US 7,460,007 B2 · Console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle

Abstract

An improved console system is provided that is suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a roof and a windshield having an upper portion. The improved console system comprises a console assembly that includes a headliner portion disposed at the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle and that further includes a windshield portion disposed at the upper portion of the windshield that extends downwardly from the headliner portion. The downwardly extending windshield portion includes an image capturing device having a field of view through the windshield in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle that preferably captures images at least one chosen from (a) a forward park-aid system, (b) a collision avoidance system, and (c) an automatic headlamp control system.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An improved console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a roof and a windshield having an upper portion, said console system comprising:

a console assembly;
said console assembly including a headliner portion disposed at the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle;
said console assembly further including a windshield portion extending downwardly from said headliner portion, said downwardly extending portion being disposed at the upper portion of the windshield;
said downwardly extending windshield portion of said console assembly including at least one vehicle accessory;
wherein said at least one vehicle accessory comprises a sensor having a field of view through the windshield in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
wherein said sensor comprises an image capturing device;
wherein said image capturing device captures images at least one chosen from (a) for a forward park-aid system, (b) for a collision avoidance system, and (c) for an automatic headlamp control system;
and
wherein said downwardly extending windshield portion either attaches at or contacts at or is set-off from the inner surface of the windshield.

6 more elements

An improved console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a roof and a windshield having an upper portion, said console system comprising:

a console assembly;
said console assembly including a headliner portion disposed at the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle;
said console assembly further including a windshield portion extending downwardly from said headliner portion, said downwardly extending portion being disposed at the upper portion of the windshield;
said downwardly extending windshield portion of said console assembly including at least one vehicle accessory;
wherein said at least one vehicle accessory comprises a sensor having a field of view through the windshield in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
wherein said sensor comprises an image capturing device;
wherein said image capturing device comprises a CMOS camera;
wherein said image capturing device captures images at least one chosen from (a) for a forward park-aid system, (b) for a collision avoidance system, and (c) for an automatic headlamp control system;
and
wherein said headliner portion comprises an accessory chosen from (a) a component of a tire pressure monitoring system, (b) a user actuatable device, (c) a component of a garage door opener system, (d) a component of a trip computer, (e) a component of an electronic toll collection system, (f) a component of a sound system, (g) a component of a cellular phone system, (h) a component of a telematic system, (i) a component of a roadside assistance system, (j) an antenna, (k) a sensor, (l) an image capturing device, (m) a light, (n) a speaker, (o) a microphone, (p) a component of a seat occupancy detector system, (q) a component of an air bag system, and (r) a display.

7 more elements

An improved console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a roof and a windshield having an upper portion, said console system comprising:

a console assembly;
said console assembly including a headliner portion disposed at the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle;
said console assembly further including a windshield portion extending downwardly from said headliner portion, said downwardly extending portion being disposed at the upper portion of the windshield;
said downwardly extending windshield portion of said console assembly including at least one vehicle accessory;
wherein said at least one vehicle accessory comprises a sensor having a field of view through the windshield in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
wherein said sensor comprises an image capturing device;
wherein said downwardly extending windshield portion of said console assembly includes another accessory chosen from (a) a component of a tire pressure monitoring system, (b) a user actuatable device, (c) a component of a garage door opener system, (d) a component of a trip computer, (e) a component of an electronic toll collection system, (f) a component of a sound system, (g) a component of a cellular phone system, (h) a component of a telematic system, (i) a component of a roadside assistance system, (j) an antenna, (k) a sensor, (l) an image capturing device, (m) a light, (n) a speaker, (o) a microphone, (p) a component of a seat occupancy detector system, (q) a component of an air bag system, and (r) a display;
and
wherein said headliner portion comprises an accessory chosen from (a) a component of a tire pressure monitoring system, (b) a user actuatable device, (c) a component of a garage door opener system, (d) a component of a trip computer, (e) a component of an electronic toll collection system, (f) a component of a sound system, (g) a component of a cellular phone system, (h) a component of a telematic system, (i) a component of a roadside assistance system, (j) an antenna, (k) a sensor, (l) an image capturing device, (m) a light, (n) a speaker, (o) a microphone, (p) a component of a seat occupancy detector system, (q) a component of an air bag system, and (r) a display.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle

Life of this patent

Console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36