A camera monitoring system is adapted for use in vehicles, and includes an image capturing means, a control unit, and at least one display device. The image capturing means is configured to capture an image from an external environment, and is associated with an exterior rear-view mirror of the vehicle. The unit is connected to the capturing means, and is configured to select an image region from the captured image. The image region is smaller than the captured image and is movable within the captured image. The device may be a touch screen, and the system may include a control surface in the touch screen configured to move via touches performed by a driver. The image region is displayed in the touch screen, or in another, additional, screen of the device. The system may further include a gesture detector for the detection of driver gestures associated with the image region.

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle equipped with a blind spot monitoring system includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a heater pad disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate. A light transmitting aperture of the heater pad is juxtaposed with a light transmitting aperture of the mirror reflector of the reflective element and with a light transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate. The mirror back plate includes first structure that is configured to attach at an actuator. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the light transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate, and, when activated responsive to a blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle, emits light through the light transmitting apertures, forming an illuminated icon viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

The technology relates to enhancing or extending the field of view of sensors for vehicles configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. One or more mirrors are used to reflect or redirect beams emitted from onboard sensors that would otherwise be wasted, for instance due to obstruction by a portion of the vehicle or because they are emitted at high pitch angles to the side. The mirrors are also used to redirect incoming beams from the external environment toward one or more of the onboard sensors. Using mirrors for such redirection can reduce or eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. A calibration system may be employed to account for mirror movement due to vibration or wind drag. Each mirror may be a front surface mirror. The mirrors may be positioned on the vehicle body, on a faring, or extending from a sensor housing on the vehicle.

An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a self-contained battery powered module releasably disposable at the mirror head of the mirror assembly. The self-contained battery powered module includes a toll transponder that communicates with an automated toll system. The mirror head has a receiving portion for receiving the self-contained battery powered module thereat. The receiving portion includes an opening established through a wall of the mirror casing. The self-contained battery powered module may be releasably retained at least partially in the receiving portion via a push-to-release mechanism. The self-contained battery powered module may be removable from the receiving portion via pushing at the self-contained battery powered module to release the self-contained battery powered module from the push-to-release mechanism.

A mirror assembly for use with mirror housing on autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, including a reflector for collecting and distributing emitted light to a plurality of icon regions, a circuit board, a plurality of light sources mounted to the circuit board and positioned to selectively emit light to illuminate the icon regions, wherein the circuit board provides selective illumination of the icon regions via the light sources in response to one or more received signal inputs from the vehicle indicating an imminent autonomous vehicle maneuver, a mirror having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the reflector is secured at least indirectly to the rear surface and a plurality of icons visible along a driver viewing axis relative to the front surface of the mirror during illumination, wherein the plurality of icons are positioned over the icon regions to allow for selective icon illumination via a selected icon region.

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head, a mirror mounting structure configured to adjustably mount the mirror head at an interior portion of the vehicle, and a receiving portion for receiving a portable self-contained garage door opening module. The portable module includes a user input and a housing, and is operable to wirelessly transmit a radio frequency signal responsive to actuation of the user input of the portable module. With the portable module received at the receiving portion of the interior rearview mirror assembly, the user input is accessible by a driver of the vehicle. A retaining element is configured to attach to the mirror casing at the receiving portion to releasably secure the portable module at the receiving portion.

A camera monitoring system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly with a video display screen disposed behind the interior mirror reflective element. The video display screen is operable to display video images derived at least in part from image data captured by at least one video camera of a plurality of video cameras of the equipped vehicle. Image data captured by at least a driver-side viewing video camera and a passenger-side viewing video camera is provided to an image processor and is processed by the image processor to detect vehicles present exterior of the equipped vehicle. Responsive at least in part to detection of another vehicle, video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the driver-side viewing video camera, a rear viewing video camera and/or the passenger-side viewing video camera are displayed by the video display screen.

A method for determining the presence of a trailer (12) attached to a vehicle (10), the method comprising: controlling a vehicle system to obtain a primary indication of the presence of a trailer (12); controlling one or more further vehicle systems to obtain one or more secondary indications of the presence of a trailer (12); and determining a confidence level for the presence of a trailer (12) attached to the vehicle (10) in dependence on the primary indication and the or each secondary indication.

A method for mounting an accessory at a vehicular windshield includes adhesively attaching a base portion of each of at least three fixing elements at an interior cabin side of the windshield in a spaced apart non-contiguous manner. A frame includes a plurality of individual receiving portions. With the windshield installed in the vehicle, the frame is attached at the fixing elements via receiving an elongated portion of a respective and corresponding one of the fixing elements in a respective and corresponding one of the receiving portions of the frame. With the windshield installed in the vehicle, and with the frame attached at the fixing elements, a camera is disposed at the frame and received at structure of the frame, such that the camera views through the windshield via an aperture existing in the frame and a light transmissive aperture in a light absorbing layer of the windshield.

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, and a mirror mounting structure configured to adjustably mount the mirror head at an interior portion of a vehicle. A receiving portion of the mirror head is configured for receiving a portable self-contained garage door opening module at least partially thereat. The module is operable to wirelessly transmit a radio frequency signal responsive to actuation of a user input of the module. With the module at the receiving portion of the mirror head, the user input is accessible by the vehicle driver. A cover element is configured to detachably attach at the mirror casing at the receiving portion to releasably secure the module at the mirror head, with the module being releasable from the mirror head when the cover element is detached from the mirror casing.