Mirror controller unit for emergency vehicle warning devices

• US 9,789,822 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Feniex Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Feniex Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Deyaf, Hamza
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, TANMAY K
• Application Number:
  US14/919,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20170113618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 340472
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• 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: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A mirror controller unit is disclosed herein for controlling an associated auxiliary vehicle warning device. In one embodiment, the mirror controller unit includes a set of selectors located on at least one edge of a mirror body. The mirror controller unit includes a reflective mirror surface. An auxiliary vehicle warning device that is physically attached to a surface of a vehicle may be connected via wires to the mirror controller unit and operated by the set of selectors disposed on the mirror controller unit. In another embodiment, a mirror controller unit is disclosed with an integrated touch screen for performing control functions on an associated auxiliary vehicle warning device.

Claims

1. A mirror unit for use in a vehicle, the mirror unit comprising:

a mirror body disposed on a mirror positioning mount, wherein the mirror positioning mount is configured to be coupled to a front windshield of the vehicle on an interior surface of the front windshield;

a reflective mirror surface coupled to the mirror body;

a set of selectors, wherein the set of selectors are located on at least one edge of the mirror body, wherein the set of selectors are configured to relay input regarding a set of control functions to one or more emergency vehicle warning devices, wherein the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices are configured to be physically attached to a surface of the vehicle, wherein the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices comprise visual and acoustic emergency warning devices;

one or more connecting cables configured to connect the mirror unit to the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices, wherein the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices are separate from the mirror unit; and

a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is located internally within the mirror body, and further wherein the processing unit is coupled to the set of selectors, wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate input from the set of selectors to the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices.

2. The mirror unit of claim 1, wherein the set of selectors may be configured to perform different control functions on the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices, wherein the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices are coupled to the vehicle at one or more locations on the vehicle.

3. The mirror unit of claim 1, wherein the set of control functions include changing a strobe pattern of a set of lights associated with the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices, changing a luminosity of the set of lights, changing a frequency of flashing of one or more lights in the set of lights, and changing a color pattern of the set of lights of the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices.

4. The mirror unit of claim 1, wherein the visual emergency warning devices include any one of a LED dash light, a LED visor light, an interior LED light bar, an exterior LED light bar, a license plate LED warning light, a LED grill light, a hideaway LED light, a LED beacon, a LED vehicle flasher, a warning LED light, or a deck LED light.

5. The mirror unit of claim 1, wherein the one or more emergency vehicle warning devices includes a siren, and further wherein the set of control functions include activating or deactivating the siren to produce a siren tone.

6. The mirror unit of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is coupled to a set of relays.