Vehicular rearview mirror assembly system
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, comprising:
- an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly comprising a casing, said casing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element adjustably mounted with respect to said casing on an electrically-operated actuator for providing adjustment of the position of said reflectance element;
said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one chosen from a turn signal light assembly and a security light assembly, said turn signal light assembly including a light source, said turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said casing and separate from said adjustable reflectance element, said turn signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from said exterior mirror assembly observable to a driver of another vehicle passing from behind the side of the vehicle equipped with said turn signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said turn signal light assembly substantially unobserved by a driver of the vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to said side of the vehicle, said turn signal light assembly adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the vehicle such that said turn signal light assembly actuates when the turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the another vehicle passing the vehicle that a lane change by the vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the vehicle, said security light assembly including a light source, said security light assembly adapted for connection to a control of the vehicle, an actuator for said security light assembly including a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter, said control responsive to a signal from said remote transmitter in order to actuate said security in order to project a light beam from said exterior mirror assembly on a ground area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in a vicinity of entry and exit by a vehicle occupant and wherein said signal from said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency signal; and
wherein said mounting of said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway joint assembly, said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member adapted for attachment to the side of the vehicle, a pivot member and a wire-way.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A floodlight that is adapted to projecting a pattern of light from the housing of a vehicle exterior mirror on an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in that area. The pattern extends laterally onto the vehicle and downwardly and rearwardly of the mirror housing. In this manner, the lighted security zone extends from the vehicle door to the rear of the vehicle. An actuator for the floodlight includes a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter wherein the base unit is responsive to a signal from the remote transmitter in order to actuate the floodlight. The actuator may further include a lockout device in order to prevent actuation of the floodlight during operation of the vehicle. A signal light is additionally included in the exterior mirror housing in order to project a second pattern of light from the mirror housing extending laterally away from the vehicle and rearwardly of the vehicle. In this manner, the second pattern cannot be directly observed by the driver of the vehicle but may be observed by the driver of another vehicle passing the equipped vehicle. The signal light operates in unison with a turn signal, brake signal, or both, of the equipped vehicle.
259 Citations
79 Claims
-
1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, comprising:
-
an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly comprising a casing, said casing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element adjustably mounted with respect to said casing on an electrically-operated actuator for providing adjustment of the position of said reflectance element;
said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one chosen from a turn signal light assembly and a security light assembly, said turn signal light assembly including a light source, said turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said casing and separate from said adjustable reflectance element, said turn signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from said exterior mirror assembly observable to a driver of another vehicle passing from behind the side of the vehicle equipped with said turn signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said turn signal light assembly substantially unobserved by a driver of the vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to said side of the vehicle, said turn signal light assembly adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the vehicle such that said turn signal light assembly actuates when the turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the another vehicle passing the vehicle that a lane change by the vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the vehicle, said security light assembly including a light source, said security light assembly adapted for connection to a control of the vehicle, an actuator for said security light assembly including a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter, said control responsive to a signal from said remote transmitter in order to actuate said security in order to project a light beam from said exterior mirror assembly on a ground area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in a vicinity of entry and exit by a vehicle occupant and wherein said signal from said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency signal; and
wherein said mounting of said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway joint assembly, said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member adapted for attachment to the side of the vehicle, a pivot member and a wire-way. - 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, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, comprising:
-
an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a driver-side of a vehicle and an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a passenger-side of a vehicle;
each of said exterior mirror assemblies comprising a casing, said casing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element adjustably mounted with respect to said casing on an electrically-operated actuator for providing adjustment of the position of said reflectance element;
each of said exterior mirror assemblies further including at least one chosen from a turn signal light assembly and a security light assembly, said turn signal light assembly including a light source, said turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said casing and separate from said adjustable reflectance element, said turn signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from each of said exterior mirror assemblies observable to a driver of another vehicle passing from behind the side of the vehicle equipped with said turn signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said turn signal light assembly substantially unobserved by a driver of the vehicle when each of said exterior mirror assemblies is mounted to said side of the vehicle, said turn signal light assembly adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the vehicle such that said turn signal light assembly actuates when the turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the another vehicle passing the vehicle that a lane change by the vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the vehicle, said security light assembly including a light source, said security light assembly adapted for connection to a control of the vehicle, an actuator for said security light assembly including a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter, said control responsive to a signal from said remote transmitter in order to actuate said security in order to project a light beam from each of said exterior mirror assemblies on a ground area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in a vicinity of entry and exit by a vehicle occupant and wherein said signal from said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency signal; and
wherein said mounting of each of said exterior mirror assemblies comprises a breakaway joint assembly, said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member adapted for attachment to the side of the vehicle, a pivot member and a wire-way. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
-
-
56. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system, comprising:
-
an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a driver-side of a vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly comprising a casing, said casing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element adjustably mounted with respect to said casing on an electrically-operated actuator for providing adjustment of the position of said reflectance element;
said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one chosen from a turn signal light assembly and a security light assembly, said turn signal light assembly including a light source, said turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said casing and separate from said adjustable reflectance element, said turn signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from said exterior mirror assembly observable to a driver of another vehicle passing from behind the side of the vehicle equipped with said turn signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said turn signal light assembly substantially unobserved by a driver of the vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to said side of the vehicle, said turn signal light assembly adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the vehicle such that said turn signal light assembly actuates when the turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the another vehicle passing the vehicle that a lane change by the vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the vehicle, said security light assembly including a light source, said security light assembly adapted for connection to a control of the vehicle, an actuator for said security light assembly including a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter, said control responsive to a signal from said remote transmitter in order to actuate said security in order to project a light beam from said exterior mirror assembly on a ground area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in a vicinity of entry and exit by a vehicle occupant and wherein said signal from said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency signal;
wherein said mounting of said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway joint assembly, said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member adapted for attachment to the side of the vehicle, a pivot member and a wire-way;
wherein said reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element, and wherein said electrochromic reflectance element further comprises a heater element; and
wherein at least one wire controlling operation of at least one of said electrically-operated actuator, said heater element and said electrochromic reflectance element passes through said wire-way. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
Litigation Data
-
Current AssigneeMagna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
-
Original AssigneeDonnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
-
InventorsPastrick, Todd W., Molenkamp, Linda K., Koops, Roger L.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Sember, Thomas M.
-
Application NumberUS09/938,182Publication NumberTime in Patent Office439 DaysField of Search362/276, 362/802, 362/494, 362/140, 362/510, 362/511, 362/516, 362/522, 362/540, 315/84US Class Current362/494CPC Class CodesB60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighti...B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless...B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indic...B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems ...B60R 21/12 which protect the occupants...Y10S 362/802 Position or condition respo...
