ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20160096489A1
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan E., Lynam, Niall R., Spooner, Ralph A., March, Phillip A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,539,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0077 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• 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: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 : Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

An accessory system for a vehicle includes a bracket having a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side. The windshield-facing side of the bracket is configured to be bonded by an adhesive at a first windshield location to an in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. The cabin-facing side of the bracket includes first structure. An accessory module is configured to mount to the bracket. A housing of the accessory module has second structure that directly engages the first structure of the bracket when mounting the housing to the bracket. An electronic device and circuitry are housed by the housing. With the accessory module mounted to the bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, the circuitry may be in communication with a vehicle bus system of the vehicle.

Claims

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

a bracket comprising a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;

the windshield-facing side of said bracket bonded by an adhesive at a first windshield location to an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

the cabin-facing side of said bracket comprising first structure;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein said accessory module is configured to mount to said bracket;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed by said housing;

said housing of said accessory module comprising second structure;

wherein said electronic device comprises a CMOS camera and wherein said camera comprises an imaging array;

wherein said housing is configured to mount to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield;

wherein said second structure of said housing directly engages said first structure of said bracket when mounting said housing to said bracket;

wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a second windshield location at the vehicle windshield, and wherein said second windshield location is spaced from said first windshield location where said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, when mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said accessory module is removable from said bracket for service or replacement without detaching said interior rearview mirror assembly from the windshield.

2. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said housing and said bracket snap-fit together.

3. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein, with said housing mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided at where the housing of said accessory module coincides with and covers the cabin-facing side of said bracket.

4. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle CAN bus system.

5. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle bus system comprises a vehicle LIN bus system.

6. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises two side walls that extend outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

7. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein, with said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, at least a portion of said bracket is disposed at a region of the vehicle windshield that is between said second windshield location where the interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield and a headliner portion at the ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

8. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said housing houses a microphone and wherein said microphone is part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle.

9. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said second structure of said housing comprises a first housing element of said housing, and wherein said first structure of said bracket comprises a first bracket element, and wherein said first bracket element of said bracket engages said first housing element of said housing when mounting said housing to said bracket.

10. The accessory system of claim 9, wherein said first bracket element of said bracket slidingly engages said first housing element of said housing when mounting said housing to said bracket.

11. The accessory system of claim 10, wherein said first housing element comprises a groove.

12. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry housed by said housing connects to a wire harness of the equipped vehicle.

13. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said second structure of said housing comprises a first housing element of said housing and a second housing element of said housing, and wherein said first and second housing elements are spaced apart, and wherein said first structure of said bracket comprises a first bracket element and a second bracket element, and wherein said first bracket element is similarly spaced apart from said second bracket element, and wherein said first bracket element engages said first housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket, and wherein said second bracket element engages said second housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket.

14. The accessory system of claim 13, wherein said first and second housing elements are at opposite parts of said housing.

15. The accessory system of claim 13, wherein said first and second housing elements comprise grooves at opposite parts of said housing.

16. The accessory system of claim 13, wherein said first bracket element slidably engages said first housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket, and wherein said second bracket element slidably engages said second housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket.

17. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said accessory module includes at least two microphones and wherein said microphones are part of a voice acquisition system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said voice acquisition system comprises an indicator operable to indicate when vocal inputs received at said microphones are being adequately distinguished from noise by a control of said voice acquisition system, and wherein said microphones provide sound capture for at least one of a hands-free cell phone system, an audio recording system and a wireless communication system, and wherein said accessory module includes an illumination source for a vehicle security system, and wherein said illumination source comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein a control of said voice acquisition system at least partially distinguishes vocal signals from non-vocal signals, and wherein said control of said voice acquisition system is operable to distinguish vocal signals from non-vocal signals by a ratio of at least 10:

1.

18. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said accessory module comprises an electrical connector configured for connection to a vehicle wiring harness of the equipped vehicle.

19. The accessory system of claim 18, wherein said electrical connector comprises a socket, and wherein said vehicle wiring harness comprises a corresponding male connector that mates with said socket.

