INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH PIVOT MOUNT

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustable relative to a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a base portion configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle and an arm having a pivot element. The mirror head is adjustably attached at the pivot element of the arm via a ball-and-socket pivot joint. The arm is pivotally attached at the base portion via a uni-axial pivot joint and pivots relative to the base portion about a pivot axis of the uni-axial pivot joint. The uni-axial pivot joint limits pivoting of the arm relative to the base portion about other axes. The uni-axial pivot joint includes a retention mechanism that is configured to retain the arm in a selected position relative to the base portion. The mirror head is adjusted via pivoting of the mirror head at the ball-and-socket pivot joint.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of interior rearview mirror assemblies for vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a mirror assembly that is adjustably mounted to an interior portion of a vehicle, such as via a double ball pivot or joint mounting configuration where the mirror casing and reflective element are adjusted relative to the interior portion of a vehicle by pivotal movement about the double ball pivot configuration. The mirror casing and reflective element are pivotable about either or both of the ball pivot joints by a user that is adjusting a rearward field of view of the reflective element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably disposed at a mounting assembly. The mirror head comprises a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. The mounting assembly comprises (i) a base portion configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly and (ii) an arm having a single ball member. The mirror head is adjustably mounted at the ball member of the arm via a first pivot joint that comprises a ball-and-socket pivot joint. The arm is pivotally mounted at the base portion via a second pivot joint that provides a horizontal pivot axis that, with the base portion attached at the interior portion of the vehicle, is oriented horizontally. With the base portion attached at the interior portion of the vehicle, the arm is pivoted about the horizontal pivot axis and pivoting about other axes is limited by the second pivot joint.

Optionally, the second pivot joint has a plurality of detents to retain the arm relative to the base portion and to retain the mirror head at a selected one of a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base portion. For example, the arm includes a plurality of detent structures and the base includes a flexible tab that engages one of the detent structures to retain the arm relative to the base portion and to retain the mirror head at the selected one of the plurality of vertical positions relative to the base portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, an interior rearview mirror assembly10for a vehicle includes a mirror head12adjustably mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle (such as to an interior or in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield or a headliner of a vehicle or the like) via a mounting structure or mounting configuration or assembly14(FIG.1). The mirror head12includes a mirror casing16and a reflective element18positioned at a front portion of the casing16. The mirror reflective element may comprise a variable reflectance mirror reflective element that varies its reflectance responsive to electrical current applied to conductive coatings or layers of the reflective element, or the mirror reflective element may comprise a prismatic mirror reflective element. The mounting assembly14comprises a vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly having a ball member portion or arm20that is pivotally attached at a base portion22and is vertically adjustable or pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis when the base portion22of the mounting structure is attached at an interior portion of a vehicle, as discussed below.

The mirror head of an interior rearview mirror assembly may be adjustably mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle via a single ball or double ball mounting configuration. For example, and as shown inFIGS.2and3, a single ball mount may be provided that has a mounting base or interface that is configured to fit a specific windshield angle, whereby different constructions of the single ball mount are needed for different vehicle windshield angles. The single ball mount provides enhanced vibration performance, a concealed wire harness routing, and a lower part count. To comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), the single ball mount may include a stay or arm that may detach from a windshield button. However, the single ball mount typically must be configured differently to accommodate different windshield angles and different mounting configurations. Thus, a particular single ball mount mirror assembly (designed for a particular vehicle) usually cannot be installed in different vehicles.

Also, and such as shown inFIGS.4and5, a double ball mount may be provided that has a mounting base that mounts at a mirror mounting button adhesively attached at an in-cabin side of the vehicle windshield, with a mounting arm that pivots relative to the base at a first end of the mounting arm, while the mirror head pivots relative to an opposite second end of the mounting arm. The mirror head may provide the primary pivot while the base provides the secondary pivot. To comply with FMVSS, the mirror may swing out of the way. Such a double ball mount may attach to different mounting buttons, and may allow for vertical adjustment of the mirror head, but may have lower vibration performance compared to the single ball mount constructions. In other words, the double ball mount may be flexible across multiple vehicles and thus may accommodate different windshield angles and mounting configurations.

That is, the two-ball stay allows mirror assemblies to fit most vehicles regardless of windshield angle. However, interior mirror heads are getting heavier as more feature content is integrated into the mirror head (e.g., full display video mirrors, driver monitoring systems with integrated cameras, and the like), which degrades the ability of the two-ball stay to maintain position of the mirror head and resist vibration during vehicle operation. Further, electrical connection between the vehicle wire harness and the mirror head may be routed external the mounting stay.

