Rearview mirror with integrated microwave receiver
First Claim
1. A vehicle accessory comprising:
- a mounting structure adapted to be mounted to a vehicle in proximity to the vehicle windshield; and
a transmitter mounted to said mounting structure and coupled to a source of data for transmitting a signal including the data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inventive rearview mirror assembly is disclosed in which a microwave antenna is mounted so as to receive transmissions from one or more satellites through the front windshield of the vehicle. The microwave antenna may be tuned to receive satellite transmissions from a position identification system constellation of satellites, such as GPS or GLONASS. Additionally, the microwave antenna may be tuned to alternatively or additionally receive transmissions from at least one communication satellite, such as a CD radio satellite. In addition to the inventive rearview mirror assembly, an inventive electrical control system is disclosed that may be used as a navigation system, an electrochromic rearview mirror control system, a head lamp control system, a tire pressure monitoring and display system, a temperature sensing and display system, a vehicle compass system, a vehicle data recorder system, and/or a vehicle odometer verification system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle accessory comprising:
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a mounting structure adapted to be mounted to a vehicle in proximity to the vehicle windshield; and
a transmitter mounted to said mounting structure and coupled to a source of data for transmitting a signal including the data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle accessory comprising:
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a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and
a transmitter mounted in said housing and coupled to a source of vehicle position data for transmitting a signal including the vehicle position data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle, wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A vehicle accessory comprising:
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a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and
a transmitter mounted in said housing and coupled to a source of vehicle position data for transmitting a signal including the vehicle position data to an electronic device within the interior passenger area of the vehicle, wherein said electronic device includes a receiver for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter and processes the vehicle position data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle navigation system comprising:
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a microwave receiver for receiving transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation and for generating vehicle position data from said satellite transmissions;
a transmitter coupled to said microwave receiver to receive the vehicle position data from said microwave receiver and to transmit a signal including the vehicle position data to the interior passenger area of the vehicle; and
an electronic device positioned within the interior passenger area of the vehicle, said electronic device including a receiver for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter and configured to process the vehicle position data. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A vehicle accessory comprising:
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a housing adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
a control circuit adapted to be coupled to a microwave receiver that receives transmissions from satellites of a position identification system constellation and generates vehicle position data from the satellite transmissions, said control circuit determines the vehicle'"'"'s direction of travel from the vehicle position data received from the microwave receiver; and
a vehicle direction indicator mounted in said housing and coupled to said control circuit for advising a vehicle occupant of the vehicle'"'"'s direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification