Patent ID: 8710969

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 said windshield is mounted to a vehicle equipped with said accessory system and an inner surface that is interior of the vehicle when said 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 attached at said inner surface; wherein said mounting element is adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of said accessory module therefrom; an accessory module adapted for mounting to and demounting from said mounting element; said accessory module accommodating a camera comprising a CMOS photosensor array and a lens; wherein said CMOS photosensor array is accommodated at said accessory module separate from said lens; wherein said CMOS photosensor array is disposed on a circuit board; wherein said accessory module is configured so that, when mounted to said mounting element attached at said windshield, said lens has a field of view through said windshield appropriate for a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle, (iv) an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle, (v) a traffic lane control system of the equipped vehicle, (vi) a lane change assist system of the equipped vehicle and (vii) a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle.