Interior mirror assembly for a vehicle incorporating a solid-state light source
First Claim
1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising:
- a mirror case including a reflective mirror element, said case including a peripheral portion having a bottom;
a support for securing said assembly on the vehicle;
a solid-state light source, said light source incorporated as part of said assembly and positioned for emitting light generally downwardly from said bottom when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle;
said solid-state light source consisting of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes including at least two light emitting diodes positioned to emit light directed to provide intense local illumination of a target location of the vehicle interior below said mirror assembly when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said solid-state light source is electrically powered.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interior vehicle intense local illumination of a target location of a vehicle interior is provided by an interior rearview mirror assembly incorporating a solid-state light source which emits light generally downwardly from the bottom of the assembly. Preferably, the solid-state light source consists of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes. At least one light emitting diode preferably has a luminous intensity of at least 500 mcd when operated at a forward current of 20 mA, emits light with a dominant wavelength within the range of about 530 nm to about 680 nm, emits light having a color selected from green, orange, yellow, amber, reddish-orange, red and blue, is formed from a material including at least one of aluminum, indium, gallium arsenic and phosphorous, and may be connected by a series resistor to the vehicle ignition/battery.
460 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror case including a reflective mirror element, said case including a peripheral portion having a bottom; a support for securing said assembly on the vehicle; a solid-state light source, said light source incorporated as part of said assembly and positioned for emitting light generally downwardly from said bottom when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle; said solid-state light source consisting of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes including at least two light emitting diodes positioned to emit light directed to provide intense local illumination of a target location of the vehicle interior below said mirror assembly when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said solid-state light source is electrically powered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 32, 34, 35, 36)
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26. An interior rearview mirror assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror case including a reflective mirror element, said case including a peripheral portion having a bottom; a support for securing said assembly on the vehicle; a solid-state light source, said light source incorporated as part of said assembly and positioned for emitting light generally downwardly from said bottom when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle; said solid-state light source consisting of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes including at least two light emitting diodes positioned to emit light directed to provide intense local illumination of a target location of the vehicle interior below said mirror assembly when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said solid-state light source is electrically powered;
said multiple light emitting diodes of said grouping being electrically connected in series;
said grouping being electrically connected by a series resistor to the vehicle ignition/battery voltage when said solid-state light source is electrically powered in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An interior rearview mirror assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror case including a reflective mirror element, said case including a peripheral portion having a bottom; a support for securing said assembly on the vehicle; a solid-state light source, said light source incorporated as part of said assembly and positioned for emitting light generally downwardly from said bottom when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle; said solid-state light source consisting of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes including at least two light emitting diodes positioned to emit light directed to provide intense location illumination of a target location of the vehicle interior below said mirror assembly when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said solid-state light source is electrically powered;
said solid-state light source being electrically connected by a series resistor to the vehicle ignition/battery voltage when said solid-state light source is electrically powered in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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33. An interior rearview mirror assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror case including a reflective mirror element, said case including a peripheral portion having a bottom; a support for securing said assembly on the vehicle; a solid-state light source, said light source incorporated as part of said assembly and positioned for emitting light generally downwardly from said bottom when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle; said solid-state light source consisting of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes including at least two light emitting diodes positioned to emit light directed to provide intense location illumination of a target location of the vehicle interior below said mirror assembly when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said solid-state light source is electrically powered;
said solid-state light source being connected in series to the power system of the vehicle through a switch;
said switch further comprising a rheostat/dimmer switch.
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37. An interior rearview mirror assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror case including a reflective mirror element, said case including a peripheral portion having a bottom; a support for securing said assembly on the vehicle; a solid-state light source, said light source incorporated as part of said assembly and positioned for emitting light generally downwardly from said bottom when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle; said solid-state light source consisting of a grouping of multiple light emitting diodes;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes including at least two light emitting diodes positioned to emit light directed to provide intense location illumination of a target location of the vehicle interior below said mirror assembly when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said solid-state light source is electrically powered;
said grouping of multiple light emitting diodes consuming a current less than about 200 mA when said solid-state light source is mounted on the vehicle and operated. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification