Accessory module for vehicle

• US 20060038668A1
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R., Brown, Steven L., DeWard, Joshua L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils

Abstract

An accessory module is mountable to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield and includes a mounting element securable to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle, and an accessory support having a base portion attachable to the mounting element. The accessory support includes an accessory holding element configured to hold an accessory, at least one circuitry holding element configured to hold a printed circuit board at the accessory support, and an electrical connector for electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the accessory to an electrical source of the vehicle. The base portion, the accessory holding element and the circuitry holding element are integrally molded together so that the accessory support comprises a unitarily molded accessory support. The accessory module includes a cover portion attachable to the accessory support to substantially encompass the accessory and the printed circuit board within the accessory module.

Claims

1. An accessory module for a vehicle, said accessory module comprising:

a mounting element securable to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle;

an accessory support having a base portion attachable to said mounting element, said accessory support including an accessory holding element configured to hold an accessory, said accessory support including at least one circuitry holding element configured to hold a printed circuit board at said accessory support, said accessory support including an electrical connector for electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the accessory to an electrical source of the vehicle, said base portion, said accessory holding element and said circuitry holding element being integrally molded together so that said accessory support comprises a unitarily molded accessory support; and

a cover portion attachable to said accessory support to substantially encompass the accessory and the printed circuit board within said accessory module.

2. The accessory module of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector comprises a plurality of conducting members insert molded within a connecting portion of said accessory support.

3. The accessory module of claim 2, wherein said connecting portion is integrally molded with said base portion, said accessory holding element and said circuitry holding element.

4. The accessory module of claim 3, wherein said conducting members are configured to engage the printed circuit board as the printed circuit board is mounted at said circuitry holding element.

5. The accessory module of claim 4, wherein the printed circuit board includes an imaging sensor positioned thereon.

6. The accessory module of claim 5, wherein said accessory holding element includes a recessed portion for receiving said imaging sensor when the printed circuit board is mounted at said circuitry holding element.

7. The accessory module of claim 1, wherein said accessory support comprises an imaging sensor receiving portion configured to receive an imaging sensor therein.

8. The accessory module of claim 7, wherein said accessory support includes a lens mounting portion configured to mount a lens.

9. The accessory module of claim 8, wherein said lens mounting portion and said imaging sensor receiving portion are arranged so that the imaging sensor received in said imaging sensor receiving portion is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a lens mounted at said lens mounting portion.

10. The accessory module of claim 9, wherein said lens mounting portion is arranged at an angle relative to said base portion so that the lens is directed at a desired angle when said accessory module is attached to a windshield of a vehicle.

11. The accessory module of claim 1, wherein said accessory module one of (a) comprises part of an interior mirror assembly or (b) has an interior mirror assembly attached thereto.

12. The accessory module of claim 11, wherein said interior mirror assembly includes an electro-optic reflective element and at least two photosensors, a microprocessor and associated circuitry all commonly established on a common semiconductor element, said microprocessor being operable to detect a voltage applied to said electro-optic reflective element and to adjust the voltage applied to said electro-optic reflective element via controlling a current gating element, said current gating element controlling an amount of current shunted to ground to control the voltage applied to said electro-optic reflective element.

13. The accessory module of claim 12, wherein said driver circuit is established on an application specific integrated chip.

14. The accessory module of claim 11, wherein at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said accessory module includes an inductive power receiver that receives power from an inductive power transmitter located remotely from said at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said accessory module.

15. The accessory module of claim 14, wherein said at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said accessory module includes a data transceiver that wirelessly communicates with a data transceiver located remotely from said at least one of said interior mirror assembly and said accessory module.