VEHICLE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH INDICATOR MODULE
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
- a mirror casing and a reflective element;
an indicator module, wherein said indicator module comprises a housing, a circuit element and a lens element;
wherein said circuit element is disposed in said housing, said circuit element comprising at least one light emitting diode in electrical connection with a connecting element;
wherein said connecting element protrudes through said housing for electrically connecting said circuit element to an electrical connector of said exterior rearview mirror assembly when said indicator module is attached at said exterior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein said lens element is disposed at said housing and wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said lens element;
wherein said housing comprises at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching said indicator module at a mounting structure of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when said indicator module is attached at said mounting structure, said lens element is disposed at an aperture of said mirror easing, whereby said lens element of said indicator module is viewable at the exterior of said exterior rearview mirror assembly and said housing of said indicator module is substantially concealed by said mirror casing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly;
wherein said indicator module comprises a sealed module that is substantially impervious to water; and
wherein said indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the equipped vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror casing and a reflective element and an indicator module having a housing, a circuit element and a lens element. The circuit element includes at least one light emitting diode. When the light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes through the lens element. The housing includes at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching the indicator module at the mirror assembly. The lens element is disposed at an aperture of the mirror casing, whereby the lens element is viewable at the exterior of the mirror assembly and the housing of the indicator module is substantially concealed by the mirror casing. The indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of the vehicle that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror casing and a reflective element; an indicator module, wherein said indicator module comprises a housing, a circuit element and a lens element; wherein said circuit element is disposed in said housing, said circuit element comprising at least one light emitting diode in electrical connection with a connecting element; wherein said connecting element protrudes through said housing for electrically connecting said circuit element to an electrical connector of said exterior rearview mirror assembly when said indicator module is attached at said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said lens element is disposed at said housing and wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said lens element; wherein said housing comprises at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching said indicator module at a mounting structure of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when said indicator module is attached at said mounting structure, said lens element is disposed at an aperture of said mirror easing, whereby said lens element of said indicator module is viewable at the exterior of said exterior rearview mirror assembly and said housing of said indicator module is substantially concealed by said mirror casing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said indicator module comprises a sealed module that is substantially impervious to water; and wherein said indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror casing and a reflective element; an indicator module, wherein said indicator module comprises a housing, a circuit element and a lens element; wherein said circuit element is disposed in said housing, said circuit element comprising at least one light emitting diode in electrical connection with a connecting element; wherein said connecting element protrudes through said housing for electrically connecting said circuit element to an electrical connector of said exterior rearview mirror assembly when said indicator module is attached at said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said lens element is disposed at said housing and wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said lens element, and wherein said lens element comprises an icon that is backlit by said at least one light emitting diode when said at least one light emitting diode is powered; wherein said housing comprises at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching said indicator module at a mounting structure of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when said indicator module is attached at said mounting structure, said lens element is disposed at an aperture of said mirror casing, whereby said lens element of said indicator module is viewable at the exterior of said exterior rearview mirror assembly and said housing of said indicator module is substantially concealed by said mirror casing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein attachment of said at least one attachment element and said mounting structure comprises a snap connection; wherein said indicator module comprises a sealed module that is substantially impervious to water; and wherein said indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
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a mirror casing and a reflective element; an indicator module, wherein said indicator module comprises a housing, a circuit element and a lens element; wherein said circuit element is disposed in said housing, said circuit element comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes in electrical connection with a connecting element; wherein said connecting element protrudes through said housing for electrically connecting said circuit element to an electrical connector of said exterior rearview mirror assembly when said indicator module is attached at said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said lens element is disposed at said housing and wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said lens element; wherein said lens element comprises an icon that is backlit by at least one of said plurality of light emitting diodes when said at least one of said plurality of light emitting diodes is powered; wherein said housing comprises at least one attachment element for mechanically attaching said indicator module at a mounting structure of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein, when said indicator module is attached at said mounting structure, said lens element is disposed at an aperture of said mirror casing, whereby said lens element of said indicator module is viewable at the exterior of said exterior rearview mirror assembly and said housing of said indicator module is substantially concealed by said mirror casing of said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, when said indicator module is attached at said mounting structure, said lens element protrudes through said aperture of said mirror casing such that an outer surface of said lens element is substantially flush with an outer surface of said mirror casing; wherein said aperture is formed at an inboard portion of said mirror casing, whereby said lens element of said indicator module is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle; wherein said indicator module comprises a sealed module that is substantially impervious to water; and wherein said indicator module provides a blind zone indicator that is operable to indicate to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly that an object or other vehicle is detected at a side region of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification