Rear vision system for a vehicle
A rear vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device. A control activates display of captured video images by the display device when a transmission of the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear and deactivates display of the video images upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met. The threshold deactivation condition is at least one of (a) forward travel of the vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, the threshold period of time constituting a linger time.
1. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time; and
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time.
2. The rear vision system of claim 1 wherein said display device is disposed at or near an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.
3. The rear vision system of claim 2 , wherein said display device is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and wherein said display device displays video images for viewing through a mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly by the driver of the equipped vehicle.
4. The rear vision system of claim 3 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a molded plastic mounting arm having at least one ball member at at least one end thereof and having electrical conducting elements extending therethrough, and wherein a mirror mounting portion is molded over said ball member, and wherein said mounting arm comprises a mounting arm polymeric material having a first linear mold shrinkage factor and a first flexural modulus and wherein said mirror mounting portion comprises a mirror mounting polymeric material having a second linear mold shrinkage factor and a second flexural modulus, and wherein said second linear mold shrinkage factor is greater than said first linear mold shrinkage factor and wherein said second flexural modulus is lower than said first flexural modulus.
5. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear.
6. The rear vision system of claim 5 , wherein the forward travel speed of the equipped vehicle is sensed by a speed sensor of the equipped vehicle.
7. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear.
8. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 5 seconds.
9. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 10 seconds.
10. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said threshold period of time is in the range from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.
11. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of an icon, an instruction, a marking and an indicia is displayed with said captured video images by said display device to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver.
12. The rear vision system of claim 11 , wherein the rear backup maneuver comprises hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.
13. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen.
14. The rear vision system of claim 13 , wherein said backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen is backlit by a laser.
15. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein said display device comprises a microelectromechanical scanner.
16. The rear vision system of claim 1 , wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activating display of said captured video images by said display device.
17. The rear vision system of claim 16 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate.
18. The rear vision system of claim 17 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a substantially frameless interior rearview mirror assembly.
19. The rear vision system of claim 18 , wherein said substantially frameless interior rearview mirror assembly comprises user actuatable inputs.
20. The rear vision system of claim 19 , wherein said user actuatable inputs comprise at least one touch sensitive input.
21. The rear vision system of claim 16 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly.
22. The rear vision system of claim 21 , wherein said interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly comprises a substantially frameless interior rearview mirror assembly.
23. The rear vision system of claim 22 , wherein said substantially frameless interior rearview mirror assembly comprises user actuatable inputs and wherein said user actuatable inputs comprise at least one touch sensitive input.
24. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear;
wherein the forward travel speed of the equipped vehicle is sensed by a speed sensor of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said speed sensor comprises at least one of a wheel speed sensor and a wheel speed encoder.
25. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear; and
wherein said threshold speed is at least about 3 miles per hour.
26. The rear vision system of claim 25 , wherein said threshold speed is at least about 5 miles per hour.
27. The rear vision system of claim 25 , wherein said threshold speed is at least about 7 miles per hour.
28. The rear vision system of claim 25 , wherein said threshold speed is at least about 10 miles per hour.
29. The rear vision system of claim 25 , wherein said threshold speed is in the range from about 3 miles per hour to about 10 miles per hour.
30. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear; and
wherein said threshold distance is at least about 10 feet.
31. The rear vision system of claim 30 , wherein said threshold distance is at least about 20 feet.
32. The rear vision system of claim 30 , wherein said threshold distance is at least about 30 feet.
33. The rear vision system of claim 30 , wherein said threshold distance is in the range from about 10 feet to about 30 feet.
34. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time; and
wherein said display device is electromechanically extendable and retractable.
35. The rear vision system of claim 34 , wherein said display device is electromechanically extendable and retractable from an interior mirror housing of an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.
36. The rear vision system of claim 34 , wherein said display device automatically extends responsive to the vehicle transmission being shifted into reverse gear and remains extended until said threshold deactivation condition is met.
37. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met; and
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and wherein said threshold speed is at least about 3 miles per hour, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and wherein said threshold distance is at least about 10 feet, and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time and wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 5 seconds.
38. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein at least one of an icon, an instruction, a marking and an indicia is displayed with said captured video images by said display device to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver.
39. The rear vision system of claim 38 , wherein the rear backup maneuver comprises hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.
40. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein said video screen of said display device comprises at least one of (a) a backlit LCD video screen, (b) a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen and (c) an organic light emitting diode video screen.
41. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activating display of said captured video images by said display device.
42. The rear vision system of claim 41 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate.
43. The rear vision system of claim 41 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is in the range from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.
44. The rear vision system of claim 43 , wherein at least one of an icon, an instruction, a marking and an indicia is displayed with said captured video images by said display device to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver.
45. The rear vision system of claim 44 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a substantially frameless interior rearview mirror assembly.
46. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 5 seconds.
47. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 10 seconds.
48. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is in the range from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.
49. The rear vision system of claim 37 , wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activating display of said captured video images by said display device, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly comprises a substantially frameless interior rearview mirror assembly.
50. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time;
wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activation display of said captured video images by said display device;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having a third and fourth surfaces and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front surface substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate; and
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and wherein said threshold speed is in the range from about 3 miles per hour to about 10 miles per hour, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and wherein said threshold distance is in the range from about 10 feet to about 30 feet, and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time and wherein said threshold period of time is in the range from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.
51. The rear vision system of claim 50 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is in the range from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.
52. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time;
wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activation display of said captured video images by said display device;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having a third and fourth surfaces and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front surface substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate; and
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 5 seconds.
53. The rear vision system of claim 52 , wherein said transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate and wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen.
54. The rear vision system of claim 53 , wherein at least one of an icon, an instruction, a marking and an indicia is displayed with said captured video images by said display device to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver.
55. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met;
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time;
wherein said video screen of said display device comprises at least one of (a) a backlit LCD video screen, (b) a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen and (c) an organic light emitting diode video screen;
wherein at least one of an icon, an instruction, a marking and an indicia is displayed with said captured video images by said display device to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver;
wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen;
wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activation display of said captured video images by said display device; and
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 5 seconds.
56. The rear vision system of claim 55 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate.
57. The rear vision system of claim 55 , wherein said threshold period of time is in the range from about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.
58. A rear vision system for a vehicle, said rear vision system comprising:
a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear vision system;
said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup video camera operable to capture video images rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a display device comprising a video screen operable to display said captured video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle when conducting the rear backup maneuver;
a control in the equipped vehicle;
said control activating display of said captured video images by said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear;
said control deactivating display of said captured video images by said display device upon shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear once a threshold deactivation condition is met; and
wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises at least one of (a) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, wherein said threshold speed of forward movement of the equipped vehicle is less than about 10 miles per hour, (b) forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, wherein said threshold distance of forward movement of the equipped vehicle is less than about 30 feet, and (c) a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, wherein said threshold time is less than about 10 seconds.
59. The rear vision system of claim 58 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, and wherein said threshold speed is at least about 3 miles per hour.
60. The rear vision system of claim 58 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward movement after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, and wherein said threshold distance is at least about 10 feet.
61. The rear vision system of claim 58 , wherein said threshold deactivation condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, said threshold period of time constituting a linger time, and wherein said threshold period of time is at least about 5 seconds.
62. The rear vision system of claim 58 , wherein at least one of an icon, an instruction, a marking and an indicia is displayed with said captured video images by said display device to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver.
63. The rear vision system of claim 62 , wherein the rear backup maneuver comprises hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.
64. The rear vision system of claim 58 , wherein said video screen of said display device comprises at least one of (a) a backlit LCD video screen, (b) a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen and (c) an organic light emitting diode video screen.
65. The rear vision system of claim 64 , wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said captured video images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to the driver of the equipped vehicle while said control is activating display of said captured video images by said display device.
66. The rear vision system of claim 65 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate.