Vehicle exterior mirror system with signal light
DCFirst Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
- an exterior mirror assembly comprising;
a fixed portion and a movable portion, said fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle, said movable portion including a reflective element, said movable portion being movable about said fixed portion by one of a powerfold mechanism and a break-away mechanism between a normal viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle and a folded position wherein said movable portion is folded toward the side of the vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly including a mounting surface internal to said exterior mirror assembly and at least one security light assembly, said security light assembly including a light source and projecting a light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly when said at least one security light assembly is mounted at said mounting surface and said exterior mirror assembly is mounted on a side of the vehicle and said at least one security light is actuated; and
wherein said security light assembly is configured in said exterior mirror assembly such that said light pattern illuminates a portion of the ground adjacent the side of the vehicle to thereby provide a lighted security zone adjacent the vehicle.
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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 conduiting 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 conduiting 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.
388 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising;
a fixed portion and a movable portion, said fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle, said movable portion including a reflective element, said movable portion being movable about said fixed portion by one of a powerfold mechanism and a break-away mechanism between a normal viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle and a folded position wherein said movable portion is folded toward the side of the vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly including a mounting surface internal to said exterior mirror assembly and at least one security light assembly, said security light assembly including a light source and projecting a light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly when said at least one security light assembly is mounted at said mounting surface and said exterior mirror assembly is mounted on a side of the vehicle and said at least one security light is actuated; and
wherein said security light assembly is configured in said exterior mirror assembly such that said light pattern illuminates a portion of the ground adjacent the side of the vehicle to thereby provide a lighted security zone adjacent the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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3. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising;
a fixed portion and a movable portion, said fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle, said movable portion including a reflective element, said movable portion being movable about said fixed portion a powerfold mechanism between a normal viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle and a folded position wherein said movable portion is folded toward the side of the vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly including at least one security light assembly, said security light assembly including a light source and projecting a light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted on a side of the vehicle and when actuated;
wherein said security light assembly is configured in said exterior mirror assembly such that said light pattern illuminates a generally fixed portion of the ground adjacent the side of the vehicle independent of the position of said movable portion; and
said mirror assembly further includes a proximity detector, said proximity detector actuating said powerfold mechanism to move said movable portion and actuating said security light assembly to rotate in said movable portion to adjust the orientation of said security light assembly to generally maintain the orientation of said light pattern relative to the vehicle independent of the position of said movable portion when said proximity detector detects an object.
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4. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising;
a fixed portion and a movable portion, said fixed portion being configured to mount to a side of the vehicle, said movable portion including a reflective element, said movable portion being movable about said fixed portion by one of a powerfold mechanism and a break-away mechanism between a normal viewing position wherein said movable portion is extended outwardly from the vehicle and a folded position wherein said movable portion is folded toward the side of the vehicle;
said exterior mirror assembly including at least one security light assembly, said security light assembly including a light source and projecting a light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted on a side of the vehicle and when actuated;
wherein said security light assembly is configured in said exterior mirror assembly such that said light pattern illuminates a generally fixed portion of the ground adjacent the side of the vehicle independent of the position of said movable portion and said security light assembly is mounted in said movable portion. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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20. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly comprising;
a fixed portion being configured to mount to the vehicle;
a movable portion including a reflective element and an actuator supporting said reflective element, said movable portion being pivotally mounted to said fixed portion and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position;
said exterior mirror assembly further comprising a security light assembly in said movable portion, said security light assembly including a light source projecting a light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly generally downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle and when actuated; and
wherein said security light assembly is configured in said movable portion with minimum protrusion into a slip stream of said mirror assembly. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. 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 being adapted 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 security light assembly supported in said movable portion, said security light assembly including a light source and being configured to project a substantially fixed light pattern from said exterior rearview mirror assembly when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle and when actuated, said light pattern extending generally downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle and illuminating a generally fixed portion of the ground adjacent the side of the vehicle independent of the position of said movable portion. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification