Exterior mirror with blind zone indicator

• US 9,761,144 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huizen, Gregory A., Kramer, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US14/849,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20160078768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a signal indication module and a mirror back plate attached at the mirror reflective element. The signal indication module attaches to the mirror reflective element via an aperture of the back plate and has a light source that is activatable to emit light. The signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases the light source. The signal indication module includes an inner surface at an angle relative to the mirror reflective element. The signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at the inner surface and at least partially in front of the light source, the baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by the light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when viewed when the light source is activated.

Claims

1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;

a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;

wherein said signal indication module comprises an inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;

wherein said signal indication module comprises a turn signal indicator and wherein said inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed outboard away from the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached; and

wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface and protrudes from an inboard portion of said inner surface that is inboard of said light source.

2. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface.

3. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein said inner surface comprises a conical-shaped surface.

4. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said inner surface comprises a diffusely light reflecting inner surface for reflecting light incident thereon to enhance the intensity of light that exits said signal indication module, and wherein said inner surface includes a passageway therethrough, and wherein said light source is disposed at said passageway and said inner surface is disposed between said light source and said mirror reflective element.

5. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said signal indication module comprises an indicia element at a forward end thereof, and wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated.

6. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said signal indication module comprises a pair of light sources and wherein each light source is associated with a respective icon of an indicia element disposed at an end of said signal indication module at said mirror reflective element, and wherein said signal indication module comprises a baffle disposed in front of each of said light sources.

7. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein said signal indication module comprises a plurality of light sources and louvers established between adjacent light sources of said plurality of light sources.

8. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 7, wherein said plurality of light sources comprises three linearly arranged light emitting diodes, and wherein said louvers comprise first and second louvers arranged generally parallel to one another and between respective pairs of said three linearly arranged light emitting diodes.

9. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 7, wherein said plurality of light sources comprises three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes, and wherein said louvers comprise first, second and third louvers established between respective pairs of said three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes.

10. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;

a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;

wherein said signal indication module comprises an inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;

wherein said signal indication module comprises a blind zone indicator and wherein said inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed inboard towards the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached; and

wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface and protrudes from an outboard portion of said inner surface that is outboard of said light source.

11. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface.

12. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 11, wherein said inner surface comprises a conical-shaped surface.

13. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said inner surface comprises a diffusely light reflecting inner surface for reflecting light incident thereon to enhance the intensity of light that exits said signal indication module, and wherein said inner surface includes a passageway therethrough, and wherein said light source is disposed at said passageway and said inner surface is disposed between said light source and said mirror reflective element.

14. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said signal indication module comprises an indicia element at a forward end thereof, and wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated.

15. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said signal indication module comprises a pair of light sources and wherein each light source is associated with a respective icon of an indicia element disposed at an end of said signal indication module at said mirror reflective element, and wherein said signal indication module comprises a baffle disposed in front of each of said light sources.

16. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 10, wherein said signal indication module comprises a plurality of light sources and louvers established between adjacent light sources of said plurality of light sources.

17. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of light sources comprises three linearly arranged light emitting diodes, and wherein said louvers comprise first and second louvers arranged generally parallel to one another and between respective pairs of said three linearly arranged light emitting diodes.

18. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of light sources comprises three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes, and wherein said louvers comprise first, second and third louvers established between respective pairs of said three triangularly arranged light emitting diodes.

19. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;

a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;

wherein said signal indication module comprises a conical-shaped inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;

wherein said light source is disposed at a passageway formed through said conical-shaped inner surface at an end region of said conical-shaped inner surface;

wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said conical-shaped inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;

wherein said baffle is formed as part of said conical-shaped inner surface and protrudes radially inward towards an axis of said conical-shaped inner surface;

an indicia element disposed at said mirror reflective element at said aperture, wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated; and

wherein said signal indication module comprises a blind zone indicator and wherein said conical-shaped inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed inboard towards the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached, and wherein said baffle protrudes from an outboard portion of said conical-shaped inner surface that is outboard of said light source.

20. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;

a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;

wherein said signal indication module comprises a conical-shaped inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;

wherein said light source is disposed at a passageway formed through said conical-shaped inner surface at an end region of said conical-shaped inner surface;

wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said conical-shaped inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;

wherein said baffle is formed as part of said conical-shaped inner surface and protrudes radially inward towards an axis of said conical-shaped inner surface;

an indicia element disposed at said mirror reflective element at said aperture, wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated; and

wherein said signal indication module comprises a turn signal indicator and wherein said conical-shaped inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed outboard away from the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached, and wherein said baffle protrudes from an inboard portion of said conical-shaped inner surface that is inboard of said light source.

21. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element;

a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;

a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;

wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;

wherein said signal indication module comprises an inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;

wherein said light source is disposed at an end region of said inner surface distal from said mirror reflective element;

wherein said inner surface comprises a diffusely light reflecting inner surface for reflecting light incident thereon to enhance the intensity of light that exits said signal indication module when said light source is activated;

wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;

an indicia element disposed at said mirror reflective element at said aperture, wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated; and

wherein (i) said signal indication module comprises a blind zone indicator and wherein said inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed inboard towards the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached, and wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface and protrudes from an outboard portion of said inner surface that is outboard of said light source, or (ii) said signal indication module comprises a turn signal indicator and wherein said inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed outboard away from the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached, and wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface and protrudes from an inboard portion of said inner surface that is inboard of said light source.

22. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of claim 21, wherein said signal indication module comprises two light sources and wherein each light source is disposed at a passageway formed through a respective inner surface at an end region of the respective surface, and wherein each light source is associated with a respective icon of said indicia element, and wherein said signal indication module comprises a baffle disposed at least partially in front of each of said light sources.