US 8,508,593 B1 · Vehicle accessory system · patentgrep

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Abstract

An accessory system for a vehicle includes a mounting element attached at a vehicle windshield, a module mounted at a side of the mounting element that opposes the side that attaches at the windshield, and a camera disposed in the module. The module includes attaching structure that cooperates with attaching structure of the mounting element in order to detachably mount the module at the mounting element. The camera, with the module mounted at the mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, may view forwardly through the vehicle windshield via a generally wedge-shaped structure. The camera captures image data for a driver assistance system of the vehicle. Electrical circuitry is disposed in the module and, with the module mounted at the mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, the electrical circuitry communicates over a vehicle communication bus with at least one system of the vehicle.

Claims90

Dependent claims

An accessory system for a vehicle, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with the accessory system;
wherein said mounting element comprises an attachment portion at a first side of said mounting element for attachment of said mounting element at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, at least when said mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield, a module is mounted at a second side of said mounting element that opposes said first side;
wherein said module includes attaching structure that cooperates with attaching structure of said mounting element in order to detachably mount said module at said mounting element;
wherein said module has a windshield-facing side that faces towards the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a cabin-facing side that faces away from the vehicle windshield towards the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a housing having a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;
wherein a camera is disposed in said module;
said camera comprising a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein said camera, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, views forwardly through the vehicle windshield via a generally wedge-shaped structure of the windshield-facing side of said housing;
wherein said camera captures image data for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle;
and
wherein electrical circuitry is disposed in said module and wherein, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, said electrical circuitry communicates over a vehicle communication bus with at least one system of the equipped vehicle.

10 more elements

An accessory system for a vehicle, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with the accessory system;
wherein said mounting element comprises an attachment portion at a first side of said mounting element for attachment of said mounting element at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, at least when said mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield, a module is mounted at a second side of said mounting element that opposes said first side;
wherein said module includes attaching structure that cooperates with attaching structure of said mounting element in order to detachably mount said module at said mounting element;
wherein said module has a windshield-facing side that faces towards the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a cabin-facing side that faces away from the vehicle windshield towards the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a housing having a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;
wherein a camera is disposed in said module;
said camera comprising a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein said camera, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, views forwardly through the vehicle windshield via a generally wedge-shaped structure of the windshield-facing side of said housing;
wherein said camera captures image data for driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein electrical circuitry is disposed in said module and wherein, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, said electrical circuitry communicates over a vehicle communication bus with at least one system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said lens is spaced from the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, with said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield and with said module mounted at said mounting element, the principal axis of the forward field of view of said camera is generally at or below horizontal;
and
wherein at least one of (a) said electrical circuitry communicates over said vehicle communication bus to provide an output to at least one system of the equipped vehicle and (b) said electrical circuitry receives an input over said vehicle communication bus from at least one system of the equipped vehicle.

13 more elements

An accessory system for a vehicle, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with the accessory system;
wherein said mounting element comprises an attachment portion at a first side of said mounting element for attachment of said mounting element at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, at least when said mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield, a module is mounted at a second side of said mounting element that opposes said first side;
wherein said module includes attaching structure that cooperates with attaching structure of said mounting element in order to detachably mount said module at said mounting element;
wherein said module has a windshield-facing side that faces towards the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a cabin-facing side that faces away from the vehicle windshield towards the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a housing having a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;
wherein a camera is disposed in said module;
said camera comprising a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein said camera, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, views forwardly through the vehicle windshield;
wherein said camera captures image data for at least two of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a vehicle detection system of the equipped vehicle and (v) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein electrical circuitry is disposed in said module and wherein, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, said electrical circuitry communicates over a vehicle communication bus with at least one system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said lens is spaced from the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, with said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield and with said module mounted at said mounting element, the principal axis of the forward field of view of said camera is generally at or below horizontal;
wherein said electrical circuitry is disposed on a printed circuit board and wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a microprocessor, memory and a power supply;
and
wherein at least one of (a) said electrical circuitry communicates over said vehicle communication bus to provide an output to at least one system of the equipped vehicle and (b) said electrical circuitry receives an input over said vehicle communication bus from at least one system of the equipped vehicle.

