Vehicle interior mirror system including a rain sensor

• US 7,041,965 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Heslin, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US10/913,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 250/239, 250/214.AL
• US Class Current: 250/239
• 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 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• 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: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• 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 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An interior mirror system for a vehicle comprises a housing having an interior compartment and is adapted for releasable mounting to an interior surface of the vehicle. A first electrical component/accessory is disposed in the interior compartment of the housing. A rearview mirror including a rearview mirror element and at least a second electrical component/accessory is pivotally connected to the housing. The first electrical component/accessory comprises a rain sensor module manufactured separate from the manufacturing of the rearview mirror that includes the second electrical component/accessory. The rain sensor module is received in the housing in a manner that connects the module electrically to the vehicle.

Claims

1. An interior mirror system for a vehicle comprising:

a rearview mirror support housing having an interior compartment and a first pivot element, and being adapted for releasable mounting to an interior surface of the vehicle;

at least a first electrical component/accessory in said interior compartment of said rearview mirror support housing;

a rearview mirror including a rearview mirror element, said rearview mirror including at least a second electrical component/accessory and a second pivot element, said first pivot element of said rearview mirror support housing and said second pivot element of said rearview mirror interconnecting so that said rearview mirror pivotally connects to said rearview mirror support housing;

wherein said first electrical component/accessory comprises a rain sensor module, said rain sensor module manufactured separate from the manufacturing of said rearview mirror that includes at least a said second electrical component/accessory; and

said rain sensor module received in said rearview mirror support housing in a manner that connects said rain sensor module electrically to the vehicle.

2. The interior mirror system of claim 1 further including electrical wiring for electrically connecting to said rain sensor module in said interior compartment of said rearview mirror support housing.

3. The interior mirror system of claim 2 wherein said electrical wiring electrically connects to said second electrical component/accessory in said rearview mirror.

4. The interior mirror system of claim 3 wherein said electrical wiring connects to the electrical system of the vehicle.

5. The interior mirror system of claim 3 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes a passageway for said electrical wiring.

6. The interior mirror system of claim 5 wherein said first and second interconnecting pivot elements form a pivot joint, said electrical wiring passing through said pivot joint.

7. The interior mirror system of claim 6 wherein said rain sensor module is adapted for viewing through the windshield of the vehicle, said rearview mirror support housing including a front end for releasable attachment to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

8. The interior mirror system of claim 7 including a biasing member which engages and biases said rain sensor module into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

9. The interior mirror system of claim 8 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes a first opening at said front end, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said rearview mirror support housing is attached to the interior surface of the windshield, said biasing member biasing said rain sensor module forwardly through said first opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

10. The interior mirror system of claim 9 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes an internal wall separating said interior into first and second compartments, said rain sensor module mounted in a first of said compartments and a compass sensor mounted in the second of said compartments.

11. The interior mirror system of claim 10 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes a second opening at said rear end, said compass sensor being accessible through said second opening.

12. The interior mirror system of claim 11 including a cover that mates

with said rearview mirror support housing at said second opening.

13. The interior mirror system of claim 12 wherein said cover extends along the windshield toward the header adjacent the windshield when in use.

14. The interior mirror system of claim 12 wherein said cover is made of a polymeric material which snap-engages said rearview mirror support housing at said second opening.

15. The interior mirror system of claim 11 including electrical wiring electrically connecting said rain sensor module and said compass sensor to an electrical system of the vehicle.

16. The interior mirror system of claim 1 further including electrical wiring for electrically connecting to said second electrical component/accessory in said rearview mirror.

17. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes an opening to said interior compartment and a cover mating with said rearview mirror support housing at said opening.

18. The interior mirror system of claim 17 wherein said cover extends along the windshield toward the header adjacent the windshield when in use.

19. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rain sensor module is adapted for viewing through the windshield of the vehicle on which said rearview mirror support housing is mounted.

20. The interior mirror system of claim 19 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes an opening, said assembly further including a biasing member which biases said rain sensor module forwardly through said opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

21. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing comprises a metal housing.

22. The interior mirror system of claim 21 wherein said metal housing comprises a die cast metal housing.

23. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing comprises a polymeric housing.

24. The interior mirror system of claim 23 wherein said polymeric housing comprises a molded polymeric housing.

25. The interior mirror system of claim 24 wherein said molded polymeric housing comprises a housing molded from an engineering polymeric resin.

26. The interior mirror system of claim 25 wherein said engineering polymeric resin comprises a filled nylon.

27. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror element comprises an electro-optic mirror.

28. The interior mirror system of claim 27 wherein said electro-optic mirror comprises an electro-optic element having front and rear plates and an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear plates.

29. The interior mirror system of claim 27 wherein said rearview mirror further comprises a compass display.

30. The interior mirror system of claim 29 wherein said compass display is positioned to display through said electro-optic mirror.

31. The interior mirror system of claim 29 wherein said rearview mirror includes a chin portion and an eyebrow portion, said compass display being positioned to display through one of said chin and said eyebrow portions of said rearview mirror.

32. The interior mirror system of claim 31 wherein said compass display is positioned to provide a display through said chin portion of said rearview mirror.

33. The interior mirror system of claim 31 wherein said compass display is positioned to provide a display through said eyebrow portion of said rearview mirror.

34. The interior mirror system of claim 27 wherein said second electrical component/accessory included in said rearview mirror comprises said electro-optic mirror.

35. The interior mirror system of claim 27 wherein said rearview mirror further comprises a compass display and wherein said second electrical component/accessory included in said rearview mirror comprises at least one of said electro-optic mirror and said compass display of said rearview mirror.

36. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing further includes a compass sensor, said compass sensor selected from one of a magneto-resistive sensor, a magneto-inductive sensor, a magneto-capacitive sensor, and a flux-gate sensor.

37. The interior mirror system of claim 36 wherein said compass sensor comprises a magneto-inductive sensor.

38. The interior mirror system of claim 36 wherein said compass sensor comprises a magneto-resistive sensor.

39. The interior mirror system of claim 36 wherein a circuit board bearing said compass sensor is housed in said rearview mirror support housing.

40. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing further includes at least one of:

a) a vehicle altitude sensor,

b) a vehicle incline sensor,

c) a headlamp sensor,

d) a daylight sensor,

e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter,

f) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver,

g) an antenna,

h) a camera,

i) a microphone, and

j) a compass sensor.

41. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing further includes an antenna.

42. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing further includes a printed circuit board bearing a compass sensor.

43. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes a plurality of electrical components/accessories comprising said rain sensor module and at least one additional electrical component/accessory.

44. The interior mirror system of claim 43 wherein at least one of said plurality of electrical components/accessories is adapted for viewing through the windshield of the vehicle on which said rearview mirror support housing is mounted, said at least one additional electrical component/accessory comprises one of a forwardly-viewing camera and a headlamp sensor.

45. The interior mirror system of claim 44 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes a front end for releasable attachment to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle and a biasing member which engages and biases said rain sensor module into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

46. The interior mirror system of claim 44 wherein said rearview mirror support housing includes an opening, said assembly further including a biasing member which biases said rain sensor module forwardly through said opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

47. The interior mirror system of claim 43 wherein said at least one additional electrical component/accessory comprises:

a) a vehicle altitude sensor,

b) a vehicle incline sensor,

c) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter,

d) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver,

e) an antenna,

f) a microphone,

g) a compass sensor,

h) a camera,

i) a daylight sensor, and

j) a headlamp sensor.

48. The interior mirror system of claim 43 wherein said at least one additional component/accessory comprises a forwardly-viewing camera.

49. The interior mirror system of claim 43 wherein said at least one additional component/accessory comprises a headlamp sensor.

50. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rain sensor module comprises a plug that attaches to a socket of said rearview mirror support housing, making an electrical connection thereto.

51. The interior mirror system of claim 1 wherein said rain sensor module comprises a socket that attaches to a plug of said rearview mirror support housing, making an electrical connection thereto.