Rearview mirror assembly

• US 9,533,619 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Minikey, Danny L. Jr., Roth, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US14/615,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20150221223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/904, 362/494, 359/267
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element and a blind spot indicator system in optical communication with the reflective mirror element and configured to receive an input from a blind spot detector system, wherein the blind spot indicator system includes a first indicator assembly and a second indicator assembly each having a light source and an optic, the optic is in optical communication with the light source. The light sources are configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the optics and the reflective mirror element if the input received from the blind spot detector indicates the blind spot detector is active or an object is detected in the blind spot.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly, the rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective mirror element; and

a blind spot indicator system in optical communication with the reflective mirror element, and configured to receive an input from a blind spot detector system, wherein the blind spot indicator system comprises;

a first indicator assembly comprising;

a first light source; and

a high intensity optic in optical communication with the first light source;

wherein the first light source is configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the high intensity optic and the reflective mirror element if the input is received from the blind spot detector system indicating an object is detected; and

a second indicator assembly comprising;

a second light source; and

a diffuser optic in optical communication with the second light source;

wherein the second light source is configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the diffuser optic and the reflective mirror element if the input is received from the blind spot detector system indicating the blind spot detector is active.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the first light source and viewed through the reflective element is brighter than the light emitted from the second light source and viewed through the reflective element.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the first indicator assembly and the second indicator assembly are illuminated approximately simultaneously.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first light source and the second light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element is at least one of an electro-optic reflective element and an electrochromic reflective element.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element is an exterior rearview element.

7. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising an indicia in optical communication with the second light source, wherein the indicia defines an automobile icon.

8. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 7 further comprising an indicia in optical communication with the first light source, wherein the indicia defines at least one headlight of the automobile icon.

9. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a reflective coating on a surface of the reflective element, wherein the reflective coating defines an icon in optical communication with at least one of the first light source and the second light source.

10. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a transflective coating on a surface of the reflective element.

11. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first light source and the second light source comprise a light pipe.

12. A rearview mirror assembly, the rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective mirror element;

a blind spot indicator system in optical communication with the reflective mirror element, and configured to receive an input from a blind spot detector system, wherein the blind spot indicator system comprises;

a first indicator assembly comprising;

a first light source; and

a high intensity optic in optical communication with the first light source;

wherein the first light source is configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the high intensity optic and the reflective mirror element if the input received from the blind spot detector system indicates an object is detected in the blind spot;

a second indicator assembly comprising;

a second light source; and

a diffuser optic in optical communication with the second light source; and

wherein the second light source is configured to emit light that at

least partially propagates through the diffuser optic and the reflective mirror element if the input received from the blind spot detector system indicates the blind spot detector is active;

an indicia in optical communication with at least one of the first and second light sources, wherein said indicia is configured to block at least a portion of light emitted from at least one of the first light source and the second light source and the indicia is viewable through the reflective mirror element.

13. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the indicia is on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of a substrate of the reflective mirror element.

14. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the reflective mirror element is at least one of an electro-optic reflective element and an electrochromic reflective mirror element.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the outline of the indicia is configured to be illuminated when the light is emitted from the second light source and at least partially propagates through the diffuser optic and wherein a portion of the indicia is configured to be illuminated at a higher intensity than the outline when the light is emitted from the first light source and at least partially propagates through the high intensity optic.

16. A rearview mirror assembly, the rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective mirror element;

a blind spot indicator system in optical communication with the reflective mirror element, and configured to receive an input from a blind spot detector system, wherein the blind spot indicator system comprises;

a first indicator assembly comprising;

a first light source; and

a high intensity optic in optical communication with the first light source;

wherein the first light source is configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the high intensity optic and the reflective mirror element if the input is received from the blind spot detector system indicating an object is detected in a first area with respect to the vehicle;

a second indicator assembly comprising;

a second light source and

a diffuser optic in optical communication with the second light source; and

wherein the second light source is configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the diffuser optic and the reflective mirror element if the input is received from the blind spot detector system indicating an object is detected in a second area with respect to the vehicle.

17. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the reflective mirror element is at least one of an electro-optic reflective element and an electrochromic reflective mirror element.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the first light source and the second light source comprise at least one light emitting diode.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein an indicia in optical communication with the second light source is the outline of an automobile icon and the indicia in optical communication with the first light source is at least one headlight of said automobile icon.

20. The rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first light source and the second light source comprises a light pipe.