Camera mounting system for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:
- providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and camera attaching structure;
providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element;
providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element;
providing a camera module having an imager and a lens;
attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;
attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket;
attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint;
wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;
with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;
with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base;
wherein the camera attaching structure of the bracket comprises a pair of spaced apart camera attaching arms; and
wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching arms extend downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion, and wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure comprises engaging respective portions of the camera module with lower ends of the camera attaching arms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of mounting a camera module at a vehicle windshield includes attaching an attaching portion of a bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and attaching a mirror mounting base at the bracket, and attaching a mirror head at the mirror mounting base. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield, camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera module is attached at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and camera attaching structure; providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element; providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element; providing a camera module having an imager and a lens; attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield; attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket; attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint; wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base; wherein the camera attaching structure of the bracket comprises a pair of spaced apart camera attaching arms; and wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching arms extend downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion, and wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure comprises engaging respective portions of the camera module with lower ends of the camera attaching arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and a pair of spaced apart camera attaching arms; providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element; providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element; providing a camera module having an imager and a lens; attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield; attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket; attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint; wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching arms of the bracket extend downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching arms of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching arms comprises (i) engaging respective portions of the camera module with lower ends of the camera attaching arms, (ii) pivoting the camera module about the interface between the respective portions of the camera module and the lower ends of the camera attaching arms and (iii) snap-attaching the camera module at the bracket at a portion of the bracket above the lower ends of the camera attaching arms; and with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching arms, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and camera attaching structure; providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element; providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element; providing a camera module having an imager and a lens; attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield; attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket; attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint; wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure comprises (i) engaging respective portions of the camera module with the camera attaching structure, (ii) pivoting the camera module about the interface between the respective portions of the camera module and the camera attaching structure and (iii) snap-attaching the camera module at the bracket at a portion of the bracket above the interface between the respective portions of the camera module and the camera attaching structure; wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, the camera module is located at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion and is at least partially disposed between the vehicle windshield and the mirror head that is pivotally attached at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base; and with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification