GROUND ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A ground illumination system for a vehicle, said ground illumination system comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle equipped with said ground illumination system;
a ground illumination module disposed at said exterior rearview mirror assembly and comprising a light source operable to emit light;
wherein, when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is operated, light projected by said ground illumination module illuminates a ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said ground illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element;
wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects an icon established by said reconfigurable display element;
wherein said reconfigurable display element is operable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element for an icon for display; and
wherein, when said light source is operated and with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects the icon of said reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ground illumination system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle, with a ground illumination module disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly and having a light source operable to emit light. The ground illumination module includes a reconfigurable display element. The reconfigurable display element is operable to form an icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of the reconfigurable display element for an icon for display. When the light source is operated and with the exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the vehicle, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the ground illumination module projects the icon of the reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ground illumination system for a vehicle, said ground illumination system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle equipped with said ground illumination system; a ground illumination module disposed at said exterior rearview mirror assembly and comprising a light source operable to emit light; wherein, when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is operated, light projected by said ground illumination module illuminates a ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element; wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects an icon established by said reconfigurable display element; wherein said reconfigurable display element is operable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element for an icon for display; and wherein, when said light source is operated and with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects the icon of said reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A ground illumination system for a vehicle, said ground illumination system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle equipped with said ground illumination system; a ground illumination module disposed at said exterior rearview mirror assembly and comprising a circuit element having a light source established thereat; wherein said light source is operable to emit light and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein an electrical connector electrically connects circuitry of said circuit element to a power source of the equipped vehicle when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is operated, light projected by said ground illumination module illuminates a ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element; wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects an icon established by said reconfigurable display element; wherein said reconfigurable display element is operable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element for an icon for display; and wherein, when said light source is operated and with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects the icon of said reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A ground illumination system for a vehicle, said ground illumination system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle equipped with said ground illumination system; a ground illumination module disposed at said exterior rearview mirror assembly and comprising a light source operable to emit light; wherein, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, said ground illumination module is disposed at a lower portion of said exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein, when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is operated, light projected by said ground illumination module illuminates a ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element; wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects an icon established by said reconfigurable display element; wherein said reconfigurable display element is operable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element for an icon for display; wherein, when said light source is operated and with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects the icon of said reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said reconfigurable display element is operable to form one of (i) a security beacon, (ii) an emblem and (iii) a logo. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification