Detailed Overview of Automotive Rearview Mirror Functions（三）

Convenience Folding: Mirrors Fold Upon Locking
If the “Convenience Folding” function is enabled via vehicle coding, the side mirrors automatically fold in the moment the vehicle is locked using the remote key. Upon receiving the lock confirmation, the Body Control Module (BCM) sends a folding command to the door control units on both sides. The next time the vehicle is entered, the mirrors automatically unfold the instant the ignition is switched on, seamlessly resetting to the driving position.
In addition to the manual rotary knob, there is a data bus channel for folding commands: the mirrors fold automatically when a folding signal appears on the convenience CAN bus and unfold when the signal is removed. Remote key convenience functions and lock commands utilize this channel—relayed by the BCM to the door control units—to achieve the “fold-on-lock” automation. In essence, the rotary knob serves as a local control channel for the driver, while the bus serves as a remote channel for the vehicle’s logic system; both paths achieve the same result.
Automatic Anti-Glare: A Mirror That “Changes Its Face”
High beams from vehicles behind are a major nuisance during night driving. While traditional anti-glare mirrors require manually flipping a lever to change the angle, modern solutions employ electrochromic glass. The mirror’s interlayer contains special electrochromic material; when an electric current is applied, light transmittance decreases continuously, allowing for “stepless dimming.”
Light sensors mounted on the interior rearview mirror housing monitor ambient light ahead and the intensity of glare from behind. Once the ignition is on, the system continuously compares these two signals: the mirror darkens automatically when the environment is dark but rear light intensity is high, and it smoothly returns to transparency once the glare subsides. Even more ingeniously, the exterior side mirrors also utilize electrochromic glass; the interior mirror transmits the anti-glare control signal to the side mirrors via the door control units. Consequently, all three mirrors dim synchronously, suppressing glare across the entire rear field of view without requiring any manual intervention.