Accessory mounting system for mounting a plurality of accessories to the windshield of a vehicle

• US 7,262,406 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• 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: Heslin, Patrick, Lynam, Niall R
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US11/418,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 250/239, 250/214.AL, 250/216, 250/208.1, 359/229, 359/230, 359/242
• 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 accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle comprises a housing that is adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The housing houses at least two accessories, at least one of which is selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor. Another of the at least two accessories is selected from the group consisting 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, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor. The at least one of the two accessories housed by the housing views through the windshield of the vehicle when the housing is mounted to the receiving structure on the windshield.

Claims

1. An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle, said system comprising:

a housing;

said housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;

at least two accessories housed in said housing;

one of said at least two accessories selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor;

another of said at least two accessories selected from the group consisting 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, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor; and

said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure.

2. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor.

3. The accessory mounting system of claim 2 wherein the another of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor.

4. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a passageway for electrical wiring.

5. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a pivot element.

6. The accessory mounting system of claim 5 wherein said pivot element includes a conduit therethrough for electrical wiring.

7. The accessory mounting system of claim 5 wherein said pivot element connects to an interior mirror.

8. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing includes biasing that urges one of said at least two accessories into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

9. The accessory mounting system of claim 8 wherein said housing includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said housing is attached to the windshield, wherein said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor, said biasing urging said rain sensor forwardly through said first opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

10. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a cavity, said cavity including an opening and wherein at least one of said at least two accessories included in said housing is accessible through said opening.

11. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a cavity and wherein an internal wall separates said cavity into first and second compartments, said one of said at least two accessories being in the first of said compartments and the another of said at least two accessories being in the second of said compartments.

12. The accessory mounting system of claim 11 further including a removable cover which mates with said housing.

13. The accessory mounting system of claim 12 wherein said cover is made of a polymeric material and wherein said cover snap-engages said housing.

14. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said another of said at least two accessories comprises an antenna.

15. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said another of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor.

16. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor, wherein said housing includes an opening, and wherein said assembly includes biasing which biases said rain sensor forwardly through said opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

17. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a metal housing.

18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17 wherein said metal housing comprises a die cast metal housing.

19. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a polymeric housing.

20. The accessory mounting system of claim 19 wherein said polymeric housing comprises a molded polymeric housing.

21. The accessory mounting system of claim 19 wherein said molded polymeric housing comprises a housing molded from an engineering polymeric resin.

22. The accessory mounting system of claim 21 wherein said engineering polymeric resin comprises a filled nylon.

23. The accessory mounting system of claim 1 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor having a cross section diameter of less than about 50 millimeters.

24. The accessory mounting system of claim 23 wherein said rain sensor comprises a rain sensor module.

25. An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle, said system comprising:

a housing;

said housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the upper portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

at least two accessories housed in said housing;

one of said at least two accessories selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor;

another of said at least two accessories selected from the group consisting 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, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor;

said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure; and

wherein said housing includes biasing that urges one of said at least two accessories into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

26. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor.

27. The accessory mounting system of claim 26 wherein the another of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor.

28. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said housing includes a passageway for electrical wiring.

29. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said housing comprises a pivot element.

30. The accessory mounting system of claim 29 wherein said pivot element includes a conduit therethrough for electrical wiring.

31. The accessory mounting system of claim 29 wherein said pivot element connects to an interior mirror.

32. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 further including a removable cover which mates with said housing.

33. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said housing includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said housing is attached to the windshield, said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor, said biasing urging said rain sensor forwardly through said first opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

34. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said housing comprises a cavity, said cavity including an opening and wherein at least one of said at least two accessories included in said housing is accessible through said opening.

35. The interior mirror assembly of claim 25 wherein said housing includes a cavity and wherein an internal wall separates said cavity into first and second compartments, said one of said at least two accessories being in the first of said compartments and the another of said at least two accessories being in the second of said compartments.

36. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 35 further including a removable cover which mates with said housing.

37. The accessory mounting system of claim 36 wherein said removable cover is made of a polymeric material and wherein said cover snap-engages said housing.

38. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said another of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor.

39. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor, wherein said housing includes an opening, and wherein said assembly includes biasing which biases said rain sensor forwardly through said opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

40. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said housing comprises a metal housing.

41. The accessory mounting system of claim 25 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor having a cross section diameter of less than about 50 millimeters.

42. The accessory mounting system of claim 41 wherein said rain sensor comprises a rain sensor module.

43. An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle, said system comprising:

a housing;

said housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the upper portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

at least two accessories housed in said housing;

one of said at least two accessories selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor;

another of said at least two accessories selected from the group consisting 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, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor;

said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure; and

wherein said housing further includes a cover which mates with said housing.

44. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor.

45. The accessory mounting system of claim 44 wherein the another of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor.

46. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said housing includes a passageway for electrical wiring.

47. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said housing comprises a pivot element.

48. The accessory mounting system of claim 47 wherein said pivot element includes a conduit therethrough for electrical wiring.

49. The accessory mounting system of claim 47 wherein said pivot element connects to an interior mirror.

50. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said cover comprises a removable cover.

51. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said housing includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said housing is attached to the windshield, said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor, and wherein said housing includes biasing that urges said rain sensor forwardly through said first opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

52. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said housing comprises a cavity, said cavity including an opening and wherein at least one of said at least two accessories included in said housing is accessible through said opening.

53. The interior mirror assembly of claim 43 wherein said housing includes a cavity and wherein an internal wall separates said cavity into first and second compartments, said one of said at least two accessories being in the first of said compartments and the another of said at least two accessories being in the second of said compartments.

54. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 53 including a biasing that urges one of said at least two accessories into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

55. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said cover is made of a polymeric material and wherein said cover snap-engages said housing.

56. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said another of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor.

57. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor, wherein said housing includes an opening, and wherein said assembly includes biasing which biases said rain sensor forwardly through said opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.

58. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said housing comprises a metal housing.

59. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said housing comprises a polymeric housing.

60. The accessory mounting system of claim 43 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor having a cross section diameter of less than about 50 millimeters, said rain sensor comprising a rain sensor module.