CAMERA MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170313261A1
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rawlings, Donald S., DeBoer, Carol L., De Wind, Darryl P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,029,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A method of mounting a camera module at a vehicle windshield includes attaching an attaching portion of a bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and attaching a mirror mounting base at the bracket, and attaching a mirror head at the mirror mounting base. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield, camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion. With the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera module is attached at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion.

Claims

1. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and camera attaching structure;

providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element;

providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element;

providing a camera module having an imager and a lens;

attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket;

attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint;

wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;

with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion; and

with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, the camera module is located at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion and is at least partially disposed between the vehicle windshield and the mirror head that is pivotally attached at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield comprises adhesively attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera attaching structure of the bracket comprises a pair of spaced apart camera attaching arms.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching arms extend downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion, and wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure comprises engaging respective portions of the camera module with lower ends of the camera attaching arms.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the lower ends of the camera attaching arms comprise hooks and the respective portions of the camera module comprises protrusions, and wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure comprises receiving the protrusions of the camera module at the hooks of the camera attaching arms.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure further comprises pivoting the camera module with the protrusions received at the hooks and snap-attaching an upper portion of the camera module at the bracket.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket comprises snap-attaching the mirror mounting base at the attaching portion of the bracket.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising disposing a rain sensor at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield at an aperture of the attaching portion such that the attaching portion circumscribes the rain sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rain sensor is disposed at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield before the step of attaching the mirror mounting base at the attaching portion of the bracket.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the rain sensor is attached at the mirror mounting base before the step of attaching the mirror mounting base at the attaching portion of the bracket.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base comprises a ball member and wherein the second pivot element of the mirror head comprises a socket that pivotally receives the ball member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the mirror mounting base comprises forming the ball member as part of the mirror mounting base.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, with the housing encasing the portion of the mirror mounting base, the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base extends through the housing.

15. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and a pair of spaced apart camera attaching arms;

providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element;

providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element;

providing a camera module having an imager and a lens;

attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket;

attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint;

wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching arms of the bracket extend downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;

with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching arms of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;

wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching arms comprises (i) engaging respective portions of the camera module with lower ends of the camera attaching arms, (ii) pivoting the camera module about the interface between the respective portions of the camera module and the lower ends of the camera attaching arms and (iii) snap-attaching the camera module at the bracket at a portion of the bracket above the lower ends of the camera attaching arms; and

with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching arms, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield comprises adhesively attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the lower ends of the camera attaching arms comprise hooks and the respective portions of the camera module comprises protrusions, and wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching arms comprises receiving the protrusions of the camera module at the hooks of the camera attaching arms.

18. A method of mounting a camera module at a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a bracket comprising an attaching portion and camera attaching structure;

providing a mirror mounting base comprising a first pivot element;

providing a mirror head comprising a mirror reflective element and a second pivot element;

providing a camera module having an imager and a lens;

attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield;

attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket;

attaching the second pivot element of the mirror head at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base to form a pivot joint;

wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, the camera attaching structure of the bracket extends downward along the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;

with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure of the bracket, whereby the lens of the camera module is below the attaching portion of the bracket and whereby the camera module has a field of view through a portion of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion;

wherein attaching the camera module at the camera attaching structure comprises (i) engaging respective portions of the camera module with the camera attaching structure, (ii) pivoting the camera module about the interface between the respective portions of the camera module and the camera attaching structure and (iii) snap-attaching the camera module at the bracket at a portion of the bracket above the interface between the respective portions of the camera module and the camera attaching structure;

wherein, with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, the camera module is located at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield below the attaching portion and is at least partially disposed between the vehicle windshield and the mirror head that is pivotally attached at the first pivot element of the mirror mounting base; and

with the attaching portion of the bracket attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and with the mirror mounting base attached at the attaching portion and with the camera module attached at the camera attaching structure, attaching a housing that at least partially encases the bracket and the camera module, wherein the housing encases a portion of the mirror mounting base.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield comprises adhesively attaching the attaching portion of the bracket at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching the mirror mounting base at the bracket comprises snap-attaching the mirror mounting base at the attaching portion of the bracket.