Rain sensor mount for use in a vehicle

• US 6,341,523 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Jewel V.
• Application Number:
  US09/860,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 731/701.7, 248/549, 250/208.1, 340/815.4
• US Class Current: 73/170.17
• 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 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• 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

Abstract

A mount for mounting a rain sensor includes a housing having an access opening on first side and a port on second side for positioning adjacent an inner surface of the vehicle windshield. The second side is adapted for mounting to a vehicle windshield, for example by a layer of adhesive which is interposed between the housing and the windshield. Optionally, the housing includes an access opening and a cover, which and covers the access opening. A mirror mounting button is provided on either the housing or the cover for mounting a rearview mirror assembly to the mount. A biasing member is supported in the housing and is interposed between the first side of the housing and a rain sensor positioned in the housing, which urges a detecting surface of the rain sensor to project through the port and to optically couple the rain sensor to the vehicle windshield for detecting moisture on an outer surface of the vehicle windshield. The biasing member may comprise, for example, a helical spring or a urethane disc.

Claims

1. A rain sensor mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting element adapted to mount to an inner surface of a vehicle windshield, said mounting element having a transverse opening;

a rain sensor module comprising a housing and a rain sensor having a detecting surface, said rain sensor module mounting to said mounting element for mounting said rain sensor module to the vehicle windshield, said detecting surface of said rain sensor positioned in said opening for contacting the inner surface of the vehicle windshield for detecting moisture on an outer surface of the vehicle windshield when said rain sensor module is mounted to said mounting element and said mounting element is mounted to the vehicle windshield; and

a mounting member provided on said rain sensor module for mounting a rearview mirror assembly to said module.

2. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises a layer of adhesive.

3. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises a mounting button, said rain sensor module mounted to said mounting button with a break-away connection.

4. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, said mounting assembly further comprising another sensor positioned in said module, said other sensor comprising one of a compass sensor, a rain sensor, and a photo sensor.

5. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 4, wherein said other sensor comprises a rain sensor, at least one of said rain sensors being adapted to communicate with a vehicle ventilation system and to actuate the ventilation system when said at least one of said sensors detects moisture on the outer surface of the windshield.

6. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting element and said mounting member are generally aligned along a common axis when said rain sensor module is mounted to the vehicle windshield in order to provide a mounting of a rearview mirror assembly to said module generally coaxial with the mounting of said module to the windshield.

7. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member, said biasing member urging said detecting surface of said rain sensor to optically couple to the inner surface of the windshield at said opening of said first mounting member.

8. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 7, wherein said biasing member comprises a resilient polymer material.

9. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 8, wherein said resilient polymer material comprises one of a rubber, a silicone, a urethane, an elastomeric, and a vinyl material.

10. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 8, wherein said biasing member comprises a urethane disc.

11. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises an annular member, said opening comprising a central opening in said annular member.

12. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting member provides a break-away connection for the rearview mirror assembly to said rain sensor module.

13. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said rain sensor module includes electronic circuitry coupled to said rain sensor for generating an electrical signal indicative of detection of moisture on the vehicle windshield.

14. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, said rain sensor module including at least one of an antenna, a transmitter, a compass sensor, a receiver, and another rain sensor.

15. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 14, wherein said rain sensor is adapted to communicate with a vehicle ventilation system through a vehicle area network.

16. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, in combination with a rearview mirror assembly, said rearview mirror assembly being mounted to said mounting member at said rain sensor module.

17. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 16, wherein said rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mounting member with a break-away connection.

18. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 17, wherein said rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a support, said support being mounted to said mounting member.

19. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 18, wherein said support terminates in a mount for detachably mounting said rearview mirror assembly to said mounting member.

20. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 19, wherein said mirror casing is pivotal about said support.

21. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting element includes a layer of adhesive for mounting said mounting element to the vehicle windshield.

22. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 21, wherein said adhesive comprises one of a polyvinyl butyral material, an epoxy material, a urethane material, an acrylic material, and a silicone material.

23. The rain sensor mounting assembly of claim 22, wherein said layer of adhesive includes an opening, said detecting surface of said rain sensor extending through said opening of said adhesive for directly contacting the vehicle windshield.

24. A vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

a mirror assembly having a reflective element;

a mounting element adapted to mount to an inner surface of a vehicle windshield;

a rain sensor module comprising a rain sensor having a detecting surface, said rain sensor module mounting to said mounting element for mounting said rain sensor module to the vehicle windshield, said detecting surface of said rain sensor positioned for detecting moisture on an outer surface of the vehicle windshield when said rain sensor module is mounted to said mounting element and said mounting element is mounted to the vehicle windshield; and

a mounting member provided on said rain sensor module, said mirror assembly mounting to said mounting member for mounting said mirror assembly to the vehicle windshield.

25. The mirror system according to claim 24, said mounting assembly further comprising another sensor positioned in said module, said other sensor comprising one of a compass sensor, a rain sensor, and a photo sensor.

26. The mirror system according to claim 25, further wherein said other sensor comprises a rain sensor, at least one of said rain sensors being adapted to couple to a vehicle ventilation system and to actuate the ventilation system when at least one of said rain sensors detects moisture on the outer surface of the windshield.

27. The mirror system according to claim 24, wherein said rain sensor module includes electronic circuitry coupled to said rain sensor for generating an electrical signal indicative of detection of moisture on the vehicle windshield.

