METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BLIND SPOT INDICATOR FOR A VEHICULAR EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 20170327045A1
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• 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 10,086,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 method for manufacturing a blind spot indicator module for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a housing, a rear cover and a circuit board. The circuit board is disposed at the housing and the rear cover is attached to a rear end of the housing to encase the circuit board, whereby electrical terminals extending from the circuit board are disposed between a first connector portion of the housing and a second connector portion of the rear cover, thereby forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board at least to electrical power when the blind spot indicator module is used by an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached to a vehicle. The circuitry includes a light emitting diode that emits light when electrically powered, and a diffuser element diffuses light emitted by the light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a blind spot indicator module for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:

providing a housing, wherein the housing comprises a body portion and a first connector portion extending from the body portion of the housing, and wherein the body portion is configured to be received at a receiving portion of a backplate of an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is configured for attachment to a vehicle;

providing a rear cover, wherein the rear cover comprises a lid portion and a second connector portion extending from the lid portion of the rear cover, and wherein the second connector portion extends generally parallel to the lid portion;

providing a circuit board having circuitry disposed thereat and having electrical terminals extending therefrom;

disposing the circuit board at the housing;

attaching the rear cover to a rear end of the housing to encase the circuit board at an inner cavity defined by the housing and the rear cover, whereby the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board are disposed between the first connector portion of the housing and the second connector portion of the rear cover;

wherein attaching the rear cover to a rear end of the housing with the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board disposed between the first connector portion of the housing and the second connector portion of the rear cover forms an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board at least to electrical power when the blind spot indicator module is used by an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached to a vehicle;

wherein the circuitry includes a light emitting diode that is operable to emit light when electrically powered; and

providing a diffuser element to diffuse light emitted by the light emitting diode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the housing comprises structure configured for connecting to structure of a backplate of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a front end of the body portion of the housing is configured for adhesive attachment at a rear side of a reflective element of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the housing is formed from a white plastic material and comprises a diffuse reflective surface, and wherein the diffuse reflective surface diffusely reflects light emitted by the light emitting diode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the diffuse reflective surface of the body portion of the housing comprises a conical-shaped surface that has an opening at a front end of the body portion of the housing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the front end of the body portion of the housing comprises a recess that circumscribes the opening of the conical-shaped surface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of providing a diffuser element comprises receiving the diffuser element at the recess.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the front end of the body portion of the housing is non-parallel with the rear end of the housing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the light emitting diode is disposed at the circuit board off-center so as to be closer to one sidewall of the body portion of the housing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical terminals and the first and second connector portions comprise an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising providing an indicia element at a front end of the body portion of the housing opposite the rear end of the housing at which the rear cover is attached.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indicia element comprises a triangular shaped icon.

14. A method for manufacturing a blind spot indicator module for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:

providing a housing, wherein the housing comprises a body portion and a first connector portion extending from the body portion of the housing, and wherein the body portion is configured to be received at a receiving portion of a backplate of an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is configured for attachment to a vehicle;

wherein the body portion of the housing comprises structure configured for connecting to structure of a backplate of an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

providing a rear cover, wherein the rear cover comprises a lid portion and a second connector portion extending from the lid portion of the rear cover, and wherein the second connector portion extends generally parallel to the lid portion;

providing a circuit board having circuitry disposed thereat and having electrical terminals extending therefrom;

disposing the circuit board at the housing;

attaching the rear cover to a rear end of the housing to encase the circuit board at an inner cavity defined by the housing and the rear cover, whereby the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board are disposed between the first connector portion of the housing and the second connector portion of the rear cover;

wherein attaching the rear cover to a rear end of the housing with the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board disposed between the first connector portion of the housing and the second connector portion of the rear cover forms an electrical socket connector configured for connection to an electrical plug connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board at least to electrical power when the blind spot indicator module is used by an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached to a vehicle;

wherein the circuitry includes a light emitting diode that is operable to emit light when electrically powered; and

providing a diffuser element to diffuse light emitted by the light emitting diode.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the body portion of the housing is formed from a white plastic material and comprises a diffuse reflective surface, and wherein the diffuse reflective surface diffusely reflects light emitted by the light emitting diode.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing a diffuser element comprises receiving the diffuser element at a recess at a front end of the body portion of the housing opposite the rear end of the housing at which the rear cover is attached.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising providing an indicia element at the front end of the body portion of the housing.

18. A method for manufacturing a blind spot indicator module for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:

providing a housing, wherein the housing comprises a body portion and a first connector portion extending from the body portion of the housing, and wherein the body portion is configured to be received at a receiving portion of a backplate of an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is configured for attachment to a vehicle;

wherein a front end of the body portion of the housing is configured for adhesive attachment at a rear side of a reflective element of an exterior rearview mirror assembly;

providing a rear cover, wherein the rear cover comprises a lid portion and a second connector portion extending from the lid portion of the rear cover, and wherein the second connector portion extends generally parallel to the lid portion;

providing a circuit board having circuitry disposed thereat and having electrical terminals extending therefrom;

disposing the circuit board at the housing;

attaching the rear cover to a rear end of the housing to encase the circuit board at an inner cavity defined by the housing and the rear cover, whereby the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board are disposed between the first connector portion of the housing and the second connector portion of the rear cover;

wherein attaching the rear cover to a rear end of the housing with the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board disposed between the first connector portion of the housing and the second connector portion of the rear cover forms an electrical socket connector configured for connection to an electrical plug connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board at least to electrical power when the blind spot indicator module is used by an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached to a vehicle;

wherein the circuitry includes a light emitting diode that is operable to emit light when electrically powered; and

providing a diffuser element to diffuse light emitted by the light emitting diode.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the body portion of the housing is formed from a white plastic material and comprises a diffuse reflective surface, and wherein the diffuse reflective surface diffusely reflects light emitted by the light emitting diode.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising providing an indicia element at a front end of the body portion of the housing opposite the rear end of the housing at which the rear cover is attached.