Accessory module for vehicle

• US 20010030598A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Spooner, Ralph A., Deline, Jonathan E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,433,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

An accessory module for use with a vehicular cellular telephone, emergency communication device, or other audio device, may be mounted to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The accessory module houses a microphone and may be positioned adjacent to a headliner of the vehicle generally above an interior rearview mirror which is supported therebelow. The accessory module provides a fixed orientation of the microphone and is easily installed to the vehicle as it is manufactured or as an aftermarket device. The accessory module may further include a wire cover, which extends to a mounting for the mirror in order to substantially encase a mirror wire harness, thereby retaining the mirror harness and providing a finished appearance to the mirror and accessory module.

Claims

1. A microphone module for an audio system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin, a windshield, an interior rearview mirror mounted to an interior surface of the windshield and a headliner extending along an upper edge of the windshield, said microphone module comprising:

at least one microphone for receiving audio signals from within the cabin; and

a housing for mounting said at least one microphone, said housing being mountable between the headliner and the mirror, said at least one microphone having a microphone harness which is electronically connectable to a vehicle wiring within the headliner.

2. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said microphone module is fixedly secured such that said at least one microphone is directed toward an area encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of the vehicle.

3. The microphone module of

claim 1

, including at least a second microphone such that said module includes a plurality of microphones, and a control to integrate each of said plurality of microphones to determine which of said plurality of microphones are receiving voice signals and which are receiving non-voice signals, said control at least partially filtering out the non-voice signals.

4. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said at least one microphone is a single directional microphone fixedly secured within said housing and directed toward an area generally defined by a typical location of a head of a driver of the vehicle.

5. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein the mirror has at least one electronic accessory associated therewith and is electronically connected to the wiring of the vehicle via a mirror harness extending between the mirror and the headliner.

6. The microphone module of

claim 5

further including a wire cover which extends between said housing and the mirror, the mirror harness being routed within said wire cover.

7. The microphone module of

claim 5

, wherein said microphone harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring via a connector.

8. The microphone module of

claim 7

, wherein the mirror harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring via said connector.

9. The microphone module of

claim 5

, wherein the mirror harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring via a connector.

10. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said microphone harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring via a connector.

11. The microphone module of

claim 10

, wherein said housing is removably attached to a mounting member on at least one of the windshield and the headliner.

12. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said housing is adhesively secured to the interior surface of the windshield.

13. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said housing is removably attached to a mounting member.

14. The microphone module of

claim 13

, wherein said mounting member is a bracket adhesively secured to the interior surface of the windshield.

15. The microphone module of

claim 14

, wherein said mounting member further includes a bracket secured in the headliner of the vehicle, said housing being mountable to the windshield adjacent to the headliner.

16. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said audio system is one of a cellular telephone, an emergency communication system and a voice recording system.

17. The microphone module of

claim 16

further including control switches for said audio system on said housing.

18. The microphone module of

claim 16

further including control switches for said audio system on at least one of the mirror and said housing.

19. The microphone module of

claim 1

, wherein said microphone module includes at least one of a Global Positioning System antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor, a video device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic toll booth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, a compass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tire pressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seat occupancy detection transducer, and a loudspeaker.

20. A microphone module for an audio system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin, a windshield, an interior rearview mirror assembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of the windshield, the mirror assembly including a mounting member and a mirror housing pivotally interconnected to the mounting member, the mounting member being mounted to an interior surface of the windshield, the mirror assembly being electronically connectable to a vehicle wiring harness in the headliner via a mirror harness, said microphone module comprising:

at least one microphone for receiving audio signals from within the cabin; and

a microphone housing for mounting said at least one microphone, said microphone housing being mountable to the windshield, said at least one microphone being electronically connectable to the vehicle wiring harness within the headliner.

21. The microphone module of

claim 20

further including a wire cover extending along the windshield between said microphone housing and the mirror mounting member, the mirror harness being routed within said wire cover.

22. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein the mirror harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring harness via a connector.

23. The microphone module of

claim 22

, wherein said microphone harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring harness via said connector.

24. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein said microphone harness is connectable to the vehicle wiring harness via a connector.

25. The microphone module of

claim 24

, wherein said microphone housing is removably attached to a mounting bracket on at least one of the windshield and the headliner.

26. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein said microphone housing is adhesively secured to the windshield.

27. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein said microphone housing is removably attached to a mounting bracket on at least one of the windshield and the headliner.

28. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein said microphone housing includes manual controls for said audio system.

29. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein manual controls for said audio system are positioned on at least one of the mirror assembly and said housing.

30. The microphone module of

claim 20

, wherein said microphone module includes at least one of a Global Positioning System antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor, a video device and an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic toll booth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, a compass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tire pressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seat occupancy detection transducer, and a loudspeaker.

31. An accessory module for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin, a windshield and a headliner extending along an upper edge of the windshield, said microphone and mirror module comprising:

at least one microphone for receiving audio signals from within the cabin, said at least one microphone being electronically connectable to a vehicle wiring within the headliner;

a microphone housing for mounting said at least one microphone, said microphone housing being mountable to the windshield adjacent to the headliner;

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said mirror assembly including a mirror wiring harness and a mirror housing, said mirror wiring harness being electronically connectable to the vehicle wiring in the headliner, said mirror wiring harness being routed within said microphone housing.

32. The accessory module of

claim 31

, wherein said mirror assembly further includes a mounting button for mounting said mirror assembly to an interior surface of the windshield.

33. The accessory module of

claim 32

further including a wire cover which extends between said microphone housing and said mounting button and at least partially encases said mirror wiring harness.

34. The accessory module of

claim 32

, wherein said mirror harness is a spirally coiled cord extending generally downwardly from said microphone housing to said mirror housing.

35. The accessory module of

claim 31

, wherein said microphone housing includes a mirror mounting arm extending generally downwardly from said microphone housing, said mirror housing being pivotally interconnected to a lower end of said mirror mounting arm.

36. The accessory module of

claim 35

, wherein said mirror wiring harness is at least partially encased within said mirror mounting arm.

37. The accessory module of

claim 31

, wherein said microphone housing is adhesively securable to an interior surface of the windshield.

38. The accessory module of

claim 32

, wherein said microphone housing is removably mountable to a mounting member.

39. The accessory module of

claim 38

, wherein said mounting member is adhesively securable to the windshield.

40. The accessory module of

claim 38

, wherein said mounting member is securable within the headliner of the vehicle.

41. The accessory module of

claim 38

further including a connector for electrical connection with the vehicle wiring.

42. The accessory module of

claim 41

, wherein said mirror harness is connected to said connector.

43. The accessory module of

claim 42

, wherein said microphone harness is connected to said connector.

44. The accessory module of

claim 41

, wherein said microphone harness is connected to said connector.