Accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle
An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle includes an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle, and an accessory module. The accessory module includes structure adapted to attach to the attachment element. The accessory module encompasses an antenna and a forward facing camera. The forward facing camera has a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The accessory system may include an image processor for processing image data captured by the forward facing camera. The forward facing camera may capture images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.
1. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to attach to said attachment element; and
wherein said structure detachably attaches to said attachment element and wherein said accessory module encompasses (a) an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system and (b) a forward facing camera, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, and wherein said forward facing camera captures images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.
2. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said forward facing camera captures images for a collision avoidance system.
3. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said forward facing camera captures images for an automatic headlamp control system.
4. The accessory system of claim 1 further comprising an interior rearview mirror, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror is one of (a) pivotally mounted to said accessory module, (b) pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle, (c) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, (d) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to said accessory module and (e) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to and at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.
5. The accessory system of claim 4 , wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to said accessory module via a double pivot joint mounting configuration.
6. The accessory system of claim 5 , wherein said double pivot joint mounting configuration includes a mirror mounting element that detachably mounts to a mirror receiving attachment element of said accessory module.
7. The accessory system of claim 4 , wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to said accessory module via a single pivot joint mounting configuration.
8. The accessory system of claim 4 , wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle and wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted via one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration.
9. The accessory system of claim 8 , wherein the interior portion of the vehicle comprises the interior surface of the windshield and wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted to a second attachment adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.
10. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna and said forward facing camera.
11. The accessory system of claim 10 , wherein said housing accommodates at least one of said antenna and said forward facing camera.
12. The accessory system of claim 10 , wherein said housing accommodates said antenna and said forward facing camera.
13. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module encompasses a rain sensor.
14. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said forward facing camera comprises a forward facing CMOS camera.
15. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module encompasses circuitry associated with said tire pressure monitoring system.
16. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.
17. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module comprises at least one user input for controlling at least one accessory of the vehicle.
18. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to attach to said attachment element; and
wherein said structure detachably attaches to said attachment element and wherein said accessory module encompasses (a) an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system, (b) a forward facing camera and (c) a rain sensor, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle.
19. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said forward facing camera captures images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.
20. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said accessory module encompasses circuitry associated with said tire pressure monitoring system.
21. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.
22. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.
23. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said accessory module accommodates at least one of said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.
24. The accessory system of claim 18 further comprising an interior rearview mirror, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror is one of (a) pivotally mounted to said accessory module, (b) pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle, (c) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, (d) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to said accessory module and (e) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to and at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.
25. The accessory system of claim 24 , wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted via one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration.
26. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:
an attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to attach to said attachment element;
wherein said structure detachably attaches to said attachment element and wherein said accessory module encompasses (a) an antenna and (b) a forward facing CMOS camera, said forward facing CMOS camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle; and
an interior rearview mirror, wherein said interior rearview mirror comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror is one of (a) pivotally mounted to said accessory module, (b) pivotally mounted to an interior portion of the vehicle, (c) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, (d) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to said accessory module and (e) pivotally mounted to a second attachment element adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle adjacent to and at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.
27. The accessory system of claim 26 , wherein said interior rearview mirror is pivotally mounted via one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration.
28. The accessory system of claim 26 , wherein said forward facing CMOS camera captures images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.
29. The accessory system of claim 26 , wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system and wherein said accessory module encompasses circuitry associated with said tire pressure monitoring system.
30. The accessory system of claim 26 , wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system and wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle, and wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.
31. The accessory system of claim 26 , wherein said accessory module encompasses a rain sensor.
32. The accessory system of claim 31 , wherein said accessory module accommodates at least one of said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor.
33. The accessory system of claim 26 , wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna and said forward facing camera.
34. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:
at least one accessory-module attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to detachably attach to said accessory-module attachment element;
wherein said accessory module attached to said accessory-module attachment element encompasses at least two accessories selected from the group consisting of (i) a rain sensor, (ii) an antenna, (iii) a forward facing CCD camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, (iv) a forward facing CMOS camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, (v) a photo sensor, (vi) a transceiver, (vii) a keyless entry receiver, (viii) a compass sensor, (ix) a headlamp controller, (x) a display and (xi) a microphone;
a mirror mounting button adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is detachably mounted to said mirror mounting button by a mounting configuration of said interior rearview mirror assembly, said mounting configuration comprising a support having a mirror mount configured to mount to said mirror mounting button;
wherein said mounting configuration comprises one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration; and
wherein when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button and when said accessory module is attached to said at least one accessory-module attachment element, said mounting configuration of interior rearview mirror assembly is at least partially enveloped by said accessory module.
35. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward facing CMOS camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle.
36. The accessory system of claim 35 , wherein said forward facing CMOS camera captures images for at least one of a collision avoidance system and an automatic headlamp control system.
37. The accessory system of claim 36 , wherein another of said at least two accessories comprises an antenna.
38. The accessory system of claim 37 , wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system.
39. The accessory system of claim 37 , wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a satellite system.
40. The accessory system of claim 39 , wherein said satellite system comprises a satellite radio system.
41. The accessory system of claim 39 , wherein said satellite system comprises at least one satellite of a GPS system.
42. The accessory system of claim 37 , wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a tire pressure monitoring system; and wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a control that receives signals from wheel-based sensors of the vehicle.
43. The accessory system of claim 42 , wherein said accessory module accommodates said control.
44. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward facing CMOS camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle and wherein another of said at least two accessories comprises a rain sensor.
45. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein said at least two accessories comprise at least three accessories, said three accessories comprising (i) an antenna, (ii) a forward facing camera and (iii) a rain sensor.
46. The accessory system of claim 45 , wherein said accessory module comprises a housing and wherein said housing encompasses said antenna, said forward facing camera and said rain sensor when said accessory module is attached to said at least one accessory-module attachment element.
47. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein said mounting configuration of said interior rearview mirror assembly is at least partially enveloped by a forked portion of said accessory module.
48. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein said mounting configuration of said interior rearview mirror assembly is at least partially straddled by said accessory module.
49. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein said accessory module is detachable from said at least one accessory-module attachment element as an assembly.
50. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein said at least one accessory-module attachment element is adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle by a structural adhesive.
51. The accessory system of claim 50 , wherein said at least one accessory-module attachment element comprises at least two accessory-module attachment elements.
52. The accessory system of claim 50 , wherein said structural adhesive comprises at least one of an epoxy and a silicone.
53. The accessory system of claim 34 , wherein said accessory module comprise a portion that extends to a roof portion of the vehicle.
54. An accessory system suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a windshield, said accessory system comprising:
at least one accessory-module attachment element adhesively attached to an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an accessory module, said accessory module comprising structure adapted to detachably attach to said accessory-module attachment element;
wherein said accessory module attached to said accessory-module attachment element encompasses at least (i) a rain sensor and (ii) a forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
a mirror mounting button adhesively attached to the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle;
an interior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein said interior rearview minor assembly is detachably mounted to said mirror mounting button by a mounting configuration of said interior rearview minor assembly, said mounting configuration comprising a support having a mirror mount configured to mount to said mirror mounting button;
wherein said mounting configuration comprises one of (a) a double pivot joint mounting configuration and (b) a single pivot joint mounting configuration; and
wherein when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button and when said accessory module is attached to said at least one accessory-module attachment element, said mounting configuration of interior rearview mirror assembly is at least partially straddled by said accessory module.
55. The accessory system of claim 54 , wherein said mounting configuration comprises a double pivot joint mounting configuration.
56. The accessory system of claim 55 , wherein said at least two accessories comprise at least three accessories, said at least three accessories comprising (i) a rain sensor, (ii) a forward facing camera and (iii) an antenna.
57. The accessory system of claim 56 , wherein said antenna comprises an antenna for a satellite system.