CONSOLE SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR USE IN AN INTERIOR CABIN OF A VEHICLE

• US 20090134606A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/727
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle includes an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle, and an accessory module. The accessory module includes structure adapted to attach to the attachment element. The accessory module encompasses an antenna and a forward facing camera. The forward facing camera has a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The accessory system may include an image processor for processing image data captured by the forward facing camera. The forward facing camera may capture images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;

an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to attach to said attachment element;

wherein said accessory module encompasses (a) an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system and (b) a forward facing CMOS camera, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle; and

wherein said accessory system comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by said forward facing camera.

3. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said image processor processes said image data for at least one chosen from (a) a forward park-aid system, (b) a collision avoidance system, (c) an automatic headlamp control system and (d) a rain sensing system.

4. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said image processor is operable to process said image data for an automatic headlamp control system.

5. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said image processor is operable to process said image data for a collision avoidance system.

6. The accessory system of claim 2 further comprising an interior rearview mirror, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror is one of (a) pivotally mounted to said accessory module, (b) pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle, (c) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, (d) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to said accessory module and (e) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to and at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.

7. The accessory system of claim 6, wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to said accessory module via a double pivot joint mounting configuration.

8. The accessory system of claim 7, wherein said double pivot joint mounting configuration includes a mirror mounting element that detachably mounts to a mirror receiving attachment element of said accessory module.

9. The accessory system of claim 6, wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to said accessory module via a single pivot joint mounting configuration.

10. The accessory system of claim 6, wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle and wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted via one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration.

11. The accessory system of claim 10, wherein the interior portion of the vehicle comprises the interior surface of the windshield and wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to a second attachment adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

12. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna and said forward facing camera.

13. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said housing accommodates at least one of said antenna and said forward facing camera.

14. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said housing accommodates said antenna and said forward facing camera.

15. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said accessory module encompasses a rain sensor.

16. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a forward facing CMOS camera.

17. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said accessory module encompasses circuitry associated with said tire pressure monitoring system.

18. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.

19. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said accessory module accommodates said image processor.

20. The accessory system of claim 2 further comprising an interior rearview mirror, and wherein said interior rearview mirror accommodates said image processor.

21. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said accessory module comprises at least one user input for controlling at least one accessory of the vehicle.

22. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;

an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to attach to said attachment element; and

wherein said accessory module encompasses (a) an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system, (b) a forward facing camera and (c) a rain sensor, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle.

23. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said forward facing camera captures images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.

24. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said accessory module encompasses circuitry associated with said tire pressure monitoring system.

25. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.

26. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.

27. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said accessory module accommodates at least one of said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.

28. The accessory system of claim 22 further comprising an interior rearview mirror, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror is one of (a) pivotally mounted to said accessory module, (b) pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle, (c) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, (d) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to said accessory module and (e) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to and at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.

29. The accessory system of claim 28, wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted via one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration.

30. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;

an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to attach to said attachment element;

wherein said accessory module encompasses (a) an antenna and (b) a forward facing CMOS camera, said forward facing CMOS camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle; and

an interior rearview mirror, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror is one of (a) pivotally mounted to said accessory module, (b) pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle, (c) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, (d) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to said accessory module and (e) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to and at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.

31. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted via one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration.

32. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said forward facing CMOS camera captures images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.

33. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system and wherein said accessory module encompasses circuitry associated with said tire pressure monitoring system.

34. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system and wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.

35. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said accessory module encompasses a rain sensor.

36. The accessory system of claim 35, wherein said accessory module accommodates at least one of said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.

37. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna and said forward facing camera.