Vehicle exterior mirror system with signal light
First Claim
1. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a mirror housing having a rearward facing opening, a reflective element positioned in said rearward facing opening, and a positioning device for adjusting the position of said reflective element in said housing;
a lift conduiting member supported in said assembly, said light conduiting member having at least one light emitting surface and a plurality of light input surfaces; and
a light source positioned generally adjacent said light input surfaces, said light source directing light into said light conduiting member, and said light conduiting member being adapted to redirect said light from said light source in a direction outwardly from said housing through said light emitting surface to produce a light pattern forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle and to restrict light from entering into the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle does not directly observe said light pattern, said light conduiting member including a plurality of light conduiting portions, each of said light conduiting portions having a respective light input surface and first and second side walls, first and second side walls defining internal light reflecting surface, said internal light reflecting surfaces directing the light from said light source through said light conduiting portions and through said light emitting surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element and a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing, and at least one signal light positioned in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and a light conduiting member which is adapted to project a pattern of light from the housing and yet restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe the pattern of light. The light source may be provided by a light pipe which is optically coupled to a remote light source located, for example, in the vehicle. Preferably, the pattern of light extends rearwardly, forwardly, and laterally from the vehicle. In one form, the light conduiting member includes a light input surface on one end and at least one light emitting surface for directing light outwardly from the housing of the exterior mirror assembly. In another form, the exterior mirror assembly incorporates a signal light which includes a plurality of reflective surfaces for directing light forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle but restricts light from entering into the vehicle and distracting the driver. In yet another form, the exterior mirror assembly includes a powerfold mirror system which incorporates a security light in either the folding portion or non-folding portion of the powerfold mirror system.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror housing having a rearward facing opening, a reflective element positioned in said rearward facing opening, and a positioning device for adjusting the position of said reflective element in said housing;
a lift conduiting member supported in said assembly, said light conduiting member having at least one light emitting surface and a plurality of light input surfaces; and
a light source positioned generally adjacent said light input surfaces, said light source directing light into said light conduiting member, and said light conduiting member being adapted to redirect said light from said light source in a direction outwardly from said housing through said light emitting surface to produce a light pattern forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle and to restrict light from entering into the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle does not directly observe said light pattern, said light conduiting member including a plurality of light conduiting portions, each of said light conduiting portions having a respective light input surface and first and second side walls, first and second side walls defining internal light reflecting surface, said internal light reflecting surfaces directing the light from said light source through said light conduiting portions and through said light emitting surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 36, 37)
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3. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror housing having a rearward facing opening, a reflective element positioned in said rearward facing opening, and a positioning device for adjusting the position of said reflective element in said housing;
a light conduiting member supported in said assembly, said light conduiting member having at least one light emitting surface and a plurality of light input surfaces; and
a light source positioned generally adjacent said light input surfaces, said light source directing light into said light conduiting member, and said light conduiting member being adapted to redirect said light from said light source in a direction outwardly from said housing through said light emitting surface to produce a light pattern forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle and to restrict light from entering into the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle does not directly observe said light pattern, said light conduiting member comprising a plastic light conduiting member. - View Dependent Claims (4, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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16. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror housing having a rearward facing opening, a reflective element positioned in said rearward facing opening, and a positioning device for adjusting the position of said reflective element in said housing;
a light conduiting member supported in said assembly, said light conduiting member having at least one light emitting surface and a plurality of light input surfaces; and
a light source positioned generally adjacent said light input surfaces, said light source directing light into said light conduiting member, said light source comprising a plurality of light sources, each of said light sources corresponding to a respective light input surface of the respective light conduiting portion, and said light conduiting member being adapted to redirect said light from said light sources in a direction outwardly from said housing through said light emitting surface to produce a light pattern forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle and to restrict light from entering into the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle does not directly observe said light pattern, wherein each of said light input surfaces includes a recess for receiving a respective light emitting portion of a respective light source, and said recesses comprising semi-cylindrical grooves.
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Specification