VEHICULAR EXTERIOR MIRROR
First Claim
1. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
- a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least a first light source at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate and a second light source at a second location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate and wherein said first location is proximate to and spaced from said second location;
wherein a first portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish an at least partially light transmissive first portion of the mirror reflector at said first location so that light emitted by said first light source, when powered, passes through said at least partially light transmissive first portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element; and
wherein a second portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said second location in order to establish an at least partially light transmissive second portion of the mirror reflector at said second location so that light emitted by said second light source, when powered, passes through said at least partially light transmissive second portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior mirror suitable for use in a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element having a light transmitting substrate with a mirror reflector having a metallic reflective layer coated thereon. A visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of the light transmitting substrate and actuated to emit light when powered. Light emitted by light sources of the display passes through the light transmitting substrate so as to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the reflective mirror element. The mirror element has portions of the metallic reflective layer at least partially removed by laser scribing to establish at least partially light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector so that light emitted by light sources, when powered, passes through the respective at least partially light transmissive portions to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of the reflective mirror element.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
1. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
-
a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least a first light source at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate and a second light source at a second location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate and wherein said first location is proximate to and spaced from said second location;
wherein a first portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish an at least partially light transmissive first portion of the mirror reflector at said first location so that light emitted by said first light source, when powered, passes through said at least partially light transmissive first portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element; and
wherein a second portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said second location in order to establish an at least partially light transmissive second portion of the mirror reflector at said second location so that light emitted by said second light source, when powered, passes through said at least partially light transmissive second portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
-
a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least a first light source at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate and a second light source at a second location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate and wherein said first location is proximate to and spaced from said second location;
wherein a first portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing at said first location in order to establish an at least partially light transmissive first portion of the mirror reflector at said first location so that light emitted by said first light source, when powered, passes through said at least partially light transmissive first portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element; and
wherein said visual indicator display comprises part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the vehicle of another overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
-
a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least one light emitting diode;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein at least one of (a) a portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least partially removed by laser scribing local said first location in order to establish an at least partially light transmissive portion of the mirror reflector local said first location so that light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode of said visual indicator display passes through said at least partially light transmissive portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element and (b) a portion of said metallic reflective layer is at least substantially removed by laser scribing local said first location in order to establish a highly light transmissive portion of the mirror reflector local said first location so that light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode of said visual indicator display passes through said highly light transmissive portion of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element; and
wherein said visual indicator display comprises part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the vehicle of another overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
-
a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least one light source;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror; and
wherein a plurality of portions of said metallic reflective layer are at least substantially removed by laser scribing local said first location in order to establish a plurality of highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector local said first location that are proximate one another and spaced one from the other so that light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
-
a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least one light source;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein a plurality of portions of said metallic reflective layer are at least substantially removed by laser scribing local said first location in order to establish a plurality of highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector local said first location that are proximate one another and spaced one from the other so that light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the vehicle of another overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with said reflective mirror element; and
wherein another visual indicator display is disposed to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate, said another visual indicator display being part of a turn signaling system of the vehicle wherein said another visual indicator display is actuated to emit light upon actuation by the driver of a turn signal of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein light emitted by said another visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate.
-
-
39. An exterior mirror suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said exterior mirror comprising:
-
a reflective mirror element having a front side and a rear side;
said reflective mirror element comprising a mirror reflector coated onto a light-transmitting substrate, said mirror reflector comprising a metallic reflective layer;
a visual indicator display disposed at a first location to the rear of said light-transmitting substrate;
said visual indicator display being part of a display system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror and wherein said visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to an indication system of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein said visual indicator display comprises at least one light source, said light source comprising at least one light emitting diode;
wherein light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said light-transmitting substrate to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle equipped with the exterior mirror;
wherein a plurality of portions of said metallic reflective layer are at least substantially removed by laser scribing local said first location in order to establish a plurality of highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector local said first location that are proximate one another and spaced one from the other so that light emitted by said visual indicator display passes through said highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector to be viewed by a viewer viewing from the front of said reflective mirror element;
said plurality of highly light transmissive portions of the mirror reflector local said first location comprising at least a first highly light transmissive portion where said metallic reflective layer has been removed by laser scribing and a second highly light transmissive portion where said metallic reflective layer has been removed by laser scribing; and
wherein a substantially light reflecting region of said mirror reflector with said metallic reflective layer not removed therefrom is disposed between said first highly light transmissive portion and said second highly light transmissive portion. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification