Accessory system for vehicle
First Claim
1. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
- a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;
wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom;
said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element;
said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens;
wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module;
wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield;
said portion comprising wall structure;
wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module;
wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated;
wherein a multi-pin electrical socket is located at said accessory module and connects with said circuitry disposed within said accessory module; and
wherein said electrical socket is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An accessory system for a vehicle includes a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, with the mounting element adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of the accessory module therefrom. The accessory module includes a camera, and electrical circuitry associated with the camera is disposed within the accessory module. The accessory module includes a portion that faces towards the windshield when the accessory module is mounted to the mounting element attached at the windshield. The portion includes wall structure, and the lens of the camera protrudes through the wall structure to exterior of the accessory module. The accessory module and mounting element are configured so that, with the accessory module mounted to the mounting element, the lens is facing towards the windshield and the camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the vehicle.
368 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens; wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module; wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield; said portion comprising wall structure; wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module; wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated; wherein a multi-pin electrical socket is located at said accessory module and connects with said circuitry disposed within said accessory module; and wherein said electrical socket is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens; wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module; wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield; said portion comprising wall structure; wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module; wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated; wherein said accessory module comprises a casing that at least partially encases said camera; wherein said imaging sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed within said casing of said accessory module; wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module into a recess region of said casing; and wherein said mounting element is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a first location and wherein a mirror mounting button is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a second location that is separate from, local to and spaced from said first location, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button, and wherein said accessory module is mountable to and demountable from said mounting element independent of mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button or demounting said interior rearview mirror assembly from said mirror mounting button. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens; wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module; wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield; said portion comprising wall structure; wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module; wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated; wherein said accessory module comprises a casing that at least partially encases said camera; wherein said imaging sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed within said casing of said accessory module; wherein said mounting element is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a first location and wherein a mirror mounting button is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a second location that is separate from, local to and spaced from said first location, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button, and wherein said accessory module is mountable to and demountable from said mounting element independent of mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button or demounting said interior rearview mirror assembly from said mirror mounting button; wherein an electrical socket is located at said accessory module and connects with said circuitry disposed within said accessory module; and wherein said mounting element and said accessory module are adapted for mounting by snap attachment of said accessory module to said mounting element. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification