Vehicular having a camera, a rain sensor and a single-ball interior electrochromic mirror assembly attached at an attachment element

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 single ball and socket pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint;
• wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head and wherein said circuitry is associated with 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 adjustment of said interior rearview mirror head to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element does not affect the position or orientation of said forwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing;
• 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 through the vehicle windshield via said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and via a light transmitting aperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button.

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 single ball and socket pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint;
• wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head and wherein said circuitry is associated with 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 adjustment of said interior rearview mirror head to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element does not affect the position or orientation of said forwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing;
• 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;
• wherein a rain sensor is disposed at said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and views through the vehicle windshield via said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and via a light transmitting aperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button;
• and
• wherein said rain sensor is in contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield through said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button.

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 and wherein said mount of said housing is configured to twist onto said attachment element to attach 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 single ball and socket pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint;
• wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head and wherein said circuitry is associated with 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 adjustment of said interior rearview mirror head to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element does not affect the position or orientation of said forwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing;
• wherein said attachment element comprises a mirror mounting button and wherein said mirror mounting button comprises an annular outer portion and an inner open central portion;
• wherein a rain sensor is disposed at said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and views through the vehicle windshield via said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and via a light transmitting aperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button;
• and
• wherein said rain sensor is in contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield through said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button, and wherein said rain sensor is urged into contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield by a resilient member.

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 and wherein said mount of said housing is configured to twist onto said attachment element to attach 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 single ball and socket pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint;
• wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head and wherein said circuitry is associated with 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 forwardly-viewing camera is located on said housing;
• wherein adjustment of said interior rearview mirror head to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element does not affect the position or orientation of said forwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing;
• 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 interior rearview mirror system comprises a cover, and wherein said cover is configured for at least one of (a) attachment at said housing and (b) detachable attachment at said housing;
• wherein said attachment element comprises a mirror mounting button and wherein said mirror mounting button comprises an annular outer portion and an inner open central portion;
• wherein a rain sensor is disposed at said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and views through the vehicle windshield via said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button and via a light transmitting aperture established in a light absorbing hiding layer at the vehicle windshield that generally coincides with said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button;
• and
• wherein said rain sensor is in contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield through said inner open central portion of said mirror mounting button, and wherein said rain sensor is urged into contact with the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield by a resilient member.

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 said ball 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 assembly 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;
• 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;
• wherein said single ball and socket pivot joint includes a passageway, and wherein at least one electrical lead passes through said passageway of said single ball and socket pivot joint;
• wherein said at least one electrical lead connects to circuitry disposed in said interior rearview mirror head;
• wherein said mount of said housing is configured to twist onto said attachment element to attach said interior rearview mirror assembly at said attachment element;
• wherein said attachment element comprises a metallic mirror mounting button;
• and
• wherein adjustment of said interior rearview mirror head to adjust the rearward field of view of said electrochromic rearview mirror element does not affect the position or orientation of said forwardly-viewing camera housed by said housing.