Referring now toFIGS.4-8, the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly14is configured to attach at a mounting button or element that is adhesively attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield or that is attached at a headliner of the cabin of the vehicle. The arm20includes the ball member20aat a first end of the arm20and an opposite second end of the arm20is pivotally attached at the base portion22, such as via a pair of oppositely protruding pins20bthat are received through or partially through receiving holes or apertures22aat least partially through opposite walls22bof the base portion22. The pins20bprovide for pivoting of the arm20relative to the base portion22about a single axis (such as a generally horizontal axis when the mirror mount is attached at the interior portion of the vehicle) and prevent pivoting of the arm20relative to the base portion22about other axes. In other words, the arm20is pivoted relative to the base portion22via a uni-axial pivot joint that allows for uni-directional or bi-directional pivoting of the arm20about the pivot axis (e.g., up and/or down vertical directions about a horizontal pivot axis) and that does not allow for pivoting of the arm20about other axes (e.g., pivoting about a vertical axis or other non-horizontal axes).

The arm20may include opposite wings or portions20cextending from the second end of the arm20opposite the ball member20a(with each pin20bprotruding outwardly from a respective wing20c), and the base portion22may include a center guide portion22cthat is received between the wings20csuch that the wings20cand the outer walls22band the center guide portion22callow for pivoting of the arm relative to the base portion about the pivot axis and limit or preclude pivoting of the arm relative to the base portion in other directions or about other axes. The pins may protrude outwardly from opposite wings20cor may comprise a single pin that extends across the arm (whereby the center guide portion of the base portion may be notched to allow the center part of the pin to be received therein). The ball member20aand the arm20may have a passageway formed therethrough for wires to be routed to electrically connect electrical content of the mirror head to a wire harness of the vehicle.

In other words, the wings20cat the second end of the arm20opposite the ball member20aare at least partially received by the base portion22, with the center guide portion22cextending between the wings20c.The pins20bextend laterally from the wings20cand are at least partially received within the apertures22aextending from inner walls or surfaces of the base portion22. The pivot axis of the arm20is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the pins20b.That is, when the arm20is pivoted relative to the base portion22, the arm20pivots about the pins20bwhich rotate within the apertures22aof the base portion22.

The arm may be pivotable about the horizontal pivot axis in a continual or infinite manner (between an upper limit and a lower limit), or the arm may be positionable at a selected one of multiple discrete positions relative to the base portion. For example, and such as shown inFIGS.9and10, the wings20cmay include a plurality of detents or notches20dalong an inner surface for engagement with a flexible spring tab24a(or pair of spring tabs) of a mounting element24of the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly14. As the arm20is pivoted about the pivot axis relative to the base portion22, the spring tabs24amove along the surface of the wings20cand engage respective detents20dto retain the arm20in one of a plurality of positions. The mounting element24attaches the mounting structure at a mount or button or element that is attached at the interior portion of the vehicle (such as via snapping onto a tri-lobed element attached at the interior portion of the vehicle). The mounting element may comprise a metallic element that allows for flexing of the mounting element and flexible spring tabs.

When the base portion22is attached via the mounting element24, the spring tab or tabs24aengages one of the notches20dat the wing or wings20cto limit pivotal movement of the arm20relative to the base portion22and retain the arm20and the mirror head12in the position relative to the base portion22. In the illustrated example, the wings20chave 5 notches or positions, such that each position has the arm20pivoted relative to the base portion22about 12 degrees From the adjacent position (and thus, the upward and downward pivot range of the arm provides about 60 degrees of vertical adjustment of the arm and ball member and mirror head relative to the base portion, as shown inFIG.8). However, the wings20cmay have more or fewer notches and/or the notches may be spaced apart at different angle increments. The spring tabs24aflex to accommodate movement of the wings20cand notches20drelative to the spring tabs24aand to allow for pivotal movement of the arm20relative to the base portion22when a sufficient upward or downward force is applied at the arm20or mirror head12.

