Interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element adhered at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting, and wherein said pivot joint comprises a ball and socket, and wherein one of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said base and the other of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said case;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at a windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount;
• wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said rain sensor comprises a windshield-contacting rain sensor;
• wherein, with said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said base portion provides cover for at least said rain sensor;
• and
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises, a headlamp controller.

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element adhered at an in-cabin surface of the windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting, and wherein said pivot joint comprises a ball and socket, and wherein one of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said base and the other of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said case;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at a windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount;
• wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said attachment element is adapted to accommodate a rain sensor unit and wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is attached to said attachment element, said base portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly provides cover for said rain sensor unit;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror dimming control;
• and
• wherein at least two of (a) said video camera, (b) said headlamp controller and (c) said electrochromic mirror dimming control share circuitry.

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element adhered at an in-cabin surface of the windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting, and wherein said pivot joint comprises a ball and socket, and wherein one of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said base and the other of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said case;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at a windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount;
• wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said attachment element is adapted to accommodate a rain sensor unit;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror dimming control;
• wherein said base portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly provides cover for at least said rain sensor unit when said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly is attached to said attachment element;
• and
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a circuit board disposed in said case rearward of said reflective mirror element, and wherein at least one of a component and circuitry of said circuit board is shared by at least two of (a) said video camera, (b) said headlamp controller and (c) said electrochromic mirror dimming control.

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element adhered at an in-cabin surface of the windshield of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting, and wherein said pivot joint comprises a ball and socket, and wherein one of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said base and the other of said ball and socket is disposed generally at said case;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at a windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount;
• wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera fixedly disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said attachment element is adapted to accommodate a rain sensor unit;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror dimming control;
• and
• wherein, with said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly attached to said attachment element, said base portion provides cover for at least said rain sensor unit accommodated by said attachment element and for said video camera.

A rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said rearview mirror system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electrochromic reflective mirror element;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element at an interior of a vehicle;
• wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at a windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount;
• wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective minor element to the driver's desired setting;
• wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview minor assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said base portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly encompasses a rain sensor when said mirror mount of said interior rearview mirror assembly is attached to said attachment element;
• wherein said interior rearview minor assembly includes a circuit board disposed in said case rearward of said reflective mirror element;
• wherein at least two electrical accessories are commonly housed in said interior rearview mirror assembly and share at least one of a component and circuitry of said circuit board;
• and
• wherein said at least two electrical accessories comprise at least two of (a) said video camera, (b) a headlamp controller, (c) an electrochromic mirror dimming control, (d) an illumination source and (e) an electronic switch.