ACCESSORY SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR USE IN A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
- an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough;
said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount;
wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting;
wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller disposed in said case, and wherein said headlamp controller is operable to control at least one exterior light of the equipped vehicle;
wherein electrical wiring, at least in part, connects said video camera at said base portion with said headlamp controller in said case; and
wherein said electrical wiring is routed through said pivot joint.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular accessory system includes an attachment element at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield. The attachment element accommodates a rain sensor, which has a field of view through an aperture of the attachment element towards the vehicle windshield. An interior rearview mirror assembly has a case that houses a reflective mirror element, and includes a base portion with a mirror mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element. The base portion encompasses the rain sensor when the mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the vehicle windshield. The mirror assembly includes a video camera disposed at the base portion. Electrical wiring may, at least in part, connect the video camera in the base portion with circuitry in the case, and the electrical wiring may be routed through a pivot joint of the mirror assembly.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough; said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount; wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller disposed in said case, and wherein said headlamp controller is operable to control at least one exterior light of the equipped vehicle; wherein electrical wiring, at least in part, connects said video camera at said base portion with said headlamp controller in said case; and wherein said electrical wiring is routed through said pivot joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough; said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor, and wherein said rain sensor contacts the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle through said aperture of said attachment element when said rain sensor is accommodated by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electrochromic reflective mirror element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount; wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller disposed in said case, and wherein said headlamp controller is operable to control at least one exterior light of the equipped vehicle; wherein electrical wiring, at least in part, connects said video camera at said base portion with said headlamp controller in said case; and wherein said electrical wiring is routed through said pivot joint. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough; said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated as a rain sensor unit by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount; wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller disposed in said case, and wherein said headlamp controller is operable to control at least one exterior light of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said attachment element comprises an annular mounting button comprising a generally circular-shaped annular outer portion, and wherein said aperture comprises a hollow open central portion of said mounting button. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50. An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough; said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated as a rain sensor unit by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electrochromic reflective mirror element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount; wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said pivot joint comprises a ball and socket pivot joint comprising a ball element and a socket element, and wherein said ball element has a passageway therethrough for electrical wiring, and wherein said electrical wiring, at least in part, connects said video camera at said base portion with circuitry in said case and wherein said electrical wiring is routed through said passageway. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough; said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated as a rain sensor unit by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electrochromic reflective mirror element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount; wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver'"'"'s desired setting; wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said pivot joint comprises a ball and socket pivot joint comprising a ball element and a socket element; and wherein said rain sensor unit is manufactured separate from said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said rain sensor unit is deliverable to a vehicle assembly facility as a unit separable from said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said rain sensor unit is accommodated by said attachment element in an assembly process separate from the attaching of said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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Specification