Electronics module for mirrors

• US 8,602,573 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velvac Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Velvac Incorporated
• Inventors: Brester, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US11/591,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,597 Days
• Field of Search: 396/429, 396/541, 396/542, 340/435, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/211.4, 348/211.99, 359/512, 359/841, 359/864, 359/871, 359/872, 362/494
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

An electronics module is attachable to an exterior mirror of a vehicle and supports a camera and/or a display. The electronics module may be an add-on device that is retrofittable to the exterior mirror. The display may be arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing having an electronics module defining a bay;

a mirror supported by the mirror housing;

a camera assembly housing positioned within the bay;

a camera assembly including a camera positioned within the camera assembly housing with the camera extending through a wall of the camera assembly housing, wherein the camera assembly housing is rotatable within the bay with respect to the mirror housing to position the camera at a desired viewing field direction;

a clamp removably fastened to the mirror housing to maintain the camera in the desired viewing field direction, wherein the clamp is removable to permit the camera assembly housing to rotate within the bay to adjust the desired viewing field direction; and

,

a mounting arm having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the mounting arm is attachable to the mirror housing, and wherein the second end of the mounting arm is configured to attach the mirror housing to an exterior of a vehicle.

2. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mirror positioning actuator supported b the mirror housing.

3. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 2 further comprising a mirror position sensor supported by the mirror housing.

4. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mirror heater supported by the mirror housing.

5. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the mirror comprises first and second mirror sections.

6. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the electronics module is configured to be retrofitted to the mirror housing.

7. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board supported by the mirror housing.

8. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a light supported by the mirror housing.

9. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a display supported by the mirror housing and arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.

10. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the direction of the viewing field of the camera is remotely controlled.

11. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamp receives fasteners that can be loosened and tightened repeatedly to permit an angle of the camera with respect to the mirror housing to be adjusted thereby permitting the desired viewing field direction of the camera to be adjusted.

12. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises an opening through which a field of view of the camera in the desired viewing field direction extends.

13. An electronics module for attachment to an exterior mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a module housing coupled to a housing of the exterior mirror, the module housing defining a plurality of bays;

a camera assembly housing positioned within a first bay of the plurality of bays;

a camera assembly including a camera, the camera assembly positioned within the camera assembly housing, wherein the camera assembly housing is rotatable within the first bay with respect to the module housing to position the camera at a desired viewing field direction for the camera;

electronics positioned within the camera assembly housing that process an output of the camera; and

,

a clamp removably fastened to the module housing to maintain the camera at the desired viewing field direction, the clamp removable to permit the camera assembly housing to rotate within the first bay to adjust an angle of the camera with respect to the module housing thereby adjusting the desired viewing field direction.

14. The electronics module of claim 13 wherein the clamp comprises an arm to clamp the camera to the module housing.

15. The electronics module of claim 13 wherein the electronics module is configured to be retrofitted to the exterior mirror, and wherein the module housing has a shape matching a lower end of the exterior mirror.

16. The electronics module of claim 13 further comprising a printed circuit board supported by the module housing.

17. The electronics module of claim 13 further comprising a display supported by the module housing and arranged to display an indication of a distance between a back of the vehicle and an object.

18. The electronics module of claim 13 wherein the camera assembly housing has a predetermined orientation along a vertical axis of the module housing for optimal viewing of a target zone and is adjustable in a horizontal plane to adjust the angle of the camera with respect to the module housing.

19. An electronics module for attachment to an exterior mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a module housing defining a bay;

one or more fastening devices permitting the module housing to be fastened to the exterior mirror;

a camera assembly housing rotatably positioned within the bay;

a camera supported within the camera assembly housing, wherein the camera assembly housing is rotatable within the bay with respect to the module housing to position the camera at a desired viewing field direction;

electronics positioned within the camera assembly housing that process an output of the camera; and

,

a clamp removably fastened to the module housing to maintain the camera at the desired viewing field direction, the clamp removable to permit an angle of the camera with respect to the module housing to be adjusted thereby permitting the desired viewing field direction to be adjusted.

20. The electronics module of claim 19 wherein the electronics module is configured to be retrofitted to the exterior mirror, and wherein the module housing has a shape matching a lower end of the exterior mirror.

21. The electronics module of claim 19 further comprising a printed circuit board supported by the module housing.

22. The electronics module of claim 19 wherein the fastening devices comprises holes through the module housing.

23. The electronics module of claim 19 wherein the camera assembly housing has a predetermined orientation along a vertical axis of the module housing for optimal viewing of a target zone and is adjustable in a horizontal plane to adjust the angle of the camera with respect to the module housing.