Communication system for a vehicle and vehicle accessory operation system that utilizes the communication system

• US 20010026215A1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Takashi, Nakaho, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,552,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

In order to provide a communication system for a vehicle and an vehicle accessory operation system that utilizes the communication system for a vehicle which can achieve lower cost and non-wire harness structure as long as possible, there is provided a communication system for a vehicle, the communication system comprising an inner view mirror provided with a first infrared ray projecting and receiving section that is capable of at least one of projecting and receiving an infrared ray, and at least one vehicle accessory other than the inner view mirror, which vehicle accessory is provided with a second infrared ray projecting and receiving section that is capable of at least one of projecting and receiving an infrared ray and that is disposed so as to communicate with the inner view.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, the communication system comprising:

an inner view mirror provided with a first infrared ray projecting and receiving section that is capable of at least one of projecting and receiving an infrared ray; and

at least one vehicle accessory other than the inner view mirror, which vehicle accessory is provided with a second infrared ray projecting and receiving section that is capable of at least one of projecting and receiving an infrared ray and that is disposed so as to communicate with the inner view mirror.

3. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 1

, wherein

the first infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray projecting and receiving section provided at the inner view mirror,

the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section includes an infrared ray receiving section provided at the vehicle accessory and an infrared ray projecting section provided at a device for operating the vehicle accessory.

4. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 3

, wherein

the vehicle accessory is a car stereo device and the device for operating the vehicle accessory is a remote controller for the car stereo device.

5. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 1

, wherein

the first infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray receiving section provided at the inner view mirror,

the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray projecting section provided at the vehicle accessory.

6. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 5

, wherein the vehicle accessory is an outer view mirror.

7. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 5

, wherein the vehicle accessory is a steering wheel.

8. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 1

, wherein

the first infrared ray projecting and receiving section includes an infrared ray receiving section and an infrared ray projecting and receiving section, which are provided at the inner view mirror,

the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section includes an infrared ray projecting section provided at a first vehicle accessory and an infrared ray projecting and receiving section provided at second vehicle accessory.

9. A communication system for a vehicle according to

claim 8

, wherein the first vehicle accessory is an outer view mirror and the second vehicle accessory is a speaker system.

2. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle, wherein

the vehicle has a communication system which includes an inner view mirror provided with a first infrared ray projecting and receiving section that is capable of at least one of projecting and receiving an infrared ray, and which includes at least one vehicle accessory other than the inner view mirror, which vehicle accessory is provided with a second infrared ray projecting and receiving section that is capable of at least one of projecting and receiving an infrared ray and that is disposed so as to communicate with the inner view mirror,

at least one of the inner view mirror and the vehicle accessory is provided with an operating device, and

the operating device is operated by utilization of the communication system.

10. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 2

, wherein

the operating device is at least one of:

a display device for displaying information on the basis of the information received from the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section; and

an driving device for driving at least one of the inner view mirror and the vehicle accessory on the basis of the information received from the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section.

11. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 10

, wherein

the first infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray receiving section provided at the inner view mirror,

the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray projecting section provided at the vehicle accessory,

the operating device is the display device for displaying the information received from the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section.

12. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 11

, wherein

the vehicle accessory is an outer view mirror at which a device for measuring a distance from a following vehicle is provided,

the display device for displaying the measured distance from the following vehicle, is provided at the inner view mirror.

13. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 10

, wherein

the first infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray receiving section provided at the inner view mirror,

the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section is an infrared ray projecting section provided at the vehicle accessory,

the operating device includes the display device for displaying information received from the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section, and the driving device for driving the inner view mirror on the basis of the information received from the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section.

14. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 13

, wherein

the vehicle accessory is a steering wheel at which a steering switch, for operating the display device and the driving device, is provided,

the display device for displaying information relating to the vehicle on the basis of an operation of the steering switch, is provided at the inner view mirror,

the driving device for adjusting a position of the inner view mirror on the basis of an operation of the steering switch, is provided at the inner view mirror.

15. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 10

, wherein

the first infrared ray projecting and receiving section includes an infrared ray receiving section and an infrared ray projecting and receiving section, which are provided at the inner view mirror,

the second infrared ray projecting and receiving section includes an infrared ray projecting section provided at a first vehicle accessory and an infrared ray projecting and receiving section provided at a second vehicle accessory,

the operating device includes a first driving device for driving on the basis of information received from the infrared ray projecting section in the first vehicle accessory, and a second driving device for driving on the basis of information received from the infrared ray projecting and receiving section in the second vehicle accessory.

16. A vehicle accessory operating system of a vehicle according to

claim 15

, wherein

the first vehicle accessory is an outer view mirror at which a sensor for sensing a person, is provided,

the second vehicle accessory is a speaker system at which a voice recognition device is provided.