ACCESSORY MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20130119691A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan E., Lynam, Niall R., Spooner, Ralph A., March, Phillip A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,531,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/1.07
• 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 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0077 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 : Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

An accessory mounting system for a vehicle includes a bracket attached at a windshield of the vehicle. The accessory mounting system includes control circuitry housed in a housing, and the control circuitry is associated with an electronic device housed in the housing. The electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, an antenna, a loudspeaker, a rain sensor and an automatic toll booth transducer. The control circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle. The bracket may include first structure and the housing may include second structure. The first structure and the second structure may be configured to enable the housing (i) to be attached to the bracket with the bracket attached at the vehicle windshield and (ii) to be detached from the bracket with the bracket attached at the vehicle windshield.

Claims

1. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a bracket attached at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said bracket comprising a windshield-facing side;

said bracket comprising a cabin-facing side;

said bracket comprising first structure;

control circuitry housed in a housing;

wherein said control circuitry is associated with an electronic device housed in said housing;

wherein said electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, an antenna, a loudspeaker, a rain sensor and an automatic toll booth transducer;

wherein said control circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle;

said housing comprising second structure; and

wherein said first structure and said second structure are configured to enable said housing (i) to be attached to said bracket with said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield and (ii) to be detached from said bracket with said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield.

2. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said first structure of said bracket comprises at least one element offset from the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

3. The accessory mounting system of claim 2, wherein said at least one element is disposed at said cabin-facing side of said bracket.

4. The accessory mounting system of claim 2, wherein said at least one element comprises at least one flange.

5. The accessory mounting system of claim 4, wherein said at least one element comprises a pair of flanges offset from the interior surface of the vehicle windshield by a pair of side walls.

6. The accessory mounting system of claim 5, wherein said second structure of said housing slidably engages with said at least one flange.

7. The accessory mounting system of claim 4, wherein at least one element of said second structure of said housing engages with said at least one flange when said housing attaches to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield.

8. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said bracket is adhesively attached at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

9. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said windshield-facing side of said bracket comprises a windshield-mounting portion adhesively bonded to the vehicle windshield.

10. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

11. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided between the vehicle windshield and said housing to facilitate air flow thereat.

12. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said control circuitry is associated with at least two electronic devices housed in said housing.

13. The accessory mounting system of claim 12, wherein one of said two electronic devices comprises a microphone and the other of said two electronic devices comprises a speaker.

14. The accessory mounting system of claim 13, wherein said microphone and said speaker share circuitry with an electrochromic mirror of the equipped vehicle.

15. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

16. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle LIN bus system.

17. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a microphone and wherein said microphone is part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle.

18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, wherein said voice acquisition system comprises an indicator operable to indicate when vocal inputs received at said microphone are being adequately distinguished from noise by a control of said voice acquisition system.

19. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, wherein said microphone provides sound capture for at least one of a hands-free cell phone system, an audio recording system and a wireless communication system.

20. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, including an illumination source for a vehicle security system, and wherein said illumination source comprises a light emitting diode.

21. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array.

22. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.

23. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said housing houses at least two electronic devices, and wherein said two electronic devices are selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, an antenna, a loudspeaker, a rain sensor and an automatic toll booth transducer.

24. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said housing houses at least two electronic devices selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, an antenna and a rain sensor.

25. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said housing houses a camera and a rain sensor.

26. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises at least one side wall.

27. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said side wall extends outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached thereto.

28. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises at least two side walls.

29. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said housing houses at least two microphones, and wherein said at least two microphones are part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein a control of said voice acquisition system at least partially distinguishes vocal signals from non-vocal signals, and wherein said at least two microphones provide sound capture for at least one of a hands-free cell phone system, an audio recording system and a wireless communication system, and wherein said control of said voice acquisition system is operable to distinguish vocal signals from non-vocal signals by a ratio of at least 10:

1.

30. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield.

31. The accessory mounting system of claim 30, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a button-mounted interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.

32. The accessory mounting system of claim 30, wherein, with said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, at least a portion of said bracket is disposed at a region of the vehicle windshield that is between said position and a headliner portion at the ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

33. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a bracket attached at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

control circuitry housed in a housing;

wherein said control circuitry is associated with an electronic device housed in said housing;

wherein said electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, an antenna and a rain sensor;

wherein said control circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said housing is configured to detachably attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield.

34. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

35. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided between the vehicle windshield and said housing to facilitate air flow thereat.

36. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

37. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle LIN bus system.

38. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein at least one of (i) said bracket comprises at least one side wall, (ii) said bracket comprises at least one side wall and said side wall extends outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached thereat, (iii) said bracket comprises at least two side walls, (iv) said bracket comprises at least one flange and (v) said bracket comprises at least two flanges.

39. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said electronic device comprises a microphone and wherein said microphone is part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle.

40. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said electronic device comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array.

41. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said electronic device comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.

42. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein a windshield-mounting portion of said bracket is adhesively bonded to the vehicle windshield.

43. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein at least one of (i) an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a button-mounted interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.

44. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and wherein, with said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, at least a portion of said bracket is disposed at a region of the vehicle windshield that is between said position and a headliner portion at the ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

45. The accessory mounting system of claim 33, wherein said housing houses a camera and a rain sensor.

46. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a bracket attached at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

control circuitry housed in a housing;

wherein said control circuitry is associated with an electronic device housed in said housing;

wherein said electronic device comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array;

wherein said control circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said housing is configured to detachably attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield; and

wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield.

47. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

48. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided between the vehicle windshield and said housing to facilitate air flow thereat.

49. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

50. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle LIN bus system.

51. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein a windshield-mounting portion of said bracket is adhesively bonded to the vehicle windshield.

52. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein at least one of (i) said bracket comprises at least one side wall, (ii) said bracket comprises at least one side wall and said side wall extends outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached thereat, (iii) said bracket comprises at least two side walls, (iv) said bracket comprises at least one flange and (v) said bracket comprises at least two flanges.

53. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein said housing houses said camera and a rain sensor.

54. The accessory mounting system of claim 53, wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.

55. The accessory mounting system of claim 46, wherein, with said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, at least a portion of said bracket is disposed at a region of the vehicle windshield that is between said position and a headliner portion at the ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

56. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a bracket attached at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

control circuitry housed in a housing;

wherein said control circuitry is associated with an electronic device housed in said housing;

wherein said electronic device comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array;

wherein said control circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said housing is configured to detachably attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided between the vehicle windshield and said housing to facilitate air flow thereat.

57. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

58. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

59. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle LIN bus system.

60. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein at least one of (i) said bracket comprises at least one side wall, (ii) said bracket comprises at least one side wall and said side wall extends outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached thereat, (iii) said bracket comprises at least two side walls, (iv) said bracket comprises at least one flange and (v) said bracket comprises at least two flanges.

61. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein a windshield-mounting portion of said bracket is adhesively bonded to the vehicle windshield.

62. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein sad housing houses a microphone and wherein said microphone is part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle.

63. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein at least one of (i) an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a button-mounted interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.

64. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and wherein, with said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, at least a portion of said bracket is disposed at a region of the vehicle windshield that is between said position and a headliner portion at the ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

65. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein said housing houses said camera and a rain sensor.

66. The accessory mounting system of claim 65, wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.

67. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a bracket attached at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

control circuitry housed in a housing;

wherein said control circuitry is associated with an electronic device housed in said housing;

wherein said electronic device comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array;

wherein said control circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said housing is configured to detachably attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided between the vehicle windshield and said housing to facilitate air flow thereat;

wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided between the vehicle windshield and said housing to facilitate air flow thereat; and

wherein at least one of (i) an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield at a position spaced from where said bracket is attached at the vehicle windshield and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly.

68. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

69. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

70. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle LIN bus system.

71. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein at least one of (i) said bracket comprises at least one side wall, (ii) said bracket comprises at least one side wall and said side wall extends outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached thereat, (iii) said bracket comprises at least two side walls, (iv) said bracket comprises at least one flange and (v) said bracket comprises at least two flanges.

72. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein a windshield-mounting portion of said bracket is adhesively bonded to the vehicle windshield.

73. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein said housing houses a microphone and wherein said microphone is part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle.

74. The accessory mounting system of claim 67, wherein said housing houses said camera and a rain sensor.

75. The accessory mounting system of claim 74, wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor.