Rearview mirror with integrated microwave receiver

• US 20020158805A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric J. Walstra, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull
• Original Assignee: Eric J. Walstra, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull
• Inventors: Walstra, Eric J., Turnbull, Robert R., Knapp, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,750,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 Tunnels or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1246 with clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 : using the mirror of the vehicle

Abstract

An inventive rearview mirror assembly is disclosed in which a microwave antenna is mounted so as to receive transmissions from one or more satellites through the front windshield of the vehicle. The microwave antenna may be tuned to receive satellite transmissions from a position identification system constellation of satellites, such as GPS or GLONASS. Additionally, the microwave antenna may be tuned to alternatively or additionally receive transmissions from at least one communication satellite, such as a CD radio satellite. In addition to the inventive rearview mirror assembly, an inventive electrical control system is disclosed that may be used as a navigation system, an electrochromic rearview mirror control system, a head lamp control system, a tire pressure monitoring and display system, a temperature sensing and display system, a vehicle compass system, a vehicle data recorder system, and/or a vehicle odometer verification system.

Claims

1. A vehicle accessory comprising:

a mounting structure adapted to be mounted to a vehicle in proximity to the vehicle windshield; and

a transmitter mounted to said mounting structure and coupled to a source of data for transmitting a signal including the data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

3. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is an RF transmitter.

4. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of data is a source of vehicle position data and the signal transmitted by said transmitter includes the vehicle position data.

5. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 4, wherein said source of vehicle position data is a microwave receiver for receiving transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation.

6. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 5, wherein said microwave receiver is mounted to said mounting structure.

7. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 1 and further including a vehicle bus interface for coupling said transmitter to a vehicle bus, wherein said source of data is coupled to the vehicle bus.

8. A vehicle accessory comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and

a transmitter mounted in said housing and coupled to a source of vehicle position data for transmitting a signal including the vehicle position data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle, wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

9. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 8, wherein said source of vehicle position data is a microwave receiver for receiving transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation.

10. A vehicle accessory comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and

a transmitter mounted in said housing and coupled to a source of vehicle position data for transmitting a signal including the vehicle position data to an electronic device within the interior passenger area of the vehicle,

wherein said electronic device includes a receiver for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter and processes the vehicle position data.

11. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 10, wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

12. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 10, wherein said transmitter is an RF transmitter.

13. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 10, wherein said source of vehicle position data is a microwave receiver for receiving transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation.

15. The navigation system as defined in claim 14, wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

17. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 16, wherein vehicle direction indicator is a display device mounted in said housing.

18. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 16, wherein the control circuit is mounted in said housing.

19. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 16, wherein the microwave receiver is mounted in said housing.

20. The vehicle accessory as defined in claim 16, wherein the vehicle accessory is a rearview mirror assembly that includes a mirror mounted in said housing.

14. A vehicle navigation system comprising:

a microwave receiver for receiving transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation and for generating vehicle position data from said satellite transmissions;

a transmitter coupled to said microwave receiver to receive the vehicle position data from said microwave receiver and to transmit a signal including the vehicle position data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle; and

an electronic device positioned within the interior passenger area of the vehicle, said electronic device including a receiver for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter and configured to process the vehicle position data.

16. A vehicle accessory comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

a control circuit adapted to be coupled to a microwave receiver that receives transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation and generates vehicle position data from the satellite transmissions, said control circuit determines the vehicle'"'"'s direction of travel from the vehicle position data received from the microwave receiver; and

a vehicle direction indicator mounted in said housing and coupled to said control circuit for advising a vehicle occupant of the vehicle'"'"'s direction of travel.