VEHICLE EXTERIOR MIRROR SYSTEM WITH LIGHT MODULE

• US 20130242586A1
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• 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., Foote, Keith D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,576,896 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 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device

Abstract

A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and a light module disposed thereat. The light module includes a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light in a generally forwardly direction with respect to the vehicle. The light module includes at least one turn signal indicator illumination source that, at least responsive to an activation of a turn signal by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light in a generally sidewardly and/or rearwardly direction with respect to the vehicle. The light module includes a light piping element and the turn signal indicator illumination source is disposed at an inboard end of the light piping element and the light piping element guides light emanating from the turn signal indicator illumination source along the light piping element and out an outboard end of the light piping element.

Claims

1. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a light module disposed at said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly, said light module comprising a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light at least in a generally forwardly direction with respect to a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior rearview mirror system;

wherein said illumination sources are controlled responsive to a user input operable by a driver of the equipped vehicle normally operating the equipped vehicle to provide an illumination beam emanating from said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said light module further comprises at least one turn signal indicator illumination source and wherein said turn signal indicator illumination source, at least responsive to an activation of a turn signal by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light at least in a generally sidewardly and rearwardly direction with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said light module comprises a light piping element and wherein said turn signal indicator illumination source is disposed at an inboard end of said light piping element and wherein said light piping element guides light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source along said light piping element and out an outboard end of said light piping element so that light emanating from said outboard end of said light piping element is viewable to a person viewing said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly from at least one of a side of the equipped vehicle and a rear of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said inboard end of said light piping element is disposed inside of a mirror casing of said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and said outboard end of said light piping element is disposed outside of said mirror casing.

2. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light piping element is part of a cover element that is disposed in front of said illumination sources, whereby light emanating from said illumination sources passes through said light piping element in a forward direction and light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source is guided in a sideward direction along said light piping element.

3. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said light piping element includes a plurality of indication elements that illuminate when said turn signal indicator illumination source is activated so as to be viewable to a person viewing said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly from the front of the equipped vehicle.

4. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 3, wherein said light piping element includes at least one region that is devoid of said indication elements and wherein said at least one region is generally aligned with said illumination sources such that light emanating from said illumination sources passes through said at least one region of said light piping element.

5. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said outboard end of said light piping element has an icon or indicia established thereat and wherein light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source backlights said icon or indicia.

6. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said illumination sources are individually controlled responsive to an object detection system of the vehicle so as to direct an illumination beam towards a detected object at or near the equipped vehicle.

7. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light module comprises a light-transmitting cover and wherein said plurality of illumination sources and said turn signal indicator illumination source are disposed behind said light-transmitting cover and operable to emit light that passes through said light-transmitting cover.

8. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light module comprises a heat dissipating structure established at said plurality of illumination sources to dissipate heat generated by said plurality of illumination sources.

9. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of illumination sources comprises at least four light emitting diodes.

10. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein said light emitting diodes comprise white light-emitting light emitting diodes.

11. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 9, wherein a control is responsive to said user input to selectively individually energize said light emitting diodes.

12. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 11, wherein said control adjusts a duty cycle of each of said light emitting diodes responsive to said user input.

13. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said control is operable to power all of said light emitting diodes responsive to said user input.

14. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a light module disposed at said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly, said light module comprising a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light at least in a generally forwardly direction with respect to a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior rearview mirror system;

wherein said plurality of illumination sources comprises at least four white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

wherein said illumination sources are controlled responsive to a user input operable by a driver of the equipped vehicle normally operating the equipped vehicle to provide an illumination beam emanating from said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein a control is responsive to said user input to power all of said light emitting diodes responsive to said user input;

wherein said light module further comprises at least one turn signal indicator illumination source and wherein said turn signal indicator illumination source, at least responsive to an activation of a turn signal by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light at least in a generally sidewardly and rearwardly direction with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said light module comprises a light piping element and wherein said turn signal indicator illumination source is disposed at an inboard end of said light piping element and wherein said light piping element guides light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source along said light piping element and out an outboard end of said light piping element so that light emanating from said outboard end of said light piping element is viewable to a person viewing said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly from at least one of a side of the equipped vehicle and a rear of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said inboard end of said light piping element is disposed inside of a mirror casing of said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and said outboard end of said light piping element is disposed outside of said mirror casing.

15. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said light piping element is part of a cover element that is disposed in front of said illumination sources, whereby light emanating from said illumination sources passes through said light piping element in a forward direction and light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source is guided in a sideward direction along said light piping element.

16. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said light piping element includes a plurality of indication elements that illuminate when said turn signal indicator illumination source is activated so as to be viewable to a person viewing said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly from the front of the equipped vehicle.

17. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said light piping element includes at least one region that is devoid of said indication elements and wherein said at least one region is generally aligned with said illumination sources such that light emanating from said illumination sources passes through said at least one region of said light piping element.

18. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 14, wherein said light module comprises a heat dissipating structure established at said plurality of illumination sources to dissipate heat generated by said plurality of illumination sources.

19. A lighted exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said lighted exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly;

a light module disposed at said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly, said light module comprising a plurality of illumination sources operable to emit light at least in a generally forwardly direction with respect to a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior rearview mirror system;

wherein said plurality of illumination sources comprises at least four light emitting diodes;

wherein said illumination sources are controlled responsive to a user input operable by a driver of the equipped vehicle normally operating the equipped vehicle to provide an illumination beam emanating from said exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said light module further comprises at least one turn signal indicator illumination source and wherein said turn signal indicator illumination source, at least responsive to an activation of a turn signal by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light at least in a generally sidewardly and rearwardly direction with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said light module comprises a light piping element and wherein said turn signal indicator illumination source is disposed at an inboard end of said light piping element and wherein said light piping element guides light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source along said light piping element and out an outboard end of said light piping element so that light emanating from said outboard end of said light piping element is viewable to a person viewing said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly from at least one of a side of the equipped vehicle and a rear of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said light piping element is disposed in front of said illumination sources, whereby light emanating from said illumination sources passes through said light piping element in a forward direction and light emanating from said turn signal indicator illumination source is guided in a sideward direction along said light piping element, wherein said light piping element includes a plurality of indication elements that illuminate when said turn signal indicator illumination source is activated so as to be viewable to a person viewing said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly from the front of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said light piping element includes at least one region that is devoid of said indication elements and wherein said at least one region is generally aligned with said illumination sources such that light emanating from said illumination sources passes through said at least one region of said light piping element; and

wherein said inboard end of said light piping element is disposed inside of a mirror casing of said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly and said outboard end of said light piping element is disposed outside of said mirror casing.

20. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19, wherein said plurality of indication elements comprises a plurality of ribs that protrude at least partially into the path of illumination of said light piping element.

21. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19, wherein said light module comprises a light-transmitting cover and wherein said plurality of illumination sources and said turn signal indicator illumination source are disposed behind said light-transmitting cover and operable to emit light that passes through said light-transmitting cover.

22. The lighted exterior rearview mirror system of claim 19, wherein said light module comprises a heat dissipating structure established at said plurality of illumination sources to dissipate heat generated by said plurality of illumination sources.