OUTSIDE MIRROR LIGHTING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME

• US 20100067253A1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Fehn, Edmund, Cammenga, David J., Tuttle, Darin D., Fish, Richard T. JR., Snyder, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/602
• 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 inlcludes 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 illumining 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 proving a unique and pleasing appearance to the user.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising:

a housing;

a first glass panel;

at least one light emitting device positioned at an edge of the first glass panel; and

wherein light rays from the at least one light emitting device propagate within the glass panel for illuminating the outer periphery of the first glass panel.

2. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising:

a second glass panel positioned behind the first glass panel.

3. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the illuminated outer periphery of the first glass panel forms a semi-circular shape.

4. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the semi-circular shape is a non-contiguous ring.

5. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED) positioned to directly input the light rays into the first glass panel.

6. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting device is a light pipe positioned to indirectly input light rays into the first glass panel.

7. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED) positioned to indirectly input light rays into the first glass panel using a reflective element.

8. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the light emitting device further includes a cover assembly for coupling light to the edge of the glass.

9. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising:

a textured surface on the surface of the glass panel for diffusing the light to allow light rays to escape though the textured surface.

10. A mirror assembly as in claim 9, wherein the textured surface forms a design element.

11. A mirror assembly as in claim 9, wherein the textured surface forms a turn signal indicator.

12. A mirror assembly as in claim 9, wherein the textured surface forms a side blind zone indicator.

13. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mirror is an inside vehicular mirror.

14. A mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mirror is an outside vehicular mirror.

15. A mirror assembly for use on a vehicle comprising:

a housing for mounting to the vehicle;

a first mirror element;

a second mirror element positioned behind the first mirror element; and

at least one light emitting device positioned adjacent to the first mirror element such that light rays from the at least one light emitting element propagate in a plane for illuminating the first mirror element perimeter.

16. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the illuminated outer perimeter of the first mirror element forms a semi-circular shape.

17. A mirror assembly as in claim 16, wherein the semi-circular shape is a noncontiguous ring.

18. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the at least one light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED) positioned for directly emitting light into an edge of the first mirror element.

19. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the at least one light emitting device is a light pipe that is positioned adjacent to an edge of the first mirror element for indirectly emitting light therein.

20. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the at least one light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED) that utilizes a reflective element for indirectly emitting light into an edge of the first mirror element.

21. A mirror assembly as in claim 18, wherein the reflective element is a metalized reflector.

22. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein a section of the first mirror element includes an etched indicia on a front surface for establishing a path in which light rays can escape.

23. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the mirror assembly is an inside mirror.

24. A mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the mirror assembly is an outside mirror.

25. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly comprising the step of:

providing a first glass panel;

positioning at least one light emitting device at an edge of the first glass panel; and

propagating light rays from the at least one light emitting device within the glass panel for illumining the outer periphery of the glass panel.

26. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

providing a second glass panel behind the first glass panel.

27. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

orienting a light emitting diode (LED) for directly inputting light rays into the first glass panel.

28. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 27, further comprising the step of:

orienting a light emitting diode (LED) and light pipe for indirectly inputting light rays into the first glass panel.

29. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

orienting a light emitting diode (LED) and reflective element for indirectly inputting light rays into the first glass panel.

30. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

providing an indicia on the surface of the glass panel for diffusing light to allow light rays to escape through the indicia.

31. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

forming the indicia into a design element logo.

32. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

forming the indicia into a turn signal indicator.

33. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

forming the indicia into a side blind zone indicator.

34. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

utilizing the mirror lighting assembly as an outside vehicular mirror.

35. A method for illuminating a mirror lighting assembly as in claim 25, further comprising the step of:

utilizing the mirror lighting assembly as an inside vehicular mirror.

36. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly comprising:

a housing;

a mirror element; and

an optical light pipe extending about the perimeter of the housing for illuminating the periphery of the mirror element.

37. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 36, further comprising at least one LED supplying light to the optical light pipe at at least one optical input.

38. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 36, wherein the mirror element is electrochomatic (EC) glass.

39. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 36, wherein an optical light pipe is positioned within a channel located within a cover bezel.

40. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 36, further comprising a heater for providing heat to the mirror element.

41. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 36, wherein the optical light pipe is illuminated with colored light.