ACCESSORY MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20140009673A1
• Filed: 09/09/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan E., Lynam, Niall R., Spooner, Ralph A., March, Phillip A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• 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 a vehicle. The bracket has a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side. The cabin-facing side of the bracket has first structure. An accessory module has a housing, with an electronic device and circuitry housed in the housing. The electronic device includes a camera that has a CMOS imaging array. The circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the vehicle. The housing has second structure that is configured to engage the first structure of the bracket when the housing is being attached to the bracket.

Claims

1. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting 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;

the cabin-facing side of said bracket comprising first structure;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed in said housing;

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

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

said housing comprising second structure; and

wherein said second structure of said housing is configured to engage said first structure of said bracket when said housing is being attached to said bracket.

2. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said second structure of said housing comprises a groove formed at an outer surface of said housing, and wherein said first structure of said bracket engages said groove when said housing is being attached to said bracket.

3. The accessory mounting system of claim 2, wherein said circuitry housed in said housing connects to a wire harness of the equipped vehicle.

4. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said second structure of said housing comprises a first groove formed at an outer surface of said housing and a second groove formed at an outer surface of said housing, and wherein said first and second grooves are spaced apart, and wherein said first structure of said bracket comprises a first element similarly spaced apart from a second element, and wherein said first element engages said first groove when said housing is being attached to said bracket, and wherein said second element engages said second groove when said housing is being attached to said bracket.

5. The accessory mounting system of claim 4, wherein said first and second grooves are at opposite parts of said housing.

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, an air gap exists between the vehicle windshield and at least a portion of said housing.

10. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry housed in said housing is associated with at least one of (i) a microphone, (ii) a loudspeaker and (iii) said camera.

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

12. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said accessory module includes at least two microphones and wherein said microphones are part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said voice acquisition system comprises an indicator operable to indicate when vocal inputs received at said microphones are being adequately distinguished from noise by a control of said voice acquisition system, and wherein said 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 accessory module includes an illumination source for a vehicle security system, and wherein said illumination source comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein a control of said voice acquisition system at least partially distinguishes vocal signals from non-vocal signals, 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.

13. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said housing houses at least one of (i) a microphone, (ii) an antenna, (iii) a loudspeaker, (iv) a rain sensor and (v) an automatic toll booth transducer.

14. 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, 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 a ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

15. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting 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;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed in said housing;

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

wherein said bracket is adhesively held at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, an air gap exists between the vehicle windshield and at least a portion of said housing.

16. The accessory mounting system of claim 15, wherein said bracket comprises two spaced apart elements, and wherein said housing comprises a pair of similarly spaced apart grooves formed at an outer surface of said housing, and wherein said grooves of said housing engage said elements of said bracket when said housing is being attached to said bracket.

17. The accessory mounting system of claim 16, wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, 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 a ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

19. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting 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;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed in said housing;

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

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 a ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together.

20. The accessory mounting system of claim 19, wherein said bracket comprises an element, and wherein said housing comprises a groove formed at an outer surface of said housing, and wherein said groove of said housing engages said element of said bracket when said housing is being attached to said bracket.

21. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting 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;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed in said housing;

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

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;

wherein said housing and said bracket at least one of (i) press-fit together, (ii) snap-fit together and (iii) lock together;

wherein said housing comprises a first groove formed at an outer surface of said housing and a second groove formed at an outer surface of said housing;

wherein said first and second grooves are spaced apart, and wherein said bracket comprises a first element similarly spaced apart from a second element;

wherein said first and second grooves are at opposite parts of said housing; and

wherein said first element engages said first groove when said housing is being attached to said bracket, and wherein said second element engages said second groove when said housing is being attached to said bracket.

22. The accessory mounting system of claim 21, wherein, with said housing attached to said bracket attached at the vehicle windshield, an air gap exists between the vehicle windshield and at least a portion of said housing.

23. The accessory mounting system of claim 22, 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 a ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.