The notches20dprovide for secure retention of the arm20at one or more selected positions or angles relative to the base portion22, such as setting the arm20at a desired angle for the particular application or windshield angle at which the mounting assembly14is disposed. The spring tab24ais configured to engage the notches20dand resist pivotal movement of the arm20relative to the base portion22. The spring force of the spring tab24amay be selected (such as by selecting different thicknesses or different materials) to provide the desired or appropriate resistance to pivoting of the arm20relative to the base portion22, which limits pivoting of the arm portion20relative to the base portion22when the driver of the vehicle adjusts the mirror head12to adjust his or her rearward view.

Optionally, the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly may be configured to attach to a wedge-shaped mirror mounting button that is adhesively attached at the in-cabin side of the vehicle windshield. For example, and with reference toFIGS.11-13, a vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly114includes an arm120that is pivotally attached at a base portion122via one or more pivot pins120b,such as in a similar manner as described above with respect to the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly14. The pivot pin or pins may protrude outwardly from opposite wings120cor may comprise a single pin (FIG.12) that extends across the arm (whereby the center guide portion of the base portion is notched to allow the center part of the pin to be received therein). The base portion122has a wedge-mounting element124that is configured to slide onto a wedge mount126that is adhesively attached at the in-cabin side of the vehicle windshield. The element124includes a spring tab124a(or pair of spring tabs) that is configured to engage the notches120dof the wings120cof the base portion122to limit pivotal movement of the arm120relative to the base portion122. The mounting element124may comprise a metallic element that allows for flexing of the mounting element124and flexible spring tabs124a.

Thus, the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly114limits vertical pivoting of the arm120and ball member120aand mirror head relative to the base portion122via the spring tab124aengaging the notches120das the arm120is pivoted relative to the base portion122about the pivot axis of the pin120b.The vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly provides an integrated spring tab detent and tri-lobe spring or element (or wedge-mount spring or element). Further, a channel or passageway may be formed through the ball member120aand/or the arm120to allow for wired connection between the mirror head and the wire harness of the vehicle along the mounting arm.

Optionally, the mounting assembly may include mating teeth on the upper and lower components. That is, each of the wings of the pivot arm and the mounting base could include teeth that engage one another when the pivot arm is assembled to the mounting base. For example, teeth or detents may be formed on a side surface of the wing that interfaces with an inner surface of the base portion, with corresponding teeth or detents formed on the inner surface of the base portion and configured to face and engage the teeth of the wing. When the arm is positioned at the base portion, the arm may be rotated about the pins to bring the respective teeth into engagement at a desired position of the arm relative to the base portion. The engagement of the respective teeth may limit or preclude the arm from further pivoting relative to the mounting base after assembly, such as by clamping the wings between outer portions of the base portion or using an adhesive between the base portion and wings. That is, the pivot arm may be assembled in the desired position and be fixed. The assembly may have a preset position based on vehicle architecture.

Optionally, a vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly may be configured to attach to a mirror mounting base where the arm is continually or infinitely pivotable about the horizontal pivot axis (within or between an upper limit and a lower limit) and with a detent mechanism disposed between a wing of the arm and the mounting base that is configured to retain the arm at any suitable pivot position between the upper and lower limits relative to mirror mounting base. For example, and with reference toFIGS.14-20, a vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly214includes an arm220that has a hinge wing228extending at an end of the arm220opposite the ball member220a.The ball member220ais received at the rear of the mirror head12to pivotally attach the mirror head12to the mounting assembly214. The hinge wing228provides an interface that pivotally mates with a barrel portion230of a mounting base222configured to attach to the windshield. A pivot pin220bextends from one side of the hinge wing228and is received along a spring cup232within the barrel portion230. A cover234is disposed at the side of the barrel portion230and spring cup232opposite the hinge wing228of the arm220. Thus, the pivot pin220bextends between the hinge wing228and the cover234and extends through the barrel portion230and the spring cup232to pivotally attach the arm220and the mirror head12relative to the mounting base222.

A palnut236engages a notched end of the pivot pin220bopposite the hinge wing228and a keyed slip washer238is disposed between the palnut236and an end surface or lip232aof the spring cup232that is opposite the hinge wing228to secure the pivot pin220balong the spring cup232. In other words, the spring cup232is disposed along the pivot pin220bwith the notched end of the pivot pin220bopposite the hinge wing228extending at least partially from the end surface232aof the spring cup232. The keyed slip washer238is disposed along the pivot pin220bbetween the notched end and the end surface232aand the palnut236is secured at the notched end to retain the keyed slip washer238along the pivot pin220b.The keyed slip washer238engages the end surface232aof the spring cup232to retain the spring cup232along the pivot pin220b. The spring cup232is keyed to the pivotable hinge arm220, such as via the keyed slip washer238engaging and keyed to the spring cup232and/or keyed engagement at the hinge wing228and thus pivots relative to the barrel portion230and mounting base222with the arm220.

