EXTERIOR MIRROR SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20140015975A1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pastrick, Todd W., van de Ven, Michiel P., Whitehead, Peter J., Mousseau, Rick, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• 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 1/006 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 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An exterior mirror system for a vehicle includes driver-side and passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assemblies including respective driver-side and passenger-side light modules and driver-side and passenger-side cameras. The light modules provide a driver-side indicator and a passenger-side indicator. The driver-side light module and the passenger-side light modules are disposed at respective mirror housing portions and move therewith when the exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to the mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position. The driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera are part of a multi-camera vision system of the vehicle, and the multi-camera vision system has a display device that is operable to display images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The displayed images displayed by the display device may include an image portion derived from image data captured by at least one of the driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a driver-side reflective element housed by said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said driver-side mounting portion;

wherein said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said driver-side mounting portion between a normal operating position in which said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is extended from the vehicle to a folded position towards the body of the equipped vehicle when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is impacted with sufficient force;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side indicator;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a passenger-side reflective element housed by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion;

wherein, when said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said passenger-side mounting portion;

wherein said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said passenger-side mounting portion between a normal operating position in which said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is extended from the vehicle to a folded position towards the body of the equipped vehicle when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is impacted with sufficient force;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side indicator;

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the displayed images displayed by said display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by at least one of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera, and wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part towards the rear of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part towards the rear of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion comprises a first cup-shaped casing;

wherein said first cup-shaped casing is injection molded from a resinous plastic;

wherein said driver-side light module is disposed at said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion and moves therewith when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said driver-side mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position;

wherein said driver-side reflective element is mounted to a first backing plate which is supported by a first electrical actuator operable to move said driver-side reflective element within said first cup-shaped casing;

wherein said first electrical actuator comprises a dual axis positioning device that permits adjustment of the position of said driver-side reflective element and said first backing plate about both vertical and horizontal axes;

wherein said driver-side indicator comprises a driver-side signal light that, when used in said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle and when a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle is actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is configured to provide light that is observable to another driver of another vehicle who is at least one of (i) approaching the equipped vehicle from its rear and (ii) overtaking the equipped vehicle in the side lane adjacent to the driver side of the equipped vehicle at which said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light forwardly of the vehicle so that drivers of other vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle may observe said actuated driver-side signal light;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light laterally with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light above and below a first horizontal plane extending through said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion comprises a second cup-shaped casing;

wherein said second cup-shaped casing is injection molded from a resinous plastic;

wherein said passenger-side light module is disposed at said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion and moves therewith when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said passenger-side mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position;

wherein said passenger-side reflective element is mounted to a second backing plate which is supported by a second electrical actuator operable to move said passenger-side reflective element within said second cup-shaped casing;

wherein said second electrical actuator comprises a dual axis positioning device that permits adjustment of the position of said passenger-side reflective element and said second backing plate about both vertical and horizontal axes;

wherein said passenger-side indicator comprises a passenger-side signal light that, when used in said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle and when a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle is actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is configured to provide light that is observable to another driver of another vehicle who is at least one of (i) approaching the equipped vehicle from its rear and (ii) overtaking the equipped vehicle in the side lane adjacent to the passenger side of the equipped vehicle at which said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light forwardly of the vehicle so that drivers of other vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle may observe said actuated passenger-side signal light;

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light laterally with respect to the equipped vehicle; and

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light above and below a second horizontal plane extending through said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle.

2. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first cup-shaped casing and said second cup-shaped casing is injection molded from (i) nylon, (ii) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), (iii) mineral-filled nylon, (iv) glass filled nylon, (v) polyester and (vi) polypropylene.

3. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said first electrical actuator is supported by a first mounting bracket (ii) said first electrical actuator is supported by a first mounting bracket that is secured to said first cup-shaped casing via structure provided at a first casing wall, (iii) said second electrical actuator is supported by a second mounting bracket and (iv) said second electrical actuator is supported by a second mounting bracket that is secured to said second cup-shaped casing via structure provided at a second casing wall.

4. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to receipt by a control of the equipped vehicle of a signal from a remote transmitting device when the equipped vehicle is parked, a light source of said driver-side light module and a light source of said passenger-side light module flash to provide a driver-side indicator function and a passenger-side indicator function.

5. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side signal light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed at said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and wherein at least some light emitting diodes of said plurality of light emitting diodes are angled relative to the driver side of the equipped vehicle to, when electrically powered, emit light away from the driver side of the equipped vehicle when said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said passenger-side signal light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed at said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and wherein at least some light emitting diodes of said plurality of light emitting diodes are angled relative to the passenger side of the equipped vehicle to, when electrically powered, emit light away from the passenger side of the equipped vehicle when said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle.

6. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode and said passenger-side indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode, (ii) said driver-side indicator comprises at least one incandescent light source and said passenger-side indicator comprises at least one incandescent light source and (iii) said driver-side indicator comprises light piping and said passenger-side indicator comprises light piping.

7. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode and said passenger-side indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode.

8. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side light module is mounted in said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion with minimal protrusion from said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion into the slipstream and wherein said passenger-side light module is mounted in said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion with minimal protrusion from said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion into the slipstream and (ii) said driver-side light module is mounted in said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion such that at least a portion of a lens of said driver-side light module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion and wherein said passenger-side light module is mounted in said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion such that at least a portion of a lens of said passenger-side light module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion.

9. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module and (ii) the displayed images displayed by said display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera.

10. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light above and below the first horizontal plane extending through said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle by an angular amount in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees, and wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light above and below the second horizontal plane extending through said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle by an angular amount in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.

11. The exterior mirror system of claim 1, wherein said driver-side light module is substantially water impervious and said passenger-side light module is substantially water impervious.

12. An exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a driver-side reflective element housed by said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said driver-side mounting portion;

wherein said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said driver-side mounting portion between a normal operating position in which said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is extended from the vehicle to a folded position towards the body of the equipped vehicle when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is impacted with sufficient force;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side indicator;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a passenger-side reflective element housed by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion;

wherein, when said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said passenger-side mounting portion;

wherein said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said passenger-side mounting portion between a normal operating position in which said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is extended from the vehicle to a folded position towards the body of the equipped vehicle when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is impacted with sufficient force;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side indicator;

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the displayed images displayed by said display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by at least one of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera, and wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part towards the rear of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part towards the rear of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion comprises a first cup-shaped casing;

wherein said first cup-shaped casing is injection molded from a resinous plastic;

wherein said driver-side light module is disposed at said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion and moves therewith when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said driver-side mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position;

wherein said driver-side reflective element is mounted to a first backing plate which is supported by a first electrical actuator operable to move said driver-side reflective element within said first cup-shaped casing;

wherein said first electrical actuator comprises a dual axis positioning device that permits adjustment of the position of said driver-side reflective element and said first backing plate about both vertical and horizontal axes;

wherein said driver-side indicator comprises a driver-side signal light that, when used in said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle and when a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle is actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is configured to provide light that is observable to another driver of another vehicle who is at least one of (i) approaching the equipped vehicle from its rear and (ii) overtaking the equipped vehicle in the side lane adjacent to the driver side of the equipped vehicle at which said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light forwardly of the vehicle so that drivers of other vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle may observe said actuated driver-side signal light;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light laterally with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion comprises a second cup-shaped casing;

wherein said second cup-shaped casing is injection molded from a resinous plastic;

wherein said passenger-side light module is disposed at said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion and moves therewith when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said passenger-side mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position;

wherein said passenger-side reflective element is mounted to a second backing plate which is supported by a second electrical actuator operable to move said passenger-side reflective element within said second cup-shaped casing;

wherein said second electrical actuator comprises a dual axis positioning device that permits adjustment of the position of said passenger-side reflective element and said second backing plate about both vertical and horizontal axes;

wherein said passenger-side indicator comprises a passenger-side signal light that, when used in said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle and when a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle is actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is configured to provide light that is observable to another driver of another vehicle who is at least one of (i) approaching the equipped vehicle from its rear and (ii) overtaking the equipped vehicle in the side lane adjacent to the passenger side of the equipped vehicle at which said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light forwardly of the vehicle so that drivers of other vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle may observe said actuated passenger-side signal light;

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light laterally with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said driver-side light module is substantially water impervious and said passenger-side light module is substantially water impervious; and

wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module and (ii) the displayed images displayed by said display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera.

13. The exterior mirror system of claim 12, wherein at least one of said first cup-shaped casing and said second cup-shaped casing is injection molded from (i) nylon, (ii) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), (iii) mineral-filled nylon, (iv) glass filled nylon, (v) polyester and (vi) polypropylene.

14. The exterior mirror system of claim 12, wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light above and below a first horizontal plane extending through said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light above and below a second horizontal plane extending through said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle.

15. The exterior mirror system of claim 14, wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light above and below the first horizontal plane extending through said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle by an angular amount in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees, and wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light above and below the second horizontal plane extending through said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle by an angular amount in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.

