VEHICLE EXTERIOR MIRROR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
- an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element;
a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle;
wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms; and
wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighted exterior mirror system includes an exterior mirror assembly having a folding portion and a non-folding portion. A ground illumination light of the exterior mirror assembly is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the vehicle at least at a front door region at the side of the vehicle where occupants may enter/exit exit the vehicle. The ground illumination light includes at least one light emitting diode, which is connected in series with a resistor that acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, with the resistor having a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms. The ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the vehicle.
39 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element; a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms; and wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element; a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination light comprises a unitary module; wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms; wherein said resistor reduces an ignition voltage in the range of about 9 to 16 volts to a reduced voltage that is on the order of about 1 volt to about 5 volts; and wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element; a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms; wherein said resistor reduces an ignition voltage in the range of about 9 to 16 volts to a reduced voltage that is on the order of about 1 volt to about 5 volts; and wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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22. The lighted exterior mirror system of 21, wherein said resistor has a resistance of greater than about 200 ohms.
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24. A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element; a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination light comprises a unitary module; wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms; wherein said ground illumination light is disposed at said assembly such that a light-transmitting portion of said unitary module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said exterior mirror assembly; and wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification