Mirror apparatus for a vehicle

• US 9,360,183 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Tomonori, Nakai, Toshinari, Hirosawa, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US14/341,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20150036371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 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 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates

Abstract

A mirror apparatus for a vehicle includes a design body, a first emission member, a second emission member, a guide body and a differentiation portion. The design body includes a mirror provided at a vehicle, and the design body structures a design surface. The first emission member emits light and the second emission member emits light. The guide body guides the light emitted by the first emission member and the light emitted by the second emission member to an outer side of the design body. The differentiation portion makes directions in which the light emitted by the first emission member and the light emitted by the second emission member are guided by the guide body different.

Claims

1. A mirror apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a design body that includes a mirror provided at a vehicle, the design body structuring a design surface;

a first emission member that emits light;

a second emission member that emits light;

a guide body that guides light emitted by the first emission member and light emitted by the second emission member to an outer side of the design body; and

a differentiation portion that makes directions in which the light emitted by the first emission member and the light emitted by the second emission member are guided by the guide body different,

wherein the guide body guides the light emitted by the first emission member substantially in a plate thickness direction so as to pass through the guide body, and guides the light emitted by the second emission member substantially in a plate surface direction.

2. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the differentiation portion reflects the light emitted by one of the first emission member or the second emission member.

3. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a dividing body disposed between the first emission member and the second emission member, the dividing body dividing apart incidence regions into the guide body of the light emitted by the first emission member and the light emitted by the second emission member.

4. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the guide body includes a plate-form lens, and the differentiation portion includes a redirection surface that is formed at an end portion of the lens, and the light emitted by the second emission member being reflected by the redirection surface to be guided in a plate surface direction.

5. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the guide body includes a plate-form lens, and the differentiation portion includes a redirection surface that is formed at an indentation portion of the lens, the indentation portion being formed with a triangular shape in cross section, and the light emitted by the second emission member being reflected by the redirection surface to be guided in a plate surface direction.

6. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a support member that supports the first emission member and the second emission member;

and a casing body that fixes the support member inside the casing body.

7. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a first reflection surface is formed in a curved face-form at an inner face of the casing body, and the light emitted by the first emission member is reflected by the first reflection surface.

8. The mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a second reflection surface is formed in a flat face-form at an inner face of the casing body, and the light emitted by the second emission member is reflected by the second reflection surface.

9. A mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the design body includes an opening over the guide body, and the guide body guides the light emitted by the first emission member substantially in a plate thickness direction so as to pass through the guide body and through the opening in the design body.

10. A mirror apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a substantial portion of the light emitted by the first emission member impinges substantially orthogonally on the guide body in a plate thickness direction so as to be transmitted completely through the guide body.