Modular vehicle electronic system

• US 5,154,617 A
• Filed: 05/24/1991
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Suman, Michael J., Watjer, Sheldon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/705,305
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 307/10.1, 361/352, 361/393, 361/395, 439/34, 439/35, 439/36, 439/43, 439/49, 439/53
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/08 Short-circuiting members for bridging contacts in a counterpart

Abstract

A modular interchangeable electronic system for providing a number of different options for a vehicle which can be selectively plugged into a base unit. The base unit can receive or be replaced by selected optional units which interface with vehicle controls or provide desired control or display functions.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for coupling a plug-in module to a vehicle panel having a module receiving recess, the electrical connector comprising:

a cable including a substrate of insulating material and a plurality of spaced generally parallel conductors mounted therein, said cable carried on the panel and extending uninterrupted across the module receiving recess of the panel such that said conductors extend across said recess; and

an electrical module including a housing, said electrical module including electrical means for providing at least one of a control option, a display option or a lamp for the vehicle, said electrical means carried within said module housing, said module housing shaped to be mounted in said recess and including contact means for engaging at least predetermined ones of said spaced conductors, said contact means coupled to said electrical means whereby said contact means contact said conductors to electrically couple said electrical means to said conductors when said housing is assembled in the module receiving recess.

2. The connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said substrate includes elongated grooves for receiving said conductors inlaid therein and wherein said contact means comprises spring contacts which extend into said grooves to contact said conductors.

3. The connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said substrate includes a plurality of openings for exposing sections of said conductors and wherein said contact means comprises spring clips aligned with said openings to engage said conductor when said module mounted within said recess.

4. The electrical connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of conductors include at least three conductors carried within said substrate.

5. An electrical connector for coupling a plug-in module to a vehicle headliner comprising:

a substrate of insulating material including a plurality of spaced generally parallel conductors mounted therein, said substrate carried on the panel such that it extends across at least one module receiving recess formed in the vehicle headliner, whereby said conductors extend uninterrupted across the at least one module receiving recess of the vehicle headliner; and

an electrical module including a module housing and an electrical accessory providing at least one of a control option, a display option, or a lamp for the vehicle, said accessory carried within said housing, said module housing shaped to be mounted in said recess, said electrical module including contact means coupled to said electrical accessory, for engaging at least predetermined ones of said spaced conductors which extend across the recess whereby said electrical accessory is electrically connected to said conductors when said module is mounted in the headliner recess.

6. The connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said substrate includes elongated grooves for receiving said conductors inlaid therein and wherein said contact means comprises spring contacts which extend into said grooves to contact said conductors.

7. The connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said substrate includes a plurality of openings for exposing sections of said conductors and wherein said contact means are aligned to engage said conductor when said module mounted within said recess.

8. A vehicle panel assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle panel including at least one aperture;

a substrate of insulating material mounted to the panel and including a plurality of spaced generally parallel conductors carried within said substrate, at least one of said conductors extending uninterrupted across said at least one aperture; and

an electrical module including a housing, said housing including an electrical accessory providing at least one of a control option, a display option, or a lamp, said housing adapted to be mounted in said aperture, said electrical module including contact means coupled to said electrical accessory for engaging said at least one of said conductors, whereby said contact means engage said at least one of said electrical conductors extending across said at least one aperture to provide an electrical connection between said module and said conductors in said panel when said module housing is mounted in said aperture.

9. The socket as defined in claim 8 wherein said substrate is a headliner and further including a generally ribbon-like insulator which includes elongated grooves for receiving inlaid conductors and wherein said contact means comprises spring contacts which extend into said grooves to contact said conductors.

10. The connector as defined in claim 8 and further including a generally ribbon-like insulator surrounding said conductors and including a plurality of openings for exposing a section of said at least one conductor in the area of said recess and wherein said contact means engages said at least one conductor when said module is mounted within said recess.