Sun visor system for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902239-B2
Application number	US-201514918045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2015
Priority date	Oct 20, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A sun visor system is provided for a motor vehicle. That sun visor system includes a first guide track carried on an A-pillar and a second guide track carried on the rearview mirror support. A retractable sun visor panel has a first end received in the first guide track and a second end received in the second guide track. The retractable sun visor panel is displaceable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position wherein it provides protection from the sun's glare across the entire width of the windshield between the A-pillar and the rearview mirror support.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A sun visor system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a first guide track carried on an A-pillar;
a second guide track carried on a rearview mirror support;
a retractable sun visor panel having a first end received in said first guide track and a second end received in said second guide track wherein said retractable sun visor panel is displaceable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position; and
a controller and a drive system responsive to said controller to displace said retractable sun visor panel between said stowed position and said fully deployed position, wherein said drive system includes a motor and a linkage between said motor and said retractable sun visor panel, and wherein said linkage includes a first cable connected to said first end of said retractable sun visor panel and a second cable connected to said second end of said retractable sun visor panel.

2. The sun visor system of claim 1 , further including a first tube, extending between said motor and said first guide track, for receiving said first cable and a second tube, extending between said motor and said second guide track, for receiving said second cable.

3. The sun visor system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to receive data from a seat occupancy sensor indicating presence of an individual in a seat of said motor vehicle associated with said retractable sun visor panel.

4. The sun visor system of claim 3 , wherein said seat occupancy sensor is a mass sensor associated with an air bag deployment system of the motor vehicle.

5. The sun visor system of claim 3 , wherein said controller is configured to receive data from a sun detection sensor for indicating ambient sunlight and activating said sun visor system when said sunlight exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

6. The sun visor system of claim 1 , further including a monitor for detecting sunlight on a face of an occupant of said seat.

7. The sun visor system of claim 6 , wherein said monitor is a camera.

8. The sun visor system of claim 1 , wherein said retractable sun visor panel comprises a flexible sheet of material wound on a roll.

9. The sun visor system of claim 8 , further including a spring for biasing said roll and drawing said retractable sun visor panel toward said stowed position.

10. The sun visor system of claim 1 , further including an activation switch for said sun visor system.

11. A sun visor system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a retractable sun visor panel;
a controller;
a drive system responsive to said controller to displace said retractable sun visor panel between a stowed position and a fully deployed position; and
a seat occupancy sensor for indicating presence of an individual in a seat of said motor vehicle associated with said retractable sun visor panel, wherein said seat occupancy sensor is a mass sensor associated with an air bag deployment system of the motor vehicle.

12. The sun visor system of claim 11 , further including a monitor for detecting sunlight on a face of an occupant of said seat, said controller being configured to be responsive to said monitor and adjust an operation position of said retractable sun visor panel so as to maintain a sun visor panel cast shadow line below eyes of said operator.

13. The sun visor system of claim 12 , wherein said monitor is a camera.

14. The sun visor system of claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured to receive data from a sun detection sensor for indicating ambient sunlight and activating said sun visor system when said sunlight exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

15. A method of providing sun visor coverage for a windshield of a motor vehicle having a sun visor system, comprising:
providing a first guide track carried on an A-pillar of said motor vehicle;
providing a second guide track carried on a rear view mirror support;
providing a retractable sun visor panel extending between said first guide track and said second guide track; and
monitoring an air bag sensor of the motor vehicle to determine occupancy of a seat associated with said sun visor system.

16. A method of claim 15 , including:
monitoring a face of a motor vehicle seat occupant; and
displacing said retractable sun visor panel between a stowed position and a fully deployed position so as to maintain a sun visor panel cast shadow line below eyes of said operator.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nania Adrian

Classifications

• B60J3/0243 Primary

  sliding out from ceiling · CPC title

• B60J3/0204 Primary

  Sun visors · CPC title

• B60J3/0234

  Mounted slidably · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title