VEHICLE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM HAVING AN INDICATOR AT A BACK PLATE OF AN EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20150246640A1
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,302,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/062 with remote control for adjusting position B60R1/0607 takes precedence
• 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror casing portion and a mirror reflective element sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror back plate. A heater pad is disposed between a side of the mirror back plate and the mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element is fixedly attached to the mirror back plate with the heater pad disposed therebetween. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a display indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light. When activated, the light source emits light that transmits through a light-transmitting passageway of the display indicator and through a light-transmitting portion of the heater pad and through the mirror reflective element to be viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The display indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion adapted for mounting at a side of a vehicle;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing portion;

a mirror actuator disposed in said mirror casing portion;

a mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is attached to said mirror actuator whereby, 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, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a plastic molding formed by injection molding;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises a first side and an opposing second side;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises an actuator mounting portion disposed at said first side for attaching said mirror reflective element sub-assembly to said mirror actuator;

wherein a heater pad is disposed between said second side of said mirror back plate and said mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached to said mirror back plate with said heater pad disposed therebetween;

said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a display indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light;

wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode;

wherein said display indicator comprises a light-transmitting passageway;

wherein said mirror back plate, said display 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 via actuation of said mirror actuator to which said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is attached;

wherein, when activated, said light source emits light that transmits through said light-transmitting passageway of said display indicator and through a light-transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said mirror reflective element to be viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said display indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said light source of said display indicator is activated responsive to sensing by a sensor of said blind spot detection system of an object in a blind spot at a side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted; and

wherein said display indicator comprises a substantially water impervious module.

2. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein, during nighttime 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 and responsive to light sensing by a photo sensor of the equipped vehicle, said display indicator, as viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to have a significantly reduced luminance than when said light source is activated during daytime operation of the equipped vehicle.

3. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element is adhered at said second side of said mirror back plate with said heater pad disposed therebetween.

4. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said display indicator provides an iconistic display to the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said iconistic display visually alerts the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to sensing by a sensor of the blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle of the presence of another vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted.

5. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector and wherein light emitted by said light source passes through a light-transmitting portion established through said mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

6. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light-transmitting passageway comprises a plastic molding formed by injection molding.

7. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein said light-transmitting passageway extends from said second side of said mirror back plate and wherein said light-transmitting passageway and said mirror back plate comprises a plastic molding commonly formed by injection molding.

8. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein said actuator mounting portion disposed at said first side for attaching said mirror reflective element sub-assembly to said mirror actuator formed with an attaching portion comprises at least one of (i) a raised annular ring, (ii) annular prongs and (iii) annular snaps.

9. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said display indicator provides an iconistic display to the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said iconistic display visually alerts the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to sensing by a sensor of the blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle of the presence of another vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted, and wherein said iconistic display is formed, at least in part, by a mask through which light emitted by said light source transmits.

10. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said iconistic comprises a triangular iconistic display.

11. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said display indicator comprises a flying lead electrical connector.

12. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion adapted for mounting at a side of a vehicle;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing portion;

a mirror actuator disposed in said mirror casing portion;

a mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is attached to said mirror actuator whereby, 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, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a plastic molding formed by injection molding;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises a first side and an opposing second side;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises an actuator mounting portion disposed at said first side for attaching said mirror reflective element sub-assembly to said mirror actuator;

wherein a heater pad is disposed between said second side of said mirror back plate and said mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached to said mirror back plate with said heater pad disposed therebetween;

said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a display indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light;

wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode;

wherein said display indicator comprises a light-transmitting passageway;

wherein said mirror back plate, said display 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 via actuation of said mirror actuator to which said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is attached;

wherein, when activated, said light source emits light that transmits through said light-transmitting passageway of said display indicator and through a light-transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said mirror reflective element to be viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said display indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said light source of said display indicator is activated responsive to sensing by a sensor of said blind spot detection system of an object in a blind spot at a side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein said display indicator comprises a substantially water impervious module;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector and wherein light emitted by said light source passes through a light-transmitting portion established through said mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said light-transmitting passageway comprises a plastic molding formed by injection molding.

13. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said mirror reflective element is adhered at said second side of said mirror back plate with said heater pad disposed therebetween.

14. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 13, wherein, during nighttime 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 and responsive to light sensing by a photo sensor of the equipped vehicle, said display indicator, as viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to have a significantly reduced luminance than when said light source is activated during daytime operation of the equipped vehicle.

15. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said iconistic display is formed, at least in part, by a mask through which light emitted by said light source transmits.

16. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said display indicator comprises a flying lead electrical connector.

17. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mounting portion adapted for mounting at a side of a vehicle;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror casing portion;

a mirror actuator disposed in said mirror casing portion;

a mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is attached to said mirror actuator whereby, 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, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a plastic molding formed by injection molding;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises a first side and an opposing second side;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises an actuator mounting portion disposed at said first side for attaching said mirror reflective element sub-assembly to said mirror actuator;

wherein a heater pad is disposed between said second side of said mirror back plate and said mirror reflective element;

wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached to said mirror back plate with said heater pad disposed therebetween;

said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a display indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light;

wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode;

wherein said display indicator comprises a light-transmitting passageway;

wherein said mirror back plate, said display 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 via actuation of said mirror actuator to which said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is attached;

wherein, when activated, said light source emits light that transmits through said light-transmitting passageway of said display indicator and through a light-transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said mirror reflective element to be viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said display indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said light source of said display indicator is activated responsive to sensing by a sensor of said blind spot detection system of an object in a blind spot at a side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector and wherein light emitted by said light source passes through a light-transmitting portion established through said mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said iconistic display is formed, at least in part, by a mask through which light emitted by said light source transmits.

18. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said iconistic comprises a triangular iconistic display.

19. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein said light-transmitting passageway comprises a plastic molding formed by injection molding and wherein said display indicator comprises a substantially water impervious module.

20. The vehicular exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19, wherein said display indicator comprises a flying lead electrical connector.