Rearview Mirrors Enter The Information Age
1 July 1999
Rearview Mirrors Enter The Information Age Gentex Mirror Doubles as Information Display on the New Prowler GENTEX REARVIEW MIRRORS VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS Rearview Mirrors Enter the Information Age. New Gentex Mirror Doubles as Vehicle Communications Center. (PRNewsFoto)[KC] ZEELAND, MI USA 06/30/1999ZEELAND, Mich., June 30 -- Gentex Corporation , the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming mirrors and fire protection products, has begun shipping interior automatic-dimming rearview mirrors for the 2000 Plymouth Prowler. The mirror is integrated into the vehicle's onboard computer system, which allows it to display various bits of information vital to the driver. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990630/DEW001 ) In addition to automatically dimming upon detecting glare, the Prowler's NVS(R) mirror can display the outside temperature, vehicle directional heading, average fuel economy, distance to empty, instantaneous fuel economy, trip odometer, and elapsed trip time. The mirror also contains LED (light emitting diode) map lamps, which serve as the Prowler's interior cabin lighting. "In essence, our mirror acts as the 'monitor' for the Prowler's computer system," said Ken La Grand, Gentex's executive vice president. "It picks up data pulsing through the car's electrical system and displays it in the rearview mirror." Typically, these displays are found in overhead consoles or instrument panels, but these weren't options since the Prowler is a uniquely styled convertible. The rearview mirror presented the ideal solution. "As it turns out, the mirror is a natural location for information displays and driver communication interfaces," added La Grand. "Since the driver is continuously looking at the mirror anyway, he or she can obtain information while keeping a natural line-of-sight on the road ahead." Today's vehicle electrical systems are similar to computer local area networks (LANs). Various electronic modules continuously send and receive bits of information over this network and react accordingly. For instance, when a door on the new Prowler is opened, the door module signals the rearview mirror to turn on its LED cabin lighting. As engine speed increases, and subsequently engine noise, the engine module signals the radio to automatically increase its volume. La Grand believes the sky is the limit when it comes to using the mirror as a communications center. "With our mirror on the vehicle's bus (electrical system), we can display just about any piece of driver information without additional wiring," he said. And, by simply adding a few sensors, we can control headlamps, display GPS (global positioning system) information or monitor individual tire pressure. It's exciting to see the mirror become such a critical driver communications interface." Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire protection market. The Company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary electro-optic products, including interior and exterior electrochromic, automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automotive rearview mirrors that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial applications. Revenues from the sale of automatic-dimming mirrors represent about 91 percent of total Company. Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and produce a commercial electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry. The Company is the leading supplier of these mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry. Gentex customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Daewoo, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Samsung, Southeast Toyota Distributors and Toyota. Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland, Michigan; an automotive sales office in Livonia, Michigan; automotive sales and engineering subsidiaries in Germany and Japan; and four regional U.S. sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The Company is recognized for its quality products, its application of world class manufacturing principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the Company's stock.