REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH ANTENNA

• US 20170355308A1
• Filed: 11/18/2015
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: KRAUS, Andreas, KOLESZAR, Christopher J., JAEGER, Sebastien C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,479,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3208 characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly includes a main housing defining an exterior surface, an interior, and an open side, the exterior surface having a recess therein. The assembly also includes a control module coupled within the interior of the housing, a mirror coupled over the open end of the housing, and a communication module. The communication module includes an antenna electrically coupled with the control module and an antenna housing at least partially enclosing the antenna and coupled within the recess of the exterior surface of the main housing.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly, comprising:

a housing defining an exterior surface, an interior, and an open side, the exterior surface having a mounting area thereon;

a control module coupled within the interior of the housing;

a mirror coupled over the open side of the housing;

a communication module including;

an antenna electrically coupled with the control module; and

an antenna housing at least partially enclosing the antenna and coupled within the housing along the mounting area of the exterior surface.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the exterior surface of the housing defines a recess, the mounting area being positioned within the recess; and

the antenna housing is coupled within the mounting area so as to be at least partially within recess.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the antenna comprises a substrate defining a major surface and having a thickness; and

the antenna housing has a first side overlying the major surface of the antenna and having a body extending from the first side, contacting the mounting area of the housing, and defining a cavity therein within which the antenna body is at least partially enclosed, the cavity having a depth greater than the thickness of the substrate.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes a plurality of apertures extending from the exterior surface to the interior; and

the antenna housing includes a plurality of retaining features coupled therewith and engaging with respective ones of the apertures.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the antenna housing comprises an elastomeric material; and

the retaining features are generally cylindrical posts with enlarged portions that engage with the apertures within the interior of the housing with the posts under tension, the retaining features being integral with the antenna housing.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the antenna housing comprises a plastic material; and

the retaining features are flexible tabs in a snap fit with a feature of the interior of the housing.

7. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the feature of the interior of the housing is one of an edge of the aperture or a structural rib of the housing.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes a plurality of apertures extending from the exterior surface to the interior;

the antenna housing includes a plurality of retaining posts extending through respective ones of the apertures; and

the rearview mirror further includes a plurality of spring tabs engaged between respective ones of the plurality of retaining posts and portions of the housing adjacent the apertures.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the antenna defines a plurality of holes aligned with the apertures of the housing; and

the cylindrical posts pass through the holes in the antenna.

9. A near-field communication module for coupling with a body, comprising:

an antenna unit including a substrate defining a perimeter sidewall extending between a first face and a second face, the substrate further defining a plurality of apertures extending between the first face and the second face; and

a housing comprising an elastically-deformable material and including;

a body defining an interior cavity, the substrate of the antenna unit being received within the cavity with the body extending over the first face, the perimeter sidewall, and an edge defined between the perimeter sidewall and the second face; and

a plurality of retaining features extending from the cavity of the body and further through respective ones of the plurality of apertures.

10. The near-field communication module of claim 9, wherein:

the substrate defines a major surface and has a thickness;

the housing has a first side overlying the major surface of the antenna unit and having a body extending from the first side and defining a cavity therein within which the antenna body is at least partially enclosed, the cavity having a depth greater than the thickness of the substrate.

11. The near-field communication module of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of retaining features has a height that is greater than a depth of the cavity.

12. The near-field communication module of claim 9, wherein:

the elastically-deformable material is thermoplastic elastomer; and

the retaining features are generally cylindrical posts with enlarged portions spaced apart from the body and the substrate, the retaining features being integral with the housing.

13. The near-field communication module of claim 9, wherein:

the elastically-deformable material is a plastic; and

the retaining features are flexible tabs.

14. The near-field communication module of claim 9, wherein:

the retaining features comprise a plurality of retaining posts; and

the near-field communication module further includes a plurality of spring tabs engageable with respective ones of the plurality of retaining posts opposite the substrate from the body.

15. The near-field communication module of claim 9, wherein the body further defines a lip extending inwardly from the edge to at least partially retain the substrate within the cavity.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

rearview mirror assembly, including;

a housing defining an exterior surface, an interior, and an open side, the exterior surface having a mounting area thereon;

a control module coupled within the interior of the housing; and

a near-field communication module including;

an antenna electrically coupled with the control module; and

an antenna housing at least partially enclosing the antenna and coupled within the housing along the mounting area of the exterior surface of the housing.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the antenna unit includes a substrate defining;

a perimeter sidewall extending between a first face and a second face; and

a plurality of apertures extending between the first face and the second face; and

the antenna housing is of an elastically-deformable material and includes;

a body defining an interior cavity, the substrate of the antenna unit being received within the cavity with the body extending over the first face, the perimeter sidewall, and an edge defined between the perimeter sidewall and the second face; and

a plurality of retaining features extending from the cavity of the body and further through respective ones of the plurality of apertures.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein:

the substrate defines a major surface and has a thickness;

the antenna housing has a first side overlying the major surface of the antenna unit and having a body extending from the first side and defining a cavity therein within which the antenna body is at least partially enclosed, the cavity having a depth greater than the thickness of the substrate.

20. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of retaining features has a height that is greater than a depth of the cavity.