ACCESSORY MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130141579A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,692,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

An accessory mounting system for a vehicle includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle. The attachment element has a mirror mounting button. At least one attachment member is attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to the attachment element. An interior rearview minor assembly has a mirror head and a minor support. The mirror head includes a minor reflective element and a mirror casing. The minor support includes a minor mount that is configured to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly to the minor mounting button of the attachment element. A structure is configured for mounting to the attachment member and is configured to receive and be supported by the attachment member. The structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield.

Claims

1. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera; and

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield.

2. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory selected from the group consisting of (a) a rain sensor, (b) a light sensor, (c) a tire pressure monitoring system receiver, (d) an antenna, (e) an antenna for an entry system, (f) a component of an electronic toll collection system, (g) an antenna for a global positioning system, (h) a component of a telematic system, (i) a speaker, (j) a microphone, (k) an illumination source, (l) a garage door opener, (m) a compass sensor and (n) a user actuatable input.

3. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device.

4. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera provides input for a camera-based “

black box”

recorder system.

5. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said structure accommodates a plurality of accessories.

6. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed above said attachment element.

7. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed below said attachment element.

8. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, a lowermost portion of said structure is not disposed below a level that is generally aligned with a lowermost portion of said minor head when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element and when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally used by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

9. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed above a level that is generally aligned with an uppermost portion of said minor head when said interior rearview minor assembly is mounted to said minor mounting button of said attachment element and when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally used by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

10. The accessory mounting system of claim 9, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said uppermost portion of said structure is proximate or at a headliner of the equipped vehicle.

11. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said uppermost portion of said structure is disposed beyond the vehicle windshield at a portion of the roof of the equipped vehicle.

12. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, (i) a lowermost portion of said structure is not disposed below a level that is generally aligned with a lowermost portion of said mirror head when said interior rearview minor assembly is mounted to said minor mounting button of said attachment element and when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally used by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and (ii) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed above a level that is generally aligned with an uppermost portion of said mirror head when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said minor mounting button of said attachment element and when said interior rearview minor assembly is normally used by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

13. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, at least one of (a) a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed below said attachment element, (b) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed above said attachment element, (c) a rightmost portion of said structure is disposed leftward of said attachment element and (d) a leftmost portion of said structure is disposed rightward of said attachment element.

14. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein a shadeband is disposed at the vehicle windshield at least proximate to where said attachment element and said plurality of attachment members are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.

15. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

16. The accessory mounting system of claim 15, wherein said light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield further at least partially masks the presence of said structure from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

17. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, comprising a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin.

18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, an uppermost portion of said housing is disposed above said attachment element.

19. The accessory mounting system of claim 18, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said housing houses a plurality of accessories.

20. The accessory mounting system of claim 18, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview minor assembly pass through said housing.

21. The accessory mounting system of claim 18, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, a lowermost portion of said housing is disposed below said attachment element.

22. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprise a single-ball interior rearview minor assembly.

23. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview minor assembly.

24. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said structure straddles said attachment element.

25. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

26. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said minor mount is configured to at least partially receive said mirror mounting button of said attachment element therein in order to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly to said minor mounting button of said attachment element.

27. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said minor mount makes a breakaway connection to said minor mounting button of said attachment element.

28. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said structure accommodates a rain sensor.

29. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said minor mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said attachment members.

30. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, comprising a vehicular tire pressure monitoring system having a tire pressure indicator assembly operable to provide at least one of an audible tire inflation status indicator and a visual tire inflation status indicator.

31. The accessory mounting system of claim 30, wherein said tire inflation status indicator provides indication of the inflation condition of a vehicle tire to a person exteriorly of the equipped vehicle when the person is engaged in an act of adjusting the tire pressure of the vehicle tire, and wherein a control of said tire pressure monitoring system receives inputs from tire pressure sensors sensing pressure of the vehicle tires and produces outputs to actuate said tire inflation status indicator.

32. The accessory mounting system of claim 30, wherein said tire inflation status indicator provides a visual tire inflation status indicator and wherein said visual tire inflation status indicator is provided at said interior rearview mirror assembly.

