Vehicle accessory system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862323-B2
Application number	US-201414299409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jan 31, 2002
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

An accessory system for a vehicle includes an attachment member attached at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield and an accessory module configured to detachably mount to the attachment member. The accessory module and attachment member are configured so that when the accessory module mounts to the attachment member, an electrical element of the accessory module is biased toward and against the inner surface of the windshield. The electrical element includes a camera and, with the accessory module mounted to the attachment member, the camera has a forward field of view through the windshield. The camera may be associated with at least one of (i) a headlamp control system, (ii) a lane departure warning system, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iv) a sign recognition system, (v) a night vision system, (vi) a pedestrian detection system and (vii) a pre-crash avoidance system.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment member attached at a vehicle windshield;
an accessory module configured to detachably mount to said attachment member;
said accessory module and said attachment member configured so that when said accessory module mounts to said attachment member, an electrical element of said accessory module is biased toward and against a surface of the vehicle windshield so as to optically couple therewith;
wherein said electrical element comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield; and
wherein said camera is associated with at least one of (i) a headlamp control system, (ii) a lane departure warning system, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iv) a sign recognition system, (v) a night vision system, (vi) a pedestrian detection system and (vii) a pre-crash avoidance system.

2. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, a principal axis of the forward field of view of said camera is directed generally at or below horizontal.

3. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said attachment member is configured to draw a surface of said accessory module into intimate contact with the surface of the vehicle windshield.

4. The accessory system of claim 3 , wherein said attachment member comprises narrowing structure along which corresponding structure of said accessory module moves when said accessory modules mounts to said attachment member.

5. The accessory system of claim 4 , wherein said attachment member comprises a rail.

6. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module mounts to said attachment member via snap attachment.

7. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the vehicle windshield.

8. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing comprises an opening and wherein said camera views through said opening.

9. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera views through an aperture in a black-out layer at the vehicle windshield.

10. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment member adhesively attached at a vehicle windshield;
an accessory module configured to detachably mount to said attachment member;
said accessory module and said attachment member configured so that when said accessory module mounts to said attachment member, an electrical element of said accessory module is biased toward and against a surface of the vehicle windshield so as to optically couple therewith;
wherein said electrical element comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises an imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield;
wherein said camera is associated with at least one of (i) a headlamp control system, (ii) a lane departure warning system, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iv) a sign recognition system, (v) a night vision system, (vi) a pedestrian detection system and (vii) a pre-crash avoidance system; and
wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera views through an aperture in a black-out layer at the vehicle windshield.

11. The accessory system of claim 10 , wherein said imaging array sensor comprises a CMOS imaging array sensor.

12. The accessory system of claim 11 , wherein said attachment member is configured to draw a surface of said accessory module into intimate contact with the surface of the vehicle windshield.

13. The accessory system of claim 12 , wherein said accessory module mounts to said attachment member via snap attachment.

14. The accessory system of claim 13 , wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, a principal axis of the forward field of view of said camera is directed generally at or below horizontal.

15. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment member attached at a vehicle windshield;
an accessory module configured to detachably mount to said attachment member;
said accessory module and said attachment member configured so that when said accessory module mounts to said attachment member, an electrical element of said accessory module is biased toward and against a surface of the vehicle windshield so as to optically couple therewith;
wherein said electrical element comprises a camera and wherein said camera comprises an imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield;
wherein said camera is associated with at least one of (i) a headlamp control system, (ii) a lane departure warning system, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iv) a sign recognition system, (v) a night vision system, (vi) a pedestrian detection system and (vii) a pre-crash avoidance system; and
wherein said attachment member is configured to draw a surface of said accessory module into intimate contact with the surface of the vehicle windshield.

16. The accessory system of claim 15 , wherein said attachment member is adhesively attached at the vehicle windshield.

17. The accessory system of claim 16 , wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera views through an aperture in a black-out layer at the vehicle windshield.

18. The accessory system of claim 17 , wherein said camera is associated with a lane departure warning system.

19. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said camera is associated with a headlamp control system.

20. The accessory system of claim 16 , wherein said accessory module mounts to said attachment member via snap attachment.

21. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment member adhesively attached at a vehicle windshield;
an accessory module configured to detachably mount to said attachment member;
said accessory module and said attachment member configured so that when said accessory module mounts to said attachment member, an electrical element of said accessory module is biased toward and against a surface of the vehicle windshield so as to optically couple therewith;
wherein said electrical element comprises a camera;
wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield;
wherein said camera is associated with at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system, (ii) an adaptive cruise control system, (iii) a sign recognition system and (iv) a pedestrian detection system;
wherein, with said accessory module mounted to said attachment member, said camera views through an aperture in a black-out layer at the vehicle windshield; and
wherein said accessory module mounts to said attachment member via snap attachment.

22. The accessory system of claim 21 , wherein said attachment member is configured to draw a surface of said accessory mo

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Schofield Kenneth
• Deward Joshua L
• Whitehead Peter J
• Lynam Niall R

Classifications

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N25/76

  Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors · CPC title

• B60R1/10 Primary

  Front-view mirror arrangements; {(specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002)}; Periscope arrangements {, i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like (specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005); Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle} · CPC title

• B60R2001/1215

  with information displays · CPC title

• B60R2001/1246

  with clocks · CPC title