Lighted exterior rearview mirror system
DCFirst Claim
1. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a breakaway joint assembly;
said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member and a pivoting member;
said pivoting member comprising a bracket;
said bracket supporting an electrically-operable actuator for positioning said reflective element about at least one axis;
said reflective element provided with an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from said reflective element;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a light;
said light comprising a light source;
said light comprising one chosen from a) a ground illumination light and b) a signal light;
said light fixedly included in said exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of said actuator;
wherein said breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes;
said wire cable carrying vehicle control signals and electrical power; and
wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a reflective element having a heater and a breakaway joint assembly having stationary member and a pivoting member that comprises a bracket supporting an electrically-operable actuator for positioning the reflective element about at least one axis. The exterior mirror assembly comprises a ground illumination or a signal light. The breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes carrying vehicle control signals and electrical power.
114 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
-
an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a breakaway joint assembly; said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member and a pivoting member; said pivoting member comprising a bracket; said bracket supporting an electrically-operable actuator for positioning said reflective element about at least one axis; said reflective element provided with an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from said reflective element; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a light; said light comprising a light source; said light comprising one chosen from a) a ground illumination light and b) a signal light; said light fixedly included in said exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of said actuator; wherein said breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes; said wire cable carrying vehicle control signals and electrical power; and wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
-
an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a breakaway joint assembly; said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member and a pivoting member; said pivoting member comprising a bracket; said bracket supporting an electrically-operable actuator for positioning said reflective element about at least one axis; said reflective element provided with an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from said reflective element; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a light; said light comprising a light source; said light comprising a turn signal indicator light; wherein said breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes; said wire cable carrying vehicle control signals and electrical power; wherein light emitted by said light when said light source is actuated when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to the side of the vehicle does not substantially directly intercept the driver of the vehicle; and wherein a minor intensity of light emitted by said light when said light source is actuated when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to the side of the vehicle provides awareness to the driver of the vehicles of the actuating of the light. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
-
an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly including an electro-optic reflective element; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a breakaway joint assembly; said breakaway joint assembly including a stationary member and a pivoting member; said pivoting member comprising a bracket; said bracket supporting an electrically-operable actuator for positioning said reflective element about at least one axis; said reflective element provided with an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from said reflective element; said exterior rearview mirror assembly including a light; said light comprising a light source; said light comprising a turn signal indicator light; said light fixedly included in said exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of said actuator; wherein said breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes; said wire cable carrying vehicle control signals and electrical power; wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode; wherein signals to control the level of reflectivity of said electro-optic reflective element pass via said wire cable; and wherein said light comprises a light pipe. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification