Interior rearview mirror system including a forward facing video device

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal, said imaging sensor being operable to sense water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to the presence of fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, wherein said control is operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal, said imagine sensor being operable to sense water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to the presence of fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to vary a rate of wine of a windshield wiper of the vehicle wherein said control is operable to vary the rate of wipe according to a density of water droplets on the exterior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said magma sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal, said imaging sensor being operable to sense fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said imaging sensor sensing fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield wherein said control is operable to adjust a blower level of the defogging system of the vehicle in response to a density of the fog particles sensed at the interior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal, said imaging sensor being operable to sense water droplets at an exterior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to said imaging sensor sensing water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to adjust a rate of wipe of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and said control being operable to control a rear window wiper of the vehicle, said control being operable to control the rear window wiper in response to said imaging sensor sensing water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield, wherein said control causes a rear window wiper to cycle for every N cycles of a windshield wiper, wherein N is greater than one.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield:
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a deforming system of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging sensor, said illumination device being pulsed on and off, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a shutter for exposing said imaging sensor to the field of view forwardly and through the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imagine sensor, said illumination device being at least occasionally activated, wherein said illumination device is activated during low light conditions.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging sensor, said illumination device being at least occasionally activated, wherein said imaging sensor is operable to sense a level of ambient light present at the windshield, said illumination device being activated in response to said imaging sensor sensing low light conditions.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imagine sensor, said imaging sensor being positioned at said interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view forward and through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield wherein said video device includes a polarizing filter;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle and to control at least one of a windshield wiper of the vehicle and a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said signal.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, wherein said imaging sensor is operable as a component of an active cruise control system.

An interior rearview mirror suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to sense water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to the presence of for particles at the interior surface of the windshield wherein said control is operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imagine sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to sense water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to the presence of fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to vary a rate of wipe of a windshield wiper of the vehicle, wherein said control is operable to vary the rate of wipe according to a density of water droplets on the exterior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging a sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally Process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said imaging sensor being operable to sense foe particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said imagine sensor sensing foe particles at the interior surface of the windshield wherein said control is operable to adjust a blower level of the defogging system of the vehicle in response to a density of the fog particles sensed at the interior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imagine sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield, said imagine sensor being operable to sense water droplets at an exterior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imagine sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to said imaging sensor sensing water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to adjust a rate of wipe of a windshield wiper of the vehicle, said control being operable to control a rear window wiper of the vehicle, said control being operable to control a rear window wiper in response to said imaging sensor sensing water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield, wherein said control causes a rear window wiper to cycle for every N cycles of a windshield wiper, wherein N is greater than one.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging sensor, said illumination device being pulsed on and off, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a shutter for exposing said imaging sensor to the field of view forwardly and through the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging sensor, said illumination device being at least occasionally activated, wherein said illumination device is activated during low light conditions.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging sensor, said illumination device being at least occasionally activated wherein said imaging sensor is operable to sense a level of ambient tight present at the windshield, said illumination device being activated in response to said imaging sensor sensing low light conditions.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and a reflective element included within said housing;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imagine sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging sensor being operable to at least sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield wherein said video device includes a polarizing filter;
• and
• a control operable to receive a signal from said imaging sensor, said control being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising;

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imagine array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, wherein said imaging array sensor is operable as a component of an active cruise control system.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry (or controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging a array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging array sensor being operable to sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield, said imaging array sensor being operable to sense water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (ii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to the presence of fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, wherein said control is operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging array sensor being operable to sense precipitation at at least one of an exterior surface of the windshield and an interior surface of the windshield, said imaging array sensor being operable to sense water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to the presence of water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield and to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to the presence of fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to vary a rate of wipe of a windshield wiper of the vehicle, wherein said control is operable to vary the rate of wipe according to a density of water droplets present at the exterior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imagine array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging array sensor being operable to sense fog particles at an interior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a defogging system of the vehicle in response to said imaging array sensor sensing fog particles at the interior surface of the windshield, wherein said control is operable to adjust a blower level of the defogging system of the vehicle in response to a density of the fog particles sensed at the interior surface of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, said imaging a array sensor being operable to sense water droplets at an exterior surface of the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imagine array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal, said control being operable to control a windshield wiper of the vehicle in response to said imaging array sensor sensing water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield, said control being operable to adjust a rate of wine of a windshield wiper of the vehicle, said control being operable to control a rear window wiper of the vehicle in response to said imaging array sensor sensing water droplets at the exterior surface of the windshield wherein said control causes a rear window wiper to cycle for every N cycles of a windshield wiper, wherein N is greater than one.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imagine array sensor, said imagine array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging array sensor,
• said illumination device being pulsed on and off wherein said imaging array sensor comprises a shutter for exposing said imaging array sensor to the field of view forwardly and through the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging array sensor, said illumination device being at least occasionally activated, wherein said illumination device is activated during low light conditions.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging array sensor, said imaging array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of(i) a headlamp, of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal;
• and
• an illumination device for illuminating the field of view of said imaging array sensor, said illumination device being at least occasionally activated, wherein said imaging array sensor is operable to sense a level of ambient light present at the windshield, said illumination device being activated in response to said imaging array sensor sensing low light conditions.

An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a housing and an electrochromic reflective element included within said housing, said electrochromic interior rearview mirror assembly comprising electrochromic control circuitry for controlling said electrochromic reflective element;
• and
• a video device, said video device including an imaging array sensor, said imagine array sensor having a field of view forward through the windshield, wherein said video device includes a polarizing filter;
• and
• a control sharing at least one component of said electrochromic control circuitry, said control receiving a signal from said imaging array sensor and being operable to digitally process said signal and to control at least two of (i) a headlamp of the vehicle, (ii) a windshield wiper of the vehicle, (iii) a defogging system of the vehicle and (iv) a movable window of the vehicle in response to said signal.