Friction washers are keyed to the fixed wedge mount base222and engage the hinge wing228and/or the spring cup232to provide friction interfaces that engage to resist movement of the arm220relative to the mounting base222. A biasing member240, such as a compression spring, circumscribes the pivot pin220band is disposed between the keyed slip washer238and an inner surface of the spring cup232to bias the hinge wing228into engagement with a first friction washer242aat a first side of the barrel portion230and to bias the lip232aof the spring cup232into engagement with a second friction washer242bat a second side of the barrel portion230opposite the first side. That is, with the biasing member240between the keyed slip washer238and the inner surface of the spring cup232, the biasing member240presses against the keyed slip washer238at the end of the pivot pin220bto bias the wing228into engagement with the first friction washer242aand the biasing member240presses against the inner surface of the spring cup232to bias the lip232aof the spring cup232into engagement with the second friction washer242b.

The clamping force from the biasing member240and the frictional forces between the respective friction washers and the hinge wing228and spring cup232pivotally secures the wing228relative to the mounting base222at selected pivot positions. Thus, during adjustment of the arm220about the hinge axis (i.e., about a longitudinal axis of the pivot pin220b), the clutch or detent mechanism slips about the friction surfaces. In other words, the biasing member240biases the hinge wing228toward the spring cup232and thus biases the hinge wing228into engagement with the first friction washer242aand biases the spring cup232into engagement with the second friction washer242b.The frictional forces between the friction washers and the respective surfaces retains the pivot arm220at any suitable pivot position relative to the mounting base222when pivot forces are not acting on the mounting assembly214. When a force is applied to pivot the pivot arm220relative to the mounting base222(such as a force from a user or an actuator), the force overcomes the frictional forces and the hinge wing228slips relative to the first friction washer242aand the spring cup232slips relative to the second friction washer242bto adjust position of the pivot arm220relative to the mounting base22until the force is released or until the force is less than the frictional forces.

The mounting base222may slidably engage a mounting button disposed at the vehicle windshield and a setscrew244may be threadably received at the mounting base222to secure the mounting base to the mounting button. A second or non-keyed slip washer246may be disposed between the palnut236and the keyed slip washer238.

As shown inFIGS.21and22, the wiring248for the mirror head12, such as to electrically connect the mirror head12to a power source of the vehicle, may be routed through the arm220and/or the ball element220a.In the illustrated example, the wiring248is external the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly214and may be accommodated within a casing or housing attached at the mounting assembly.

Optionally, the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly may be configured to attach to a mirror mounting base where the arm is pivotable relative to the mounting base at selected ones of a plurality of discrete positions relative to the base portion. For example, and with reference toFIGS.23-30, a vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly314includes a pivot arm320and a mounting base322where a hinge wing328of the pivot arm320and a corresponding barrel portion or wing328of the mounting base322each have teeth that engage one another as the wing328pivots relative to the barrel portion330to lock the pivot arm320(and thus a ball member320aof the pivot arm320) at selected pivot positions relative to the mounting base322. In the illustrated example, a spring cup332is integrally formed with the hinge wing328of the pivot arm320and extends along a pivot pin320band the horizontal pivot axis of the mounting assembly314. The spring cup332may be received at least partially within a recess of the barrel330of the mounting base322, with the pivot pin320bextending from the barrel330and along the spring cup332. Teeth321of the pivot arm320face teeth323of the mounting base322, with the teeth321of the pivot arm320extending radially about and circumscribing the spring cup332and the teeth323of the mounting base322extending radially about the pivot pin320band circumscribing the recess that receives the spring cup332at the barrel330. The respective teeth of the pivot arm and the mounting base may extend 360 degrees about the pivot axis, or the teeth may be extend only about the pivot axis within a range of motion of the pivot arm relative to the mounting base, such as 180 degrees, 90 degrees, and the like.

A palnut336engages a notched end of the pivot pin320bopposite the barrel330and a keyed slip washer338is disposed between the palnut336and an end surface or lip328aof the hinge wing328to secure the pivot pin220balong the spring cup332. The keyed slip washer338is keyed with the lip328aof the hinge wing328and thus pivots with the pivot arm320about the pivot pin320b.A cover or end cap334is disposed at the lip328aof the hinge wing328and over the palnut336and keyed slip washer338to close the detent mechanism.

