EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM

• US 20160243989A1
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Habibi, Hamid
• Application Number:
  US15/144,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20160243989A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle and having a mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic. The mirror reflective element includes at least one glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of the at least one glass substrate. A turn signal display element is provided in a moldable form and integrated into the mirror shell. The turn signal display element includes a plurality of printable light emitting diodes and is operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the vehicle activates a turn signal system of the vehicle.

Claims

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

an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic;

said mirror reflective element comprising at least one glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said at least one glass substrate;

a turn signal display element provided in a moldable form and integrated into said mirror shell; and

said turn signal display element comprising a plurality of printable light emitting diodes and operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the equipped vehicle activates a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle.

2. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein at least one printable light emitting diode of said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises a pattern printable transparent conductive ink.

3. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, comprising a printable heater pad established at a rear surface of said at least one glass substrate.

4. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said turn signal display element comprises a printable electrically conductive layer at a surface of said at least one glass substrate.

5. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said turn signal display element comprises a moldable light emitting diode element.

6. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said at least one glass substrate and another substrate are joined together with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween.

7. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 6, wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium.

8. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 10 lumens/watt.

9. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 30 lumens/watt.

10. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 50 lumens/watt.

11. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein a heater pad is screen printed at the back of said mirror reflective element.

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

an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic;

said mirror reflective element comprising an electro-optic medium sandwiched between two substrates;

a mirror reflector established at a surface of one of said two substrates;

a turn signal display element provided in a moldable form and integrated into said mirror shell; and

wherein said turn signal display element comprises a plurality of printable light emitting diodes and is operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the equipped vehicle activates a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle.

13. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium.

14. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 10 lumens/watt.

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

an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system;

said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic;

said mirror reflective element comprising a substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said substrate;

a turn signal display element provided in a moldable form and integrated into said mirror shell;

said turn signal display element comprising a plurality of a printable light emitting diodes and operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the equipped vehicle activates a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 10 lumens/watt.

16. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a single glass substrate.

17. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said substrate and another substrate are joined together with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween.

18. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein a heater pad is screen printed at the back of said mirror reflective element.

19. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 30 lumens/watt.

20. The exterior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 50 lumens/watt.