20. The accessory system of claim 19, wherein said male connector comprises multiple pins.

21. The accessory system of claim 20, wherein said male connector comprises up to 12 pins.

22. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said camera views into the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

23. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said housing is configured to snap attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

24. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said housing is configured to press fit to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

25. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

a bracket comprising a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;

the windshield-facing side of said bracket bonded by an adhesive at a first windshield location to an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

the cabin-facing side of said bracket comprising first structure;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein said accessory module is configured to mount to said bracket;

wherein, when mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said accessory module is removable from said bracket for service or replacement;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed by said housing;

said housing of said accessory module comprising second structure;

wherein said electronic device comprises a CMOS camera and wherein said camera comprises an imaging array;

wherein said housing is configured to mount to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield;

wherein said second structure of said housing directly engages said first structure of said bracket when mounting said housing to said bracket;

wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said circuitry is in communication with a vehicle CAN bus system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said second structure of said housing comprises a first housing element of said housing and a second housing element of said housing;

wherein said first and second housing elements are spaced apart;

wherein said first structure of said bracket comprises a first bracket element and a second bracket element;

wherein said first bracket element is similarly spaced apart from said second bracket element;

wherein said first bracket element slidably engages said first housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket;

wherein said second bracket element slidably engages said second housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket;

wherein said first and second housing elements are at opposite parts of said housing; and

wherein said first and second housing elements comprise grooves at opposite parts of said housing.

26. The accessory system of claim 25, wherein said accessory module comprises an electrical connector configured for connection to a vehicle wiring harness of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said electrical connector comprises a socket, and wherein said vehicle wiring harness comprises a corresponding male connector that mates with said socket, and wherein said male connector comprises multiple pins.

27. The accessory system of claim 26, wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a second windshield location at the vehicle windshield, and wherein said second windshield location is spaced from said first windshield location where said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield, and wherein, when mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said accessory module is removable from said bracket for service or replacement without detaching said interior rearview mirror assembly from the windshield.

28. The accessory system of claim 27, wherein said housing is configured to snap attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

29. The accessory system of claim 27, wherein said housing is configured to press fit to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

30. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

a bracket comprising a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;

the windshield-facing side of said bracket bonded by an adhesive at a first windshield location to an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

the cabin-facing side of said bracket comprising first structure;

an accessory module comprising a housing;

wherein said accessory module is configured to mount to said bracket;

wherein, when mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said accessory module is removable from said bracket for service or replacement;

wherein an electronic device and circuitry are housed by said housing;

said housing of said accessory module comprising second structure;

wherein said electronic device comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises an imaging array;

wherein said second structure of said housing directly engages said first structure of said bracket when mounting said housing to said bracket;

wherein said second structure of said housing comprises a first housing element of said housing and a second housing element of said housing;

wherein said first and second housing elements are spaced apart;

wherein said first structure of said bracket comprises a first bracket element and a second bracket element;

wherein said first bracket element is similarly spaced apart from said second bracket element;

wherein said first bracket element engages said first housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket;

wherein said second bracket element engages said second housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket; and

wherein said accessory module comprises an electrical connector configured for connection to a vehicle wiring harness of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said electrical connector comprises a socket, and wherein said vehicle wiring harness comprises a corresponding male connector that mates with said socket, and wherein said male connector comprises multiple pins.

31. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said first bracket element slidably engages said first housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket, and wherein said second bracket element slidably engages said second housing element when mounting said housing to said bracket, and wherein said first and second housing elements are at opposite parts of said housing.

32. The accessory system of claim 31, wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said circuitry is in communication with a vehicle bus system of the equipped vehicle.

33. The accessory system of claim 32, wherein, with said housing mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, a gap is provided at where the housing of said accessory module coincides with and covers the cabin-facing side of said bracket, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a second windshield location at the vehicle windshield, and wherein said second windshield location is spaced from said first windshield location where said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

34. The accessory system of claim 31, wherein said first and second housing elements comprise grooves at opposite parts of said housing.

35. The accessory system of claim 34, wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a second windshield location at the vehicle windshield, and wherein said second windshield location is spaced from said first windshield location where said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield, and wherein, when mounted to said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, said accessory module is removable from said bracket for service or replacement without detaching said interior rearview mirror assembly from the windshield.

36. The accessory system of claim 35, wherein, with said bracket attached to the vehicle windshield, at least a portion of said bracket is disposed at a region of the vehicle windshield that is between said second windshield location where the interior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle windshield and a headliner portion at the ceiling region of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

37. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said bracket comprises two side walls that extend outward away from the vehicle windshield when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

38. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said housing is configured to snap attach to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.

39. The accessory system of claim 30, wherein said housing is configured to press fit to said bracket when said bracket is attached to the vehicle windshield.