Accessory mounting system for mounting a plurality of accessories to the windshield of a vehicle and viewing through a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer at the windshield

• US 7,420,159 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• 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:
  US11/828,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 250/239, 250/214.AL, 250/216, 250/227.25, 250/208.1, 359/229, 359/230, 359/242, 340/485, 340/461, 340/602
• 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 includes a housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and at least two accessories housed by said housing. One of the accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera, which views through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure. The other of the accessories may be selected from the group consisting of: (a) a vehicle altitude sensor, (b) a vehicle incline sensor, (c) a headlamp sensor, (d) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, (e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, (f) an antenna, (g) a rain sensor, (h) a microphone, and (i) a compass sensor.

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 accessory mounting system comprising:

an assembly adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface at a portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

a light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle, said light absorbing layer on said interior surface of the windshield at least partially hiding said assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle, said viewer viewing through the windshield when said assembly is normally mounted to said receiving structure;

said light absorbing layer including a light transmitting portion;

at least two accessories housed by said assembly;

one of said at least two accessories comprising a forwardly-viewing camera;

another of said at least two accessories comprising a rain sensor;

at least one of said forwardly-viewing camera and said rain sensor viewing through said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure; and

wherein at least one accessory housed by said assembly electrically couples via an electrical bus connection with an accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly.

2. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a passageway for electrical wiring.

3. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said assembly comprises a pivot element and wherein said pivot element includes a conduit therethrough for electrical wiring, said pivot element connecting to an interior mirror.

4. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a ceramic frit layer.

5. The accessory mounting system of claim 4, wherein said ceramic frit layer comprises a ceramic black frit layer.

6. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer comprises a light transmitting opening.

7. The accessory mounting system of claim 6, wherein said assembly includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and wherein said first opening of said assembly generally aligns with said light transmitting opening of said light absorbing layer when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle.

8. The accessory mounting system of claim 7, wherein said rain sensor is urged forward through said first opening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield.

9. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said assembly 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 said first compartment and said another of said at least two accessories being in said second compartment.

10. The accessory mounting system of claim 9, further including a removable cover which mates with said assembly.

11. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said electrical bus connection comprises an electrical CAN bus connection.

12. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly is located in an interior mirror.

13. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly comprises an element of an air system of the vehicle.

14. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly comprises an element of an air system of the vehicle and wherein said electrical bus carries control signals associated with at least one of (a) a defrost cycle of and (b) a demist cycle.

15. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein an additional one of said 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, (l) a photosensor and (m) a garage door opener.

16. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein an additional one of said at least two accessories is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a headlamp sensor, (b) an antenna, (c) a camera, (d) a microphone, (e) a compass sensor, (f) a rain sensor, (g) a photosensor and (h) a garage door opener.

17. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said receiving structure on the interior surface comprises a metallic element adhesively attached to the windshield.

18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, wherein said metallic element is adhesively attached to the windshield by at least one of an epoxy adhesive, a urethane adhesive, a polyvinyl butyral adhesive and a silicone adhesive.

19. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, wherein said receiving structure is formed by a metal fabrication, said metal fabrication comprising at least one of casting and sintering.

20. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said receiving structure on the interior surface comprises a polymeric element adhesively attached to the windshield.

21. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein at least one accessory housed by said assembly at least one of (a) electrically couples to an accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly and (b) shares a component with an accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly.

22. The accessory mounting system of claim 21, wherein said accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly comprises a vehicular mirror.

23. The accessory mounting system of claim 22, wherein said accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly comprises an interior electrochromic mirror.

24. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer comprises a light transmitting opening, said light transmitting opening generally disposed at a central portion of said light absorbing layer.

25. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield is adhesively attached to the windshield at a portion of the windshield generally proximate to an interior rearview mirror of the vehicle.

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

an assembly adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface at a portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield adhesively attached to the windshield and said portion of the windshield generally proximate to and rearward of an interior rearview mirror of the vehicle;

a light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle, said light absorbing layer on said interior surface of the windshield at least partially hiding said assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle, said viewer viewing through the windshield when said assembly is normally mounted to said receiving structure;

said light absorbing layer including a light transmitting portion;

at least two accessories housed by said assembly;

one of said at least two accessories comprising a forwardly-viewing device;

said forwardly-viewing device viewing through said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure;

wherein at least one accessory housed by said assembly electrically couples via an electrical bus connection with an accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly; and

wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a ceramic frit layer.

27. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said forwardly-viewing device comprises a rain sensor.

28. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said assembly comprises a pivot element and wherein said pivot element includes a conduit therethrough for electrical wiring, said pivot element connecting to an interior mirror.

29. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said forwardly-viewing device comprises a camera.

30. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said ceramic frit layer comprises a ceramic black frit layer.

31. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said assembly includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and wherein said first opening of said assembly generally aligns with said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle.

32. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said assembly 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 said first compartment and said another of said at least two accessories being in said second compartment.

33. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said electrical bus connection comprises an electrical CAN bus connection.

34. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly is located in an interior mirror.

35. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein one of said 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, (l) a photosensor and (m) a garage door opener.

36. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said receiving structure on the interior surface comprises a metallic element adhesively attached to the windshield.

37. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, wherein said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer comprises a light transmitting opening, said light transmitting opening generally disposed at a central portion of said light absorbing layer.

38. The accessory mounting system of claim 26, including a rearview mirror.

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

an assembly adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface at a portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield adhesively attached to the windshield and said portion of the windshield generally proximate to and rearward of an interior rearview mirror of the vehicle;

a light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle, said light absorbing layer on said interior surface of the windshield at least partially hiding said assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle, said viewer viewing through the windshield when said assembly is normally mounted to said receiving structure;

said light absorbing layer including a light transmitting portion;

at least two accessories housed by said assembly;

one of said at least two accessories comprising a forwardly-viewing device;

said forwardly-viewing device viewing through said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure;

wherein at least one accessory housed by said assembly electrically couples via an electrical bus connection with an accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly;

wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a ceramic frit layer;

wherein said assembly includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and wherein said first opening of said assembly generally aligns with said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle; and

wherein said receiving structure on the interior surface comprises an element adhesively attached to the windshield.

40. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said forwardly-viewing device comprises a rain sensor.

41. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said assembly comprises a pivot element and wherein said pivot element includes a conduit therethrough for electrical wiring, said pivot element connecting to an interior mirror.

42. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said forwardly-viewing device comprises a camera.

43. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said ceramic frit layer comprises a ceramic black frit layer.

44. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said assembly 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 said first compartment and said another of said at least two accessories being in said second compartment.

45. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said electrical bus connection comprises an electrical CAN bus connection.

46. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein one of said 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, (l) a photosensor and (m) a garage door opener.

47. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer comprises a light transmitting opening, said light transmitting opening generally disposed at a central portion of said light absorbing layer.

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

an assembly adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface at a portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield adhesively attached to the windshield and said portion of the windshield generally proximate to and rearward of an interior rearview mirror of the vehicle;

a light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle, said light absorbing layer on said interior surface of the windshield at least partially hiding said assembly from view by a viewer external the vehicle, said viewer viewing through the windshield when said assembly is normally mounted to said receiving structure;

said light absorbing layer including a light transmitting portion;

at least two accessories housed by said assembly;

one of said at least two accessories comprising a forwardly-viewing device;

said forwardly-viewing device viewing through said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer on said interior surface at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure;

wherein at least one accessory housed by said assembly electrically couples via an electrical bus connection with an accessory located in the vehicle external to said assembly;

wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a ceramic frit layer;

wherein said assembly includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward the windshield when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and wherein said first opening of said assembly generally aligns with said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer when said assembly is mounted to said receiving structure at said portion of the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said receiving structure on the interior surface comprises an element adhesively attached to the windshield;

wherein said forwardly-viewing device comprises at least one of (a) a camera and (b) a rain sensor; and

wherein one of said 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, (l) a photosensor and (m) a garage door opener.

49. The accessory mounting system of claim 48, wherein said ceramic frit layer comprises a ceramic black frit layer.

50. The accessory mounting system of claim 48, wherein said electrical bus connection comprises an electrical CAN bus connection.

51. The accessory mounting system of claim 48, wherein said light transmitting portion of said light absorbing layer comprises a light transmitting opening, said light transmitting opening generally disposed at a central portion of said light absorbing layer.