Electronics systems cluster with interlocking brackets

• US 10,457,222 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Maxwell, Kurt Hugh, Dunham, Scott Holmes
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Augustin, Christopher L
• Application Number:
  US15/804,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20190135190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/816 Fastening of displays or touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/828 Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0064 Connection with the article
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/12 Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

An electronics systems cluster includes a plurality of brackets, a plurality of electronic devices held in the plurality of brackets and an interlocking feature securing the plurality of brackets directly together into a small footprint configuration less likely to interfere with driver sight lines. A related method of reducing a footprint of an electronics systems cluster is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronics systems cluster, comprising:

a plurality of brackets;

a plurality of electronic devices held in said plurality of brackets; and

an interlocking feature securing said plurality of brackets directly together wherein said interlocking feature includes a plurality of cooperating dovetail connectors.

2. The electronics systems cluster of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cooperating dovetail connectors are provided along edges of said plurality of brackets.

3. The electronics systems cluster of claim 2, wherein said electronic devices are selected from a group of electronic devices consisting of an image processing module A, a rain light sensor, an electronic windshield antifogging system, a USB port and combinations thereof.

4. The electronics systems cluster of claim 3, further including wire routing features on said plurality of brackets.

5. The electronics systems cluster of claim 4, further including a tethering hook on at least one bracket of said plurality of brackets.

6. The electronics systems cluster of claim 4, further including heater terminals for a local windshield heating grid on at least one bracket of said plurality of brackets.

7. The electronics systems cluster of claim 4 further including an adhesive securing said plurality of brackets to a windshield of a motor vehicle.

8. The electronics systems cluster of claim 7, further including a cover concealing said plurality of brackets on said windshield.

9. An electronics systems cluster, comprising:

a first bracket;

an image processing module A carried on said first bracket;

a second bracket;

a rain light sensor carried on said second bracket;

a third bracket;

an electronic windshield antifogging system carried on said third bracket;

a fourth bracket; and

a USB port carried on said fourth bracket;

an interlocking feature securing said second bracket to said first bracket, said third bracket to said second bracket and said fourth bracket to said first bracket.

10. The electronics systems cluster of claim 9, further including an adhesive securing said first bracket, said second bracket, said third bracket and said fourth bracket to a windshield of a motor vehicle.

11. The electronics systems cluster of claim 10, further including a cover concealing said first bracket, said second bracket, said third bracket and said fourth bracket.

12. A method of reducing a footprint of an electronics systems cluster at a top of a windshield of a motor vehicle, comprising:

locating a plurality of electronic devices in a plurality of brackets;

interlocking, by interlocking feature, a first bracket carrying an image processing module A with a second bracket carrying a rain light sensor, a third bracket carrying an electronic windshield antifogging system to said second bracket and a fourth bracket carrying a USB port to said first bracket; and

adhering, by adhesive, said plurality of brackets to said windshield.

13. The method of claim 12, including providing a wire routing feature on at least one bracket of said plurality of brackets.

14. The method of claim 12, including allowing, by said interlocking feature, freedom of movement perpendicular to a tangent plane of said windshield.