Vehicular accessory system

• US 8,926,151 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Veldman, Roger L., Lynam, Niall R., DeLine, Jonathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie, Meghan
• Application Number:
  US14/027,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 340/438, 340/461, 340/525, 340/815.4, 280/735, 701/29, 701/45, 248/549, 348/148
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• 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: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicular accessory system includes an attachment element attached at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle and an accessory assembly having a housing that accommodates an accessory element. The accessory assembly includes structure used in attaching the accessory assembly to the attachment element. The accessory assembly includes circuitry disposed in the housing, and at least two electrical accessories of the accessory assembly share at least one component of the circuitry. One of the at least two electrical accessories includes a video camera and another of the at least two electrical accessories is selected from the group consisting of (i) a headlamp controller, (ii) a remote keyless entry receiver, (iii) a cellular phone and (iv) a vehicle status indicator. The video camera, when the accessory assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, may have a field of view through the windshield of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular accessory system, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

an attachment element attached at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle;

an accessory assembly comprising a housing, wherein said housing accommodates an accessory element;

wherein said accessory assembly comprises structure used in attaching said accessory assembly to said attachment element;

wherein said accessory assembly includes circuitry disposed in said housing, and wherein at least two electrical accessories of said accessory assembly share at least one component of said circuitry;

wherein one of said at least two electrical accessories comprises a video camera and another of said at least two electrical accessories is selected from the group consisting of (i) a headlamp controller, (ii) a remote keyless entry receiver, (iii) a cellular phone and (iv) a vehicle status indicator; and

wherein said video camera, when said accessory assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, has a field of view through the windshield of the vehicle.

2. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said another of said at least two electrical accessories comprises a headlamp controller.

3. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said accessory element comprises an electrochromic element and wherein another of said at least two electrical accessories comprises an electrochromic function control for said electrochromic element.

4. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said at least two electrical accessories comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a home access transmitter, (ii) a compass, (iii) a seat occupancy detection device, (iv) a map reading light, (v) a light, (vi) a trip computer, (vii) a garage door opener and (viii) an intrusion detector.

5. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS camera.

6. The vehicular accessory system of claim 5, wherein said circuitry is disposed on a circuit board and wherein said circuit board comprises a printed circuit board and wherein said attachment element is adhesively secured at the interior surface of the windshield.

7. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein one of a ball element and a socket element for a ball and socket joint is disposed generally at said accessory assembly.

8. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said attachment element comprises a mirror mounting button and wherein said accessory assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is adapted to provide a breakaway attachment when attached to said mirror mounting button.

9. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said accessory assembly comprises a display for displaying information to a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle.

10. The vehicular accessory system of claim 1, wherein said accessory assembly includes a modular carrier member formed separately from and mounted at said housing, said modular carrier member including an electrically conductive circuit member and a support body, wherein said electrically conductive circuit member is integrally molded with said support body, said modular carrier member providing an integral support for, electrical connections for, and an electrical distribution network to a light, wherein said modular carrier member at least provides electrical connections for at least one of (a) a lamp, (b) an electrical switch for controlling a lamp, (c) an electrical connector for connecting said modular carrier member to an external power source and (d) a receptacle for receiving a circuit board for control of at least one electronic device of the vehicle, and wherein said attachment element comprises a mirror mounting button and wherein said accessory assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly.

11. A vehicular accessory system, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

an attachment element attached at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle;

an accessory assembly comprising a housing, wherein said housing accommodating an accessory element;

wherein said accessory assembly comprises structure used in attaching said accessory assembly to said attachment element;

wherein said accessory assembly includes circuitry disposed in said housing, and wherein at least two electrical accessories of said accessory assembly share at least one component of said circuitry;

wherein one of said at least two electrical accessories comprises a video camera and another of said at least two electrical accessories is selected from the group consisting of (i) a headlamp controller, (ii) a remote keyless entry receiver, (iii) a cellular phone and (iv) a vehicle status indicator; and

wherein said video camera, when said accessory assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, has one of (i) a field of view through the windshield of the vehicle (ii) a field of view into the interior of the vehicle.

12. The vehicular accessory system of claim 11, wherein said another of said at least two electrical accessories comprises a headlamp controller and wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS camera.

13. The vehicular accessory system of claim 12, wherein said attachment element is adhesively secured at the interior surface of the windshield.

14. The vehicular accessory system of claim 13, wherein said video camera, when said accessory assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, has a field of view through the windshield of the vehicle.

15. The vehicular accessory system of claim 13, wherein said video camera, when said accessory assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, has a field of view into the interior of the vehicle.

16. A vehicular accessory system, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

an attachment element attached at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle;

an accessory assembly comprising a housing, wherein said housing accommodating an accessory element;

wherein said accessory assembly comprises structure used in attaching said accessory assembly to said attachment element;

wherein said accessory assembly includes circuitry disposed in said housing, and wherein at least two electrical accessories of said accessory assembly share at least one component of said circuitry;

wherein one of said at least two electrical accessories comprises a video camera and another of said at least two electrical accessories comprises a headlamp controller;

wherein said video camera, when said accessory assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle, has a field of view into the interior of the vehicle; and

wherein said video camera comprises a CMOS camera.

17. The vehicular accessory system of claim 16, wherein said field of view of said video camera into the interior of the vehicle encompasses the head of a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle.

18. The vehicular accessory system of claim 17, wherein said circuitry is disposed on a circuit board and wherein said circuit board comprises a printed circuit board and wherein said attachment element is adhesively secured at the interior surface of the windshield.

19. The vehicular accessory system of claim 16, wherein said headlamp controller controls a beam state of a headlamp of the equipped vehicle.

20. The vehicular accessory system of claim 16, wherein said at least two electrical accessories comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a home access transmitter, (ii) a compass, (iii) a seat occupancy detection device, (iv) a map reading light, (v) a light, (vi) a trip computer, (vii) a garage door opener and (viii) an intrusion detector.