28. The mirror system according to claim 27, said rain sensor module including at least one of an antenna, a transmitter, a compass sensor, a receiver, and another rain sensor.

29. The mirror system according to claim 27, wherein said rain sensor is adapted to communicate with a vehicle ventilation system through a vehicle area network.

30. The mirror system according to claim 24, wherein said rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mounting member with a break-away connection.

31. The mirror system according to claim 30, wherein said rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a support, said reflective element housed in said mirror casing, and said support being mounted to said mounting member.

32. The mirror system according to claim 31, wherein said support terminates in a mount for detachably mounting said rearview mirror assembly to said mounting member.

33. The mirror system according to claim 32, wherein said mirror casing is pivotal about said support.

34. The mirror system according to claim 30, wherein said mounting element comprises a mounting button, said rain sensor module being mounted to said mounting button with a break-away connection.

35. The mirror system according to claim 34, wherein said mounting element and said mounting member are generally aligned along a common axis when said rain sensor module is mounted to the vehicle windshield wherein said rearview mirror assembly and said module are generally coaxial when mounted to the windshield.

36. The mirror system according to claim 34, wherein said mounting element comprises an annular member, said annular member having a central opening, and said rain sensor extending through said central opening for directly contacting an inner surface of the windshield.

37. The mirror system according to claim 24, wherein said mounting member provides a break-away connection for the rearview mirror assembly to said rain sensor module.

38. The mirror system according to claim 37, wherein said mounting member and said rain sensor module comprise a unitary construction.

39. The mirror system according to claim 37, wherein said mounting element includes a layer of adhesive for mounting said mounting element to the vehicle windshield.

40. The mirror system according to claim 39, wherein said adhesive comprises one of a polyvinyl butyral material, an epoxy material, a urethane material, an acrylic material, and a silicone material.

41. The mirror system according to claim 39, wherein said layer of adhesive includes an opening whereby said detecting surface of said rain sensor directly contacts the vehicle windshield.

42. The mirror system according to claim 36, further comprising a biasing member, said biasing member urging said detecting surface of said rain sensor to optically couple to the inner surface of the windshield at said central opening of said first mounting member.

43. The mirror system according to claim 42, wherein said biasing member comprises a resilient polymer material.

44. The mirror system according to claim 43, wherein said biasing member comprises a urethane disc.

45. The mirror system according to claim 43, wherein said resilient polymer material comprises one of a rubber, a silicone, a urethane, an elastomeric, and a vinyl material.

46. The mirror system according to claim 24, wherein said mounting element comprises a layer of adhesive.

47. A vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

a mounting assembly adapted to mount to an inner surface of a vehicle windshield;

said mounting assembly comprising;

a rain sensor and at least one other vehicle accessory, said rain sensor having a detecting surface, said detecting surface of said rain sensor positioned for detecting moisture on an outer surface of the vehicle windshield when said mounting assembly is mounted to the vehicle windshield; and

a rearview mirror assembly attached to said mounting assembly for mounting said mirror assembly to the vehicle windshield.

48. The rearview mirror system according to claim 47, wherein said mounting assembly includes a mounting member, said rearview mirror assembly mounted to said mounting member with a break-away connection.

49. The rearview mirror system according to claim 47, wherein said mounting assembly includes a mounting element adapted to mount to the inner surface of the windshield.

50. The rearview mirror system according to claim 49, wherein said mounting element comprises a break-away mounting element whereby said mounting assembly mounts to the windshield with a break-away connection.

51. The rearview mirror system according to claim 50, wherein said mounting element includes a layer of adhesive for mounting to the windshield.

52. The rearview mirror system according to claim 51, wherein said break-away mounting element comprises a trapezoidal-shaped break-away mounting element.

53. The rearview mirror system according to claim 51, wherein said mounting element comprises an annular member, said annular member having a central opening, said rain sensor detecting moisture on the windshield through said central opening.

54. The rearview mirror system according to claim 53, wherein said rain sensor extends through said central opening for directly contacting the inner surface of the windshield.

55. The rearview mirror system according to claim 54, wherein said mounting element includes a layer of adhesive for mounting said mounting element to the vehicle windshield.

56. The rearview mirror system according to claim 55, wherein said adhesive comprises one of a polyvinyl butyral material, an epoxy material, a urethane material, an acrylic material, and a silicone material.

57. The rearview mirror system according to claim 55, wherein said layer of adhesive includes an opening, said detecting surface extending through said opening of said layer for directly contacting the vehicle windshield.

58. The rearview mirror system according to claim 54, further comprising a biasing member, said biasing member urging said detecting surface of said rain sensor to optically couple to the inner surface of the windshield at said central opening of said mounting element.

59. The rearview mirror system according to claim 57, wherein said biasing member comprises a urethane disc.

60. The rearview mirror system according to claim 47, wherein said other vehicle accessory comprises at least one of an antenna, a transmitter, a compass sensor, a receiver, and another rain sensor.

61. The rearview mirror system according to claim 47, wherein said rain sensor module includes electronic circuitry coupled to said rain sensor for generating an electrical signal indicative of detection of moisture on the vehicle windshield.

62. The rearview mirror system according to claim 47, wherein said rain sensor is adapted to communicate with a vehicle ventilation system through a vehicle area network.