Abstract:
A vehicle sun visor system and method for powering the vehicle sun visor are provided herein, and include a generator configured to produce a first current via kinetic motion. A converter is electrically coupled to the generator and configured to convert the first current into a second current. An energy storing device is electrically coupled to the converter and configured to store an electrical charge. An illumination source is electrically coupled to the energy storing device and configured to operate between an ON and an OFF state, wherein during the ON state, the electrical charge stored in the energy storing device is discharged to supply electrical power to the illumination source.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to vehicle sun visor assemblies, and more specifically to a vehicle sun visor having an illumination source and a method for powering the same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Current vehicle visors rely on a vehicle power source to power illumination sources on the visor. The power is typically supplied by wires extending from the vehicle&#39;s instrument panel and up to the visor. This type of wire connection is often performed manually and requires additional parts such as wire harnesses. As a result, the cost and labor associated with including these visors may be increased. Thus, there is a need for a less prohibitive alternative. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle sun visor is provided, and includes a generator configured to produce a first current via kinetic motion. A converter is electrically coupled to the generator and configured to convert the first current into a second current. An energy storing device is electrically coupled to the converter and configured to store an electrical charge. An illumination source is electrically coupled to the energy storing device and configured to operate between an ON and an OFF state, wherein during the ON state, the electrical charge stored in the energy storing device is discharged to supply electrical power to the illumination source. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle sun visor is provided, and includes a magnet configured to energize a wire via kinetic motion, a visor body having an illumination source and configured to support translational movement of the magnet, and an energy storage device for storing an electrical charge produced by the energized wire, wherein discharging of the energy storage device powers the illumination source. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for powering an illumination source of a vehicle sun visor is provided, and includes the steps of providing a magnet and a wire, energizing the wire via translational movement of the magnet, charging an energy storing device by virtue of the energized wire, and discharging the energy storing device to power the illumination source. 
         [0006]    These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from inside a vehicle, in which a vehicle sun visor is generally shown; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side schematic view of one embodiment of a vehicle sun visor, in which the vehicle sun visor is exemplarily shown in a passive position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is another side schematic view of the vehicle sun visor of  FIG. 2 , in which the vehicle sun visor is exemplarily shown in an active position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a circuit schematic for a self-charging circuit used to power an illumination source of the vehicle sun visor according to one embodiment; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another circuit schematic for a self-charging circuit used to power the illumination source of the vehicle sun visor according to another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design and some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0014]    As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination. 
         [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are not to scale and certain components are enlarged relative to other components for purposes of emphasis and understanding. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , reference numeral  10  generally designates a vehicle sun visor (hereinafter visor) conventionally positioned on the underside of a vehicle roof panel  12  proximate a vehicle windshield  14 . The visor  10  includes a visor body  15 , which may be pivotally coupled to the vehicle roof panel  12  at a rear edge  16  such that it may be angularly displaced between a generally horizontal passive position shown in  FIG. 2  and a generally vertical variable active position shown in  FIG. 3 . In the passive position, the visor  10  is positioned to not interfere with light entry into the vehicle cabin through the windshield. To that end, the visor  10  may be suspended in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position and may at least partially abut against the vehicle roof panel  12 . Alternatively, the visor  10  may be lowered to the active position to block light from entering the vehicle cabin and possibly impairing the view of a vehicle occupant such as a driver or passenger. The active position may include any angular position between the passive position and a maximum angular position in which the visor  10  at least partially abuts against the vehicle windshield  14 . The visor  10  may also be lowered and turned to face a vehicle side window to lessen light entry therefrom. 
         [0017]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the visor body  15  includes vanity lighting having at least one illumination source  20  proximate a vanity mirror  22  disposed on a front side  23  of the visor body  15 , which will face a vehicle occupant when the visor  10  is positioned in a selected active position. The illumination source  20  may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and may be actuated via a variety of control mechanisms such as, but not limited to, mechanical switches, discreet switches, timers, computing devices, light sensors, etc. The vanity mirror  22  and illumination source  20  may be positioned anywhere on the front side  23  of the visor body  15  but are typically positioned in a central location. A cover  24  may be provided to cover the illumination source  20  and/or the vanity mirror  22 . The cover  24  may be arranged in any known configuration such as the flip up configuration shown in the illustrated embodiment, or a sliding configuration, and may be configured such that the illumination source  20  is turned ON when the cover  24  is either flipped up or slid open to expose the vanity mirror  22  and turned OFF when the cover  24  is either flipped down or slid closed to cover the illumination source  20  and/or vanity mirror  22 . Alternatively, the illumination source  20  may be turned ON/OFF via other means such as a button, switch, or the like. In addition, the visor body  15  may be configured to accommodate other features such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or a wallet for holding compact disks (CDs), papers, and other miscellaneous items. These features may be provided on the front side  23  or elsewhere on the visor body  15 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the visor body  15  is configured to support kinetic motion of a magnet  26  through a wire  28  having a coiled configuration. The magnet  26  may be disposed inside a sleeve  30  mounted to the interior of the visor body  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, the magnet  26 , wire  28 , and sleeve  30  are exemplarily shown located in an outer region of the visor body  15  so as not to encumber the central region of the visor body  15  typically used to house other features such as, but not limited to, the illumination source  20  and/or the vanity mirror  22 . The sleeve  30  is oriented such that kinetic motion of the magnet  26  occurs through translational movement in a vertical or substantially vertical direction when the visor body  15  is in the passive position. For translational movement of the magnet  26  to occur, operation of a motorized vehicle is required. For example, when the visor body  15  is in the passive position, disturbances such as road bumps and/or uneven roads may launch the magnet  26  upwards from a rest position within the sleeve  30  such that the magnet  26  passes through the wire  28  a first time before gravitational forces cause the magnet  26  to return to the rest position while passing through the wire  28  a second time. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, when the visor body  15  is positioned in an active position, such as that shown in  FIG. 3 , translational movement of the magnet  26  generally occurs in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction such that changes in vehicle speed may cause the magnet to pass through the wire  28 . It should be appreciated that other orientations are possible for the sleeve  30 . For example, in one embodiment, the sleeve  30  and the wire  28  may be oriented such that translational movement of the magnet  26  through the wire  28  occurs horizontally or substantially horizontally when the visor body  15  is in the passive position. In another embodiment, the sleeve  30  and wire  28  may be oriented such that translational movement of the magnet  26  through the wire  28  occurs in and out of the page with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The aforementioned orientations are just a few possible orientations for the sleeve  30  and the wire  28 . Those having ordinary skill in the art should readily recognize that the sleeve  30  and the wire  28  might be oriented in a variety of positions within the visor body  15  to produce varying translational movement of the magnet  26 . Also, it is contemplated that the sleeve  30  may take on non-linear configurations such that the magnet  26  is not limited to translational movement. Further, while the illustrated embodiment is shown and described herein as having a single magnet  26  and wire  28 , it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments may employ more than one magnet and/or wire without departing from the teachings provided herein. 
         [0020]    With respect to the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each pass of the magnet  26  through the wire  28  energizes the wire  28  by virtue of the magnetic field of the magnet  26 . As a result, an alternating (AC) current is induced on the wire  28 . To bolster efficiency, a magnet  26  having a high flux density per unit volume may be used. Also, by increasing the number of coil turns for a chosen wire, a greater amount of current may be generated thereon. Further, by increasing the diameter of the coils, a larger magnet with greater field strength may be used. 
         [0021]    A converter  32  converts the AC current into direct (DC) current, which is used to electrically charge an energy storing device  34 . When the energy storing device  34  has been sufficiently charged, it may be used to power the illumination source  20 . While the illumination source  20  is in use, the energy storing device  34  will discharge. Nevertheless, energization of the wire  28  may still occur when the illumination source  20  is ON such that additional electrical charge is provided to the energy storing device  34  to extend the ON time of the illumination source  20 . If the energy storing device  34  has been depleted of electrical charge or the illumination source  20  is turned OFF, subsequent energization of the wire  28  will aid in replenishing the energy storing device  34  so that the illumination source  20  may be powered at a later time. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a circuit schematic for a self-charging circuit used to power the illumination source  20  is shown. In the illustrated circuit, the wire  28  is connected to the converter  32 , which is shown as a full wave bridge rectifier  36  (hereinafter rectifier), which may be embodied using Schottky diodes. The wire  28  connects to the rectifier  36  at nodes A and C. Since the wire  28  is energized periodically, AC current from the wire  28  is rectified and outputted discontinuously from the rectifier  36  as DC current. A capacitor  38  may be connected in parallel to the rectifier  36  at nodes B and D to smooth the rectified output current before it proceeds to charge the energy storing device  34 . The energy storing device  34  may include a rechargeable battery (as shown), a capacitor, or other devices capable of storing electrical charge. The energy storing device  34  is connected in parallel to the capacitor  38  and connected in parallel to a series combination that includes a switch  40  and the illumination source  20 . Thus, while the switch  40  is open, the illumination source  20  is in an OFF state and the energization of the wire  28  may charge the energy storing device  34 . Conversely, when the switch  40  is closed, the illumination source  20  is in an ON state and the energy storing device  34  may be discharged to supply power to the illumination source  20 . While the illustrated embodiment has been shown implemented with a full wave bridge rectifier  36 , it should be understood that other rectifiers might be similarly implemented. For example, a circuit schematic employing a half wave bridge rectifier  42  as shown in  FIG. 5  may be employed. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, a visor  10  for use in a vehicle has been advantageously provided herein. The visor  10  benefits from vehicle motion to generate electrical energy, which may be used to power illumination sources on the visor. As a result, the visor  10  is free from making any electrical connections with the vehicle, which enables it to be easily assembled inside the vehicle. 
         [0024]    For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
         [0025]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system might be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
         [0026]    It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
         [0027]    It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise