Accessory system for vehicle

1. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom;

said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element;

said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens;

wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module;

wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield;

said portion comprising wall structure;

wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module;

wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated;

wherein a multi-pin electrical socket is located at said accessory module and connects with said circuitry disposed within said accessory module; and

wherein said electrical socket is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle.

2. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said driver assistance system comprises an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle.

3. The accessory system of claim 2 , wherein said electrical socket connects said circuitry with at least one of (i) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a CAN communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

4. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said mounting element is held by an adhesive at the windshield at a first location and wherein a mirror mounting button is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a second location that is separate from, local to and spaced from said first location, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button, and wherein said accessory module is mountable to and demountable from said mounting element independent of mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button or demounting said interior rearview mirror assembly from said mirror mounting button, and wherein said mounting element is at an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated.

5. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said accessory module comprises a casing that at least partially encases said camera.

6. The accessory system of claim 5 , wherein said imaging sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed within said casing of said accessory module.

7. The accessory system of claim 6 , wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS photosensor array.

8. The accessory system of claim 7 , wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module into a recess region of said casing.

9. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said driver assistance system comprises a lane change assist system of the equipped vehicle.

10. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said mounting element is bonded via an adhesive to the inner surface of the windshield at a first location and wherein a mirror mounting button is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a second location that is separate from, local to and spaced from said first location, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button, and wherein said accessory module is mountable to and demountable from said mounting element independent of mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button or demounting said interior rearview mirror assembly from said mirror mounting button.

11. The accessory system of claim 10 , wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic reflective element, at least two photosensors, a microprocessor and associated circuitry all commonly established on a common semiconductor element, and wherein said microprocessor is operable to detect a voltage applied to said electro-optic reflective element and to adjust the voltage applied to said electro-optic reflective element via controlling a current gating element, said current gating element controlling an amount of current shunted to ground to control the voltage applied to said electro-optic reflective element, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes an inductive power receiver that receives power from an inductive power transmitter located remotely from said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a data transceiver that wirelessly communicates with a data transceiver located remotely from said interior rearview mirror assembly.

12. The accessory system of claim 1 , wherein said electrical socket connects said circuitry with a communication bus of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said mounting element and said accessory module are adapted for mounting by snap attachment of said accessory module to said mounting element.

13. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom;

said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element;

said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens;

wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module;

wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield;

said portion comprising wall structure;

wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module;

wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated;

wherein said accessory module comprises a casing that at least partially encases said camera;

wherein said imaging sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed within said casing of said accessory module;

wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module into a recess region of said casing; and

wherein said mounting element is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a first location and wherein a mirror mounting button is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a second location that is separate from, local to and spaced from said first location, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button, and wherein said accessory module is mountable to and demountable from said mounting element independent of mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button or demounting said interior rearview mirror assembly from said mirror mounting button.

14. The accessory system of claim 13 , wherein a multi-pin electrical socket is located at said accessory module and connects with said circuitry disposed within said accessory module, wherein said electrical socket is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

15. The accessory system of claim 14 , wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS photosensor array and wherein said mounting element and said accessory module are adapted for mounting by snap attachment of said accessory module to said mounting element.

16. The accessory system of claim 15 , wherein said mounting element is bonded by an adhesive to the windshield.

17. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising a windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle, with the windshield at a windshield angle relative to vertical when mounted in the vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom;

said accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element;

said accessory module comprising a camera, said camera comprising an imaging sensor and a lens;

wherein electrical circuitry associated with said camera is disposed within said accessory module;

wherein said accessory module comprises a portion that faces towards the windshield when said accessory module is mounted to said mounting element attached at the windshield;

said portion comprising wall structure;

wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module;

wherein said accessory module and said mounting element are configured so that, with said accessory module mounted to said mounting element, said lens is facing towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle and said camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle and views forwardly through an area of the windshield that is wiped by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated;

wherein said accessory module comprises a casing that at least partially encases said camera;

wherein said imaging sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board that is disposed within said casing of said accessory module;

wherein said mounting element is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a first location and wherein a mirror mounting button is attached at the inner surface of the windshield at a second location that is separate from, local to and spaced from said first location, and wherein an interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button, and wherein said accessory module is mountable to and demountable from said mounting element independent of mounting said interior rearview mirror assembly to said mirror mounting button or demounting said interior rearview mirror assembly from said mirror mounting button;

wherein an electrical socket is located at said accessory module and connects with said circuitry disposed within said accessory module; and

wherein said mounting element and said accessory module are adapted for mounting by snap attachment of said accessory module to said mounting element.

18. The accessory system of claim 17 , wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS photosensor array and wherein said lens of said camera protrudes through said wall structure to exterior of said accessory module into a recess region of said casing.

19. The accessory system of claim 18 , wherein said electrical socket is configured for electrical connection to at least one of (i) an electrical source of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a power source of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a control of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

20. The accessory system of claim 19 , wherein said driver assistance system comprises an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle.