IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,122,299
Granted Patent B2
US 12,122,299 · App. 17/680,658 · Granted Oct 22, 2024

External rearview device, external rearview device kit and vehicle

Inventors: Andrew Lettis (Portchester, GB); Graham Rehill (Portchester, GB); Callum Scott-Collins (Portchester, GB); Andreas Herrmann (Stuttgart, DE); Arne Schmierer (Stuttgart, DE); Simon David Field (Lonsdale, AU); Francis Charlet (Dammarie les Lys, FR); Jakub Spychala (Portchester, GB); Kane Connor (Portchester, GB); Steve Horne (Portchester, GB)
Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
B60R1/12B60R1/06H04N23/90B60R2001/1253
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,122,299
App. No.
17/680,658
Granted
Oct 22, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly set for assembling an external rearview system for a motor vehicle is provided. The external rearview system when assembled may include a base assembly provided for arrangement on the motor vehicle, and a head assembly attached to the base assembly. The assembly set may include (i) a first head assembly comprising, a first rearview device comprising at least one reflective element in form of a mirror glass, (ii) a second head assembly comprising, a second rearview device comprising at least one reflective element in form of an at least partly translucent mirror glass, and at least one first camera unit being configured to obtain a rearview image through the reflective element, and (iii) a third head assembly with at least one component of a camera monitor system. The head assembly may be configured to be detachable and is selected to be the first, second or third head assembly, with the first, second and third head assembly being exchangeable with each other.

Claims (49)

1. An external rearview system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a base assembly that comprises a base frame and a cover element, the cover element including at least a base cover cap and a lower base cover;

a head assembly attached to the base assembly;

a camera unit attached to the base assembly; and

a glare shield that attaches to the cover element to surround a lens of the camera unit and provide an opening through which the camera unit can obtain an image, and

wherein the glare shield includes one or more clips, and wherein each of the one or more clips is configured to extend between the base cover cap and the camera cradle and to engage with an extension of the base cover cap to retain the glare shield in position.

2. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the head assembly is configured to be detachable and is selected from a plurality of exchangeable head assemblies.

3. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of exchangeable head assemblies include

(i) a first head assembly comprising, a first rearview device comprising a reflective element in form of a mirror glass, and

(ii) a second head assembly with at least one component of a camera monitor system.

4. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of exchangeable head assemblies include

(i) a first head assembly comprising, a first rearview device comprising a reflective element in form of a mirror glass,

(ii) a second head assembly comprising, a second rearview device comprising a reflective element in form of an at least partly translucent mirror glass, and a second camera unit being configured to obtain a rearview image through the reflective element, and

(iii) a third head assembly with at least one component of a camera monitor system.

5. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover element comprises an upper base cover, the lower base cover and the base cover cap.

6. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 5 , wherein

the camera unit is partly extending through an opening in at least one of the upper base cover, the lower base cover, and the base cover cap, or

at least one of a rim and a lens of the camera unit is arranged in front of the cover element.

7. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more clips are supported by the camera cradle or at least one retention tab of the camera cradle.

8. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 7 , wherein in a view direction of the camera unit, the camera cradle is arranged at least partly in front of the base frame, a base cover cap is arranged at least partly in front of the camera cradle, and the glare shield is arranged at least partly in front of the base cover cap.

9. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of exchangeable head assemblies each include at least one cover element having a same structure.

10. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one cover element includes an upper cover, a lower cover and a front cover which are identical for each of the plurality of exchangeable head assemblies.

11. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one cover element comprises a bezel.

12. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the bezel includes an opening to allow the camera unit to obtain a rearview image through a reflective element of the head assembly.

13. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the second head assembly is selected from

a first second head assembly comprising at least one first camera unit,

a second second head assembly comprising

a second rearview device comprising at least one reflective element in form of an at least partly translucent mirror glass, and

a display unit integrated in the head assembly or provided together with the reflective element, and

a third second head assembly comprising

a third rearview device comprising at least one reflective element in form of an at least partly translucent mirror glass,

a display unit integrated in the head assembly or provided together with the reflective element, and

at least one second camera unit being configured to obtain a rearview image through the reflective element.

14. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising an articulation assembly for moving the head assembly relative to the base assembly.

15. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising

a control unit for controlling at least one of the at least one first camera unit, the at least one second camera unit, the display unit and the articulation assembly.

16. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising

at least one senor unit connected to the control unit.

17. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the display unit is configured to be at least one of

viewable through the reflective element when activated, or

activated by at least one of a driver of the motor vehicle, depending on an output signal of a sensor unit, via a vehicle control system and via a control unit provided by the external rearview device.

18. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein

the head assembly is moveably attachable to the base assembly, and

the base assembly is fixed relative to the motor vehicle.

19. The external rearview system for a motor vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one functional module, comprising

a light module, a turn signal indicator module, a blind spot indicator module, or a human machine interface,

a Bluetooth module and

a sensor module, a temperature sensor, a touch sensor or a contamination sensor.

20. Vehicle with at least one external rearview system, according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2024
From: LETTIS, ANDREW; REHILL, GRAHAM; SCOTT-COLLINS, CALLUM; HERRMANN, ANDREAS; FIELD, SIMON DAVID; SCHMIERER, ARNE; CHARLET, FRANCIS; SPYCHALA, JAKUB; CONNOR, KANE; HORNE, STEVE
To: SMR PATENTS S.À.R.L.
Reel/Frame 068079/0271 →
Priority Claims (7)
AU 2012900267 · Jan 24, 2012 · national
DE 102012108480.7 · Sep 11, 2012 · national
EP 16198759 · Nov 14, 2016 · regional
DE 102018116008.9 · Jul 2, 2018 · national
DE 102018116011.9 · Jul 2, 2018 · national
EP 18198678 · Oct 4, 2018 · regional
DE 102021107597 · Mar 25, 2021 · national
Continuity (11)
Continuation In Part 16757834
Continuation In Part PCTEP2018067842 · Jul 2, 2018
Continuation In Part 15800413 · Nov 1, 2017
Continuation In Part 15603751 · May 24, 2017
Continuation In Part 15607894 · May 30, 2017
Continuation In Part 15000754 · Jan 19, 2016
Continuation In Part 14022896 · Sep 10, 2013
Continuation In Part 15439188 · Feb 22, 2017
Continuation In Part 14936024 · Nov 9, 2015
Continuation In Part 14374376
Related Publication 20220176880A1 · Jun 9, 2022