Abstract: A vehicular control system comprises a rearview mirror assembly and a microcontroller. The rearview mirror assembly comprises a housing and a variable reflectivity electro-optic mirror element. The microcontroller is operable to control the reflectivity of the variable reflectivity electro-optic mirror element. The microcontroller may be operable to control a plurality of accessories of the vehicle via a node of a vehicle control network. The microcontroller may be operable to receive signals from and/or transmit signals to at least one of the accessories via the node of the vehicle control network. The microcontroller may be in communication with a second microcontroller located in the mirror housing or exterior to the mirror housing. The microcontroller and the second microcontroller may be cooperatively operable. The microcontroller and the second microcontroller may be in master/slave relationship.

Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises an industry standard CAN network with a number of nodes distributed around the vehicle for controlling corresponding parts of the vehicle. One such node is located in the housing of the vehicle interior rearview mirror and directly controls the reflectivity of an electro-optic mirror unit, in accordance with the state of at least one ambient light sensor and a remote keyless entry device. The node also communicates via an ISO9141 interface with a number of slave controllers such as a sun-roof control module mounted adjacent a sun-roof and a roof control module mounted in a roof housing. By this means the UCM exercises indirect control of the sun-roof in accordance with the state of a switch, and exercises indirect control of various lamps GEN1, GEN2, FLL and FRL in the roof housing in accordance with the state of switches Gen, FL and FR mounted in the roof housing or, in the case of the lamps GEN1 and GEN2, when a vehicle door is opened.

Abstract: A vehicle rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, at least one control and, preferably, at least one exterior rearview mirror assembly. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an interior electro-optic reflective element having an electrically variable reflectivity. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes an exterior electro-optic reflective element having an electrically variable reflectivity. The at least one control at least controls a reflectivity level of the interior electro-optic reflective element, preferably in accordance with a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated signal. The at least one control may further control a reflectivity level of the exterior electro-optic reflective element via a bus system of the vehicle. The control or controls may communicate and/or control an accessory of the vehicle via the bus system of the vehicle. The controls may comprise a control node of a vehicle control network.

Abstract: An electro-optic interior rearview mirror system is provided for a vehicle, comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optic reflective element and an interior mirror housing for said reflective element. The mirror assembly includes a mount for attachment to a portion of the vehicle and a control. The control includes a microprocessor that functions as a controller of a plurality of vehicle functions, the plurality of functions including the reflectance state of the electro-optic reflective element. The control includes a connection to a vehicle bus for receiving control signals via the bus for processing by the microprocessor.

Abstract: An electro-optic rearriew mirror system for a vehicle comprises a mirror housing (10) containing an electro-optic mirror unit (18). A pair of light sensors (24, 26) for sensing the ambient light level outside the vehicle are also mounted in the mirror housing. Control circuitry mounted on a PCB (36) is responsive to a signal (34) from the light sensors (24, 26) to establish a drive voltage for the electro-optic mirror unit (18). The PCB (36) is mounted in a header (16) on the interior ceiling of the vehicle separate from the mirror housing (10).

Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises an industry standard CAN network with a number of nodes distributed around the vehicle for controlling corresponding parts of the vehicle. One such node is located in the housing of the vehicle interior rearview mirror and directly controls the reflectivity of an electro-optic mirror unit, in accordance with the state of at least one ambient light sensor and a remote keyless entry device. The node also communicates via an ISO9141 interface with a number of slave controllers such as a sun-roof control module mounted adjacent a sun-roof and a roof control module mounted in a roof housing. By this means the UCM exercises indirect control of the sun-roof in accordance with the state of a switch, and exercises indirect control of various lamps GEN1, GEN2, FLL and FRL in the roof housing in accordance with the state of switches Gen, FL and FR mounted in the roof housing or, in the case of the lamps GEN1 and GEN2, when a vehicle door is opened.

Abstract: An electro-optic interior rearview mirror system is provided for a vehicle, comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly including an interior electro-optic reflective element and an interior mirror housing for said reflective element. The mirror assembly includes a mount for attachment to a portion of the vehicle and a control. The control includes a microprocessor that functions as a controller of a plurality of vehicle functions, the plurality of functions including the reflectance state of the electro-optic reflective element. The control includes a connection to a vehicle bus for receiving control signals via the bus for processing by the microprocessor.

Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises an industry standard CAN network with a number of nodes distributed around the vehicle for controlling corresponding parts of the vehicle. One such node is located in the housing of the vehicle interior rearview mirror and directly controls the reflectivity of an electro-optic mirror unit, in accordance with the state of at least one ambient light sensor and a remote keyless entry device. The node also communicates via an ISO9141 interface with a number of slave controllers such as a sun-roof control module mounted adjacent a sun-roof and a roof control module mounted in a roof housing. By this means the UCM exercises indirect control of the sun-roof in accordance with the state of a switch, and exercises indirect control of various lamps GEN1, GEN2, FLL and FRL in the roof housing in accordance with the state of switches Gen, FL and FR mounted in the roof housing or, in the case of the lamps GEN1 and GEN2, when a vehicle door is opened.

Abstract: An electro-optic rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior mirror housing (10) containing an interior electro-optic mirror unit (18). At least one light sensor, and preferably a pair of light sensors (24, 26), is provided for sensing the ambient light level outside the vehicle. Control circuitry, which may be mounted on a PCB (36), is responsive to an output (34) from the at least one light sensor (24, 26) to establish a drive voltage for the electro-optic mirror unit (18).