Abstract:
Bonded vehicular glass assemblies utilizing two-component urethane adhesives to attach dynamic load-bearing attachment members to glass substrates to form a joint suitable for use on a vehicle, and related methods of forming are described herein. In addition, methods of attaching components to glass by use of these adhesives are disclosed. The method of forming the assemblies may include priming the glass panel prior to applying the adhesive to the primed glass panel and/or attachment member. The method may include allowing the urethane adhesive to cure to form a layer of cured urethane adhesive bonding the attachment member to the first surface of the glass panel without exposure of the bonded attachment member on the second surface of the panel. The cured adhesive layer disposed between the attachment member and the glass panel may have a thickness in the range from about 0.25 mm to about 2.0 mm.
Abstract:
A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly having a first portion adapted for mounting to a vehicle, a second portion, and a reflective element. An actuator is operable to adjust the rearward field of view of the reflective element. A turn signal indicator assembly is provided that includes a single light emitting source. Light emitted by the single light emitting source is visible at least to a driver of another overtaking vehicle when actuated by an operator of the vehicle, and preferably not visible to at least one of (a) a driver of another vehicle approaching from a direction opposite to that of the direction of travel of the vehicle to which the exterior mirror assembly is mounted and (b) the operator of the vehicle to which the exterior mirror assembly is mounted.
Abstract:
A handle/liftgate assembly for a door of a vehicle is mounted to a handle region of a vehicle door and includes a handle control and a handle sensor. The handle control is responsive to the handle sensor to detect the presence of or proximity of a user or operator at the vehicle door. The handle control actuates a door latch of the vehicle door to open the vehicle door independent of a door zone module or passive entry system of the vehicle door.
Abstract:
An exterior vehicle mirror system has a support mounted to the side of the vehicle; a support arm extending from said support to a distal end; a mirror housing movable along said support arm from a first position proximate said fixed support to a second position proximate said distal end, and enclosing a mirror unit and an electrically powered mirror unit adjust mechanism for adjusting said mirror unit about horizontal and vertical axes; an electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism for pivoting said support arm about said support between an extended position and a folded position, and for moving said mirror housing along said support arm from said first position to said second position; and an electronic control system operable by a driver of the vehicle to control the operation of said powered pivoting and extending mechanism independent of the operation of said powered mirror unit adjust mechanism.
Abstract:
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate having an indicator receiving portion established thereat, and a signal indication module having a light source. The signal indication module attaches to the indicator receiving portion of the mirror back plate and the light source is activatable to emit light through the indicator receiving portion. The light source is established at a circuit element and the signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases the circuit element therein. The circuit element has electrical terminals extending therefrom and protruding at least partially at a connector portion of the housing so as to be electrically connectable to a power source of the vehicle. The connector portion of the housing is configured to provide a plug-socket connection between the power source and the signal indication module.
Abstract:
A vehicular video mirror system includes a display device having a video display screen accommodated by a mirror head of an interior rearview mirror assembly. The vehicular video mirror system is operable in a mirror mode or a display mode. A vehicle-mounted rearward-viewing digital camera is disposed at the vehicle and a trailer-mounted rearward-viewing analog camera is disposed at a trailer that is configured to be hitched to the vehicle. With no trailer hitched to the vehicle, and when the vehicular video mirror system operates in the display mode, the video display screen displays video images derived from image data captured by the vehicle-mounted rearward-viewing camera. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle, and when the vehicular video mirror system operates in the display mode, the video display screen displays rearward-view video images derived from image data captured by the trailer-mounted rearward-viewing camera.
Abstract:
A vehicular vision system includes a camera disposed at structure at a side of a vehicle. The structure extends outward from a side of the vehicle so that the camera views at least rearward of the vehicle. The structure includes an air conduit having an air inlet at a forward portion of the structure and an air outlet at a rearward portion of the structure. The air conduit is adjustable between a closed state and an opened state. As the vehicle moves in a forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the closed state, airflow does not flow from the air inlet through the air conduit to the air outlet, and with the air conduit in the opened state, airflow flows through the air inlet and is directed from the air outlet toward a lens of the camera.
Abstract:
A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior-viewing camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly within an interior cabin of a vehicle. A light emitter is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly and, when electrically operated, emits near infrared light to illuminate at least a portion of the interior cabin that is viewed by the interior-viewing camera. Image data captured by the camera is transferred to and is processed at an electronic control unit (ECU). The vehicular cabin monitoring system, via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the interior-viewing camera, (i) detects presence of an occupant occupying a seat within the vehicle and (ii) determines posture of the occupant relative to the occupied seat. Based at least in part on the determined posture of the occupant relative to the occupied seat, improper posture of the occupant relative to the occupied seat is determined.
Abstract:
A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a mirror head that accommodates a mirror reflective element, a video display screen, and a driver monitoring camera that views at least a driver's head region of the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicular driver monitoring system, based at least in part on processing of image data captured by the driver monitoring camera, determines a gaze direction of the driver. Based at least in part on determination that the gaze direction of the driver is directed is toward the mirror assembly, the video display screen is electrically operated to display video images at a first brightness, and responsive to determination that the gaze direction of the driver is not directed toward the mirror assembly, the video display screen is electrically operated to display video images at a second brightness that is less than the first brightness.
Abstract:
A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head that accommodates a prismatic mirror reflective element and a camera. The prismatic mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at a mirror back plate of the mirror head. A not-optically-clear adhesive (NOCA) layer is disposed between a mirror reflector coating at a rear side of the prismatic mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate. The camera views through (i) the NOCA layer, (ii) the mirror reflector coating and (iii) the glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element. Electronic circuitry of an electronic control unit (ECU) includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera. With the mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle, image data captured by the camera is processed at the ECU for an occupant monitoring function or a driver monitoring function.