14 more elements

An accessory system for a vehicle, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with the accessory system;
wherein said mounting element comprises an attachment portion at a first side of said mounting element for attachment of said mounting element at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, at least when said mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield, a module is mounted at a second side of said mounting element that opposes said first side;
wherein said module includes attaching structure that cooperates with attaching structure of said mounting element in order to detachably mount said module at said mounting element;
wherein said module has a windshield-facing side that faces towards the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a cabin-facing side that faces away from the vehicle windshield towards the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a housing having a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;
wherein a camera is disposed in said module;
said camera comprising a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein said camera, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, views forwardly through the vehicle windshield;
wherein said camera captures image data for at least two of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a vehicle detection system of the equipped vehicle and (v) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein electrical circuitry is disposed in said module and wherein, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, said electrical circuitry communicates over a vehicle communication bus with at least one system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said lens is spaced from the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said electrical circuitry is disposed on a printed circuit board and wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a microprocessor, memory and a power supply;
wherein said electrical circuitry communicates over said vehicle communication bus to provide an output to at least one system of the equipped vehicle and said electrical circuitry receives an input over said vehicle communication bus from at least one system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein at least two of (i) said attachment portion of said mounting element is generally flat, (ii) said mounting element comprises a metallic mounting element, (iii) said attachment portion of said mounting element is configured for adhesive attachment at the vehicle windshield and (iv) said attaching structure of said module snap attaches to said mounting element to mount said module at said mounting element;
and
wherein at least one of (a) said output communicated over said vehicle communication bus comprises a status indication, (b) said output communicated over said vehicle communication bus comprises a status indication, (c) said output communicated over said vehicle communication bus comprises least one of (i) an intelligent headlamp control status, (ii) a rain sensor status, (iii) a compass status, (iv) an ambient light level status, (v) an exterior condition status, (vi) an autolamp status and (vii) a sunload status, and (c) said input received over said vehicle communication bus comprises at least one of (i) an intelligent headlamp control enabled status, (ii) an intelligent headlamp control disabled status, (iii) a gear transmission status, (iv) a headlamp status, (v) a vehicle speed, (vi) a steering wheel angle and (vii) a turn signal status.

15 more elements

An accessory system for a vehicle, said vehicular accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with the accessory system;
wherein said mounting element comprises an attachment portion at a first side of said mounting element for attachment of said mounting element at the vehicle windshield;
wherein, at least when said mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield, a module is mounted at a second side of said mounting element that opposes said first side;
wherein said module includes attaching structure that cooperates with attaching structure of said mounting element in order to detachably mount said module at said mounting element;
wherein said module has a windshield-facing side that faces towards the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a cabin-facing side that faces away from the vehicle windshield towards the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said module has a housing having a windshield-facing side and a cabin-facing side;
wherein a camera is disposed in said module;
said camera comprising a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens;
wherein said camera, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, views forwardly through the vehicle windshield;
wherein said camera captures image data for at least two of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a vehicle detection system of the equipped vehicle and (v) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein electrical circuitry is disposed in said module and wherein, with said module mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield, said electrical circuitry communicates over a vehicle communication bus with at least one system of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said lens is spaced from the vehicle windshield when said module is mounted at said mounting element attached at the vehicle windshield;
wherein said electrical circuitry is disposed on a printed circuit board and wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a microprocessor, memory and a power supply;
and
wherein said electrical circuitry communicates over said vehicle communication bus to provide an output to at least one system of the equipped vehicle and said electrical circuitry receives an input over said vehicle communication bus from at least one system of the equipped vehicle.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/800,681Filed 13 Mar 2013 · continuation
Priority: 31 Jan 2002
Published: US 2013/0194425 A11 Aug 2013
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

B60R 1/10
Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or…:…
B60R 1/04
Rear-view mirror arrangements: mounted inside vehicle
B60R 1/12
Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or…:…
B60R 11/04
Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for: mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls…

Family

Application60/350,965Us provisional application · filed 31 Jan 2002
Application60/364,008Us provisional application · filed 14 Mar 2002
Application60/374,724Us provisional application · filed 23 Apr 2002
Application60/381,314Us provisional application · filed 17 May 2002
Application60/398,346Us provisional application · filed 24 Jul 2002
Application60/420,560Us provisional application · filed 23 Oct 2002
Application10/355,454Parent of this division · filed 31 Jan 2003
Application10/958,087Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Oct 2004
US 6,824,281 B2Parent of this division · filed 30 Nov 2004
Application11/716,834Parent of this division · filed 12 Mar 2007
US 7,188,963 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Mar 2007
Application12/132,373Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Jun 2008
US 7,533,998 B2Parent of this division · filed 19 May 2009
Application13/470,860Parent of this continuation · filed 14 May 2012
US 8,179,437 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 15 May 2012
US 8,405,726 B2Parent of this continuation
Application12/132,373Parent of this division
Application11/716,834Parent of this continuation
Application10/958,087Parent of this division
US 2003/0169522 A1Published application
US 2005/0046978 A1Published application
US 2007/0297075 A1Published application
US 2008/0231704 A1Published application
US 2012/0224065 A1Published application
US 2013/0194425 A1Published application
US 8,508,593 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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