ACCESSORY MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20150266424A1
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heslin, Patrick, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• 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: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• 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 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle includes an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The accessory includes a camera and circuitry. With the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield, (i) the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication, and (ii) the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, with the light absorbing layer otherwise hiding the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle.

Claims

1. An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle, the accessory mounting system comprising:

an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle;

wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to adhesively attach the receiving structure to a windshield of an equipped vehicle;

wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to receive and support the accessory;

wherein the accessory comprises a camera and circuitry;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera at least one of (i) views through the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure and (ii) contacts the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure and views through the windshield;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield otherwise hides the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory is removable from the receiving structure; and

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, a cover is removable to facilitate service.

2. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the receiving structure is formed by a metal fabrication.

3. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing.

4. The accessory mounting system of claim 3, wherein an electrical connector is accommodated at or on the metallic housing.

5. The accessory mounting system of claim 4, wherein the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle comprises a light transmitting aperture.

6. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle is configured to be received by a mirror mount of the interior rearview mirror assembly.

7. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the receiving structure is adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle by an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl butyral adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, a urethane adhesive and a silicone adhesive.

8. The accessory mounting system of claim 7, wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle comprises at least one of (i) a frit and (ii) a black frit.

9. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a body having a shape and wherein the body includes a cross-section dimension and a body length, and wherein the ratio of the cross-section dimension to the body length is greater than 1.

10. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the cover hides the camera and circuitry of the accessory from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle.

11. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, wherein the cover snap-attaches.

12. The accessory mounting system of claim 11, wherein the cover comprises a polymeric cover.

13. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing and wherein the receiving structure is fabricated of metal.

14. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing and wherein the receiving structure is fabricated of a polymer material.

15. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a housing and wherein the camera views via an opening in the housing wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the opening in the housing juxtaposes with the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

16. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera contacts the windshield and optically couples therewith via an aperture in the receiving structure and views through the windshield.

17. An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle, the accessory mounting system comprising:

an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle;

wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to adhesively attach the receiving structure to a windshield of an equipped vehicle;

wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to receive and support the accessory;

wherein the accessory comprises a camera and circuitry;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views through the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield otherwise hides the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory is removable from the receiving structure; and

wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a housing and wherein the camera views via an opening in the housing wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the opening in the housing juxtaposes with the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle.

18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, a cover is removable to facilitate service, and wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the cover hides the camera and circuitry of the accessory from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle and wherein the cover snap-attaches and wherein the cover comprises a polymeric cover.

19. An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle, the accessory mounting system comprising:

an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle;

wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to adhesively attach the receiving structure to a windshield of an equipped vehicle;

wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to receive and support the accessory;

wherein the accessory comprises a camera and circuitry;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views through the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield otherwise hides the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle;

wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory is removable from the receiving structure;

wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a housing and wherein the camera views via an opening in the housing wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the opening in the housing juxtaposes with the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing.

20. The accessory mounting system of claim 19, wherein an electrical connector is accommodated at or on the metallic housing and wherein the receiving structure is adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle by an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl butyral adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, a urethane adhesive and a silicone adhesive.

21. The accessory mounting system of claim 20, wherein the receiving structure is fabricated of metal.

22. The accessory mounting system of claim 20, wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, a cover is removable to facilitate service, and wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the cover hides the camera and circuitry of the accessory from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein the cover snap-attaches and wherein the cover comprises a polymeric cover.