Vehicle rearview mirror assembly incorporating a communication system

• US 7,327,226 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., Watson, Alan R., Walstra, Eric J., Turnbull, Robert R., Knapp, Robert C., Poe, G. Bruce, Rumsey, Wayne J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/315,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.5, 340/426.15, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• 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: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/60 using satellite communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 : Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 : Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle communication and control system is provided that may be more readily installed in a vehicle and that utilizes minimal additional wiring. According to some of the disclosed embodiments, the electrical components of the “brick” of a communication and control system are integrated into a rearview mirror assembly. Preferably, the microwave antenna for the GPS and the cellular telephone antenna are also integrated into the rearview mirror assembly. Various functions and features of the system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror mounting structure including a mirror housing and adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;

electronic circuitry contained in said mirror housing;

an antenna for a wireless telephone mounted to said mirror mounting structure; and

an electromagnetic shield provided between said electronic circuitry and said antenna to substantially block electromagnetic radiation generated by said electronic circuitry from reaching said antenna.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said antenna is mounted to said mirror housing.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield is electrically coupled to a ground of said antenna to function as a ground plane.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield includes a conductive coating on an inside surface of said mirror housing.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said mirror housing includes an aperture extending from an outside surface of said housing to the inside of said housing and through said conductive coating, said antenna is part of an antenna structure that is mounted to said mirror housing, and a portion of said antenna structure extends through said aperture.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein at least one electrical lead from said antenna extends through said aperture.

7. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry is disposed between two circuit boards, and wherein said electromagnetic shield includes a shielding gasket disposed between the two circuit boards and surrounding said electronic circuitry.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror housing exhibits an electromagnetic interference level less than about 41 dBμ

V/m for emissions in the frequency range from about 0.4 MHz to about 20 MHz.