Rearview mirror assembly with antenna

• US 10,479,277 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2015
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US15/527,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20170355308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 359871, 359872
• 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 assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a bottom side exterior surface, an interior, and an open side, the bottom side exterior surface extending from adjacent the open side and having a mounting area thereon, wherein the housing includes a plurality of apertures extending from the bottom side exterior surface to the interior;

a control module coupled within the interior of the housing;

at least one of a mirror and a display coupled with the open side of the housing;

a communication module including;

an antenna electrically coupled with the control module; and

an antenna housing partially enclosing the antenna and coupled with the housing along the mounting area of the bottom side exterior surface, wherein the antenna housing includes a plurality of retaining features coupled therewith and engaging with respective housing apertures.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the bottom side 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 the recess.

3. The rearview 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 partially enclosed, the cavity having a depth greater than the thickness of the substrate and being open on a side thereof opposite the major surface, such that the antenna is enclosed between the antenna housing and the mounting area.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, 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.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 4, 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.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 1, 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 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,

further including a plurality of spring tabs engaged between respective ones of the plurality of retaining features and portions of the housing adjacent the housing apertures.

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

the antenna defines a perimeter side wall extending along a thickness thereof away from a major surface and includes a plurality of antenna apertures spaced inside the perimeter side wall and aligned with the plurality of housing apertures;

and

the plurality of retaining features coupled with the antenna housing pass through respective ones of the antenna apertures to engage with respective ones of the housing apertures.