Patent ID: 8309907

Claim:
An accessory system suitable for use in a vehicle, said accessory system comprising: an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system, wherein said attachment element has an aperture therethrough; said attachment element configured to accommodate a rain sensor, wherein said rain sensor has a field of view through said aperture of said attachment element and towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said rain sensor is accommodated by said attachment element attached at the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an interior rearview mirror assembly having a case, said case housing an electro-optic reflective mirror element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount that is configured for attaching said interior rearview mirror assembly to said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle; said interior rearview mirror assembly including a pivot joint enabling a driver of the equipped vehicle to pivotally adjust said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a base portion disposed generally at the windshield of the equipped vehicle when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said base portion comprises said mirror mount; wherein said base portion does not adjust relative to said attachment element when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element and when the driver of the equipped vehicle pivotally adjusts said case to set the rearward field of view of said reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting; wherein said base portion encompasses said rain sensor when said mirror mount is attached to said attachment element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video camera disposed at said base portion, and wherein said video camera has, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle; wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a headlamp controller disposed in said case, and wherein said headlamp controller is operable to control at least one exterior light of the equipped vehicle; wherein electrical wiring, at least in part, connects said video camera at said base portion with said headlamp controller in said case; and wherein said electrical wiring is routed through said pivot joint.