Digital display compass for mounting on vehicle rear view mirror

• US 6,971,181 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Automotive Products Incorporated (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Automotive Products Incorporated (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohm, Patrick L., Chang, Hong-Chung, Horn, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guadalupe, Yaritza
• Application Number:
  US10/775,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 333/55.R, 333/00, 333/24, 333/56, 33357-359, 333/33, 333/47, 333/54
• US Class Current: 33/355.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/02 Magnetic compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/28 Electromagnetic compasses with north seeking magnetic elements and having electric pick-offs G01C17/26

Abstract

A digital display compass for mounting on vehicle rear view mirrors, including a direction sensor module generating signals corresponding to a direction that it is facing attached to the inside of the vehicle windshield, an electronic housing attached to the back side of the rear view mirror, and a digital display attached to the front side of the rear view mirror. A flexible transmission cord extends from the directional sensor module to the electronic housing, and transmits the signals from the direction sensor module. The electronic housing contains a battery power source and electronics for converting the signals received from the transmission cord to drive a digital display representative of the direction sensed by the direction sensor module. A flexible cable extends from the back side of the mirror to the front side of the mirror and provides electronic communication from the electronic housing to the digital display.

Claims

1. An aftermarket digital display compass accessory for mounting on an existing rear view mirror of a vehicle, in which the vehicle has a windshield having an inside surface, the rear view mirror is disposed adjacent the inside surface of the windshield, and the rear view mirror has a back side, which is oriented toward the windshield, and a front side, including the mirror surface, which is oriented toward a driver of the vehicle, comprising:

a direction sensor module that is attached directly to the inside of the vehicle windshield and generates signals corresponding to a direction that it is facing;

an electronic housing that is attached directly to the back side of the rear view mirror, on the back side of the rear view mirror;

a digital display portion that is attached directly to the front side of the rear view mirror, on the front side of the rear view mirror;

a flexible transmission cord extending from the directional sensor module to the electronic housing, and transmitting the signals from the direction sensor module;

the electronic housing containing a battery providing a power source and electronics for converting the signals received from the transmission cord to drive a digital display representative of the direction sensed by the direction sensor module; and

a flexible cable extending from the back side of the mirror to the front side of the mirror and providing electronic communication from the electronic housing to the digital display.

2. The digital display compass according to claim 1 in which the directional sensor is mounted for selectable positioning relative to the inside of the vehicle windshield.

3. The digital display compass according to claim 1 in which the directional sensor module includes:

a plate attached to the inside of the vehicle windshield;

the plate having a pair of spaced apart tabs opposite the vehicle windshield; and

a sensor arm mounted between the tabs for pivotal movement relative to the vehicle windshield.

4. The digital display compass according to claim 3 in which frictional engagement between the sensor arm and at least one of the tabs facilitates selectable pivotal positioning relative to the inside of the vehicle windshield.

5. The digital display compass according to claim 1 in which the flexible cable extending from the back side of the mirror to the front side of the mirror also provides electronic communication from the digital display to the electronic housing.

6. The digital display compass according to claim 5 in which the electronics contained in the housing provide at least one feature, in addition to the digital display representative of the direction sensed by the direction sensor module, and the digital display portion carries an actuator for selecting the at least one feature.

7. The digital display compass according to claim 1 in which the flexible cable extending from the back side of the mirror to the front side of the mirror is flat.