Patent ID: 9604576
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B60R,B60S,H04N

Claim:
1. A vehicle mirror and camera mounting system comprising: a camera mounting bracket one of (i) configured to mount at a windshield attachment member adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said mirror and camera mounting system and (ii) directly bonded using an adhesive to an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said mirror and camera mounting system; wherein said camera mounting bracket comprises an injection molded bracket that is formed by injection molding a polymeric molding resin; a camera module attached at said camera mounting bracket, wherein said camera module comprises a camera having an image sensor array and a lens; wherein said camera, when said camera module is attached at said camera mounting bracket and with said camera mounting bracket attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, has a field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said camera mounting bracket includes a mirror attachment portion configured for attaching an interior rearview mirror assembly thereat, and wherein said mirror attachment portion comprises a socket; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head and a mirror mount and wherein said mirror mount has a first end portion and a second end portion; wherein said mirror head is attached to said first end of said mirror mount via a ball-and-socket pivot joint; wherein said second end portion of said mirror mount comprises an attaching portion configured to insert at least partially into said socket of said mirror attachment portion of said camera mounting bracket to attach and secure said interior rearview mirror assembly at said camera mounting bracket; wherein a stray light shroud is attached at one of said camera module and said camera mounting bracket; wherein, when said camera module is mounted at said camera mounting bracket and said camera mounting bracket is attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said stray light shroud shields said image sensor array from light emanating from within the cabin of the equipped vehicle; wherein said camera of said camera module views through the windshield of the equipped vehicle at a light-transmitting aperture established in a black-out hiding layer of the windshield; wherein at least one cover element is attached at at least one of (i) said camera mounting bracket, (ii) said camera module and (iii) said mirror mount so that said camera module and said camera mounting bracket are not readily viewable to a person viewing the construction at the windshield from inside the vehicle cabin of the equipped vehicle; wherein said mirror mount includes an electrical connector that is accessible at a rear portion of said mirror mount for electrical connection to one of (i) a connector at said camera module and (ii) a wire harness of the equipped vehicle; and wherein such connection is hidden from view by a person viewing from inside the vehicle cabin of the equipped vehicle.