Exterior rearview mirror for vehicles

• US 20060133101A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH
• Inventors: Furtwangler, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/10 Protection of lighting devices cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The exterior rearview mirror has a mirror mounting bracket attached to the vehicle, to which bracket is attached a folding mirror head. The mirror also has, arranged in the mirror mounting bracket, a perimeter light with a lighting means, preferably an LED. In order to design the exterior rearview mirror so that heat produced by the lighting means does not have an adverse effect, the lighting means is arranged on a thermally conductive carrier, which carrier is in thermally conductive connection with the mirror mounting bracket. The heat generated by the lighting means is transmitted by the carrier to the mirror mounting bracket so that excessive heating of the perimeter light and mirror mounting bracket is avoided in a simple manner. The exterior rearview mirror is especially suitable for motor vehicles.

Claims

1. Exterior rearview mirror for vehicles, comprising a mirror mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle, to which bracket is attached a folding mirror head, and having, arranged in the mirror mounting bracket, at least one perimeter light with at least one light source, wherein the light source is arranged on a thermally conductive carrier, which carrier is in thermally conductive connection with the mirror mounting bracket.

2. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the carrier contains at least one metallic thermally conductive element.

3. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is plate-like in design.

4. Amended) Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 2, wherein the thermally conductive element is arranged embedded in the carrier, which carrier is preferably composed of a printed circuit board.

5. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light source forms a modular unit with the carrier.

6. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein a light housing which accommodates the light source is arranged on the carrier.

7. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing has an optical window.

8. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing is made of heat-resistant material.

9. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing and the optical window are embodied as a single piece.

10. Exterior rearview mirror, in particular according to claim 1, wherein, in the assembled position, the light housing is preloaded with respect to the carrier.

11. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing rests against the mirror mounting bracket with at least one seal interposed.

12. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 11, wherein the seal is a ring seal.

13. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 11, wherein the seal lies in an annular groove.

14. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing is held secure against rotation in the mirror mounting bracket.

15. Exterior rearview mirror, in particular according to claim 1, wherein the light housing is preloaded with respect to the carrier by a cover of the mirror mounting bracket.

16. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 15, wherein the cover is secured on a support of the mirror mounting bracket by means of a locking connection, preferably a snap-in connection.

17. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 15, wherein an additional seal is arranged between the cover and the light housing.

18. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 7, wherein the optical window transitions into the remaining part of the housing through an outside shoulder.

19. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the cover engages with a rim in the outside shoulder of the light housing.

20. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 17, wherein the additional seal is located in an additional outside shoulder of the light housing.

21. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing is supported on the inside of the cover.

22. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing is designed to be solid.

23. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing has, on its rear side facing away from the optical window, a recess into which the light source projects when the light housing is assembled.

24. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing is designed in the shape of a dish.

25. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light housing has a midsection.

26. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 25, wherein the midsection has the recess for accommodating the light source.

27. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein a reflector is placed in the light housing.

28. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 27, wherein the light source projects into the reflector.

29. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 27, wherein the reflector is seated on the carrier.

30. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 27, wherein the reflector is supported on an inner shoulder of the light housing.

31. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 27, wherein the reflector is made of heat-resistant material, preferably plastic.

32. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 27, wherein the reflector is made of heat-dissipating material, preferably metal.

33. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 32, wherein the reflector constitutes a part of the light housing.

34. Exterior rearview mirror according claim 1, wherein the light housing has at least one, preferably multiple, optical elements.

35. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 7, wherein the optical window lies in an opening of the mirror mounting bracket, in particular of the cover.

36. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the end face of the optical window lies essentially in the outer side of the cover.

37. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the support of the mirror mounting bracket has a receptacle for the light housing.

38. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 37, wherein the receptacle is defined by ridges of the support.

39. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 37, wherein the carrier rests with its entire surface against the bottom of the receptacle under pressure applied by the light housing