LOW PROFILE OPTICAL LIGHTING ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN OUTSIDE VEHICLE MIRROR AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME

• US 20120206930A1
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Minikey, Danny L. Jr., Bauer, Frederick T., Hendricks, Michael G., Lisowski, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,434,313 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: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

An optical lighting assembly for use with a vehicular outside rearview mirror includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) mounted thereon. An optical device such as a light pipe is positioned adjacent to the LED for propagating light away from the LED. A mirror element includes at least one indicia where light escaping from the light pipe is used to illuminate the indicia.

Claims

1. A low profile optical lighting assembly for use in an outside vehicular mirror comprising:

at least one light source mounted to one side of a printed circuit board (PCB) so as to project light through a gap in the PCB to the opposite side of the PCB;

a lens optic device positioned adjacent to at least one light source for directing light from the at least one light source in a predetermined direction;

a mirror element having at least one indicia; and

wherein light passing through the lens optic device illuminates the at least one indicia.

2. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 1, further comprising:

a heating element positioned between the lens optic device and the mirror element such that light from the lens optic devices pass through an aperture in the heating element for illuminating the at least one indicia.

3. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein the at least one indicia is at least one from the group of a triangular shape, a figure representing two adjacent vehicles and a turn signal chevron.

4. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein at least the at least one light source and the TIR optical device have a depth in a range between approximately 4 mm to 9 mm.

5. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein the indicia includes portion for indicting the result of a self-test.

6. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein the indicia is used for providing a driver assist function.

7. A low profile optical lighting assembly for use in an outside vehicular mirror comprising:

at least one light source for projecting light through a gap in a printed circuit board (PCB);

a lens optic device light source have a dimensional depth in a range between approximately 4 mm to 9 mm and positioned adjacent to at least one light source for directing light from the at least one light source in a predetermined direction;

a mirror element having at least one indicia so that light passing through the lens optic device illuminates the at least one indicia.

8. A low profile optical lighting assembly for use in an outside vehicular mirror as in claim 7, wherein the at least one light source is mounted to one side of a printed circuit board (PCB).

9. A low profile optical lighting assembly for use in an outside vehicular mirror as in claim 7, wherein the lens optic is total internal reflector (TIR).

10. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 7, further comprising:

a heating element positioned between the lens optic device and the mirror element such that light from the lens optic devices pass through an aperture in the heating element for illuminating the at least one indicia.

11. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 7, wherein the at least one indicia is at least one from the group of a triangular shape, a figure representing two adjacent vehicles and a turn signal chevron.

12. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 7, wherein at least the at least one light source and the TIR optical device have a depth in a range between approximately 4 mm to 9 mm.

13. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 7, wherein the indicia includes portion for indicting the result of a self-test.

14. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 7, wherein the indicia is used for providing a driver assist function.

15. An optical lighting assembly for use with a vehicular outside review mirror comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one light source mounted thereon;

a light pipe positioned adjacent to the light source for propagating light from the light source;

a mirror element including at least one indicia; and

wherein light escaping from the light pipe is used to illuminate the at least one indicia.

16. An optical lighting assembly as in claim 15, further comprising:

an optical diffuser positioned between the light pipe and mirror element for diffusing light escaping from the light pipe.

17. An optical lighting assembly as in claim 15, further comprising:

an optical brightness enhancement film (BEF) positioned between the light pipe and mirror element for directing light towards the indicia.

18. An optical lighting assembly as in claim 15, further comprising:

a heating element having at least one aperture therein for allowing light from the light pipe to pass through the aperture to the mirror element.

19. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 15, further comprising:

wherein the at least one indicia is at least one from the group of a triangular shape, a figure representing two adjacent vehicles and a turn signal chevron.

20. A low profile optical light assembly as in claim 15, wherein at least the PCB, the at least one light source, and the light pipe having a depth in a range between approximately 2 mm and 6 mm.

21. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 15, wherein the indicia includes a portion for indicting the result of a self-test.

22. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 15, wherein the indicia is used for providing a driver assist function.

23. An optical lighting assembly for use with a vehicular outside review mirror comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one light source mounted thereon;

a light pipe positioned adjacent to the light source for propagating light from the light source;

a mirror element including at least one indicia illuminated from the at least one light pipe for signaling the driver of a driver assist function;

an optical brightness enhancement film (BEF) positioned between the light pipe and mirror element for directing light towards the indicia; and

wherein at least the PCB, the at least one light source, and the light pipe have a dimensional depth in a range between approximately 2 mm and 6 mm.

24. An optical lighting assembly as in claim 23, further comprising:

an optical diffuser positioned between the light pipe and mirror element for diffusing light escaping from the light pipe.

25. An optical lighting assembly as in claim 23, further comprising:

a heating element having at least one aperture therein for allowing light from the light pipe to pass through the aperture to the mirror element.

26. An optical lighting assembly as in claim 23, further comprising:

wherein the indicia includes at least one segment for indicting the result of a self-test.

27. A low profile optical lighting assembly as in claim 23, further comprising:

wherein the driver assist functional includes at least one from the group of;

turn signal indication, blind spot indication or obstacle detection.