Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle includes a housing adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle, and at least two accessories housed in said housing. One of the accessories comprises a forwardly-viewing camera, which views through the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure. The other of the accessories may be selected from the group consisting of: (a) a vehicle altitude sensor, (b) a vehicle incline sensor, (c) a headlamp sensor, (d) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, (e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, (f) an antenna, (g) a rain sensor, (h) a microphone, and (i) a compass sensor.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a communication port in a vehicle, a hand held portable unit, and a wireless communication between the portable unit and the communication port when the portable unit is in the vehicle. The portable unit has a position locator and is capable of establishing a geographical position of the portable unit. The portable unit is removable from the vehicle by an occupant of the vehicle. An information display may be disposed on, at or within an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, and may display navigational information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The navigational information may be derived from the wireless communication between the portable unit and the communication port.

Abstract: A navigational mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror having a reflective element. A display, optionally a video display, is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing a front portion of the reflective mirror element. A user input comprising a destination address is provided from a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at an initial geographic location. The display displays driving instructions that provide instructions to the destination address. The driving instructions are viewable by a person viewing the front portion of the reflective element. A particular instruction of the driving instructions is preferably displayed when it is appropriate to display the particular instruction to the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light or security light that provides illumination at a side of the vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element, and may include a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and may be adapted to project light from a non-folding portion or support member of the mirror housing.

Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle comprises a sealed unitary light module including at least one high-intensity power light emitting diode operates with a luminous efficiency of at least about 7 lumens per watt when passing a forward current of at least about 350 milliamps and that emits a luminous flux of at least about 25 lumens when operated at its operating voltage. The sealed unitary light module is removable as a unit from the vehicle and includes a heat dissipating element and a lens.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for vehicles incorporates a rearview mirror housing assembly having a polymeric rearview mirror housing and a reflective mirror element, a polymeric rearview mirror support, a polymeric rearview mirror mount, and first and second polymeric ball pivot members received in respective sockets allowing pivotal adjustment of the rearview mirror housing assembly. At least one electrical conductor connects an electrical accessory in the mirror housing assembly to the vehicle electrical system. The rearview mirror support includes a cable-way such that the presence of the electrical conductor as it passes through the ball pivot members and the cable-way is concealed from view while being protected therein even while the ball pivot members are pivoted for adjustment. The various polymeric elements of the assembly are preferably molded in the same color such as black, or alternately in at least two different colors.

Abstract: An exterior mirror sub-assembly includes a reflective element, a back plate, and a display element having a light source that is activatable to emit light. The display element attaches to a display receiving portion of the back plate and the light source is activatable to emit light through the display receiving portion. The display receiving portion may be configured to orient the display element at a predetermined angle so that light exiting the display element when the light source is activated may be directed (a) generally away from the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle so as to be principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles or (b) generally toward the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle so as to be principally viewed by the driver of the host vehicle.

Abstract: A safety system for a compartment of a vehicle includes an occupant sensor for sensing an occupant within the compartment of the vehicle, a vehicle-based control, and a wireless transmitter of the vehicle. The control is responsive to the occupant sensor. The control controls transmission by the wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter may transmit to a receiver located external of the vehicle upon detection by the occupant sensor of the presence of an occupant within the compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a field of view rearward of the vehicle when the interior mirror assembly is attached at a portion of the interior of the vehicle. The interior mirror assembly includes at least one pivot element enabling a driver of the vehicle to adjust the rearward field of view of the reflective element to that driver's desired setting and the interior mirror assembly comprises a mirror support having a mounting portion for attaching the interior mirror assembly to the portion of the interior of the vehicle. The mirror support includes at least one pivot element and the reflective element is disposed in a mirror housing.

Abstract: A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle comprises an exterior mirror assembly having a first portion adapted for mounting to a vehicle, a second portion, and a reflective element. An actuator is operable to adjust the rearward field of view of the reflective element when the exterior mirror assembly is mounted to a vehicle. A turn signal indicator assembly is provided that comprises a single non-incandescent light emitting source.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element assembly portion and at least one cap portion adapted to attach to the reflective element assembly portion. The reflective element assembly portion includes a reflective element. The reflective element assembly portion comprises a first molding that encompasses at least a perimeter portion of the reflective element. The first molding is formed by molding a first resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor equal to or greater than about 1 percent. The cap portion comprises at least one second molding formed by molding a second resinous material having a tool shrinkage factor of less than or equal to about 1 percent. The cap portion preferably includes internal structure for supporting at least one accessory.

Abstract: An improved console system is provided that is suitable for use in an interior cabin of a vehicle, the interior cabin having a roof and a windshield having an upper portion. The improved console system comprises a console assembly that includes a headliner portion disposed at the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle and that further includes a windshield portion disposed at the upper portion of the windshield that extends downwardly from the headliner portion. The downwardly extending windshield portion includes an image capturing device having a field of view through the windshield in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle that preferably captures images at least one chosen from (a) a forward park-aid system, (b) a collision avoidance system, and (c) an automatic headlamp control system.

Abstract: An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle comprises a housing that is adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The housing houses at least two accessories, at least one of which is selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor. Another of the at least two accessories is selected from the group consisting of: a) a vehicle altitude sensor, b) a vehicle incline sensor, c) a headlamp sensor, d) a daylight sensor, e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, f) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, g) an antenna, h) a camera, i) a microphone, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element system includes a fourth surface electrically conductive element disposed at the fourth surface and in conductive continuity with a second or third surface electrically conductive coating of the second or third surface, respectively. A heating element at the fourth surface comprises a heating element substrate, which has first and second electrically conductive elements established thereat, with the conductive elements being electrically isolated from one another. The first conductive element generates heat to heat a portion of the heating element when powered. The second conductive element connects to the fourth surface electrically conductive element at the fourth surface of the rear substrate to establish conductive continuity between the second electrically conductive element and the fourth surface electrically conductive element when the heating element is attached to the fourth surface.

Abstract: An interior mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror support assembly adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly further comprises an imaging sensor. An electrochromic reflective mirror element is disposed in a housing with its the rearward field of view pivotally adjustable about the mirror support assembly via a pivot element when the interior rearview mirror assembly is attached by the mirror support assembly at an interior portion of the vehicle. Electronic circuitry that includes a compass sensor is disposed within the housing to the rear of the reflective mirror element and the electronic circuitry includes a microprocessor that at least partially controls automatic dimming of the reflectivity of the reflective mirror element in response to glare conditions detected by at least one photo sensor.

Abstract: A voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly attached at an inner portion of the vehicle. The mirror assembly preferably includes at least one microphone for receiving audio signals within a cabin of the vehicle and generating an output signal indicative of these audio signals, the at least one microphone providing sound capture for at least one of a hands free cell phone system, an audio recording system and an emergency communication system. The system includes a control that receives the output signal from the at least one microphone and distinguishes the presence of vocal signals from non-vocal signals. The system preferably comprises a learning mode whereby a vocal characteristic of a particular driver or occupant of the vehicle is learnt so that the ratio of vocal signals emanating from that particular driver or occupant to non-vocal noise signals received by the system is enhanced.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a display screen that is extendable and retractable relative to a casing. The display screen is movably mounted at the casing and movable or slidable in a direction generally parallel to a length axis of the reflective element between a non-use position, where the video display screen is positioned substantially within the casing, and a use position, where the video display screen is substantially extended from a side of the casing for viewing. The display screen may be automatically extended in response to an activating event.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a compass sensor having first and second magnetoresponsive sensing elements. A physical mount mounts the compass sensor at the rear of the reflective element whereby the compass sensor adjusts in tandem with adjustment of the reflective element by the driver of the vehicle. The physical mount is configured to at least partially offset the angle of the reflective element selected by the driver. A control receives a first signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the first magnetoresponsive sensing element and receives a second signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control determines a directional heading of the vehicle based on the first and second signals, and automatically compensates for a deviating magnetic field of the vehicle and generates a signal indicative of the directional heading of the vehicle.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a casing having a reflective element, a compass sensor and a control. The compass sensor is disposed within the mirror casing and has a first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control receives a first signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control determines that the casing is adjusted by an occupant of the vehicle in response to a change in the first and second signals being indicative of an abrupt movement of the casing about the mounting structure by an occupant of the vehicle. The control is operable to enter a rapid compensating mode to compensate for the mirror adjustment.

Abstract: A vehicular rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror system that has an interior reflective element, a drive circuit, a tire pressure monitoring system and a microcontroller. The drive circuit supplies a drive signal to the interior mirror reflective element, which assumes a partial reflectance level in response thereto. The tire pressure monitoring system includes a receiver for receiving signals indicative of vehicle tire pressure. The microcontroller controls at least in part the drive circuit and the tire pressure monitoring system, and may control at least one other vehicle function. The vehicular rearview mirror system may include a sound-processing system and the microcontroller may control at least in part the sound-processing system. The drive circuit may have one or more components in common with the tire pressure monitoring system, and the drive circuit and tire pressure monitoring system may be at least partially on a circuit board.