16. The exterior mirror system of claim 14, wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side light module is mounted in said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion with minimal protrusion from said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion into the slipstream and wherein said passenger-side light module is mounted in said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion with minimal protrusion from said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion into the slipstream and (ii) said driver-side light module is mounted in said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion such that at least a portion of a lens of said driver-side light module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion and wherein said passenger-side light module is mounted in said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion such that at least a portion of a lens of said passenger-side light module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion.

17. The exterior mirror system of claim 14, wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode and said passenger-side indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode, (ii) said driver-side indicator comprises at least one incandescent light source and said passenger-side indicator comprises at least one incandescent light source and (iii) said driver-side indicator comprises light piping and said passenger-side indicator comprises light piping.

18. An exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror system comprising:

a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a driver-side reflective element housed by said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion;

wherein, when said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said driver-side mounting portion;

wherein said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said driver-side mounting portion between a normal operating position in which said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is extended from the vehicle to a folded position towards the body of the equipped vehicle when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is impacted with sufficient force;

wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera;

wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side indicator;

a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a passenger-side reflective element housed by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion;

wherein, when said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said passenger-side mounting portion;

wherein said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said passenger-side mounting portion between a normal operating position in which said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is extended from the vehicle to a folded position towards the body of the equipped vehicle when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is impacted with sufficient force;

wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera;

wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side indicator;

wherein said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera comprise part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said multi-camera vision system comprises a display device that is operable to display images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the displayed images displayed by said display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by at least one of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera, and wherein said driver-side camera has a driver-side field of view at least in part towards the rear of the equipped vehicle and said passenger-side camera has a passenger-side field of view at least in part towards the rear of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion comprises a first cup-shaped casing;

wherein said first cup-shaped casing is injection molded from a resinous plastic;

wherein said driver-side light module is disposed at said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion and moves therewith when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said driver-side mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position;

wherein said driver-side reflective element is mounted to a first backing plate which is supported by a first electrical actuator operable to move said driver-side reflective element within said first cup-shaped casing;

wherein said first electrical actuator comprises a dual axis positioning device that permits adjustment of the position of said driver-side reflective element and said first backing plate about both vertical and horizontal axes;

wherein said driver-side indicator comprises a driver-side signal light that, when used in said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle and when a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle is actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is configured to provide light that is observable to another driver of another vehicle who is at least one of (i) approaching the equipped vehicle from its rear and (ii) overtaking the equipped vehicle in the side lane adjacent to the driver side of the equipped vehicle at which said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light forwardly of the vehicle so that drivers of other vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle may observe said actuated driver-side signal light;

wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light laterally with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion comprises a second cup-shaped casing;

wherein said second cup-shaped casing is injection molded from a resinous plastic;

wherein said passenger-side light module is disposed at said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion and moves therewith when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion moves relative to said passenger-side mounting portion between its normal operating position and its folded position;

wherein said passenger-side reflective element is mounted to a second backing plate which is supported by a second electrical actuator operable to move said passenger-side reflective element within said second cup-shaped casing;

wherein said second electrical actuator comprises a dual axis positioning device that permits adjustment of the position of said passenger-side reflective element and said second backing plate about both vertical and horizontal axes;

wherein said passenger-side indicator comprises a passenger-side signal light that, when used in said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle and when a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle is actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, is configured to provide light that is observable to another driver of another vehicle who is at least one of (i) approaching the equipped vehicle from its rear and (ii) overtaking the equipped vehicle in the side lane adjacent to the passenger side of the equipped vehicle at which said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light forwardly of the vehicle so that drivers of other vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle may observe said actuated passenger-side signal light;

wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light laterally with respect to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said driver-side light module is substantially water impervious and said passenger-side light module is substantially water impervious;

wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side camera is part of said driver-side light module and said passenger-side camera is part of said passenger-side light module and (ii) the displayed images displayed by said display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by each of said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera; and

wherein at least one of (i) said driver-side light module is mounted in said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion with minimal protrusion from said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion into the slipstream and wherein said passenger-side light module is mounted in said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion with minimal protrusion from said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion into the slipstream and (ii) said driver-side light module is mounted in said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion such that at least a portion of a lens of said driver-side light module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion and wherein said passenger-side light module is mounted in said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion such that at least a portion of a lens of said passenger-side light module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion.

19. The exterior mirror system of claim 18, wherein actuation of said driver-side signal light provides light above and below a first horizontal plane extending through said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle by an angular amount in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees, and wherein actuation of said passenger-side signal light provides light above and below a second horizontal plane extending through said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle by an angular amount in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.

20. The exterior mirror system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said first cup-shaped casing and said second cup-shaped casing is injection molded from (i) nylon, (ii) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), (iii) mineral-filled nylon, (iv) glass filled nylon, (v) polyester and (vi) polypropylene.