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INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH FORWARDLY-VIEWING CAMERA

  • US 20110278439A1
  • Filed: 07/27/2011
  • Published: 11/17/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

  • an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror system;

    a single-ball interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at said attachment element;

    wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a housing and an interior rearview mirror head pivotable about said housing by a single ball and socket pivot joint, said single ball and socket joint comprising a ball pivot element and a socket pivot element;

    wherein said housing includes a mount for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly at said attachment element;

    wherein said housing includes one of said ball pivot element and said socket pivot element of said single ball and socket pivot joint and wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes the other of said ball pivot element and said socket pivot element of said single ball and socket pivot joint;

    wherein said interior rearview mirror head includes an electrochromic rearview mirror element;

    wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, said interior rearview mirror head is adjustable by a driver of the equipped vehicle about said single ball and socket pivot joint to adjust a rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element;

    wherein said housing houses a forwardly-viewing camera and wherein, with said interior rearview mirror assembly attached at said attachment element, said forwardly-viewing camera views through the vehicle windshield;

    wherein said housing houses circuitry;

    wherein said circuitry at least one of (a) receives an input via a bus communication and (b) delivers an output via a bus communication;

    wherein said attachment element comprises a mirror mounting button and wherein said mirror mounting button comprises an outer portion and an inner open central portion; and

    wherein a rain sensor is disposed at said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and views, via said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button, through the vehicle windshield.

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