INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM

• US 20110164135A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,094,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 interior rearview mirror system includes a mirror mounting button and a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a mirror head and a mirror support, and a structure is configured for mounting to the attachment members attached at the vehicle windshield. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing, and the mirror support includes a mirror mount that is configured to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly to the mirror mounting button. The structure is configured to receive and be supported by the plurality of attachment members at the vehicle windshield, and, with the structure receiving and being supported by the attachment members, (a) the structure at least partially surrounds the mirror mounting button and (b) the structure accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) said structure at least partially surrounds said mirror mounting button and (b) said structure accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield.

2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory comprising at least one of (a) a rain sensor, (b) a light sensor, (c) a tire pressure monitoring system receiver, (d) an antenna, (e) an antenna for an entry system, (f) a component of an electronic toll collection system, (g) an antenna for a global positioning system, (h) a component of a telematic system, (i) a speaker, (j) a microphone, (k) an illumination source, (l) a garage door opener system, (m) a compass sensor and (n) a user actuatable input.

3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS camera.

4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera provides input for a camera-based “

black box”

recorder system.

5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said structure accommodates a plurality of accessories.

6. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, an upper portion of said structure extends generally along the vehicle windshield above said mirror mounting button.

7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, a lower portion of said structure extends generally along the vehicle windshield below said mirror mounting button.

8. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 7, wherein said lower portion of said structure does not extend below a level that is generally aligned with a lowermost portion of said mirror head when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

9. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 8, wherein said upper portion of said structure extends above a level that is generally aligned with an uppermost portion of said mirror head when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

10. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said upper portion of said structure extends at least to a headliner of the vehicle.

11. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 10, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said upper portion of said structure extends beyond the vehicle windshield and at least along a portion of the roof of the vehicle.

12. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) a lower portion of said structure extends generally along the vehicle windshield below said mirror mounting button, (b) an upper portion of said structure extends generally along the vehicle windshield above said mirror mounting button, (c) a left portion of said structure extends generally along the vehicle windshield leftward of said mirror mounting button, and (d) a right portion of said structure extends generally along the vehicle windshield rightward of said mirror mounting button.

13. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein a shadeband is disposed at the vehicle windshield at least proximate to where said mirror mounting button and said plurality of attachment members are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

14. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein an at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of at least said plurality of attachment members when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

15. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield further at least partially masks the presence of said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

16. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a portion that at least substantially hides the presence of said attachment members and said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing said structure from inside the vehicle cabin.

17. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said portion comprises a housing and wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, an upper portion of said housing extends generally along the vehicle windshield above said mirror mounting button.

18. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said housing houses a plurality of accessories.

19. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview mirror assembly pass through said housing.

20. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, a lower portion of said housing extends generally along the vehicle windshield below said mirror mounting button.

21. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a single-ball interior rearview mirror assembly.

22. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview mirror assembly.

23. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said structure straddles said mirror mounting button.

24. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror mount is configured to at least partially receive said mirror mounting button therein to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

25. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror mount and said mirror mounting button provide a breakaway connection at the vehicle windshield.

26. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button without demounting said structure from said attachment members.

27. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, comprising a vehicular tire pressure monitoring system having a tire pressure indicator assembly operable to provide at least one of an audible tire inflation status indicator and a visual tire inflation status indicator.

28. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 27, wherein said tire inflation status indicator provides indication of the inflation condition of a vehicle tire to a person exteriorly of the vehicle when the person is engaged in an act of adjusting the tire pressure of the vehicle tire, and wherein a control of said tire pressure monitoring system receives inputs from tire pressure sensors sensing pressure of the vehicle tires and produces outputs to actuate said tire inflation status indicator.

29. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 28, wherein said tire inflation status indicator provides a visual tire inflation status indicator and wherein said visual tire inflation status indicator is provided at said interior rearview mirror assembly.

30. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said structure at least accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) a lower portion of said structure extends generally below said mirror mounting button, (b) an upper portion of said structure extends generally above said mirror mounting button, (c) a left portion of said structure extends generally leftward of said mirror mounting button, and (d) a right portion of said structure extends generally rightward of said mirror mounting button; and

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button without demounting said structure from said attachment members.

31. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein said lower portion of said structure does not extend below a level that is generally aligned with a lowermost portion of said mirror head when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

32. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein said upper portion of said structure extends above a level that is generally aligned with an uppermost portion of said mirror head when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.

33. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 32, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said upper portion of said structure extends at least to a headliner of the vehicle.

34. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein said structure comprises a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said attachment members and said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing said structure from inside the vehicle cabin.

35. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 34, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, at least a portion of said housing extends above said minor mounting button.

36. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 34, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview mirror assembly passes through said housing.

37. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said at least another accessory comprises at least one of (a) a rain sensor and (b) an antenna.

38. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS camera, and wherein an at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said plurality of attachment members and said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

39. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 30, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview mirror assembly.

40. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) said structure straddles said mirror mounting button and (b) said structure accommodates a plurality of accessories; and

wherein one of said plurality of accessories comprises a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield, and wherein another of said plurality of accessories comprises a rain sensor.

41. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 40, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button.

42. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 41, wherein an at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said plurality of attachment members and said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

43. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 42, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a prismatic mirror reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly.

44. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 42, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly.

45. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said structure at least accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) a lower portion of said structure extends generally below said mirror mounting button, (b) an upper portion of said structure extends generally above said mirror mounting button, (c) a left portion of said structure extends generally leftward of said mirror mounting button, and (d) a right portion of said structure extends generally rightward of said mirror mounting button;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button without demounting said structure from said attachment members; and

wherein said structure comprises a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said attachment members and said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing said structure from inside the vehicle cabin, and wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, an upper portion of said housing extends above said mirror mounting button and said housing houses a plurality of accessories.

46. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 45, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS camera, and wherein an at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said plurality of attachment members and said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

47. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 46, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview mirror assembly passes through said housing.

48. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 47, wherein said housing houses a plurality of accessories, one of which comprises a rain sensor.

49. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said structure at least accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said at least another accessory comprises at least one of (a) a rain sensor and (b) an antenna;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) a lower portion of said structure extends generally below said mirror mounting button, (b) an upper portion of said structure extends generally above said mirror mounting button, (c) a left portion of said structure extends generally leftward of said mirror mounting button, and (d) a right portion of said structure extends generally rightward of said mirror mounting button;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button without demounting said structure from said attachment members; and

wherein an at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said plurality of attachment members when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

50. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 49, wherein said at least substantially opaque fit established at the vehicle windshield further at least partially masks the presence of said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

51. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 50, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said at least another accessory comprises a rain sensor, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS camera.

52. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said structure at least accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said at least another accessory comprises a rain sensor;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) a lower portion of said structure extends generally below said mirror mounting button, (b) an upper portion of said structure extends generally above said mirror mounting button, (c) a left portion of said structure extends generally leftward of said mirror mounting button, and (d) a right portion of said structure extends generally rightward of said mirror mounting button;

wherein said structure comprises a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said attachment members and said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing said structure from inside the vehicle cabin, and wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, at least a portion of said housing extends above said mirror mounting button;

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button without demounting said structure from said attachment members; and

wherein an at least substantially opaque fit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of at least said plurality of attachment members and said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

53. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 52, wherein said mirror mount and said mirror mounting button provide a breakaway connection at the vehicle windshield, and wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview mirror assembly pass through said housing.

54. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 52, wherein said housing houses a plurality of accessories including said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.

55. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein another of said plurality of accessories comprises an antenna.

56. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 52, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video mirror having a video display screen disposed in said mirror head and displaying information for viewing through said reflective element by a driver of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system.

57. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror head comprises a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing;

wherein said mirror support comprises a mirror mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, (a) said structure straddles said mirror mounting button and (b) said structure accommodates a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein an at least substantially opaque frit established at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of at least said plurality of attachment members and said mirror mounting button when viewed from outside the vehicle through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button without demounting said structure from said attachment members.

58. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 57, wherein said structure comprises a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said attachment members and said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing said structure from inside the vehicle cabin.

59. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 58, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS camera

60. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 59, wherein said at least another accessory comprises a rain sensor.

61. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 60, wherein, with said structure receiving and being supported by said attachment members, at least a portion of said housing extends above said mirror mounting button.