VEHICLE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM HAVING AN INDICATOR AT A BACK PLATE OF AN EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion and a mirror reflective element sub-assembly;
wherein said mounting portion is adapted for mounting said exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system;
wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises a mirror reflective element;
wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly, the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element can be adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle;
said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror back plate, said mirror back plate formed by injection molding;
wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at a portion of said mirror back plate;
an indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode;
wherein said mirror back plate, said indicator and said mirror reflective element adjust in tandem when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element;
wherein said mirror back plate includes an indicator structure formed during injection molding of said back plate, wherein said indicator structure comprises a passageway extending from said back plate at an angle relative to said portion of said back plate;
wherein at least one baffle is disposed within said passageway and wherein said at least one baffle is angled at said angle relative to said portion of said back plate;
wherein said indicator is mounted at an end portion of said passageway, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through said mirror reflective element via an opening in said back plate; and
wherein, when said light source is activated, light passing through said passageway and emanating from said mirror reflective element is at least partially shielded from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle by said at least one baffle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror reflective element that is fixedly attached at a mirror back plate. The mirror back plate includes an indicator structure that has a passageway that extends from the back plate at an angle relative to the portion of the back plate. At least one baffle is disposed within the passageway and is angled at the angle relative to the portion of the back plate. An indicator is mounted at an end portion of the passageway, and light emitted by the indicator passes through the passageway and through the mirror reflective element via an opening in the back plate. When the indicator is activated, light passing through the passageway and emanating from the mirror reflective element is at least partially shielded from direct view by the driver of the vehicle by the at least one baffle.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion and a mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein said mounting portion is adapted for mounting said exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system; wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises a mirror reflective element; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly, the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element can be adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle; said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror back plate, said mirror back plate formed by injection molding; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at a portion of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said mirror back plate, said indicator and said mirror reflective element adjust in tandem when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element; wherein said mirror back plate includes an indicator structure formed during injection molding of said back plate, wherein said indicator structure comprises a passageway extending from said back plate at an angle relative to said portion of said back plate; wherein at least one baffle is disposed within said passageway and wherein said at least one baffle is angled at said angle relative to said portion of said back plate; wherein said indicator is mounted at an end portion of said passageway, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through said mirror reflective element via an opening in said back plate; and wherein, when said light source is activated, light passing through said passageway and emanating from said mirror reflective element is at least partially shielded from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle by said at least one baffle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion and a mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein said mounting portion is adapted for mounting said exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system; wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises a mirror reflective element; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly, the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element can be adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle; said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror back plate, said mirror back plate formed by injection molding; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at a portion of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said indicator comprises an at least substantially sealed unit; wherein said mirror back plate, said indicator and said mirror reflective element adjust in tandem when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element; wherein said mirror back plate includes an indicator structure formed during injection molding of said back plate, wherein said indicator structure comprises a passageway extending from said back plate at an angle relative to said portion of said back plate; wherein at least one baffle is disposed within said passageway and wherein said at least one baffle is angled at said angle relative to said portion of said back plate; wherein said at least one baffle is formed with said mirror back plate during injection molding thereof; wherein said indicator is mounted at an end portion of said passageway, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through said mirror reflective element via an opening in said back plate; and wherein, when said light source is activated, light passing through said passageway and emanating from said mirror reflective element is at least partially shielded from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle by said at least one baffle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion and a mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein said mounting portion is adapted for mounting said exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system; wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises a mirror reflective element; wherein, in a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror assembly, the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element can be adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle; said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror back plate, said mirror back plate formed by injection molding; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at a portion of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said mirror back plate, said indicator and said mirror reflective element adjust in tandem when the driver of the equipped vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of said mirror reflective element; wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror actuator, and wherein said mirror back plate comprises a mounting portion for attaching said mirror reflective element sub-assembly to said mirror actuator; wherein said mirror back plate includes an indicator structure formed during injection molding of said back plate, wherein said indicator structure comprises a passageway extending from said back plate at an angle relative to said portion of said back plate; wherein at least one baffle is disposed within said passageway and wherein said at least one baffle is angled at said angle relative to said portion of said back plate; wherein said indicator is mounted at an end portion of said passageway, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through said mirror reflective element via an opening in said back plate; wherein, when said light source is activated, light passing through said passageway and emanating from said mirror reflective element is at least partially shielded from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle by said at least one baffle; and wherein, during daytime operation of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is activated and with said exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle, light emanating from said mirror reflective element, as viewed by a person viewing said mirror reflective element, has a luminance of at least about 5,000 nits. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification