Outside mirror lighting assembly and method of forming same

• US 8,550,675 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Fehn, Edmund, Cammenga, David J., Fish, Richard T. Jr., Tuttle, Darin D., Snyder, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US13/611,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20130003405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.02, 362/311.02, 362/494, 362/545, 362/555, 362/800, 362/511
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

An outside mirror lighting assembly (100) and method includes a housing (108) and a first glass panel (101) where one or more light-emitting devices (107) are positioned at an edge of the first glass panel (101). Light rays from the at least one light-emitting device (107) propagate within the glass panel for illuminating its outer periphery. Words, logos, or other indicia (125) may be also be illuminated by direct or indirect light emitted into an etched area of the glass. The mirror assembly supplies a soft illuminated glow around the outer periphery and/or the indicia for providing a unique and pleasing appearance to the user.

Claims

1. A vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic mirror element comprising;

a first glass sheet;

a second glass sheet; and

an electrochromic layer between said first glass sheet and said second glass sheet;

a light source;

an optical input adjacent to said light source;

a cover bezel conformed to a shape of said electrochromic mirror element, wherein a portion of said cover bezel is a top cover along said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein said cover bezel defines a channel;

said cover bezel comprising;

an optical light pipe extending about a perimeter of said electrochromic mirror element for illuminating a periphery of the electrochromic mirror element;

wherein said optical light pipe extends along said channel of said cover bezel,

such that said optical light pipe is forward of said first glass sheet and light emitted from said light source propagates through said optical input and said light pipe, and said emitted light is viewable without propagating through said cover bezel.

2. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED supplying light to the optical light pipe at at least one optical input.

3. A vehicular mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a heater for providing heat to the mirror element.

4. A vehicular mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the optical light pipe is illuminated with colored light.

5. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first glass element and said second glass element is fitted between said light source and said light pipe.

6. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a glass carrier behind said electrochromic mirror element.

7. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising printed circuit board behind said electrochromic mirror element, wherein said light source is mounted on said printed circuit board.

8. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 7 further comprising a cover behind said printed circuit board, such that said cover prevents light from illuminating in a rearward direction.

9. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second optical input adjacent to at least one of said light source and a second light source.

10. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one of an automatic and manual user function.

11. A vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 being an outside vehicular mirror assembly.

12. A vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic mirror element comprising;

a first glass sheet;

a second glass sheet; and

an electrochromic layer between said first glass sheet and said second glass sheet;

a light source;

an optical input adjacent to said light source;

a cover bezel conformed to a shape of said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein a portion of said cover bezel is a top cover along said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein a said cover bezel defines a channel;

said cover bezel comprising;

an optical light pipe extending about a perimeter of said electrochromic mirror element for illuminating a periphery of said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein said optical light pipe extends along said channel of said cover bezel, such that said optical light pipe is forward of said first glass sheet and light emitted from said light source propagates through said optical input and said light pipe, and said emitted light is viewable without propagating through said cover bezel;

wherein said at least one light source is at least one LED supplying light to said optical light pipe at at least one optical input; and

wherein at least one of said first glass sheet and said second glass sheet is fitted between said light source and said light pipe.

13. A vehicle mirror assembly of claim 12, further comprising a heater for providing heat to the electrochromic mirror element.

14. A vehicle mirror assembly of claim 12 being an outside vehicle mirror assembly.

15. A vehicle mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said optical light pipe is operably connected to vehicle inputs and is configured to pulse or flash when vehicles turn signals are initiated.

16. A vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic mirror element comprising;

a first glass sheet;

a second glass sheet; and

an electrochromic layer between said first glass sheet and said second glass sheet;

at least one light source;

a first optical input adjacent to said light source;

a second optical input adjacent to at least one of said light source and a second light source;

a cover bezel conformed to the shape of said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein a portion of said cover bezel is a top cover along said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein a said cover bezel defines a channel;

said cover bezel comprising;

an optical light pipe extending about a perimeter of said electrochromic mirror element for illuminating a periphery of said electrochromic mirror element;

wherein said optical light pipe extends along said channel of said cover bezel, such that said optical light pipe is forward of said first glass sheet and light emitted from said light source propagates through said optical input and said light pipe, and said emitted light is viewable without propagating through said cover bezel; and

wherein said at least one light source is at least one LED supplying light to said optical light pipe at at least one of said optical inputs.

17. A vehicle mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said LED light source is configured to alternate colors.

18. A vehicle mirror assembly of claim 16, further comprising blind spot detection, wherein said light pipe is configured to pulse when a vehicle is detected in said blind spot.