Rear-View Side Mirror For A Vehicle

• US 20070279923A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alejandro Rodriguez Barros, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Fernandez
• Original Assignee: Alejandro Rodriguez Barros, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Fernandez
• Inventors: Rodriguez Fernandez, Jose Manuel, Rodriguez Barros, Alejandro
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,092 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: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/123 with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear-view mirror for vehicles, which consists of compatible, combinable and exchangeable modules such as: (A) and (B), or integrated (A+B), functional, signal, lighting and sensor modules, and structural (C), (D) and (E) modules; cover-housing, body-housing and support which may include functional modules. (A), (B) and (A+B) fulfill their function even if the rear-view mirror is folded. They use a multifocal light source of LED'"'"'s inserted into a flexible and orientable circuit and/or a mixed rigid-flexible circuit-combining LED'"'"'s+bulbs and other lighting elements, with variable optical and reflective means enabling more than one signal from one same transparent surface with direct light output, indirect-reflected light output and/or through intermediate optical light guides depending on the directions required in the front, the side, the back and the lateral ground for different commands, applications and safety signals.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A rear-view side mirror for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing (D) attached to an outer surface of a vehicle, said mirror housing (D) having a first opening;

a mirror (50) located in said first opening;

a light emitter assembly located in said mirror housing (D) including a light source (30, 95) that provides at least a turn signal light (32) in at least one of three directions, outputting to the front side or rear of said vehicle through a second opening in said mirror housing (D), or through a transparent or translucent covering (C, C1); and

one or more structures that direct at least a part of the light from said light source to a window (51), said window (51) being visible by the driver (202).

37. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said covering (C, C1) forms a zone (2) remote from the driver, said zone (2) including optical means to orient the output of the light to the rear of the vehicle in a direction (K1) not visible by the driver.

38. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said one or more structures comprise a partition wall N located at the end of the housing (D).

39. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 38, wherein said partition wall N has an opening providing said window (51).

40. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 38, wherein said partition wall N divides the output of the light into two zones, one visible by the driver, the other not visible by the driver.

41. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said one or more structures comprise at least one light guiding element (150).

42. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said one or more structures comprise at least one reflector.

43. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said one or more structures comprise at least one light deflector.

44. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said window (51) is located in front of the mirror (50).

45. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36 wherein said window (51) is located in a shaded area (200) of the mirror housing (D).

46. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36 wherein said window (51) is located adjacent an area of output of the light from said light source to the rear of the vehicle.

47. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein a light guiding element (150) provides at least in part said transparent or translucent covering (C, C1)

48. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 47, wherein said light guiding element (150) conveys the signal light at least to the rear part of the vehicle.

49. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 37, wherein said optical means are selected from the group consisting of prisms (7), lenses (6) and smooth or irregular surfaces, to provide dispersion of the light from said source of light through any of said three outputting directions.

50. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 49, wherein said optical means provides a reorientation of the light towards the rear part of the vehicle.

51. The rear-view side mirror for a vehicle according to claim 47 or 49, wherein a LED light is placed near said window (51).