Lighted exterior mirror assembly for vehicle
DCFirst Claim
1. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising:
- a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element;
wherein, when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly, said reflectance element is movably positionable via an electrically-powered actuator by a driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view;
a breakaway joint;
wherein at least one wire passes through said breakaway joint and wherein said at least one wire supplies electrical power to at least one of (i) said actuator and (ii) a defroster heater pad for said reflectance element;
a ground illumination lamp disposed at a portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly;
wherein said ground illumination lamp is disposed at said portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said ground illumination light;
wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and having a lens that is permanently joined with said enclosure;
wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a light source;
wherein said light source is disposed within said enclosure behind said lens and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said light source emits light that passes through said lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said ground illumination lamp illuminates at least a portion of the illuminated ground area with a luminance of at least approximately 5 lux.
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Abstract
A lighted exterior mirror assembly includes a housing that houses a reflectance element that is movably positionable by the driver of a vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view when the lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of the vehicle. A ground illumination lamp is disposed at a portion of the lighted exterior mirror assembly and separate from the reflectance element. The ground illumination lamp is a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and a lens that is permanently joined with the enclosure. The ground illumination lamp includes a light source disposed within the enclosure behind the lens and, when the lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the vehicle and when the light source is electrically powered, the light source emits light that passes through the lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the vehicle.
102 Citations
93 Claims
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1. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element; wherein, when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly, said reflectance element is movably positionable via an electrically-powered actuator by a driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view; a breakaway joint; wherein at least one wire passes through said breakaway joint and wherein said at least one wire supplies electrical power to at least one of (i) said actuator and (ii) a defroster heater pad for said reflectance element; a ground illumination lamp disposed at a portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said ground illumination lamp is disposed at said portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said ground illumination light; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and having a lens that is permanently joined with said enclosure; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a light source; wherein said light source is disposed within said enclosure behind said lens and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said light source emits light that passes through said lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle; and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said ground illumination lamp illuminates at least a portion of the illuminated ground area with a luminance of at least approximately 5 lux. - 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, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element; wherein, when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly, said reflectance element is movably positionable via an electrically-powered actuator by a driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view; a breakaway joint; wherein at least one wire passes through said breakaway joint and wherein said at least one wire supplies electrical power to at least one of (i) said actuator and (ii) a defroster heater pad for said reflectance element; a ground illumination lamp disposed at a portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said ground illumination lamp is disposed at said portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said ground illumination light; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and having a lens that is permanently joined with said enclosure; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a light source; wherein said light source is disposed within said enclosure behind said lens and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said light source emits light that passes through said lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle; and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said ground illumination lamp illuminates at least an approximately 2-foot by 4-foot ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element; wherein, when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly, said reflectance element is movably positionable via an electrically-powered actuator by the driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view; a breakaway joint; wherein at least one wire passes through said breakaway joint and wherein said at least one wire supplies electrical power to at least one of (i) said actuator and (ii) a defroster heater pad for said reflectance element; a ground illumination lamp disposed at a portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said ground illumination lamp is disposed at said portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said ground illumination light; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and having a lens that is permanently joined with said enclosure; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a light source; wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, said at least one light emitting diode operates at a forward current of at least about 20 mA; wherein said at least one light emitting diode is disposed within said enclosure behind said lens and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, said at least one light emitting diode emits light that passes through said lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle; and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, said ground illumination lamp illuminates at least an approximately 2-foot by 4-foot ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element; wherein, when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly, said reflectance element is movably positionable via an electrically-powered actuator by the driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view; a breakaway joint; wherein at least one wire passes through said breakaway joint and wherein said at least one wire supplies electrical power to at least one of (i) said actuator and (ii) a defroster heater pad for said reflectance element; a ground illumination lamp disposed at a portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said ground illumination lamp is disposed at said portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said ground illumination light; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and having a lens that is permanently joined with said enclosure; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a light source; wherein said light source is disposed within said enclosure behind said lens and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said light source emits light that passes through said lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle; and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said ground illumination lamp illuminates at least a portion of the illuminated ground area with a luminance of at least approximately 5 lux. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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88. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element; wherein, when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly, said reflectance element is movably positionable via an electrically-powered actuator by the driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view; a breakaway joint; wherein at least one wire passes through said breakaway joint and wherein said at least one wire supplies electrical power to at least one of (i) said actuator and (ii) a defroster heater pad for said reflectance element; a ground illumination lamp disposed at a portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said ground illumination lamp is disposed at said portion of said lighted exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said ground illumination light; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a substantially moisture-impervious unit having an enclosure and having a lens that is permanently joined with said enclosure; wherein said ground illumination lamp comprises a light source; wherein said light source is disposed within said enclosure behind said lens and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically powered, said light source emits light that passes through said lens and illuminates a ground area adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein said enclosure comprises at least one of (i) an opaque enclosure, (ii) an enclosure comprising a heat resistant material and (iii) an enclosure comprising a heat resistant material having a heat distortion temperature of at least approximately 80 degrees C.; and wherein said ground illumination lamp projects white light when said light source is electrically powered. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
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Specification