33. The accessory mounting system of claim 32, wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprises an interior rearview video minor assembly comprising a transflective electrochromic minor reflective element and a video display screen.

34. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said minor reflective element comprises a prismatic minor reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a double-ball prismatic interior rearview minor assembly.

35. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said attachment element accommodates a rain sensor.

36. The accessory mounting system of claim 1, wherein said minor reflective element comprises an electrochromic minor reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a double-ball electrochromic interior rearview minor assembly.

37. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

at least one attachment member adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said at least one attachment member attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said at least one attachment member that is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said at least one attachment member.

38. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein said lowermost portion of said structure is not disposed below a level that is generally aligned with a lowermost portion of said minor head when said interior rearview minor assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle.

39. The accessory mounting system of claim 38, wherein said uppermost portion of said structure is disposed above a level that is generally aligned with an uppermost portion of said minor head when said interior rearview minor assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle.

40. The accessory mounting system of claim 39, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said uppermost portion of said structure extends at least to a headliner of the equipped vehicle.

41. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, comprising a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin.

42. The accessory mounting system of claim 41, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, at least a portion of said housing is disposed above said attachment element.

43. The accessory mounting system of claim 41, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview minor assembly passes through said housing.

44. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said at least another accessory comprises at least one of (a) a rain sensor and (b) an antenna.

45. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

46. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device, and wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

47. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview minor assembly.

48. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein said attachment element accommodates a rain sensor.

49. The accessory mounting system of claim 37, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, at least one of (a) a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed generally below said attachment element, (b) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed generally above said attachment element, (c) a rightmost portion of said structure is disposed generally leftward of said attachment element and (d) a leftmost portion of said structure is disposed generally rightward of said attachment element.

50. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

at least one attachment member adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview minor assembly comprising a mirror head and a minor support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element;

a structure configured for mounting to said at least one attachment member attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said structure accommodates said forward facing camera and a rain sensor.

51. The accessory mounting system of claim 50, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said mirror mount can be mounted to said minor mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element.

52. The accessory mounting system of claim 51, wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

53. The accessory mounting system of claim 50, wherein said minor reflective element comprises a prismatic minor reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a double-ball prismatic interior rearview minor assembly.

54. The accessory mounting system of claim 50, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

55. The accessory mounting system of claim 50, wherein said minor reflective element comprises an electrochromic minor reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a double-ball electrochromic interior rearview minor assembly.

56. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

at least one attachment member adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

a structure configured for mounting to said at least one attachment member attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said at least one attachment member that is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said mirror mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said at least one attachment member; and

a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin.

57. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device.

58. The accessory mounting system of claim 57, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview minor assembly passes through said housing.

59. The accessory mounting system of claim 58, wherein said housing houses a plurality of accessories, one of which comprises a rain sensor.

60. The accessory mounting system of claim 56, wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

61. The accessory mounting system of claim 60, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, at least one of (a) a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed generally below said attachment element, (b) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed generally above said attachment element, (c) a rightmost portion of said structure is disposed generally leftward of said attachment element and (d) a leftmost portion of said structure is disposed generally rightward of said attachment element.

62. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

at least one attachment member adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element;

a structure configured for mounting to said at least one attachment member attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said at least one attachment member that is adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, at least one of (a) a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed generally below said attachment element, (b) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed generally above said attachment element, (c) a rightmost portion of said structure is disposed generally leftward of said attachment element and (d) a leftmost portion of said structure is disposed generally rightward of said attachment element;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said mirror mount can be mounted to said minor mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said at least one attachment member; and

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said at least one attachment member from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

63. The accessory mounting system of claim 62, wherein said light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield further at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

64. The accessory mounting system of claim 63, wherein said attachment element accommodates a rain sensor.

65. The accessory mounting system of claim 63, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a substantially opaque frit layer.

66. The accessory mounting system of claim 63, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a portion of a shadeband of the vehicle windshield.

67. The accessory mounting system of claim 63, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory and wherein said at least another accessory comprises a rain sensor, and wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview minor assembly, and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device.

