Vision system for a vehicle

• US 9,193,302 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/299,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20140285663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• 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: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• 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: 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

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a mirror mounting button attached at a first location at an in-cabin surface of a windshield and an attachment member attached at a second location at the in-cabin surface of the windshield. A light absorbing layer is disposed at the windshield and at least partially masks the presence of the attachment member from view by a viewer who is viewing through the windshield from outside the vehicle. An accessory module is releasably attached to the attachment member and accommodates a forward facing camera. With the accessory module releasably attached to the attachment member at the windshield, the forward facing camera views through the windshield. The forward facing camera includes a component of a camera-based driver assistance system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a mirror mounting button attached at a first location at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

an attachment member attached at a second location at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment member from view by a viewer who is viewing through the vehicle windshield from outside the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first location is spaced from and is separate from said second location;

an accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member;

wherein said accessory module accommodates a forward facing camera;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device;

wherein, with said accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, said forward facing camera views through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of a camera-based driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said accessory module further accommodates at least one accessory selected from the group consisting of (a) a rain sensor, (b) a light sensor, (c) a tire pressure monitoring system receiver, (d) an antenna, (e) an antenna for an entry system, (f) a component of an electronic toll collection system, (g) an antenna for a global positioning system, (h) a component of a telematics system, (i) a speaker, (j) a microphone, (k) an illumination source, (l) a garage door opener, (m) a compass sensor and (n) a user actuatable input.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera provides input for a camera-based “

black box”

recorder system.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield using an epoxy adhesive.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said epoxy adhesive comprises an epoxy structural bonding tape.

8. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield using a silicone adhesive.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and wherein said mirror mounting button is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

10. The vision system of claim 9, wherein said first location is adjacent said second location.

11. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a shadeband is disposed at the vehicle windshield at least proximate to where said mirror mounting button and said attachment member are attached at the vehicle windshield.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, a mirror mount of an interior rearview mirror assembly can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button.

13. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a substantially opaque frit layer.

14. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a mirror mounting button attached at a first location at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

an attachment member attached at a second location at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment member from view by a viewer who is viewing through the vehicle windshield from outside the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first location is spaced from and is separate from said second location;

an accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member;

wherein said accessory module accommodates a forward facing camera;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device;

wherein, with said accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, said forward facing camera views through the vehicle windshield;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, with said accessory module attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, a mirror mount of an interior rearview mirror assembly can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button.

15. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield using an epoxy adhesive and wherein said epoxy adhesive comprises an epoxy structural bonding tape.

17. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said first location is adjacent said second location.

18. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a mirror mounting button attached at a first location at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

an attachment member attached at a second location at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment member from view by a viewer who is viewing through the vehicle windshield from outside the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first location is spaced from and is separate from said second location;

an accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member;

wherein said accessory module accommodates a forward facing camera;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device;

wherein, with said accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, said forward facing camera views through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein, with said accessory module attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, a mirror mount of an interior rearview mirror assembly can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button.

20. The vision system of claim 19, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle.

21. The vision system of claim 20, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield using an epoxy adhesive and wherein said epoxy adhesive comprises an epoxy structural bonding tape.

22. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a mirror mounting button attached at a first location at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

an attachment member attached at a second location at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment member from view by a viewer who is viewing through the vehicle windshield from outside the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first location is spaced from and is separate from said second location;

an accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member;

wherein said accessory module accommodates a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said accessory module releasably attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, said forward facing camera views through the vehicle windshield;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of a camera-based driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and wherein said mirror mounting button is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said accessory module attached to said attachment member at the vehicle windshield, a mirror mount of an interior rearview mirror assembly can be mounted to said mirror mounting button and can be demounted from said mirror mounting button.

23. The vision system of claim 22, wherein said camera-based driver assistance system comprises an automatic headlamp control system and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device.

24. The vision system of claim 23, wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield using an epoxy adhesive and wherein said mirror mounting button is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield using an epoxy adhesive.

25. The vision system of claim 24, wherein said camera-based driver assistance system comprises a collision avoidance system.