INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH FORWARDLY-VIEWING CAMERA
First Claim
1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
- an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system;
an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element;
wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element;
wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element;
wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein said structure comprises at least one of (i) a polymeric structure formed by molding and (ii) a metallic structure formed by metallic fabrication;
wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle;
wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure includes at least one of (a) a portion abutting close to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed, and (b) a portion contacting the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed; and
wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a structure that includes a mount for attaching the mirror assembly to the attachment element, a pivot element, and an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at the pivot element. The interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the vehicle about the pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view. At least one accessory is encompassed by the structure of the mirror assembly. The structure covers the at least one accessory from view by the driver operating the vehicle. One of the accessories is a forwardly-viewing camera and, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element, the forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said structure comprises at least one of (i) a polymeric structure formed by molding and (ii) a metallic structure formed by metallic fabrication; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure includes at least one of (a) a portion abutting close to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed, and (b) a portion contacting the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed; and wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. - 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, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein said pivot element comprises an element of a ball and socket pivot joint, wherein said pivot joint includes a passageway, wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said pivot joint, wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head, and wherein said circuitry relates to at least one of (a) said electrochromic rearview mirror element and (b) a display in said interior rearview mirror head that displays through said electrochromic mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; and wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein the other of said at least two accessories comprises a rain sensor; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly and said forwardly-viewing camera are provided to a vehicle assembly plant by a mirror manufacturer and wherein said rain sensor is provided to the vehicle assembly plant by a separate manufacturer; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield; and wherein said rain sensor at least one of (a) views through an aperture of said structure and through the vehicle windshield, (b) views through an aperture of said structure and views, via an opening in a light absorbing layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said aperture of said structure, through the vehicle windshield, (c) is biased at least partially through an aperture of said structure and into contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield for viewing through the vehicle windshield, and (d) is biased at least partially through an aperture of said structure and into contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield for viewing, via an opening in a light absorbing layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said aperture of said structure, through the vehicle windshield. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element; wherein said structure comprises a detachable cover, wherein said structure comprises a metallic structure formed by metallic fabrication and wherein said detachable cover comprises a polymeric molding, and wherein said detachable cover detachably attaches to said metallic structure; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein said pivot element comprises an element of a ball and socket pivot joint, wherein said pivot joint includes a passageway, wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said pivot joint, wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein the other of said at least two accessories comprises a rain sensor; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield; and wherein said rain sensor at least one of (a) views through an aperture of said structure and through the vehicle windshield, (b) views through an aperture of said structure and views, via an opening in a light absorbing layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said aperture of said structure, through the vehicle windshield, (c) is biased at least partially through an aperture of said structure and into contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield for viewing through the vehicle windshield, and (d) is biased at least partially through an aperture of said structure and into contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield for viewing, via an opening in a light absorbing layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said aperture of said structure, through the vehicle windshield. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein said pivot element comprises an element of a ball and socket pivot joint, wherein said pivot joint includes a passageway, wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said pivot joint, wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head, and wherein said circuitry relates to at least one of (a) said electrochromic rearview mirror element and (b) a display in said interior rearview mirror head that displays through said electrochromic mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, a forwardly-viewing camera is encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield; wherein said structure comprises at least one of (i) a polymeric structure formed by molding and (ii) a metallic structure formed by metallic fabrication; and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure includes at least one of (a) a portion abutting close to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said forwardly-viewing camera is disposed, and (b) a portion contacting the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said forwardly-viewing camera is disposed. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element and (ii) a pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein said pivot element comprises an element of a ball and socket pivot joint, and wherein said pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said pivot joint, and wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head, and wherein said circuitry relates to at least one of (a) said electrochromic rearview mirror element and (b) a display in said interior rearview mirror head that displays through said electrochromic mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said structure comprises at least one of (i) a polymeric structure formed by molding and (ii) a metallic structure formed by metallic fabrication; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure includes at least one of (a) a portion abutting close to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed, and (b) a portion contacting the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed; wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein the other of said at least two accessories comprises a rain sensor; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly and said forwardly-viewing camera are provided to a vehicle assembly plant by a mirror manufacturer and wherein said rain sensor is provided to the vehicle assembly plant by a separate manufacturer; and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78)
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79. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of the vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system; an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a structure that includes (i) a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element (ii) a pivot element and (iii) a detachable cover; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head pivotally attached at said pivot element; wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said pivot element to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element; wherein said pivot element comprises an element of a ball and socket pivot joint, and wherein said pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said pivot joint, and wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, at least two accessories are encompassed by said structure of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure covers said at least two accessories from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said structure includes at least one of (a) a portion abutting close to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed, and (b) a portion contacting the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at least partially encompassing where said at least two accessories are disposed; wherein said at least two accessories form a cluster of individual sensors and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said cluster of individual sensors resides on or near the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, and wherein said detachable cover covers said cluster from view by the driver operating the equipped vehicle; and wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82)
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Specification