Rear-view car mirror for accommodating a GPS device

• US 7,991,528 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Original Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Inventors: Pu, Kent Qing
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/344,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 948 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/49, 701/208, 701/211, 701/213
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An interior rear-view mirror for cars is so designed that a portable GPS device may be readily mounted on. Depending on implementation, a portable GPS device may be slid in or clipped onto a rear-view mirror.

Claims

1. An interior rear-view mirror comprising:

a reflecting surface primarily used to assist a driver of a vehicle to view back of the vehicle; and

a mounting mechanism arranged adjacent horizontally to the reflecting surface, the mounting mechanism designed to hold up a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, wherein the GPS device is removable from the mounting mechanism wherein the mounting mechanism includes at least a track for the GPS device to slide on.

2. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism includes an opening for the GPS device to be residing in.

3. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 1, wherein the GPS includes a mechanism to record verbal instructions from a user, each of the verbal instructions corresponding to a situation being displayed.

4. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 3, wherein each of the verbal instructions is played back when the situation corresponding to a traffic condition happens.

5. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 1, wherein the GPS includes a mechanism for a user to enter sentences, each of the sentences corresponding to a situation being displayed.

6. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 5, wherein a directional instruction is generated from the each of the sentences when the situation corresponding to a traffic condition happens.

7. An interior rear-view mirror comprising:

a reflecting surface primarily used to assist a driver of a vehicle to view back of the vehicle, wherein the reflecting surface includes a first part and a second part; and

a mounting mechanism covered by the second part and exposed when the second part is removed, the mounting mechanism is arranged adjacent horizontally to the first part, the mounting mechanism designed to hold up a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, wherein the GPS device is removable from the mounting mechanism wherein the mounting mechanism includes at least a track for the GPS device to slide on.

8. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 7, wherein the mounting mechanism includes an opening for the GPS device to be residing in.

9. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 7, wherein the GPS includes a mechanism to record verbal instructions from a user, each of the verbal instructions corresponding to a situation being displayed.

10. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 9, wherein each of the verbal instructions is played back when the situation corresponding to a traffic condition happens.

11. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 7, wherein the GPS includes a mechanism for a user to enter sentences, each of the sentences corresponding to a situation being displayed.

12. The interior rear-view mirror of claim 11, wherein a directional instruction is generated from the each of the sentences when the situation corresponding to a traffic condition happens.