Vehicle accessory module

• US 7,533,998 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R., Whitehead, Peter J., DeWard, Joshua L.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US11/716,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20070297075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 359/844, 359/871, 359/872, 348/118
• US Class Current: 359/844
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/123 with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1246 with clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1276 with radio receivers, loud-speakers or buzzers
• 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 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An accessory system for a vehicle includes an accessory module, at least one accessory and an attachment member at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The at least one accessory comprises a camera having a lens, with the camera being disposed in the accessory module, and the accessory module comprising structure to angle the camera with respect to a windshield facing portion of the accessory module. The camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield when the accessory module is mounted to the attachment member. The accessory system may include a resilient element disposed between the windshield facing portion and the interior surface of the vehicle windshield to cushion and/or seal the accessory module relative to the interior surface when the accessory module is mounted to the attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

Claims

1. An accessory module system for a vehicle, said accessory module system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly mounting portion;

an accessory module separate from said interior rearview mirror assembly, said accessory module comprising an accessory module mounting portion;

at least two accessories housed at least partially by said accessory module, one of said at least two accessories comprising a camera and another of said at least two accessories comprising a rain sensor, said camera having a lens;

a first attachment member at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle;

said accessory module mounting portion being configured to detachably mount to said first attachment member;

said accessory module comprising a windshield facing portion that opposes the interior surface of the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, and wherein said windshield facing portion is disposed generally at the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member;

said camera being disposed in said accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure to angle said camera with respect to said windshield facing portion of said accessory module, said camera being angled by said structure of said accessory module and with respect to said windshield facing portion to at least partially compensate for the angle of the windshield itself, said camera having a forward field of view through said windshield facing portion and through the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member, and wherein a principal axis of the forward field of view of said camera is directed generally at or below horizontal when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member;

wherein said lens of said camera is spaced from the interior surface of the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield; and

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly mounting portion detachably mounts to at least one (a) a second attachment member disposed at a portion of said accessory module that generally opposes said windshield facing portion, (b) a second attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield and spaced from said first attachment member, and (c) a header portion of the vehicle remote from said first attachment member.

2. The accessory module system of claim 1 further comprising a resilient element disposed between said windshield facing portion of said accessory module and the interior surface of the vehicle windshield to at least one of cushion and seal said accessory module relative to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

3. The accessory module system of claim 1, wherein said accessory module comprises a cover and said mounting portion, said cover being attachable to said mounting portion and said mounting portion comprising said windshield facing portion and being configured to mount to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

4. The accessory module system of claim 1, wherein said accessory module is detachably mounted to said attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield via a fastenerless attachment.

5. The accessory module system of claim 1, wherein said camera is associated with at least one of (i) said rain sensor, (ii) a headlamp control system, (iii) a lane departure detection or warning system, (iv) an adaptive cruise control system, (v) a sign recognition system, (vi) a night vision system, (vii) a pedestrian detection system, (viii) a vehicle classification identification system, (ix) a vehicle compatibility detection system, (x) a pre-crash avoidance system, (xi) an emergency response image capture system, (xii) an environmental detection system, (xiii) an ambient light level detection system, (xiv) a vehicle relative position detection system, (xv) a compass calibration system, (xvi) a global positioning system, and (xvii) an electronic toll collection system.

6. An accessory module system for a vehicle, said accessory module system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly. said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly mounting portion;

an accessory module separate from said interior rearview mirror assembly, said accessory module comprising an accessory module mounting portion;

at least one accessory housed at least partially said accessory module, said at least one accessory comprising a camera, said camera haying a lens;

wherein said camera is associated with at least one of (i) a rain sensing system, (ii) a headlamp control system, (iii) a lane departure detection or warning system, (iv) an adaptive cruise control system, (v) a sign recognition system, (vi) a night vision system, (vii) a pedestrian detection system, (viii) a vehicle classification identification system, (ix) a vehicle compatibility detection system, (x) a pre-crash avoidance system, (xi) an emergency response image capture system, (xii) an environmental detection system, (xiii) an ambient light level detection system, (xiv) a vehicle relative position detection system, (xv) a compass calibration system, (xvi) a global positioning system, and (xvii) an electronic toll collection system;

a first attachment member at an interior surface of a vehicle-windshield of a vehicle;

said accessory module mounting portion being configured to detachably mount to said first attachment member;

said accessory module comprising a windshield facing portion that opposes the interior surface of the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, wherein said windshield facing portion is disposed generally at the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member;

said camera being disposed in said accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure to angle said camera with respect to said windshield facing portion of said accessory module, said camera is angled by said structure of said accessory module and with respect to said windshield facing portion to at least partially compensate for the angle of the windshield itself, said camera having a forward field of view through said windshield facing portion and through the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member;

wherein said lens of said camera is spaced from the interior surface of the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield; and

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly detachably mounts to at least one (a) second attachment member at a portion of said accessory module that generally opposes said windshield facing portion, (b) a second attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield and spaced from said first attachment member, and (c) a header portion of the vehicle remote from said first attachment member.

7. The accessory module system of claim 6 further comprising a resilient element disposed between said windshield facing portion of said accessory module and the interior surface of the vehicle windshield to at least one of cushion and seal said accessory module relative to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

8. The accessory module system of claim 6, wherein a principal axis of the forward field of view of said camera is directed generally at or below horizontal when said accessory module mounting portion is mounted to said first attachment member.

9. The accessory module system of claim 6, wherein said accessory module comprises a cover and said mounting portion, said cover being attachable to said mounting portion and said mounting portion comprising said windshield facing portion and being configured to mount to said first attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.

10. The accessory module system of claim 6, wherein said accessory module is detachably mounted to said attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield via a fastenerless attachment.