What is it?

[prov431]

My wife's 2010 cx9 touring has a small dark colored 'mini dome' in the left front most part of the dash board.
I initially thought it was a sensor for automatic headlights, then realized that you only get the auto headlights in the GT model.
So, what is it?
Kinda bugs me that the touring model didn't get the auto lights...would've been nice.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[xarthan]

I thought it was the Compass/GPS housing.

 

[tonyj]

I belive it's the sensor for the "auto" temp system for the HVAC

 

[ceric]

It is for A/C to locate where the sun is.
Since there is only 1, it can only tell if the sun is in left-front, right-front, or back.
With that info, it directs A/C air flow accordingly.

My friends run a startup. They have a single-chip solution (analog circuitry) that can detects the location of sun in the sky in milliseconds. It also has a half-dome like that on the chip packaging.
The dark film is intended to filter out unwanted band of light.

 

[xarthan]

ok now that's effin too cool.