Internal rearview mirror with courtesy lights

• US 5,800,040 A
• Filed: 04/29/1994
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metagal Indãºstria E Comã©Rcio LTDA
• Original Assignee: Metagal Indãºstria E Comã©Rcio LTDA
• Inventors: Santo, Antonio Ferreira do Espirito
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US08/236,369
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 362/74, 362/80.1, 362/83.1, 362/83.3, 362/140, 362/142, 362/294, 362/373, 362/331, 362/333, 315/84
• US Class Current: 362/514
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

The internal rearview mirror with courtesy lights includes a mirror device (1) and an antiglare device (2) acting on the mirror device (1) in a housing (3); a courtesy light system (4) for the rearview mirror; an electronic control module (5) including a printed circuit board (70) and having a timing device (6) which controls a ceiling lamp (200), trunk lamp (202) and door courtesy lights (201); and a detachable support (7) including a spring loaded neck (8) and a base (9) mounted centrally to the ceiling or windshield. The printed circuit board (70) has holes (72) and the housing (3) has fixing columns (71) aligned with the holes (72) for mounting the printed circuit board securely in the housing with screws. The electronic control module (5) has an electrical connector (173) including a prismatic shaped support block (76) on a lateral extension (74) of the printed circuit board (70) and connector pins (73) arrayed on the lateral extension (74) and electrically connected to the electrical conductor paths (75). Both support block (76) and the lateral extension (74) are aligned with a not centrally positioned opening (37) of the housing (3), in which a claw (77) is provided which engages in a groove (77'"'"') in the lateral extension (74) so as to assist in holding the printed circuit board (70) in position.

Claims

1. An internal rearview mirror with courtesy lights for a motor vehicle having a vehicle cabin with a front windshield, a plurality of doors provided with a plurality of courtesy lamps, a ceiling lamp on a ceiling of the cabin and a trunk with a trunk light;

said rearview mirror comprising a housing (3);

a mirror device (1) mounted in the housing (3);

an antiglare device (2) connected to the mirror device (1) and mounted in the housing (3);

a courtesy light system (4) including switches (49, 49'"'"') in the housing (3);

an electronic control module (5) in the housing comprising a printed circuit board (70) having electrical conductor paths (75) connected to the courtesy light system (4) and including a timing device (6) connected to and controlling the ceiling lamp (200), the trunk lamp (202) and the door courtesy lamps (201) in the vicinity of the doors; and

a detachable support (7) comprising a spring releasable neck (8) and a base (9) connected to the neck (8), said detachable support (7) being pivotally connected to said housing (3) and said base (9) of said detachable support (7) being attached centrally in the vehicle cabin,

wherein the printed circuit board (70) of the electronic control module (5) is provided with throughgoing holes (72) and the housing (3) has interior fixing columns (71) aligned with said holes (72) so that said printed circuit board (70) can be secured to said housing (3) by fixing screws (72'"'"') engaged in said fixing columns (71) and passing through said holes (72); and

the electronic control module (5) has electrical connector means (173) comprising a prismatic shaped support block (76) mounted on a lateral extension (74) of the printed circuit board (70) and a set of connector pins (73) perpendicular to and arrayed directly on said lateral extension (74) and passing through said support block (76), said connector pins (73) are electrically connected to said electrical conductor paths (75), both said support block (76) and said lateral extension (74) are aligned with an off centrally positioned opening (37) of the housing (3), said housing (3) is provided with claw means (77) engaging in a groove (77'"'"') in the lateral extension (74) so as to assist in holding said printed circuit board (70); and

a plurality of interior conductor elements (38'"'"') originating from said printed circuit board (70) are provided for electrical connection to said switches (49,49'"'"') of said courtesy light system (4).

2. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said connector pins (73) has a connecting end (73'"'"'), an opposite end (73"'"'"') remote from said connecting end (73'"'"') and an intermediate portion (73"), said intermediate portion (73") extending between and being comparatively larger than said connecting end (73'"'"') and said opposite end (73"'"'"'), and wherein said connecting end (73'"'"') is held in an electrically conducting sleeve mounted in the printed circuit board (70) and is welded and connected to one of said electrical conductor paths (75);

and said intermediate larger portion (73") is held within a throughgoing hole (76'"'"') of said support block (76) and has a claw element (78) in said throughgoing hole, extending from said intermediate larger portion to a catch member (78'"'"') of said support block (76) so as to remain fixed against said catch member (78'"'"'); and

said opposite end (73"'"'"') of said connector pin (73) protrudes from said support block (76); and

a lower face of said support block (76) is provided with at least one guiding and indexing projection (79) connecting to said printed circuit board (70), and a retaining loop member (79'"'"') for connection to an outside conductor element (38) is provided projecting from an upper face of said support block (76) and beyond the connector pins (73).

10. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein the courtesy light system (4) includes a right side light source device (40) and a left side light source device (41) and each of said light source devices has two support sockets (45) configured for a cartridge type lamp (44, 44'"'"'), and each of said support sockets (45) is formed by a substantially "U" shaped strip of electrically conducting material (90) and has two substantially parallel portions (91), said cartridge-type lamp (44, 44'"'"') being secured between said substantially parallel portions (91) by pressure;

an eyelet (92) formed at an end of one of the substantially parallel portions (91) for connection to one of the interior conductor element (38'"'"'); and

a transverse portion (93) connecting the two substantially parallel portions (91) and having an extension forming a seating strap portion (94) protruding beyond said parallel portion (91) opposite to said one of said substantially parallel portions having said eyelet (92), said seating strap portion (94) being held between a plurality of supporting shoulders (95) extending from an inner face of a back wall (33) of said housing (3) and said transverse portion (93) having a fixing claw (96) pressing against one of said supporting shoulders (95) of the housing (3) so as to hold said socket (45) fixed therein.

11. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein the courtesy light system (4) includes a right side light source device (40) and a left side light source device (41), and said light source devices each has a cartridge-type lamp (44, 44'"'"') and a reflector, said reflector (46) comprises a U-shaped plate (100) with an expanded and substantially trapezoidal end portion (101) provided with a plurality of fixing holes (102) with each hole having a peripheral upwardly extending rim and another end portion opposite to said substantially trapezoidal end portion (101), said another end portion being staggered and free;

and wherein an inner face of a back wall (33) of said housing (3) has a plurality of fixing prongs (103) extending therefrom, said fixing prongs (103) being engaged in said fixing holes (102) of said reflector (46) and said U-shaped plate (100) has an intermediate region (104) behind said cartridge-type lamp (44, 44'"'"') with a polished face facing said cartridge-type lamp (44, 44'"'"').

12. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said courtesy light system (4) includes a right side lens (47) and a left side lens (47'"'"') each having a trapezoidal shape and provided with fixing catch members (110) engaging in lower openings (48) of the housing (3);

said right side lens (47) having a plurality of prismatic profiles sufficient to direct light towards and illuminate a region of a passenger seat of said motor vehicle and said left side lens having a plurality of prismatic profiles sufficient to direct light towards and illuminate another region including a right side area of a driver'"'"'s seat of said motor vehicle, and wherein said right side lens (47) has a prismatic profile formed on an inner face thereof and having longitudinal ribs, each of said ribs having a triangular cross section, said longitudinal ribs having a plurality of plane lateral faces (111) turned frontwards perpendicular to a plane of the right side lens and a plurality of front faces (112) extending from said plane lateral faces (111) and oriented at an angle relative to said plane of said right side lens (47);

each of said front faces (112) located in a front region of said right side lens has a plane cross-sectional profile, and said front faces (112) located in a central and a rear region of said right side lens (47) have a plurality of curved cross-sectional profiles with comparatively shorter and comparatively longer radii of curvature; and

an outer face of said right side lens (47) has a plurality of convex profiled transverse strips (113).

13. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said courtesy light system (4) includes a right side lens (47) and a left side lens (47'"'"') each having a trapezoidal shape, and an outer face (120) of said left side lens (47'"'"') has a prismatic profile, front region and a back region, and said front region of the outer face (120) is divided into a right side area (122) with a plurality of transverse facets, a substantially smooth central area (123) and a left side area (124) with a plurality of transverse facets, and said back region of the outer face (120) is provided with two first outer face longitudinal ribs (125), three second outer face longitudinal ribs (126), two third outer face longitudinal ribs (127) and a plurality of remaining outer face longitudinal ribs (128);

each of said transverse facets of said right side area (122) and said left side area (124) has a slightly convex profile and each of the outer face longitudinal ribs (125 to

     128) of the back region having a substantially triangular cross section, said triangular cross section being defined by a plane face perpendicular to a plane of the left side lens (47'"'"') and facing a front side of said left side lens and a front face extending at an angle to said plane face and converging to said plane of the left side lens (47'"'"');

the first outer face longitudinal ribs (125) are immediately adjacent to said front region of the left side lens (47'"'"'), the second outer face longitudinal ribs (126) are between said first and third outer face longitudinal ribs and the third outer face longitudinal ribs (127) have a plurality of front faces with a plurality of convex profiles having a plurality of comparatively short, medium and long curvature radii, respectively;

each of the remaining outer face longitudinal ribs (128) having a plane front face oriented at an angle to said plane of said left side lens (47'"'"'); and

an inner face (121) of said left side lens (47'"'"') has a plurality of inner face longitudinal ribs provided with a plurality of cross sections differing from each other, each of said inner face longitudinal ribs including a first inner face longitudinal rib (130) next to said front region of said lens and a second inner face longitudinal rib (131) adjacent to said first inner face longitudinal rib (130) has slightly convex profile, the first inner face longitudinal rib (130) having a convex profile more prominent than that of said second inner face longitudinal rib (131) adjacent thereto, and three third inner face longitudinal ribs (132) adjacent said second inner face longitudinal ribs (131) each of said third inner face longitudinal ribs having a triangular cross section with a plane face perpendicular to the plane of the lens and a curved face extending at an angle to said plane face and converging to said plane of said left side lens (47'"'"'); and

two fourth inner face longitudinal ribs (133) next to said three third inner face longitudinal ribs (132) provided with a plurality of triangular cross sections having a plurality of plane front faces at successively in higher levels from each other; and

three fifth inner face longitudinal ribs (134 and

     135) adjacent to said two fourth inner face longitudinal ribs having a plurality of triangular cross sections each of said triangular cross sections of said fifth inner face longitudinal ribs having a plurality of faces oriented at a substantial acute angle relative said plane of said left side lens (47'"'"'), with two (134) of the fifth inner face longitudinal ribs being at a substantially higher level than the fourth inner face longitudinal ribs (133) and with a remaining one (135) of the fifth inner face longitudinal ribs having a larger base and being slightly lower than the two (134) of the fifth inner face longitudinal ribs.

14. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein the courtesy light system (4) includes a right side light source device (40) and a left side light source device (41), each of said light source devices (40, 41) includes a cartridge-type lamp (44, 44'"'"'), a reflector (46) and a support socket;

and said housing (3) has a right side recess (42) and a left side recess (43) formed for receiving and holding the right side light source device (40) and the left side light source device (41), respectively, and said right side recess and said left side recess are formed by a plurality of recess walls (140 and

     141), respectively, said recess walls extending perpendicularly from an interior face of a back wall (33) of said housing (3), and said right side recess (42) and said left side recess (43) are substantially trapezoidal and rectangular shaped, respectively; and

within respective spaces bounded by said recess walls, a plurality of substantially U-shaped central walls (142 and

     143) for supporting lower than the recess walls of said reflectors (46), a plurality of fixing prongs (103) fixing of said reflectors (46) and a plurality of supporting shoulders (95) for holding said support sockets (45); and

wherein each of said U-shaped central walls (142,

     143) bounds a region of said back wall (33) and an elliptical opening (51) for admission of cooling air (51) is provided in each of said regions in said back wall (33).

15. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 14, wherein said recess walls (140) of the right side recess (42) and said recess walls (141) of the left side recess (43) are both provided with upper hot air exhaust openings (145) opening into a plurality of respective chambers (146) of said housing (3) and said housing is provided with a plurality of parallel slots (52) allowing hot air outflow from said chambers (146).

16. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said parallel slots (52) is provided with a light leakage avoidance device shaped like an "L" and comprising a shorter portion (150) extending perpendicularly from the back wall at a point close to one end of said slot (52) and a longer portion (151) connected to the shorter portion (150) and extending perpendicularly from said shorter portion (150) to the vicinity of another end of said slot so as to form a lateral triangular opening (153) opening in a direction orthogonal to said slot (52) for reduction of light leakage from said slot (52) while allowing passage of hot air through said slot (52).

3. The internal rearview mirror as defined in 1, wherein the courtesy light system (4) includes a right light source device (40) and a left light source device (41) and said electronic module (5) includes right output circuit means (210) for controlling said right light source device (40), left output circuit means (211) for controlling said left light source device (41), power supply circuit means (212) for supplying electrical power to the ceiling lamp (200), the trunk lamp (202) and the door courtesy lamps (201) as well as the light source devices (40, 41), supply/protection means (213), timer circuit means (6) for timing and turning on and off of the ceiling lamp (200), the trunk lamp (202) and the door courtesy lamps (201), and control circuit means (214) for controlling said timer circuit means (6).

5. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said power supply circuit means (212) includes three field effect power transistors (T1, T2 and T3) and said power supply circuit means (212) electrically connects said control circuit means (214) to said right and left output circuit means (210, 211) and to the ceiling lamp (200), the trunk lamp (202) and the door courtesy lamps (201).

6. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said supply/protection circuit means (213) comprises a resistor (R4), means for stabilizing a supply of said electrical power at 10 V including a Zener diode (Z1) and means for filtering said electrical power including a capacitor (C3).

7. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said control circuit means (214) includes ignition input (CN1 D), two resistors (R13 and R14), a capacitor (C4), a diode (D3) and integrated circuit means (I1) including means for generating and sending control signals for switching the timer circuit means on and off when an input signal is received in the integrated circuit means (I1) via said ignition input (CN1 D).

8. The internal rearview mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said timer circuit means (6) comprises means for turning on said door courtesy lights when one of the doors is opened with a door key, said means for turning on said door courtesy lights (201) comprising a door key input (230), a plurality of resistors (R1 to R3;

R5 to R12), a variable resistor (R16) for adjusting timing, a plurality of capacitors (C1 and C2), a diode (D1) and a plurality of transistors (T4 and T5).

4. The internal rearview mirror as defined in 3, wherein the right light source device (40) includes a cartridge type lamp (44) and said switch (49) as well as a plurality of output terminals (S4, S5, and S6) and said left light source device (41) includes a cartridge type lamp (44'"'"') and said switch (49'"'"') as well as a plurality of output terminals (S1, S2, and S3).

9. The internal rearview mirror as claimed in 1, wherein the antiglare device (2) comprises an operating lever (26) mounted in said housing (3), a movable plate (20) engaged with the mirror device (1) and a spring (25) consisting of a substantially "T" shaped steel filament, said spring (25) being placed between said movable plate (20) and said operating lever (26) under tension, and said spring includes upper, symmetrical arms (80) fixed between tab elements (81) extending from a front face of said movable plate (20), end portions (83) of said spring engaged in respective grooves (84) in said operating lever and intermediate portions (82) of said spring connecting the end portions (83) and the upper symmetrical arms (80), a motion path of said operating lever (26) being bounded by front and back housing edges of a lower window (29) of the housing (3).