EXTERIOR MIRROR WITH BLIND ZONE INDICATOR

• US 20170372614A1
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huizen, Gregory A., Kramer, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,614,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• 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 suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, and a blind zone indication module. The blind zone indication module attaches at the rear side of the mirror reflective element via an aperture of the mirror back plate. The blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses the circuit element and the at least one light emitting diode therein. The rear side of the mirror back plate includes structure at the indicator receiving portion configured to at least partially receive the housing. The circuit element includes electrically conductive terminals that are in electrical connection with circuitry of the circuit element and that are received at a connector portion of the housing that is configured to connect to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

Claims

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

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture formed therethrough;

said mirror back plate comprising a front side and an opposing rear side;

wherein said front side of said mirror back plate is attached at a rear side of said mirror reflective element;

a blind zone indication module comprising a circuit element with circuitry disposed thereat, wherein said circuitry comprises at least one light emitting diode that is electrically activatable to emit light;

said blind zone indication module comprising a diffuser element;

said rear side of said mirror back plate comprising an indicator receiving portion;

wherein said indicator receiving portion is located at said aperture of said mirror back plate;

wherein said blind zone indication module attaches at the rear side of said mirror reflective element via said aperture of said mirror back plate;

wherein said blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses said circuit element and said at least one light emitting diode therein;

wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises structure at said indicator receiving portion configured to at least partially receive said housing;

wherein said circuit element comprises a plurality of electrically conductive terminals in electrical connection with circuitry of said circuit element;

wherein said plurality of electrically conductive terminals are received at a connector portion of said housing;

wherein said connector portion of said housing is configured to connect to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly to electrically power circuitry of said circuit element when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at the exterior mirror assembly and when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and used on a vehicle; and

wherein a portion of said blind zone indication module partially but not fully occludes light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode to reduce a bright spot at said mirror reflective element when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle and is viewed by a driver of the vehicle when said at least one light emitting diode of said blind zone indication module is activated.

2. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind zone indication module adhesively attaches at the rear side of said mirror reflective element via said aperture of said mirror back plate.

3. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein said structure at said indicator receiving portion is configured for said housing to snap-attach thereat.

4. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an inner surface, and wherein said inner surface comprises a diffusely light reflecting surface for reflecting light incident thereon to enhance the intensity of light that exits said blind zone indication module.

5. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind zone indication module comprises an indicia element, and wherein light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode is transmitted through said indicia element when said at least one light emitting diode is activated.

6. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 5, wherein said indicia element is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle at which said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed and used.

7. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a pair of light emitting diodes, and wherein each light emitting diode is associated with a respective icon of an indicia element disposed at an end portion of said blind zone indication module at which said blind zone indication module attaches at said mirror reflective element.

8. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes and louvers established between adjacent light emitting diodes of said plurality of light emitting diodes.

9. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 8, wherein said louvers comprise first and second louvers arranged generally parallel to one another and between respective pairs of said plurality of light emitting diodes.

10. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 8, wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes, and wherein said louvers comprise first, second and third louvers established between respective pairs of said three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes.

11. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind zone indication module snap attaches at said structure of said mirror back plate that at least partially circumscribes said aperture formed through said mirror back plate.

12. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is operable to electrically power said at least one light emitting diode, and wherein said circuitry provides overvoltage protection.

13. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein a heater element is disposed between said first side of said mirror back plate and the rear side of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said heater element comprises an aperture therethrough that generally corresponds to said aperture of said mirror back plate when said mirror back plate is attached at the rear side of said mirror reflective element.

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

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture formed therethrough;

said mirror back plate comprising a front side and an opposing rear side;

wherein said front side of said mirror back plate is attached at a rear side of said mirror reflective element;

a blind zone indication module comprising a circuit element with circuitry disposed thereat, wherein said circuitry comprises a plurality of light emitting diode that are electrically activatable to emit light;

wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes;

said blind zone indication module comprising a diffuser element;

said rear side of said mirror back plate comprising an indicator receiving portion;

wherein said indicator receiving portion is located at said aperture of said mirror back plate;

wherein said blind zone indication module adhesively attaches at the rear side of said mirror reflective element via said aperture of said mirror back plate;

wherein said blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses said circuit element and said at least one light emitting diode therein;

wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises structure at said indicator receiving portion configured to at least partially receive said housing;

wherein said structure of said mirror back plate at least partially circumscribes said aperture formed through said mirror back plate;

wherein said circuit element comprises a plurality of electrically conductive terminals in electrical connection with circuitry of said circuit element;

wherein said plurality of electrically conductive terminals is disposed at a connector portion of said housing and is accessible thereat;

wherein said connector portion of said housing is configured to connect said plurality of electrically conductive terminals to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly to electrically power circuitry of said circuit element when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at the exterior mirror assembly and when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and used on a vehicle; and

wherein said circuitry is operable to electrically power said plurality of light emitting diodes.

15. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 14, wherein said circuitry provides overvoltage protection.

16. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 15, wherein a portion of said blind zone indication module partially but not fully occludes light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode to reduce a bright spot at said mirror reflective element when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle and is viewed by a driver of the vehicle when said at least one light emitting diode of said blind zone indication module is activated.

17. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 14, wherein said blind zone indication module snap attaches at said structure of said mirror back plate that at least partially circumscribes said aperture formed through said mirror back plate.

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

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation;

wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture formed therethrough;

said mirror back plate comprising a front side and an opposing rear side;

wherein said front side of said mirror back plate is attached at a rear side of said mirror reflective element;

a blind zone indication module comprising a circuit element with circuitry disposed thereat, wherein said circuitry comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes;

wherein louvers are established between adjacent light emitting diodes of said plurality of light emitting diodes;

said blind zone indication module comprising a diffuser element;

said rear side of said mirror back plate comprising an indicator receiving portion;

wherein said indicator receiving portion is located at said aperture of said mirror back plate;

wherein said blind zone indication module attaches at the rear side of said mirror reflective element via said aperture of said mirror back plate;

wherein said blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses said circuit element and said at least one light emitting diode therein;

wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises structure at said indicator receiving portion configured to at least partially receive said housing;

wherein said circuit element comprises a plurality of electrically conductive terminals in electrical connection with circuitry of said circuit element;

wherein said plurality of electrically conductive terminals is disposed at a connector portion of said housing and is accessible thereat;

wherein said connector portion of said housing is configured to connect said plurality of electrically conductive terminals to a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly to electrically power circuitry of said circuit element when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at the exterior mirror assembly and when the exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and used on a vehicle; and

wherein a heater element is disposed between said first side of said mirror back plate and the rear side of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said heater element comprises an aperture therethrough that generally corresponds to said aperture of said mirror back plate when said mirror back plate is attached at the rear side of said mirror reflective element.

19. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 18, wherein a portion of said blind zone indication module partially but not fully occludes light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode to reduce a bright spot at said mirror reflective element when said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed at an exterior mirror assembly of a vehicle and is viewed by a driver of the vehicle when said at least one light emitting diode of said blind zone indication module is activated.

20. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 18, wherein said blind zone indication module comprises an indicia element, and wherein light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode is transmitted through said indicia element when said at least one light emitting diode is activated, and wherein said indicia element is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle at which said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is disposed and used.