Vehicle communication system

• US 7,308,341 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Cooprider, Troy O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/964,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

A vehicle communication system including an interior assembly, an in-vehicle communication control located in the vehicle and remote from the interior assembly, a human-machine interface located at the interior assembly, and a global positioning system control in the vehicle. The human-machine interface is connected to the in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between the human-machine interface and the in-vehicle communication control. The global positioning system control communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to the interior assembly or the in-vehicle communication control via the connective link. The HMI signal and GPS-derived signal share the connective link and are communicated via a common connective link between the in-vehicle communication control and the interior assembly.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

an interior assembly comprising at least one of (a) an interior rearview mirror assembly, (b) an accessory module at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly, (c) a windshield electronics module at or near or attached to or associated with a windshield of the vehicle, (d) an overhead accessory console of the vehicle at or near or attached to or associated with a roof of a vehicle, and (e) an extension of a console of the vehicle;

an in-vehicle communication control located in the vehicle and remote from said interior assembly;

a wired connective link electrically connecting said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control;

a human-machine interface located at said interior assembly, said human-machine interface being connected to said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control; and

a global positioning system control in the vehicle, said global positioning system control communicating at least one GPS-derived signal to one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said human-machine interface comprises user actuatable inputs for controlling or actuating/deactuating functions of said in-vehicle communication control.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said human-machine interface comprises at least one microphone for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system control is operable to communicate said at least one GPS-derived signal to a directional heading display system for displaying directional heading information to a driver or occupant of the vehicle.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein said directional heading display system comprises compass sensors and circuitry operable to determine a directional heading of the vehicle and to at least occasionally control a directional heading display element to display the directional heading information to the driver or occupant of the vehicle.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system control is associated with said in-vehicle communication control, said global positioning system control utilizing said connective link to communicate said at least one GPS-derived signal to said interior assembly.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system control is located in said interior assembly, said global positioning system control utilizing said connective link to communicate said at least one GPS-derived signal to said in-vehicle communication control.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to said one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via a coded signal superimposed on said connective link.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to said one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via a bus interface, said bus interface comprising a first node at said interior assembly and a second node at said in-vehicle communication control, said connective link being connected to said first and second nodes.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said in-vehicle communication control comprises an in-vehicle telematics control unit.

11. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

an interior assembly comprising one of (a) an interior rearview mirror assembly, (b) an accessory module at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly, (c) a windshield electronics module at or near or attached to or associated with a windshield of the vehicle, (d) an overhead accessory console of the vehicle at or near or attached to or associated with a roof of the vehicle, and (e) an extension of a console of the vehicle;

an in-vehicle communication control located in the vehicle remote from said interior assembly, said in-vehicle communication control comprising a global positioning system control; and

a wired connective link electrically connecting said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control;

a human-machine interface located at said interior assembly, said in-vehicle control being connected to said human-machine interface via said connective link for communicating at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control, said global positioning system control utilizing said connective link to communicate at least one GPS-derived signal to said interior assembly, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said human-machine interface comprises user actuatable inputs for controlling or actuating/deactuating functions of said in-vehicle communication control.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said human-machine interface comprises at least one microphone for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin.

14. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to a directional heading display system at said interior assembly for displaying directional heading information to a driver or occupant of the vehicle.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein said directional heading display system comprises compass sensors and circuitry operable to determine a directional heading of the vehicle and to at least occasionally control a display element to display the directional heading information to the driver or occupant of the vehicle.

16. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to said interior assembly via a coded signal superimposed on said connective link.

17. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to said interior assembly via a bus interface, said bus interface comprising a first node at said interior assembly and a second node at said in-vehicle communication control, said connective link being connected to said first and second nodes.

18. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said in-vehicle communication control comprises an in-vehicle telematics control unit.

19. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

an interior assembly comprising one of (a) an interior rearview mirror assembly, (b) an accessory module at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly, (c) a windshield electronics module at or near or attached to or associated with a windshield of the vehicle, (d) an overhead accessory console of the vehicle at or near or attached to or associated with a roof of the vehicle, and (e) an extension of a console of the vehicle;

an in-vehicle communication control located in the vehicle remote from said interior assembly;

a wired connective link electrically connecting said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control;

a human-machine interface located at said interior assembly, said in-vehicle communication control being connected to said human-machine interface via said connective link, said connective link communicating at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control; and

a global positioning system control associated with said interior assembly, said global positioning system control utilizing said connective link to communicate at least one GPS-derived signal to said in-vehicle communication control, said at least one GPS-derived signal and said at least one human-machine interface signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly.

20. The communication system of claim 19, wherein said human-machine interface comprises user actuatable inputs for controlling or actuating/deactuating functions of said in-vehicle communication control.

21. The communication system of claim 19, wherein said human-machine interface comprises at least one microphone for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin.

22. The communication system of claim 19, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to said in-vehicle communication control via a coded signal superimposed on said connective link.

23. The communication system of claim 19, wherein said global positioning system control communicates said at least one GPS-derived signal to said in-vehicle communication control via a bus interface, said bus interface comprising a first node at said interior assembly and a second node at said in-vehicle communication control, said connective link being connected to said first and second nodes.

24. The communication system of claim 19, wherein said in-vehicle communication control comprises an in-vehicle telematics control unit.