Patent ID: 7719408

Claim:
An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising: a windshield, said windshield having an outer surface that is exterior of the vehicle when the windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when the windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield is at a windshield angle relative to vertical when said windshield is mounted to the equipped vehicle; wherein said windshield has a mounting element adhesively attached to said inner surface and wherein said mounting element comprises a mirror mounting button; an interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mirror mounting button at said inner surface of said windshield; an accessory support; wherein said accessory support comprises part of said interior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said accessory support includes an accessory receiving portion configured to receive an accessory; wherein said accessory comprises an imaging sensor comprising a lens and a photosensor imaging array and wherein said accessory receiving portion is configured to receive said imaging sensor in a manner that compensates for said windshield angle of said windshield so that said imaging sensor has a more generally horizontal forward field of view through said windshield when said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to said mirror mounting button adhesively attached to said inner surface of said windshield; and wherein said accessory system comprises a removable cover that at least partially encompasses said accessory, associated circuitry and said accessory support.