Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-10-02
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S464000, C362S802000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296381
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to an inside light module or a motor vehicle which is preferably mounted within the roof region of the motor vehicle. This inside light module is connected to electrical wires that extend through the motor vehicle. The inside light module forms a unit that is mounted in the motor vehicle near the upper edge of the windshield.
Rain sensors are known which adjoin the inner surface of the windshield within the region swept by the windshield wipers. Rain sensors of this type adapt the control of the windshield wiper system to the degree of wetness of the windshield to be wiped. It is disadvantageous that such rain sensors must be arranged within the region of the windshield that is swept by the windshield wipers and are thus quite visible to the driver. In addition, the sensor also must be connected to electrical wires in order to exchange information with the windshield wiper system and to be driven by the power supply, said electrical wires extending over parts of the windshield. The attempt was made to protect the sensor from coming into contact with passengers by installing the sensor into the base of the rearview mirror, but this resulted in the unsightly appearance of connecting wires that extend over the windshield to the rain sensor.
The invention is based on the objective of attaining a suitable solution for arranging a rain sensor within the region of the windshield such that a pleasing appearance is achieved and the mounting of the rain sensor can be simplified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, in principle, proposes to design the inside light module in such a way that the arrangement of the rain sensor on the windshield can be improved. For this purpose, the inside light module is provided with a projection that serves for covering the rain sensor arranged on the windshield once the inside light module is installed in the motor vehicle. The projection covers the rain sensor as well as its supply wires on the side of the passenger compartment, wherein the projection may simultaneously form a protection for the detectors of the sensor, its electronic circuit, and the required supply wires. One particularly advantageous option consists of a relatively narrow design for the projection, wherein the projection is arranged behind the rearview mirror mounted on the inside light module in such a way that the entire assembly does not hinder the view through the windshield. The thus formed heel of the inside light module may also be designed so that it presses the rain sensor against the windshield once it is installed in the motor vehicle, i.e., a superior coupling of the radiation emitted by the rain sensor with the windshield is ensured. In this case, the rain sensor is not rigidly connected to the windshield, but rather held by the heel or projection of the inside light module. The heel itself may have a certain prestress that presses it against the windshield. However, it would also be conceivable to provide spring devices that press the sensor against the windshield with a highly constant force in fatigue-proof fashion as described further below.
One particularly practical embodiment of the inside light module for mounting the rain sensor utilizes the fact that the inside light module as well as the sensor contains electrical connections, i.e., the power supply leading to the inside light within the module may also serve to drive the rain sensor. This may be realized by means of internal connections within the module. Besides the rain sensor, the inside light module may also be provided with controls, e.g., a control for the sunroof, a remote-control for the power locks of the motor vehicle, a control for the dashboard lighting or a warning display for indicating that the lights are turned on. The module itself may also be provided with plug connections for the rain sensor such that the rain sensor is connected to the corresponding electrical connections when it is plugged into the inside light module. However, a combination of characteristics also includes embodiments in which the connections of the rain sensor as well as the connections of the inside light extend to a common terminal panel. In this case, both components are supplied with power by means of only one plug connection, and the rain sensor and/or the inside light module are also able to exchange information with the windshield wiper control via the terminal panel. With respect to the rain sensor, it is important that its radiant energy reach a region on the outer surface of the windshield which is swept by the wiper blades. This means that the heel must extend correspondingly far downward. Since the uppermost point on the windshield reached by most wiper blades usually lies outside the axis of symmetry of the windshield, it may be practical to place the heel outside the central axis of the motor vehicle, i.e., further toward the side of the driver or the passenger, depending on the given requirements. Since good visibility for the driver is usually the decisive factor, the heel is preferably arranged offset relative to the driver's side of the vehicle.
In order to simplify the installation of the rain sensor in the motor vehicle, the invention proposes to utilize a combination of characteristics in which the rain sensor is already arranged within the light module such that the inside light module and the rain sensor are mounted simultaneously. This also applies to the plug connection of the inside light module which simultaneously realizes connection of the rain sensor.
As described previously, the rain sensor may be pressed against the windshield in this case due to the prestress of the heel. In another solution, a spring device presses the rain sensor that is arranged within the inside light module so that it can be moved toward and against the windshield. In this case, for example, the receptacle may be designed in such a way that the sensor is movably arranged in the receptacle by means of locking elements, whereby the sensor cannot be lost during the transport of the inside light module due to the locking elements.
The inside light module may also accommodate additional components, e.g., switches for turning the interior light on and off, a pivoting inside mirror, and displays, for example, for displaying control statuses or switching conditions and the like. The mounting devices for the inside light module may be arranged in such a way that the inside light module can be mounted on the inside roof lining or on a face plate that is located above the windshield and connected to the roof of the motor vehicle by means of welding.
In summary, the invention and its advantages can be described as follows.
The integration of the rain sensor and the inside light module is particularly suitable for motor vehicle concepts in which the inside mirror is mounted in the roof. If the housing of the inside light module is realized such that it covers the windshield from the inside within the region located behind the inside mirror, a rain sensor can be arranged behind this cover. In this case, the cover must extend downward on the windshield to such an extent that the sensor is located on the windshield within the region swept by the windshield wipers. The rain sensor is mechanically fixed in the inside light cover and pressed against the windshield when mounting the inside light module against the inside roof lining.
The mechanical arrangement for fixing the rain sensor is integrated into the housing of the inside light module, wherein the receptacle is equipped with a spring element that presses the sensor against the windshield and thus ensures the optical coupling between the sensor and the windshield.
The wiring of the rain sensor may be hidden within the housing of the inside light module. In this respect, a direct plug connection between the rain sensor and the housing of the inside light module would also be conceivable.
The advantages of the integration of the rain sensor into the inside light module are described below:
The rain sensor is premounted
Bayha Heiner
Philipps Warner
Sinn Alexandra
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lewis J. Gordon
O'Shea Sandra
Ward John Anthony
LandOfFree
Inside light module with a rain sensor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inside light module with a rain sensor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inside light module with a rain sensor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579768