EXTERIOR MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT SUB-ASSEMBLY WITH SIGNAL INDICATOR

• US 20130049986A1
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Foote, Keith D., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0076 Switches therefor B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• 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 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a blind spot indicator. The mirror back plate has a generally planar portion and an indicator mounting portion. The indicator mounting portion of the mirror back plate is angled relative to the generally planar portion, and an aperture is established through the mirror back plate generally at the indicator mounting portion. A heater pad is disposed at the rear of the mirror reflective element, and a light transmitting portion of the heater pad is generally aligned with the aperture of the mirror back plate. With the light source of the blind spot indicator activated, light emitted by the light source transmits through an indicia element, the aperture and the light transmitting portion and exits the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the generally planar portion of the mirror back plate.

Claims

1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation and having (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator mounting portion, both established by said plastic injection molding operation;

wherein said indicator mounting portion of said mirror back plate is angled relative to said generally planar portion, and wherein an aperture is established through said mirror back plate generally at said indicator mounting portion;

a heater pad disposed at the rear of said mirror reflective element, wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is generally aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate;

a blind spot indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light;

wherein said blind spot indicator comprises a self-contained substantially sealed indicator module;

wherein said indicator mounting portion is configured for mounting said blind spot indicator thereat;

an indicia element;

wherein said blind spot indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of the vehicle; and

wherein, with said light source activated, light emitted by said light source transmits through said indicia element, said aperture of said mirror back plate and said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and exits said mirror reflective element at an angle relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate.

2. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator comprises said indicia element.

3. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein said indicia element is established at a region of said blind spot indicator that is proximate to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate when said blind spot indicator is mounted at said indicator mounting portion.

4. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator comprises a housing, and wherein said housing comprises a light guiding portion and a cover portion and wherein said light guiding portion attaches at said indicator mounting portion of said mirror back plate and guides light emitted by said light source.

5. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 4, wherein a circuit element is disposed at a rear region of said light guiding portion and wherein said cover portion is attached at said rear region of said light guiding portion to house said circuit element between said light guiding portion and said cover portion.

6. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 5, wherein said light guiding portion and said cover portion cooperate in a manner that establishes an electrical connector portion of said housing.

7. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 5, wherein said cover portion is configured to attach at said rear region of said light guiding portion via at least one of (i) a snap attachment, (ii) an adhesive attachment and (iii) a welded attachment.

8. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation.

9. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said indicator mounting portion of said mirror back plate comprises a wall structure established at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate.

10. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 9, wherein, with said light source activated, light emitted by said light source emanates from said aperture of said mirror back plate and wherein at least a portion of the light emanating from said aperture passes through said mirror reflective element at an angle relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate that generally corresponds with said angle of said wall structure.

11. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said wall structure is configured to at least partially receive said blind spot indicator and is configured to provide a desired line of sight of illumination emanating from said blind spot indicator.

12. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 9, wherein a circuit element comprising a generally planar printed circuit board is supported at said wall structure.

13. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 12, wherein said wall structure is configured to angle said generally planar printed circuit board when said blind spot indicator is at least partially received in said wall structure.

14. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 9, wherein said wall structure of said indicator mounting portion substantially surrounds said aperture.

15. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 9, wherein said blind spot indicator substantially seals at said wall structure of said indicator mounting portion when attached thereto such that an interface between said blind spot indicator and said indicator mounting portion is substantially water impervious.

16. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator comprises a housing, and wherein said housing includes a passageway therethrough, said emitted light passing through said passageway.

17. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator comprises a housing having a light reflecting inner surface for reflecting light incident thereon.

18. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 17, wherein said light reflecting inner surface of said housing comprises a specularly reflecting surface.

19. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 17, wherein said light reflecting inner surface of said housing comprises a diffusely reflecting surface.

20. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

21. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said light transmitting portion of said heater pad comprises at least one of (i) an aperture through said heater pad, (ii) a transparent portion of said heater pad, (iii) a translucent portion of said heater pad and (iv) a diffuse portion of said heater pad.

22. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate comprises a perimeter framing portion established along the perimeter edge of said mirror reflective element when said mirror reflective element is attached at said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate.

23. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator comprises a housing and said light source is disposed at a circuit element, and wherein said housing at least substantially encases said circuit element therein.

24. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 23, wherein said circuit element comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuit element to a power source of the vehicle.

25. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 24, wherein said electrical connector protrudes from said circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of said housing and wherein said connector portion of said housing comprises one of a plug connector and a socket connector for connecting to a connecting end of electrical wiring of the vehicle.

26. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein circuitry is established at a circuit element of said blind spot indicator and wherein said circuitry comprises at least one of (i) said light source, (ii) a DC converter with a voltage dropping resistor and (iii) an electrical connector for electrically connecting said blind spot indicator to a power source of the vehicle.

27. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator is configured to mount at said indicator mounting portion via at least one of (i) a snap attachment and (ii) a press fit attachment.

28. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said indicia element comprises at least one of (i) a triangular-shaped alert and (ii) an exclamation point alert.

29. A side rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle equipped with a blind spot sensor designed to detect objects in blind spots of the motor vehicle, said side rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a base fixedly secured to the motor vehicle;

a mirror case movably secured to said base, said mirror case defining a housing and a mirror opening facing rearward;

a backing plate operatively connected to said mirror case facing rearward, said backing plate movable with respect to said mirror case;

a mirror glass fixedly secured to said backing plate and movable therewith in a manner allowing an operator of the motor vehicle to view rearward of the motor vehicle; and

a blind spot indicator fixedly secured to said backing plate and in communication with the blind spot sensor to receive signals from the blind spot sensor and to indicate to the operator of the motor vehicle when an object is in the blind spot of the motor vehicle, wherein an orientation of said blind spot indicator is adjustable by the operator when the operator moves said backing plate to adjust said mirror glass.

30. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 29, wherein said blind spot indicator is disposed adjacent said mirror glass.

31. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 30, wherein said blind spot indicator includes a light source to be illuminated when the blind spot sensor senses the presence of an object in the blind spot of the motor vehicle.

32. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 31, wherein said blind spot indicator includes a lens covering said light source.

33. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 32, wherein said lens includes an exterior surface and an interior surface.

34. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 33, wherein said lens is configured to direct light emitted by said light source toward the operator of the motor vehicle.

35. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 34, wherein said exterior surface is planar.

36. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 35, wherein said exterior surface is parallel with said mirror glass.

37. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 36, wherein said exterior surface includes an elevated border extending around a perimeter of said lens.

38. A side rear view minor assembly as set forth in claim 37, wherein said lens includes a positioning flange.

39. A side rear view mirror assembly for equipped with a blind spot sensor designed to detect objects in blind spots of the motor vehicle, said side rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a base fixedly secured to the motor vehicle;

a mirror case movably secured to said base, said mirror case defining a housing and a mirror opening facing rearward;

a backing plate operatively connected to said mirror case facing rearward, said backing plate movable with respect to said mirror case;

a mirror glass fixedly secured to said backing plate and movable therewith in a manner allowing an operator of the motor vehicle to view rearward of the motor vehicle; and

a blind spot indicator fixedly secured to said base along a rear base wall to receive signals from the blind spot sensor and to indicate to the operator of the motor vehicle when an object is in the blind spot of the motor vehicle.

40. A side rear view minor assembly as set forth in claim 39, wherein said blind spot indicator includes a light source to be illuminated when the blind spot sensor senses the presence of an object in the blind spot of the motor vehicle.

41. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 40, wherein said blind spot indicator includes a lens covering said light source.

42. A side rear view minor assembly as set forth in claim 41, wherein said lens includes an exterior surface and an interior surface.

43. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 42, wherein said exterior surface is planar.

44. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 43, wherein said external surface is angled inwardly toward the motor vehicle.

45. A side rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 44, wherein said rear base wall is angled inwardly toward the motor vehicle.