10671 results about "Windshield" patented technology

A self-contained device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event may include a mirror and be mounted to a vehicle windshield in place of a conventional rear-view mirror. The device includes a housing in which the electronics and related elements of the invention are contained. These elements include one or more data sensors, at least one of which is an image sensor,. Also included are a data sensor circuit and a capture circuit. The data sensor circuit responds to the triggering event, and may include data sensors coupled to vehicle systems such as a speedometer, tachometer, brake, turn signals or the like, or other data sensors such as an accelerometer or a vehicle position sensor. The triggering event may be, for example, a sudden change in acceleration indicative of an impending collision, or it may be a change in the signal provided by any such data sensor, including the image sensor. The capture circuit is coupled to the image sensor and captures a signal representing the video imagery by recording it in a digital memory, by transmitting it to a remote location, or by other suitable means. The capture circuit terminates capture of the signal in response to the data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event. The captured data thus describe circumstances leading up to the time of the triggering event. The data can be analyzed to help police, insurance or other investigative personnel understand those circumstances.

An accessory module is mountable to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield and includes a mounting element securable to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle, and an accessory support having a base portion attachable to the mounting element. The accessory support includes an accessory holding element configured to hold an accessory, at least one circuitry holding element configured to hold a printed circuit board at the accessory support, and an electrical connector for electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the accessory to an electrical source of the vehicle. The base portion, the accessory holding element and the circuitry holding element are integrally molded together so that the accessory support comprises a unitarily molded accessory support. The accessory module includes a cover portion attachable to the accessory support to substantially encompass the accessory and the printed circuit board within the accessory module.

In a vehicle, means of mounting a cell phone on the vehicle dashboard with minimal wiring and external connections, using manufacturer power connections made available on the dashboard. The mounting means is either an after market accessory addition to the vehicle or a option available at the time of purchase to render easy and convenient mounting of the cell phone without loose wires and providing proper positioning of a video camera built into the cell phone. The cell phone is positioned for viewing either through the windshield or backward onto the occupants enabling monitoring accidents between vehicles, the result of an accident on the occupants of the vehicle or for security monitoring of the trespassers within the vehicle. This is accomplished by mounting the camera at the dashboard. Another advantage is to improve the power output of the cell phone by positioning the antenna (part of the hand held cell phone device) near the windshield.

A vehicular rain sensor mounting system comprises a module assembly adapted for attachment to an attachment member on the inner surface of a vehicle windshield. The module assembly comprises a first side configured to be generally adjacent the inner surface of the vehicle windshield and a second side generally opposing the first side. A rearview mirror assembly mounting member is provided at the second side. The system further comprises a rearview mirror assembly having a mirror mount adapted for attachment to the rearview mirror assembly mounting member provided at the second side of the module assembly. The module assembly includes a rain sensor having a detecting surface. The detecting surface of the rain sensor contacts the inner surface of the windshield when the module assembly is attached to the attachment member on the inner surface of the vehicle windshield.

An accessory system of a vehicle comprises an accessory module assembly having a mounting portion, a head portion and a rearview mirror assembly. The mounting portion extends generally upward when mounted to an attachment member at a vehicle windshield. The head portion may extend generally horizontally and rearwardly with respect to the vehicle from an upper portion of the mounting portion. The head portion comprises electronic circuitry for at least one accessory. The mirror assembly is mountable to the mounting portion, with the head portion of the accessory module assembly extending generally above the mirror casing. The head portion may be viewable and / or user accessible above the mirror casing when the mirror assembly is mounted to the mounting portion. The head portion may be pivotable or articulatable relative to the base portion of the accessory module assembly.

A projection system, such as a system suitable for head-up displays in automobiles, includes a laser projection source (101) and a scanner (102). Light from the laser projection source (101) is scanned across a projection surface (104), which can be a car's windshield. The projection surface (104) includes a buried numerical aperture expander (105) capable of reflecting some light and transmitting other light. The system may also include an image projection source (551) capable of presenting high-resolution images on a sub-region (552) of the projection surface (604) that has a optical relay (650) disposed therein.

A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device, a cover panel and a control. The radar sensor device is disposed at a pocket established at an upper edge of the vehicle windshield and having a forward transmitting and receiving direction that is not through the windshield. The cover panel is disposed at the radar sensor device and is substantially sealed at the vehicle windshield at or near the pocket at the upper edge of the vehicle windshield. The cover panel has a material that is substantially transmissive to radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves. The radar sensor device emits radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves that transmit through the cover panel. The control is responsive to an output of the radar sensor device.

The present invention includes a number of embodiments for improving vehicle situational awareness at intersections. A first embodiment may comprise a lens fitted at the top of the windshield or outside the vehicle, for refracting the light to the driver, so the driver may more easily see signals, signage and other features of an intersection, as well as other traffic. A second embodiment of the invention is used as an aid to prompt the driver that a light has changed. In a third embodiment, the light change sensor may be combined with other vehicle status information. As the car comes to a stop, the route guidance system may determine if the vehicle is at or in the vicinity of an intersection. Depending on the route guidance database, the system may also know whether or not there are traffic lights at the intersection. Using the vehicle's on board forward-looking radar sensor, the system may then determine if it is first in line at the intersection. In a fourth embodiment the system may be part of a portable after-market routing device. In a fifth embodiment the system, either portable or fixed, may be used to detect changes in the intensity of the brake lights of the vehicle ahead.

An integrated radar-camera sensor is provided which includes a camera sensor component and a radar sensor component both housed within a common single module housing. The sensor module also includes processing circuitry for processing the radar sensor and camera outputs. The sensor module is located behind the windshield of a vehicle and may include glare and / or EMI shields.

An improved header console system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle including a header console assembly, with a headliner portion disposed at the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle and a windshield portion extending from the headliner, with the windshield portion provided at the windshield. In addition, the windshield portion includes at least one vehicle accessory.

Continuous webs of self supporting adhesive sheet incorporating at least one layer of a polymeric composition such as polyvinyl butyral and comprising at least one area of a non-uniform thickness profile are provided. These webs are useful in the production of barrier windshields for heads-up display systems. The windshields may also optionally have acoustic barrier properties.

A heads-up display (HUD) adaptor for use in combination with an existing heads-up display (HUD) unit, wherein the HUD adaptor receives an electronic peripheral device in order to display electronic data and information from the peripheral on the screen of the existing HUD unit on a vehicle's windshield. The HUD adaptor includes a proximal end, a distal end and a cable therebetween; wherein the proximal end has a first adaptor plug; and the distal end has a second adaptor plug. The existing HUD unit includes a heads-up display screen on a front windshield of the vehicle and a heads-up display control unit is positioned within a control panel on a steering wheel of the vehicle for controlling each of the electronic peripherals. The HUD unit includes a USB panel member having a plurality of USB receiving ports for receiving one or more of the HUD adaptors therein. The first adaptor plug of the HUD adaptor is received within a receiving port of an electronic communication device; and the second adaptor plug of the HUD adaptor is received within one of the plurality of the USB receiving ports of the USB panel member for electronically connecting the HUD adaptor to the HUD control unit.

A head-worn computer including a see-through display includes a positional sensor system adapted to provide position feedback indicative of an alignment of the see-through display with a forward facing view through a windshield of a vehicle, a communication system adapted to connect the head-worn computer with a vehicle warning system, and a processor adapted to cause the head-worn computer to produce tactile feedback when the positional sensor system indicates that the see-through display is not aligned with the forward facing view and the vehicle warning system produces a warning signal.

Vacuum deposition processes such as sputter-depositing are employed to deposit electrically conductive bus bars onto thin film transparent conductor sheets. These assemblies provide efficient and durable electrical connections to the conductor sheets which can be laminated into glazing structures such as automotive windshields to provide resistance heating for defogging and deicing or the provide an electrical connection for in-window antennas and in window radiation shields.

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for integrating head-worn computing into an automotive environment. A method for providing displayed content to a user of a head-mounted display while operating a vehicle with improved safety may include determining if the user is looking through a windshield of the vehicle or at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior. If the user is looking through the windshield, the displayed content is prevented from being provided for viewing by the user within a display field of view of the head mounted display. If the user is looking at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior, displayed content is provided for viewing by the user within the display field of view.