Abstract:
A sun visor, and method of assembling a sun visor, including an integrally molded, synthetic plastic, unitary visor frame (14). The visor frame (14) supports an expanded cellular synthetic resin padding (16) and has an indentation (18) in which is mounted a vanity housing (56) including an illuminated vanity mirror (74). The visor frame (14) has several attachment ears (32) which extend into an opening (18A) in the frame (14) for attaching the vanity housing (56) to the frame (14). During assembly, an expanded, cellular synthetic resin, such as expanded polypropylene or other suitable padding material, is applied to the outer portions of the frame, leaving the attachment ears exposed at the edges of the opening in the central portion of the visor frame. The pad is then covered with a suitable cover material and the vanity housing is then secured, preferably by screws, to bosses in the attachment ears. An electrical power cable is threaded through a tube (28) integrally molded in the frame (14) and is attached to electrical connectors (64) in the vanity housing. A tubular lamp (66) is secured to the electrical connectors (64) and a vanity frame (14) supporting a mirror (74) and a lens (76) is secured to the vanity housing.
Abstract:
A vehicle headlamp control method and apparatus includes providing an imaging sensor (14) that senses light in spatially separated regions of a field of view forward of the vehicle. Light levels sensed in individual regions of the field of view by a sensor array (38) are evaluated in order to identify light sources of interest, such as oncoming headlights and leading taillights. The vehicle's headlights (18) are controlled by lighting control logic (16) in response to identifying such particular light sources or absence of such light sources. Spectral signatures of light sources may be examined in order to determine if the spectral signature matches that of particular light sources such as the spectral signatures of headlights or taillights. Sensed light levels may also be evaluated for their spatial distributions in order to identify light sources of interest.
Abstract:
A vehicle global positioning system (10) includes a mirror assembly (14) having a reflective element (26) and a housing (15) for the reflective element (26) that is electrically non-conducting. The system further includes a global positioning system receiver and a control module (22) and at least one receiving antenna (18). The vehicle global positioning system (10) is adapted to receive earth satellite signals with the receiving antenna (18) and to convert the signal to location, velocity and/or time parameters. The vehicle global positioning system (10) includes a plurality of global positioning system receiving antenna, such as one located in the vehicle's driver side exterior mirror and the other located in the vehicle's passenger side exterior mirror.
Abstract:
A rearview vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system displays an image synthesized from output of the image capture device. The display system is preferably contiguous with the forward field of view of the vehicle driver at a focal length that is forward of the vehicle passenger compartment. A plurality of image capture devices may be provided and the display system displays a unitary image synthesized from outputs of the image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location, such as forward of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A mounting clip assembly (10) for mounting an accessory (16) to a roof sheet metal bracket (18). A mounting clip (12) is fastened to or molded with the accessory (16) and comprises two diverging legs (30, 32), which are snap-fit into an aperture (24) in the roof sheet metal bracket (18). A locking bezel (14) has a pair of lugs (52) and a locking finger (54), which are inserted between the legs (30, 32) to prevent the relative movement of the legs (30, 32). The locking finger (54) is received within a slot (36) on one of the legs (30, 32) to releasably fasten the bezel (14) to the clip (12).
Abstract:
A headliner (30) for a vehicle (18) is formed with accessories having clips for mounting the accessories and the headliner (30) to the roof (20) of a vehicle (18). The headliner (30) is received within a tray (100) that supports the headliner (30) during shipping from the headliner manufacturing plant to the vehicle assembly plant. The tray (100) further provides support for the headliner (30) during installation of the headliner (30) into the vehicle (18). Thus, the headliner (30) can be manufactured without structural supports reinforced areas because the headliner (30) is structurally supported by the tray (100) during shipping and installation.
Abstract:
A single-sided gasketed panel assembly (20) for use as a flush-mounted panel or window in vehicles, buildings, or other structures, as well as a method and apparatus for making such panel assemblies, wherein the panel assembly (20) comprises a sheet-like panel (22) having a primer layer (46) and at least one polymeric gasket (32) molded to the panel on the primer layer. The primer applied to the panel has a predetermined transition temperature above which improved adhesion properties are exhibited for polymeric gaskets (32) molded thereon when the primer is at or above such temperature.