68. The accessory mounting system of claim 62, wherein said structure accommodates a rain sensor.

69. The accessory mounting system of claim 62, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

70. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, at least one of (a) a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed generally below said attachment element, (b) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed generally above said attachment element, (c) a rightmost portion of said structure is disposed generally leftward of said attachment element and (d) a leftmost portion of said structure is disposed generally rightward of said attachment element;

a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin, and wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, at least a portion of said housing is disposed above said attachment element;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said minor mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said attachment members; and

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said plurality of attachment members from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

71. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein wiring that supplies at least one of power and a signal to said interior rearview minor assembly pass through said housing.

72. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein said housing houses said forward facing camera and a rain sensor.

73. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein said housing houses said forward facing camera and an antenna.

74. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprises a video minor having a video display screen disposed in said minor head and displaying information for viewing through said reflective element by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

75. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

76. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein said attachment element accommodates a rain sensor.

77. The accessory mounting system of claim 70, wherein said structure accommodates a rain sensor.

78. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

at least one attachment member adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element;

a structure configured for mounting to said at least one attachment member attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, at least one of (a) said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera and, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield, and (b) said structure straddles said attachment element;

wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield; and

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, said mirror mount can be mounted to said minor mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said at least one attachment member.

79. The accessory mounting system of claim 78, comprising a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said structure from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin.

80. The accessory mounting system of claim 79, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview minor assembly, and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device.

81. The accessory mounting system of claim 80, wherein said structure accommodates at least another accessory.

82. The accessory mounting system of claim 81, wherein said at least another accessory comprises a rain sensor.

83. The accessory mounting system of claim 79, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said at least one attachment member, at least a portion of a housing is disposed above said attachment element.

84. The accessory mounting system of claim 78, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a portion of a shadeband of the vehicle windshield.

85. The accessory mounting system of claim 84, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a substantially opaque frit layer.

86. The accessory mounting system of claim 78, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a substantially opaque frit layer.

87. The accessory mounting system of claim 86, wherein said light absorbing layer comprises a portion of a shadeband of the vehicle windshield.

88. The accessory mounting system of claim 78, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device and wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

89. The accessory mounting system of claim 78, wherein said attachment element accommodates a rain sensor.

90. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, said accessory mounting system comprising:

an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory mounting system;

said attachment element comprising a mirror mounting button;

a plurality of attachment members adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to said attachment element;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a minor head and a mirror support;

wherein said minor head comprises a minor reflective element and a minor casing;

wherein said minor support comprises a minor mount that is configured to mount said interior rearview minor assembly to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element;

a structure configured for mounting to said plurality of attachment members attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

said structure configured to receive and be supported by said plurality of attachment members that are adhesively attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield;

wherein said structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera;

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members and when said structure is accommodating said forward facing camera, said forward facing camera has a field of view through the vehicle windshield;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a CMOS imaging device;

wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprise a double-ball interior rearview minor assembly; and

wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, said minor mount can be mounted to said mirror mounting button of said attachment element and can be demounted from said minor mounting button of said attachment element without demounting said structure from said attachment members.

91. The accessory mounting system of claim 90, wherein a light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield at least partially masks the presence of said attachment element from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

92. The accessory mounting system of claim 91, wherein said light absorbing layer disposed at the vehicle windshield further at least partially masks the presence of said structure from view by a viewer who is viewing from outside the equipped vehicle through the vehicle windshield.

93. The accessory mounting system of claim 92, wherein, with said structure received by and supported by said attachment members, at least one of (a) a lowermost portion of said structure is disposed generally below said attachment element, (b) an uppermost portion of said structure is disposed generally above said attachment element, (c) a rightmost portion of said structure is disposed generally leftward of said attachment element and (d) a leftmost portion of said structure is disposed generally rightward of said attachment element.

94. The accessory mounting system of claim 92, wherein said minor reflective element comprises an electrochromic minor reflective element and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic interior rearview minor assembly.

95. The accessory mounting system of claim 94, comprising a housing that at least substantially hides the presence of said forward facing camera from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin.

96. The accessory mounting system of claim 95, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a component of at least one of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a windshield fogging detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a rain sensing system of the equipped vehicle.

97. The accessory mounting system of claim 92, wherein said attachment element accommodates a rain sensor.