laterally-extending fin that prevents seeing past the bezel into the inside of a mirror housing. In at least one embodiment, the assembly has no bezel or only a bezel on one edge.

Abstract: A vehicle system is disclosed that includes a vehicle lamp assembly including a plurality of LEDs that emit white light so as to function as an illuminator light. The lamp assembly also may include a plurality of LEDs that emit colored light to function as a signal light. The lamp assembly may include a camera. The lamp assembly may serve as a CHMSL or as a tail light. The system also includes a controller that rapidly pulses the LEDs at a rate that is imperceivable by the human eye. The pulsing intervals of the LEDs may be related to the readout intervals of the camera sensor array. In this manner, the LEDs may be pulsed on during camera readout to increase the illumination while the camera is capturing an image, or may be pulsed off during camera readout to prevent feedback glare from interfering with image capture by the camera.