Vehicle rearview mirror assembly incorporating a communication system
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsRobert R. Turnbull, Robert C. Knapp, Eric J. Walstra, Alan R. Watson, G. Bruce Poe, John K. Roberts, Wayne J. Rumsey
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Abstract
A vehicle communication and control system is provided that may be more readily installed in a vehicle and that utilizes minimal additional wiring. According to some of the disclosed embodiments, the electrical components of the “brick” of a communication and control system are integrated into a rearview mirror assembly. Preferably, the microwave antenna for the GPS and the cellular telephone antenna are also integrated into the rearview mirror assembly. Various functions and features of the system are also disclosed.
Claims192
A vehicle rearview assembly for providing an image of a scene to the rear of the driver of the vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:
- a mounting structure for mounting to the vehicle;
- an audio and data transceiver supported by said mounting structure, capable of receiving both audio and data signals from a second audio and data transceiver of at least one portable device associated with the vehicle;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to said audio and data transceiver, said control circuit determines whether one of said portable devices is within range of said audio and data transceiver, and processes a data signal received by said audio and data transceiver from said one of said portable devices, and generates a control signal in response to such a data signal.
A vehicle rearview assembly for providing an image of a scene to the rear of the driver of the vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:
- a mounting structure for mounting to the vehicle;
- an audio and data transceiver supported by said mounting structure, capable of receiving both audio and data signals from at least one portable telephone associated with the vehicle;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to said audio and data transceiver, said control circuit determines whether a portable telephone is within the range of said audio and data transceiver and processes a data signal received by said audio and data transceiver from said portable telephone, and generates a control signal in response to such a data signal.
A vehicle rearview assembly for providing an image of a scene to the rear of the driver of the vehicle, said rearview assembly comprising:
- a mounting structure for mounting to the vehicle;
- an audio and data transceiver supported by said mounting structure, capable of receiving both audio and data signals from at least one portable telephone associated with the vehicle;
- a hands-free microphone carried by said mounting structure and in communication with said audio and data transceiver;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to said audio and data transceiver, said control circuit determines whether a portable telephone having a predetermined identification code is within the range of said audio and data transceiver and exchanges data with the portable telephone through said audio and data transceiver, wherein said control circuit enables speech to be picked up by said hands-free microphone and transmitted to a called party through said audio and data transceiver and a transceiver provided in the portable telephone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.