MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT SUB-ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICULAR EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
- a mirror reflective element;
said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side;
a mirror reflector disposed at the front side of said transparent glass substrate or disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate;
a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation;
said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween;
wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side of said mirror back plate to the rear side of said transparent glass substrate;
said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side of said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation;
wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly;
wherein said structure of said mirror actuator attaching portion for attaching said mirror back plate to the mirror actuator of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a raised annular ring, (ii) annular prongs and (iii) annular snaps;
wherein the mirror actuator of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator;
wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate;
wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation;
a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate;
wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate;
wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad;
a blind spot indicator module comprising a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion;
wherein the connector portion extends laterally from the body portion;
wherein said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure configured to ease securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate;
wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly;
wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board;
wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light;
wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals extending therefrom;
wherein the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board extend into the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element; and
wherein the electrical terminals extending from said circuit board and the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module form an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector and a mirror back plate disposed at the rear side of the mirror reflective element. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate and has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with an aperture of the mirror back plate. A blind spot indicator module includes a body portion and a connector portion extending laterally from the body portion. Light emitted by at least one light emitting diode passes through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the vehicle who is driving the vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element.
1 Citation
58 Claims
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1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; a mirror reflector disposed at the front side of said transparent glass substrate or disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation; said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween; wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side of said mirror back plate to the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side of said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein said structure of said mirror actuator attaching portion for attaching said mirror back plate to the mirror actuator of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a raised annular ring, (ii) annular prongs and (iii) annular snaps; wherein the mirror actuator of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation; a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad; a blind spot indicator module comprising a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion; wherein the connector portion extends laterally from the body portion; wherein said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure configured to ease securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate; wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light; wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals extending therefrom; wherein the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board extend into the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle; wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element; and wherein the electrical terminals extending from said circuit board and the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module form an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror reflective element; said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a rear transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; wherein an electrically-dimmable electrochromic medium is disposed between the rear side of said front transparent glass substrate and the front side of said rear transparent glass substrate; a mirror reflector disposed at the front side of said rear transparent glass substrate, said mirror reflector being in electrical contact with said electrically-dimmable electrochromic medium; a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation; said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween; wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said rear transparent glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side of said mirror back plate to the rear side of said rear transparent glass substrate; said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side of said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein the mirror actuator of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation; a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said rear transparent glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad; a blind spot indicator module comprising a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion; wherein the connector portion extends laterally from the body portion; wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light; wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals extending therefrom; wherein the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board extend into the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle; wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said electrochromic mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said electrochromic mirror reflective element; and wherein the electrical terminals extending from said circuit board and the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module form an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; a mirror reflector disposed at the front side of said transparent glass substrate or disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation; said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween; wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side of said mirror back plate to the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side of said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein the mirror actuator of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation; a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad; wherein said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting window established through said mirror reflector by laser ablation; a blind spot indicator module comprising a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion; wherein the connector portion extends laterally from the body portion; wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light; wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals extending therefrom; wherein the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board extend into the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle; wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element; and wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated during a daytime driving condition, said visual icon has a luminance of at least 5,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification