Lighted vehicular exterior rearview mirror system

• US 20020172053A1
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van De Ven, Michiel P., Mousseau, Rick, Lynam, Niall R., Whitehead, Peter J., Pastrick, Todd W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/12 which protect the occupants against personal attack from the inside or the outside of the vehicle

Abstract

An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element and a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing, and at least one signal light positioned in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and a light conduiting member which is adapted to project a pattern of light from the housing and yet restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe the pattern of light. The light source may be provided by a light pipe which is optically coupled to a remote light source located, for example, in the vehicle. Preferably, the pattern of light extends at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle. In one form, the light conduiting member includes a light input surface on one end and at least one light emitting surface for directing light outwardly from the housing of the exterior mirror assembly. In another form, the exterior mirror assembly includes a powerfold mirror system which incorporates a security light which directs light in a first light pattern when mirror assembly is in its normal use position and a second pattern when the mirror assembly is in its folded position.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror system for vehicle comprising:

an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said mounting member being adapted to mount to the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly projecting a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal operating position and projecting a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position.

2. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light assembly includes a light conduiting member and at least one light source, and said light conduiting member directing light from said light source in said first and second light patterns.

3. The exterior mirror system of claim 2, wherein said light conduiting member comprises a polycarbonate light conduiting member.

4. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said light conduiting member comprises a light pipe.

5. The exterior mirror system of claim 4, wherein said light pipe includes a first side, a first end and a second side, said first side defining said light emitting surface and being positioned for facing generally outward from said exterior mirror assembly, said first end defining said light input surface, and said second side defining a plurality of internal light reflecting surfaces, a group of said internal light reflecting surfaces being arranged to reflect light from said first light source through a portion of said first side of said light conduiting member in said first light pattern, a second first group of said internal light reflecting surfaces being arranged to reflect light from said light source through a second portion of said first side of said light conduiting member in said second light pattern.

6. The exterior mirror system of claim 4, wherein said light pipe comprises a generally L-shaped light pipe.

7. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said light source comprises one of an incandescent fuse lamp, a vacuum fluorescent lamp, a micro-incandescent lamp, a light emitting diode, and a light pipe.

8. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

9. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light assembly includes first and second light conduiting members, said first light conduiting member having a first light source associated therewith and directing light from said first light source in said first light pattern, said second light conduiting member having a second light source associated therewith and directing light from said second light source in said second light pattern.

10. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said light conduiting members comprise first and second light pipe portions.

11. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 10, wherein said light pipe portions form an L-shaped light pipe.

12. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said first and second light sources are selectively actuated to illuminate said first and second light patterns.

13. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein said first light pattern includes a first leading edge generally parallel with said vehicle and a second leading edge generally angled away from said vehicle.

14. The exterior mirror system of claim 13, wherein said second light pattern includes a first leading edge angled inwardly toward the vehicle for illuminating the vehicle door and a second leading edge generally angled away from said vehicle.

15. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light housing includes a lower wall and an outboard wall, said first illuminator portion extending along said lower wall and said second illuminator portion extending from said lower wall to said outboard wall.

16. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a powerfold mechanism, said housing moving from said normal use position toward said folded position by actuation of said powerfold mechanism.

17. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a break-away mounting between said housing and said mounting member, said housing moving from said normal use position toward said folded position when said mirror housing is impacted by a force.

18. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein one of said housing and said mounting member includes a floodlight.

20. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 19, wherein said signal light assembly includes a light conduiting member and at least one light source, said light conduiting member being adapted to direct light away from the driver and directing light rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle.

21. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 20, wherein said light conduiting member comprises a light pipe.

22. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 19, wherein said window comprises a turn signal indicia.

23. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 22, wherein said turn signal indicia includes one of a triangle and an arrow.

24. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 19, wherein said reflective element includes a field of view, said window being positioned outside said field of view.

25. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 19, wherein said window is positioned in a top outboard position of said reflective element.

26. The exterior rearview mirror system according to claim 19, wherein said exterior rearview mirror assembly further includes a reflective element support, said reflective element and said signal light assembly being supported by said reflective element support.

27. The exterior mirror-system of claim 19, wherein said pattern of light comprises amber colored light.

28. The exterior mirror system of claim 20, wherein said light source comprises one of an incandescent fuse lamp, a vacuum florescent lamp, a light emitting diode, and a light pipe.

29. The exterior mirror system of claim 20, wherein said light conduiting member includes a first side, a first end and a second side, said first side defining said light emitting surface and being positioned for facing generally outward from said exterior mirror assembly, said first end defining said light input surface, and said second side defining a plurality of internal light reflecting surfaces which are arranged to reflect light from said light source through said first side of said light conduiting member in said pattern of light.

30. The exterior mirror system of claim 29, wherein said internal light reflecting surfaces are generally angled surfaces forming a stepped profile for said light conduiting member.

31. The exterior mirror system of claim 20, wherein said light conduiting member comprises a plastic light conduiting member.

32. The exterior mirror system of claim 31, wherein said plastic light conduiting member comprises a polycarbonate light conduiting member.

19. An exterior rearview mirror system for vehicle comprising:

an exterior mirror assembly including a housing and a reflective element, said housing being adapted to mount to the vehicle, said reflective element comprising a substrate and a reflective coating on said substrate, a portion of said reflective coating being removed from said substrate to form a window; and

at least one signal light assembly, said signal light assembly being positioned behind said reflective element and projecting a pattern of light through said window and being adapted to restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe said pattern of light, and said pattern of light extending at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle.

33. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing including a cavity with rearward facing opening;

a reflective element located in said housing; and

a signal light assembly co-located in said housing laterally with respect to said reflective element, and said signal light assembly being adapted to direct light in a light pattern and to restrict light from entering into the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle does not directly observe said light pattern, and said light pattern extending rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle.

34. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 33, further comprising a reflective element support, said reflective element and said signal light assembly being supported by reflective element support.

35. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 33, wherein said signal light assembly is positioned in an outboard position with respect to said reflective element.

36. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 33, wherein said signal light includes a light conduiting member and at least one light source, said light conduiting member directing light from said light source in said light pattern.

37. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein said light conduiting member includes a light input surface, a light emitting surface, and a plurality of internal light reflecting surfaces, said internal light reflecting surfaces directing light from said light input surface through said light emitting surface.

38. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 36, wherein said light conduiting member comprises a plastic light conduiting member.

39. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 36, wherein said plastic light conduiting member comprises one of a polycarbonate material and an acrylic material.

40. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 33, wherein said light conduiting member is positioned outboard from said reflective element.

41. The exterior mirror assembly according to claim 33, wherein an outer surface of said signal light assembly is generally flush with said reflective element.