A biasing element340, such as a compression spring, is disposed about the pivot pin320band between the keyed slip washer338and an inner surface of the spring cup332to bias the wing328toward the barrel330and thus the teeth321of the mounting arm320into or toward engagement with the teeth323of the mounting base322. The teeth may be ramped or sloped so that during adjustment of the arm320about the hinge axis (i.e., about a longitudinal axis of the pivot pin320b), the teeth321at the pivot arm320may ride along the teeth323of the mounting base322. With the pivot arm320moved to the desired pivot position, the biasing force from the biasing member340precludes the teeth from moving relative to one another and the pivot arm320is secured relative to the mounting base322.

The mounting base322may slidably engage a mounting button disposed at the vehicle windshield and a setscrew344may be threadably received at the mounting base322to secure the mounting base322at the mounting button. A second or non-keyed slip washer346may be disposed between the palnut336and the keyed slip washer338.

Thus, the wedge mount base322is fixed to windshield button. Axial force is provided by the coil spring340, which forces the pivotable hinge arm328into detent features323on the base322. There may be no set “home” position and the mounting arm320and the interior mirror head12pivot relative to the mounting base322in discrete steps.

The number of teeth or detents321,323at the hinge wing328of the arm320and at the barrel330of the base322determine the radial distance between each discrete pivot position of the arm320relative to the base322. The angle of the individual teeth or detents determines the torque needed to move the arm320relative to the base322(such as a manual torque provided by a user or a torque provided by an actuator). That is, the detent interface may include any suitable number of detents or teeth to determine the range of motion between detent positions, with any suitable ramp angle determining the breakaway torque needed to disengage the detent interface. For example, there may be 18 detents with a 20 degree range of motion between each detent position, and each detent may have a 55 degree ramp angle with about 2.6 Newton meters of torque required to disengage the detent interface and move the arm320relative to the base322. Optionally, there may be 34 detents with about a 10.6 degree range of motion between each detent position, and each detent may have a 70 degree ramp angle with about 6.7 Newton meters of torque required to disengage the detent interface and move the arm320relative to the base322.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include a vertically adjustable double ball mount, where movement of at least one of the two ball mounts is limited (e.g., one of the ball joints may only pivot vertically up and down and the ball joint may not pivot horizontally left and right). For example, and as shown inFIGS.31-35, a mirror assembly410includes a mirror head412that adjustably mounts to the interior portion of the vehicle via a two-ball mounting assembly or stay414. The mounting assembly414includes a mounting base422that mounts at a mirror mounting button attached at the in-cabin side of the vehicle windshield. For example, the mounting base422may slidably engage the mounting button and secure to the mounting button via a set screw. The mounting base422includes a ball member422athat is pivotally attached to an arm450to form a first ball-and-socket joint of the mounting assembly414, and the arm450is pivotally attached at the mirror head412to form a second ball-and-socket joint of the mounting assembly414. In the illustrated example, the arm450includes a first socket452at a first end that receives the ball member422aof the mounting base422. At a second end of the arm450opposite the first end, a second socket454of the arm450receives a ball member456fixed relative to the mirror head412. Optionally, the second end of the arm450may include a ball member that is received within a socket of the mirror head.

The arm450may include an inner core or skeletal portion or structure450athat extends between and defines the first socket452and the second socket454, with an external casing or shell portion or structure450bthat extends along the outer surface of the skeletal structure450ato provide a smooth outer surface of the arm450. Further, the first socket452is defined by a plurality of flexible sections or protrusions452a(FIG.34), and the second socket454may be defined by a correspond plurality of flexible sections or protrusions. Thus, when the respective ball members are received at the sockets, the flexible sections flex to accommodate the ball member. A biasing member458, such as a coil spring, circumscribes the skeletal structure450aand extends between the outer surface of the first socket452and the second socket454to bias the flexible sections452ainward. Thus, with the ball member422aof the mounting base420received in the first socket452and the ball member456at the mirror head412received in the second socket454, the biasing member458provides a retaining force at one or both of the sockets to squeeze the ball members and secure the mirror head412and arm450in position when pivoted by the user relative to the mounting base420.

