ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
- a windshield, said windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle;
wherein said windshield is at a windshield angle relative to vertical when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle;
wherein said windshield has a mounting element attached at said inner surface;
wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom;
an accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element;
said accessory module accommodating a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens;
wherein said CMOS photosensor array is accommodated at said accessory module separate from said lens;
wherein said CMOS photosensor array is disposed on a circuit board;
wherein said accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to said mounting element attached at said windshield, said lens has a field of view through said windshield appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle, (v) a traffic lane control system of the equipped vehicle, (vi) a lane change assist system of the equipped vehicle and (vii) a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An accessory system for a vehicle includes a windshield and an accessory module. The windshield has a mounting element attached at an inner surface of the windshield, with the mounting element adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of the accessory module therefrom. The accessory module is adapted for mounting to and demounting from the mounting element. The accessory module accommodates a camera having a CMOS photosensor array and a lens. The CMOS photosensor array is accommodated at the accessory module separate from the lens. The CMOS photosensor array is disposed on a circuit board. The accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to the mounting element attached at the windshield, the lens has a field of view through the windshield appropriate for a driver assistance system of the vehicle.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a windshield, said windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield is at a windshield angle relative to vertical when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield has a mounting element attached at said inner surface; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; an accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module accommodating a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens; wherein said CMOS photosensor array is accommodated at said accessory module separate from said lens; wherein said CMOS photosensor array is disposed on a circuit board; wherein said accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to said mounting element attached at said windshield, said lens has a field of view through said windshield appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle, (v) a traffic lane control system of the equipped vehicle, (vi) a lane change assist system of the equipped vehicle and (vii) a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a windshield, said windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield is at a windshield angle relative to vertical when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield has a mounting element attached at said inner surface; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; an accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module accommodating a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens; wherein said accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to said mounting element attached at said windshield, said lens has a field of view through said windshield appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said accessory module comprises an electrical connector and wherein said electrical connector is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle; wherein said electrical connector electrically connects with circuitry disposed in said accessory module and wherein said circuitry is associated with said CMOS photosensor array; and wherein said electrical connector connects said circuitry with at least one of (i) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a windshield, said windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield is at a windshield angle relative to vertical when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield has a mounting element attached at said inner surface; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; an accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module accommodating a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens; wherein said accessory module comprises an electrical connector and wherein said electrical connector is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle; wherein said electrical connector electrically connects with circuitry disposed in said accessory module; wherein (i) said CMOS photosensor array is manufactured by a first manufacturer, (ii) said lens is manufactured by a second manufacturer and (iii) said accessory module is manufactured by a third manufacturer, and wherein said first manufacturer is different from said second manufacturer and from said third manufacturer, and wherein said second manufacturer is different from said first manufacturer and from said third manufacturer, and wherein said third manufacturer is different from said first manufacturer and from said second manufacturer, and wherein said first manufacturer supplies said CMOS photosensor array to said third manufacturer, and wherein said second manufacturer supplies said lens to said third manufacturer, and wherein said third manufacturer uses said CMOS photosensor array and said lens during manufacture of said accessory module; wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards said windshield of the equipped vehicle and provides a desired field of view forwardly of the equipped vehicle for a driver assistance system; and wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle, (v) a traffic lane control system of the equipped vehicle, (vi) a lane change assist system of the equipped vehicle and (vii) a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a windshield, said windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield is at a windshield angle relative to vertical when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield has a mounting element attached at said inner surface; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; an accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module accommodating a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens; wherein said CMOS photosensor array is accommodated at said accessory module separate from said lens; wherein said accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to said mounting element attached at said windshield, said lens has a field of view through said windshield appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a traffic lane control system of the equipped vehicle and (v) a lane change assist system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said electrical connector electrically connects with circuitry disposed in said accessory module; wherein said circuitry is associated with said CMOS photosensor array; wherein said electrical connector is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle and (v) a CAN communication bus of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said mounting element is attached at said windshield at an area of said windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification