Supports – Mirror or picture type – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-14
2001-11-20
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Mirror or picture type
Bracket
C248S549000, C359S871000, C280S735000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318697
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to sensor mounting installations for automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the. occupant with respect to the vehicle interior, and more particularly to an automobile rear-view mirror mounting assembly for AOS sensors, particularly those monitoring Keep-Out-Zones (KOZ). The assembly is characterised by a cantilevered arm extension of the mirror mount, the
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arm being pivoted from the vehicle roof or a roof-mounted AOS console. The cantilevered arm carries the electronic connections linking the KOZI sensor(s) to the AOS system, the mount also being fixed to the windshield by a zero-force attachment assembly which permits the mounting assembly to be detached for windshield maintenance or replacement without compromising the electronic connections.
BACKGROUND ART
For background on AOS systems see Corrado et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,314. Such systems produce a signal for input to the airbag deployment system (ADS), which if the occupant is out of position (OOP) or in a rear facing infant seat (RFIS) (in the front seat of a vehicle), the deployment of the airbag is aborted, deferred or otherwise controlled. Such deployment systems are known as Smart Airbag Systems (SAS), and may respond to AOS signals by a decision process to: deploy or not (abort deployment), or modify deployment for dual phase airbags, multiphase, or for partial or controlled rate inflation airbags.
Recent studies have revealed that there is a class of slow speed automotive accidents causing injury to children, youngsters and frail adults. This usually occurs when the &Dgr;V of the “crash” is 18 miles per hour or less, where the occupant is unbelted or in an RFIS and the driver jams on the brake. The airbag deployment sensor experiences a G-force great enough to signal deployment. Typically, in the low speed accident, the child has slid, or is sliding forward into the Instrument Panel (IP) when the airbag deploys. The airbag deployment injures the child because it is too close, having intruded into the Keep Out Zone (KOZ).
Our co-pending application Ser. No. 08/957,730, filed Oct. 23, 1997, entitled KEEP OUT ZONE INCURSION FAST SENSING MODE FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,729, issued Jun. 19, 2001 discloses a KOZI sensing system applicable to the present invention. This application relates to AOS systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior, and more particularly the occupant seat and dashboard or instrument panel to develop a signal usable by the ADS.
The AOS and KOZI sensors may employ various sensor means. For example ultrasonic active transmission/reception sensors and infrared passive sensors may be used, either alone or in combination. Specific “zones” of the vehicle interior are sampled by each system with respect to a front passenger seat: the AOS sensor detecting the occupancy state of the passenger seat area; and the KOZI sensor detecting the incursion status of a “keep-out zone”, generally defined by an area near the instrument panel forward of the passenger seat. In view of the different sampling target zones, these types of sensors have different mounting orientation requirements. The AOS electronics may be located in a console mounted in or on the headliner or header. The AOS and KOZI sensors may be mounted in the console or some other location in the interior, in which case they are connected to the console signal processing electronics by wiring in the headliner. The usual places for mounting of the AOS sensors, including a look-down KOZI sensor, are in the headliner or on the IP.
Automotive rear-view mirrors and their mounting brackets present a possible location for mounting sensors, particularly KOZI sensor(s). However, several problems for this location arise from the design and construction of conventional rear-view mirrors. In modern automobiles the mirror is typically independently supported by a bracket glued or bonded to the front windshield. This does not provide a protected path for wiring leading from the sensors to the AOS console as wiring bonded to the windshield is very vulnerable to physical wear and solar damage. In addition, such wiring would likely be damaged and require replacement in the event that the windshield is replaced, adding to the cost, time and inconvenience of windshield repair and AOS maintenance, particularly the calibration of these sensitive instruments. In addition, the sensors themselves may be damaged and/or become misaligned in the process of removing the mirror and its re-mounting during windshield replacement.
SUMMARY, OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
This invention includes the following features, functions, objects and advantages in an improved automotive mirror mounting system for use with an AOS/KOZI sensor system A mounting which: is simple to install; is suitable for mounting KOZI and/or sensors; provides a protected path for wiring connecting such sensors with an AOS console mounted on the headliner; is quickly removable from the windshield to allow windshield replacement or maintenance; can be removed without applying substantial force to the mounting, thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the sensors; and is replaceable in precise orientation for proper alignment to look at a specified zone. Other objects and advantages will be evident from the description, drawings and claims.
The mirror mount of the invention comprises a cantilevered arm pivotally connected at its upper, rearward end in a first embodiment to an AOS console mounted in or on the headliner adjacent the windshield header. The arm spans forward and downward to a mirror mounting bracket to which it is permanently or removably mounted. The mirror mounting bracket in turn is removably fastened at its base to the windshield below the windshield header. This removable fastening is preferably a zero-force alignment/attachment assembly, which in a principal embodiment includes an attachment button glued to the inside of the windshield.
The cantilever arm and mirror mounting bracket may be formed as separate components joined by suitable fasteners or bonding means, such as set screws, bolts or glue, or the arm and bracket may be integrally formed. The arm, bracket and zero-force alignment/attachment assemblies may be formed of conventional materials used for such automotive accessories, such as machined or molded aluminum, polymers or composites.
The mirror mounting bracket includes an adjustable attachment, such as a ball joint, for a rearview mirror on the aft-facing surface of the bracket. The bracket is also provided with at least one mounting pad or location suitable for mounting KOZI and/or other types of AOS sensors. Preferably there is a mounting pad for a KOZI sensor(s) located on the underside of the bracket adjacent the attachment to the windshield. Installed at this location, the sensors can be oriented to sample the incursions into the Keep-Out-Zone in the area lying generally below the mirror mounting assembly. Optionally, AOS and/or KOZI sensors may be built in the mirror itself Both the cantilever arm and mounting bracket contain a channel or internal conduit for sensor wiring communicating with the AOS console at one end and with the sensor mounting pad(s) and the mirror at the other.
In an alternative embodiment, the cantilever arm may connect at its upper, rearward end to a pivotal mounting plate in or on the headliner adjacent the windshield header, and the wiring located in the conduit or channel in the arm may communicate with wiring located between the headliner and the roof, leading to the AOS console. The pivotal mounting plate may be secured to the header or be an integral or discrete part of the AOS console.
The zero-force attachment assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a gripping member such as a flanged spring attached to the base of the mounting bracket facing the windshield, the spring in turn releasably gripping a beveled attachment b
Corrado Anthony P.
Lehntz Tomas
Dulin Jacques M.
Innovation Law Group, Ltd.
King Anita
Robert Bosch Corporation
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