Patent ID: 7480149
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: B60R,B60W,G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. An accessory module for a vehicle, said accessory module comprising: a mounting element securable to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle, the winshield being at a windshield angle relative to vertical when the windshield is installed in the vehicle; an accessory support having a base portion attachable to said mounting element, said accessory support including an accessory holding element configured to hold an accessory, said accessory support including at least one circuitry holding element configured to hold a printed circuit board at said accessory support, said accessory support including an electrical connector for electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the accessory to an electrical source of the vehicle, said base portion, said accessory holding element and said circuitry holding element being integrally molded together so that said accessory support comprises a unitarily molded accessory support; wherein said accessory comprises an imaging sensor having a lens attached thereto and wherein said accessory holding element is configured to receive and hold said imaging sensor, said accessory holding element of said accessory support being configured to hold said imaging sensor so that said lens is at a lens angle relative to said base portion of said accessory support, said accessory support being configured so that said lens angle of said lens compensates for the windshield angle of the windshield so that said imaging sensor has a more generally horizontal forward field of view through the windshield when said base portion of said accessory support is attached to said mounting lenient at the interior surface of the windshield of a vehicle; and a cover portion attachable to said accessory support to substantially encompass the accessory and the printed circuit board within said accessory module.