SLIDER WINDOW ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED CAMERA

• US 20180281697A1
• Filed: 03/27/2018
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Darin J., Guillozet, David L., Repp, R. Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/003 Rear seat windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/18 arranged at the vehicle rear optical viewing arrangements integrated in rear windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses B60R1/001
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1853 horizontally in direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• 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: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0686 Tracks E05D15/0665 - E05D15/0682 and E05D15/0691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/08 consisting of two or more independent parts movable each in its own guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/852 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail fixedly attached to at least one fixed window panel, with the at least one fixed window panel defining an opening. A movable window panel is movable along the upper rail and the lower rail between a closed position, where the movable window panel is disposed at the opening, and an opened position, where the movable window panel is disposed at least partially along the at least one fixed window panel. A camera is mounted at an inner surface of the at least one fixed window panel and captures image data representative of the scene rearward of the slider window assembly.

Claims

1. A slider window assembly for a vehicle, said slider window assembly comprising:

a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;

at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said at least one fixed window panel defining an opening;

a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially along said at least one fixed window panel; and

a camera mounted at an inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel, wherein, with said slider window assembly installed at a vehicle, said camera operates to capture image data representative of the scene rearward of said slider window assembly.

2. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed at least partially in a hole formed through said at least one fixed window panel so that said camera views rearward of said at least one fixed window panel and not through said at least one fixed window panel.

3. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed behind and views through a light transmissive portion of said at least one fixed window panel.

4. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed at said upper rail.

5. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera captures image data responsive to a user input.

6. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, said camera captures image data responsive to shifting the vehicle into reverse gear.

7. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one fixed window panel comprises a single fixed window panel having an opening therethrough.

8. The slider window assembly of claim 7, wherein said camera is mounted at said inner surface of said single fixed window panel at a portion of said single fixed window panel that is above said opening.

9. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera is adhesively attached at said inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel.

10. The slider window assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera is attached at a mounting element adhesively attached at said inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel.

11. The slider window assembly of claim 1, comprising a lighting device disposed at said inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel, wherein said lighting device emits light that, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, passes through said at least one fixed window panel so as to be viewable by a person viewing said slider window assembly from exterior and rearward of the vehicle.

12. The slider window assembly of claim 11, wherein said camera and said lighting device are part of a single module disposed at said inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel.

13. The slider window assembly of claim 11, wherein said camera is spaced from said lighting device at said inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel.

14. The slider window assembly of claim 11, wherein, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, said lighting device operates as a brake light of the vehicle and, when activated, emits red light through said at least one fixed window panel.

15. The slider window assembly of claim 11, wherein, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, said lighting device operates as an illumination device of the vehicle and, when activated, emits white light through said at least one fixed window panel to illuminate a rear portion of the vehicle.

16. The slider window assembly of claim 11, wherein, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, said lighting device operates as an interior illumination device of the vehicle and, when activated, emits white light to illuminate an interior portion of a cabin of the vehicle.

17. The slider window assembly of claim 16, wherein said single module includes an interior viewing camera that is disposed at the inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel and, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, views the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle.

18. A slider window assembly for a vehicle, said slider window assembly comprising:

a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;

at least one fixed window panel that is fixed relative to said frame portion, said at least one fixed window panel defining an opening;

a movable window panel that is movable along said upper rail and said lower rail, wherein said movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where said movable window panel is disposed at said opening, and an opened position, where said movable window panel is disposed at least partially along said at least one fixed window panel;

an accessory housing disposed at least partially along said upper rail at said inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel;

wherein said accessory housing houses a lighting device that emits light that, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, passes through said at least one fixed window panel so as to be viewable by a person viewing said slider window assembly from exterior and rearward of the vehicle; and

wherein said accessory housing houses a camera at an inner surface of said at least one fixed window panel, and wherein, with said slider window assembly installed at the vehicle, said camera operates to capture image data representative of the scene rearward of said slider window assembly.

19. The slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said camera is disposed at least partially in a hole formed through said at least one fixed window panel so that said camera views rearward of said at least one fixed window panel and not through said at least one fixed window panel.

20. The slider window assembly of claim 18, wherein said camera is disposed behind and views through a light transmissive portion of said at least one fixed window panel.