Further, a protrusion or guide460is integrally formed with the skeletal structure450aand extends from an inner surface of the first socket452that receives the ball member420aof the mounting base420. The ball member420aincludes a recess or hollow portion462and, with the ball member420areceived within the first socket452, the guide460extends at least partially into the recess462of the ball member420a.The ball member420afurther includes a pair of ribs464extending within the recess462along opposing sides of the guide460. As the arm450moves relative to the mounting base420(such as when the position of the mirror head is adjusted by the driver) the ribs464limit lateral movement of the guide460within the recess462and thus limit lateral movement or sideward pivoting of the arm450relative to the mounting base420. Optionally, the recess462may be formed as a channel, with the guide460moving within the channel and the channel limiting lateral movement of the guide460relative to the ball member420a.

In other words, when the guide460engages the ribs464, further movement of the arm420is limited. Thus, the ribs464may allow the arm420to move only along two degrees of freedom (e.g., a vertical upward direction or a vertical downward direction), or the ribs464may significantly limit movement of the arm along other degrees of freedom (e.g., movement may be limited in the horizontal left direction and the horizontal right direction). That is, adding ribs to the stay limits the first ball to just two degrees of freedom.

Providing a two pivot joint mounting assembly with the range of motion of at least one of the pivot joints limited allows the mirror assembly to be configured for installation in a variety of different vehicles, such as those having different windshield angles and mounting configurations. Further, the mounting assembly may accommodate heavier mirror heads, such as up to 525 grams or more, with improved vibration performance as the biasing member458along the arm450resists movement of the mirror head412relative to the second socket454and resists movement of the arm450relative to the mounting base422at the first socket452.

Thus, the mirror assembly provides a two pivot joint solution that accommodates heavy interior rearview mirror heads (such as those that accommodate video display screens and/or DMS) and that is configured to be installed in different vehicles with different windshield angles and/or mounting configurations. The mirror assembly may be interchangeable with a single ball stay and a common mirror head and may mount to the windshield via a standard windshield button. The mirror assembly may utilize a wedge mount with a set screw on the interior cabin side of the windshield with a hinged pivot (e.g., only vertical, up and down rotation) connecting the stay to the wedge mount. At the mirror head, the mirror stay may include a ball member (such as a 28 millimeter ball member) that mates with or is received by a socket at the common mirror head. The neck length of the stay between the pivot joints may be configured to match up with typical swaged tube lengths so as to be interchangeable with different mirror systems. Further, the wire harness and/or coax connections may route through the mirror stay (e.g., between the casing portion and the core portion of the arm) for a fully hidden solution.

The interior rearview mirror mount is thus versatile and adaptable to different vehicles. The mount bridges the gap between single-ball and two-ball stay designs. Further, the mount minimizes the degrees of freedom for movement of the mirror head (such as providing one or more degrees of freedom and four or fewer degrees of freedom). The mount may provide a ball-in design, where the mirror mount includes the ball member received at the mirror head, to be drop-in compatible with single-ball stay designs (where the mirror head may include a socket that receives a ball member of the mounting assembly). The mount may provide a fully hidden wire harness and can support heavy mirror heads (such as weighing up to 525 grams or more).

The vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly is suitable for heavy interior rearview mirror assemblies (such as mirror assemblies with a full mirror display and/or driver monitoring camera(s) and light emitter(s) and the like), such as mirror assemblies including mirror heads weighing 525 grams or more. A two ball or double pivot joint may be desired to provide a single interior mirror mounting assembly that can mount to most/all vehicles. The vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly can mount to standard windshield buttons, such as via a wedge mount with set screw on the windshield side, and provides a hinged pivot (only up/down rotation). The ball member may comprise any suitable ball member, such as, for example, a 28 mm ball at the mirror-end of the arm, that pivotally attaches at a socket element at the mirror head to mate with a common mirror head (the “neck” length between pivots may be designed to match up with typical swaged tube lengths so it is interchangeable with various mirror systems). The wire harness and coaxial cables may be routed through the arm and ball member to provide a hidden wire management system.

Thus, the vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly provides a hinge mount that provides a reduced number of parts as compared to a typical double ball mounting assembly. The vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly may be suitable for use on multiple vehicle platforms with different windshields having different rake angles. The vertically adjustable single ball mounting assembly may provide increased load handling as compared to typical double ball mounts, and may provide preset or preselected positions for particular applications and settings, if desired.

The reflective element and mirror casing are adjustable relative to a base portion or mounting assembly to adjust the driver's rearward field of view when the mirror assembly is normally mounted at or in the vehicle. A socket or pivot element of the mirror head is configured to receive the ball member of the ball member portion, such as by utilizing aspects of pivot mounting assemblies of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,593,565; 6,690,268; 6,540,193; 4,936,533; 5,820,097; 5,100,095; 7,249,860; 6,877,709; 6,329,925; 7,289,037; 7,249,860 and/or 6,483,438, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

The mirror assembly may comprise any suitable construction, such as, for example, a mirror assembly with the reflective element being nested in the mirror casing and with a bezel portion that circumscribes a perimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element, or with the mirror casing having a curved or beveled outermost exposed perimeter edge around the reflective element and with no overlap onto the front surface of the reflective element (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,184, 190; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,289,037; 7,360,932; 7,626,749; 8,049,640; 8,277,059 and/or 8,529,108, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) or such as a mirror assembly having a rear substrate of an electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element nested in the mirror casing, and with the front substrate having a curved or beveled outermost exposed perimeter edge, or such as a mirror assembly having a prismatic reflective element that is disposed at an outer perimeter edge of the mirror casing and with the prismatic substrate having a curved or beveled outermost exposed perimeter edge, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,827,913; 9,174,578; 8,508,831; 8,730,553; 9,598,016 and/or 9,346,403, and/or U.S. Des. Pat. Nos. D633,423; D633,019; D638,761 and/or D647,017, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties (and with electrochromic and prismatic mirrors of such construction are commercially available from the assignee of this application under the trade name INFINITY™ mirror).

As discussed above, the mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly that includes an electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element. The perimeter edges of the reflective element may be encased or encompassed by the perimeter element or portion of the bezel portion to conceal and contain and envelop the perimeter edges of the substrates and the perimeter seal disposed therebetween. The electrochromic mirror element of the electrochromic mirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic reflective element. The prismatic mirror assembly may be mounted or attached at an interior portion of a vehicle (such as at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield) via the mounting means described above, and the reflective element may be toggled or flipped or adjusted between its daytime reflectivity position and its nighttime reflectivity position via any suitable toggle means, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870 and/or 7,249,860, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0085653, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, for example, the interior rearview mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic mirror assembly, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 7,249,860; 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289; 4,436,371 and/or 4,435,042, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the prismatic reflective element may comprise a conventional prismatic reflective element or prism or may comprise a prismatic reflective element of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,420,756; 7,289,037; 7,274,501; 7,249,860; 7,338,177 and/or 7,255,451, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the interior mirror assembly comprises a dual-mode interior rearview video mirror that can switch from a traditional reflection mode to a live-video display mode, such as is by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies and systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,242,008; 11,214,199; 10,442,360; 10,421,404; 10,166,924; 10,046,706 and/or 10,029,614, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2021-0162926; US-2021-0155167; US-2020-0377022; US-2019-0258131; US-2019-0146297; US-2019-0118717 and/or US-2017-0355312, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The video display screen of the video mirror, when the mirror is in the display mode, may display video images derived from video image data captured by a rearward viewing camera, such as a rearward camera disposed at a center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) location, and/or video image data captured by one or more other cameras at the vehicle, such as side-mounted rearward viewing cameras or the like.

Optionally, the DMS camera may be used to detect ambient light and/or glare light (emanating from headlamps of a trailing vehicle) for use in providing auto-dimming of the EC mirror reflective element. The DMS camera may be disposed in the mirror head and viewing rearward through the mirror reflective element. The processing of image data captured by the DMS camera may be adjusted to accommodate the angle of the mirror head so that the ECU or system, via image processing of image data captured by the DMS camera, determines headlamps of a trailing vehicle (behind the equipped vehicle and traveling in the same direction as the equipped vehicle and traveling in the same traffic lane or in an adjacent traffic lane) to determine glare light at the mirror reflective element. The processing of image data captured by the DMS camera is adjusted to accommodate the degree of dimming of the mirror reflective element. For example, the system knows how much the mirror reflective element is dimmed (responsive to the determined glare light intensity and location) and can accommodate for the mirror dimming level when processing captured image data to determine presence and intensity of light sources/headlamps rearward of the vehicle. The intelligent/automatic mirror dimming functions may utilize aspects of the systems described in U.S. Publication Nos. US-2019-0258131 and/or US-2019-0047475, and/or International Publication No. WO 2022/150826, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.