Conversation mirror/intercom

• US 20030091201A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dykstra, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,690,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position

Abstract

An intra-vehicle communication system includes a surface configured to be mounted to a vehicle interior proximate a first occupant wherein the surface is further configured to display an image of a second occupant of the vehicle. The system further includes an intercom including a microphone supported in close proximity with the surface and a speaker operably coupled to the microphone. In one embodiment, the intercom is further configured to at least partially mute existing audio output from a stereo system.

Claims

1. A conversation mirror/intercom for a vehicle, the mirror/intercom comprising:

a vehicle accessory configured to mount to a roof area of a vehicle near a forward vehicle occupant;

a conversation mirror coupled to said accessory, wherein the mirror is configured to provide visual contact between the forward vehicle occupant and a rearward vehicle occupant; and

an intercom including;

a first microphone supported in close proximity with the conversation mirror; and

a first speaker operably coupled to the first microphone, wherein the intercom provides verbal communications between the forward vehicle occupant and the rearward vehicle occupant.

2. The mirror/intercom as defined in claim 1 and further including a mirror frame mounted to said vehicle accessory for movement between stored and use positions and wherein said conversation mirror is mounted to said mirror frame.

3. The mirror/intercom as defined in claim 1 wherein said mirror is convex.

4. The mirror/intercom as defined in claim 1 and further including an electrical switch cooperating with said mirror frame and vehicle accessory for applying electrical operating power to said intercom when said mirror frame is moved from a stored to a use position.

5. The mirror/intercom of claim 1 wherein the vehicle accessory is an overhead console.

6. The mirror/intercom of claim 5 wherein the overhead console includes at least one of the following:

a sunglass storage compartment, a garage door opening transmitter, and overhead electronics.

7. The mirror/intercom of claim 1 wherein the mirror is pivotally coupled to the accessory.

8. The mirror/intercom of claim 1 including a support coupled to the accessory, wherein the mirror is coupled to the support.

9. The mirror/intercom of claim 8 wherein the support comprises a frame extending at least partially about the mirror.

10. The mirror/intercom of claim 8 wherein the microphone is at least partially received within the support.

11. The mirror/intercom of claim 8 wherein the support is pivotally coupled to the accessory.

12. The mirror/intercom of claim 8 wherein the microphone is coupled to at least one of the accessory, the support, and the mirror.

13. The mirror/intercom of claim 1 including:

a second microphone proximate a rear seat area; and

a second speaker supported in close proximity to the conversation mirror.

14. The mirror/intercom of claim 1 wherein the mirror has a curvature such that the vehicle driver can see faces of a plurality of rear seat passengers when the accessory is mounted to the roof area.

15. The mirror/intercom of claim 1 wherein the intercom is configured to mute existing audio output from a stereo system when the intercom is in use.

16. The mirror/intercom of claim 15 wherein the mirror moves between a stored position and a use position, and wherein existing audio output from a stereo system is muted in response to movement of the mirror to the use position.

17. The mirror/intercom of claim 1, wherein the mirror is adapted to pivot between a raised position in which the mirror faces a roof of a vehicle in a lowered position in which the mirror faces a rear of the vehicle.

18. An intra-vehicle communication system comprising:

a surface configured to be mounted to a vehicle interior proximate a first occupant, wherein the surface is further configured to display an image of a second occupant of the vehicle; and

an intercom comprising;

a microphone supported in close proximity with the surface; and

a speaker operably coupled to the microphone to transmit sound from the microphone, wherein the intercom is configured to at least partially mute existing audio output from a stereo system.

19. The system of claim 18 including a mirror providing the surface, wherein the surface reflects the image.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the mirror is convex.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the surface moves between a stored position and a use position, and wherein existing audio output from the stereo system is muted in response to movement of the surface to the use position.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the surface moves between a stored position and a use position, and wherein the intercom is actuated upon movement of the surface from the stored position to the use position.

23. The system of claim 18 including a vehicle accessory, wherein the surface is coupled to the accessory.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the vehicle accessory is an overhead console.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the overhead console includes at least one of the following:

a sunglass storage compartment, a garage door opening transmitter, and overhead electronics.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the surface is pivotally coupled to the accessory.

27. The system of claim 23 including a support coupled to the accessory, wherein the surface is coupled to the support.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the support comprises a frame extending at least partially about the surface.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the microphone is at least partially received within the support.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the support is pivotally coupled to the accessory.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the microphone is coupled to at least one of the accessory, the support and the surface.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the intercom includes:

a second microphone configured to be supported proximate to the second occupant; and

a second speaker configured to be supported in close proximity to the surface.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the surface is actuatable between an image displaying mode and image non-displaying mode and wherein the intercom is configured to mute existing audio output in response to actuation of the surface to a display mode.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the surface is movable between a viewing position in which the surface is in the image displaying mode and a stored position in which the surface is in the image nondisplaying mode.

35. A method for a first vehicle occupant to communicate with a second vehicle occupant, the method comprising:

viewing the second vehicle occupant while not facing the second vehicle occupant;

speaking into a microphone of an intercom having a speaker proximate the second vehicle occupant during the viewing; and

muting existing audio output from a vehicle stereo system while speaking into the microphone.