Vehicle exterior mirror system with signal light
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
- an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said reflective element positioned in said housing, said mounting member being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position wherein said housing is extended outwardly from the vehicle and a folded position wherein said housing is folded toward the side of the vehicle, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly configured to project a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal viewing position and to project a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element and a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing, and at least one signal light positioned in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and a light conduit member which is adapted to project a pattern of light from the housing and yet restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe the pattern of light. The light source may be provided by a light pipe which is optically coupled to a remote light source located, for example, in the vehicle. Preferably, the pattern of light extends at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle. In one form, the light conduit member includes a light input surface on one end and at least one light emitting surface for directing light outwardly from the housing of the exterior mirror assembly. In another form, the exterior mirror assembly includes a powerfold mirror system which incorporates a security light which directs light in a first light pattern when mirror assembly is in its normal use position and a second pattern when the mirror assembly is in its folded position.
652 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said reflective element positioned in said housing, said mounting member being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position wherein said housing is extended outwardly from the vehicle and a folded position wherein said housing is folded toward the side of the vehicle, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly configured to project a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal viewing position and to project a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17, 18)
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2. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said mounting member being configured to mount to the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly being configured to project a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal viewing position and to project a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position, said light assembly including a light conduit member and at least one light source, and said light conduit member directing light from said light source in said first and second light patterns. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said mounting member being configured to mount to the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly being configured to project a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal viewing position and to project a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position, said light assembly including first and second light conduit members, said first light conduit member having a first light source associated therewith and directing light from said first light source in said first light pattern, and said second light conduit member having a second light source associated therewith and directing light from said second light source in said second light pattern. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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15. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said mounting member being configured to mount to the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly being configured to project a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal viewing position and to project a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position, said light housing including a lower wall and an outboard wall, and a first portion of said light assembly extending along said lower wall and a second portion of said light assembly extending from said lower wall to said outboard wall.
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19. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly including a housing and a reflective element, said housing being configured to mount to the vehicle, said reflective element comprising a substrate and a reflective coating on said substrate, a portion of said reflective coating being removed from said substrate to form a window; and
at least one signal light assembly, said signal light assembly being positioned behind said reflective element and including a light source and a light conduit member, said light conduit member having a first side defining a light emitting surface and a second side opposed from said light emitting surface, said second side including a plurality of internal light reflecting surfaces directing light from said light source in a pattern of light through said window, and said pattern of light extending at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle whereby said light pattern is substantially unobservable to a driver seated in the vehicle when said signal light assembly is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32)
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29. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly including a housing and a reflective element, said housing being configured to mount to the vehicle, said reflective element comprising a substrate and a reflective coating on said substrate, a portion of said reflective coating being removed from said substrate to form a window; and
at least one signal light assembly, said signal light assembly being positioned behind said reflective element and being configured to project a pattern of light through said window, said pattern of light extending at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle, said signal light assembly including a light conduit member and at least one light source, said light conduit member being configured to direct light away from the driver and directing light rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle whereby said light pattern is substantially unobservable by a driver seated in the vehicle, said light conduit member including a body having a first side, a first end angled with respect to said first side, and a second side opposed from said first side, said first side defining said light emitting surface and being positioned for facing generally outward from said exterior mirror assembly, said first end defining a light input surface, and said second side defining a plurality of internal light reflecting surfaces which are arranged to reflect light from said light source through said first side of said light conduit member in said pattern of light. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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33. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror housing including a cavity with a rearward facing opening;
a reflective element located in said housing;
a reflective element support; and
a signal light assembly configured to direct light in a light pattern, said signal light assembly and said reflective element being supported by said reflective element support, said signal light assembly being co-located on said reflective element support laterally with respect to and separate from said reflective element whereby said light pattern of said signal light assembly does not pass through said reflective element, and said light pattern extending rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle whereby said light pattern is substantially unobservable by the driver of the vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted on the vehicle and when said signal light is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly including a fixed portion and a movable portion, said fixed portion including a mounting member for mounting said mirror assembly to a side of a vehicle, said movable portion housing a reflective element and being movable between a normal viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended from the side of the vehicle and a folded position wherein said movable portion is folded toward the side of the vehicle; and
a light assembly being configured to project a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said movable portion is in said normal viewing position and to project a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said movable portion is in said folded position. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification