Exterior rearview device with illumination functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10137823-B2
Application number	US-201615391026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2011
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

An adaptive cornering light system for a motor vehicle includes an exterior mirror head, housing at least one lighting module that having a plurality of LEDs arranged in sectors to provide different lighting functionalities. One LED or light sector is provided for adaptively illuminating a cornering area that extends along the side of the vehicle toward the front of the exterior mirror head. This “cornering LED” is adaptively activated if the speed of the vehicle is below a threshold speed, or in response to additional optional parameters such as steering angle, turn-signal blinker activation, and running lights activation. Another LED or light sector may be used as a security light to illuminate or display a message on the ground in the door area adjacent the side of the vehicle. Interior lights are also disclosed. User input may also control options for illumination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle exterior rearview system comprising:
a housing adapted for mounting to an exterior side of a vehicle, the housing holding at least one of a reflective mirror surface and a display screen for displaying to a driver an image of the area to the side and rear of the vehicle;
one or more lighting modules disposed in and directly secured to said housing and providing at least one first lighting sector for implementing a turn-signal indicator and at least one second lighting sector for implementing additional illumination to the outside or inside of a vehicle, the second lighting sector being adaptively controlled; and
a control system for receiving input data concerning one or more of: (a) vehicle status parameters from vehicle status sensors, (b) the vehicle's environment conditions from environmental sensors; and (c) a user's intentions from a user input device; and for adaptively activating the second lighting sector in response to the input data.

2. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one lighting module contains a plurality of LEDs for providing different lighting functions.

3. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one lighting module contains a single light source and a light guide for directing light from the light source to one or more output points.

4. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , further comprising light guides or optical fibers such that the illumination of a light source within the lighting module is directed via the light guides or optical fibers to multiple locations.

5. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , wherein the second lighting sector is selected from an adaptive cornering light, an adaptive security light, and an adaptive interior light.

6. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , wherein the second lighting sector is configured to display illumination in response to data input received by the control system, and wherein the illumination may optionally include a message or an alert.

7. The exterior rearview system according to claim 6 , wherein the second lighting sector is an adaptive security light configured to display a message or an alert responsive to data input received from the vehicle status sensors.

8. The exterior rearview system according to claim 6 , wherein the second lighting sector is an adaptive security light configured to display a message or an alert responsive to data input received from the environmental sensors.

9. The exterior rearview system according to claim 6 , further comprising a user input device and wherein the second lighting sector displays illumination or a message responsive to data input received from the user input device.

10. The exterior rearview system according to claim 6 , wherein control system controls at least one of color, shape, intensity, and timing of lights activated for the second light sector in response to user input.

11. The exterior rearview system according to claim 6 , wherein control system further includes detection means for receiving from the environmental sensors input relating to the identity of a nearby user.

12. The exterior rearview system according to claim 11 , wherein the input relating to the identity of a nearby user is selected from picture recognition, gesture recognition, key input recognition, and proximity of a detected user device.

13. The exterior rearview system according to claim 6 , wherein control system further includes detection means for receiving from the environmental sensors input relating to road conditions or obstacles.

14. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system activates the turn signal blinker light in addition to the second lighting sector light.

15. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , wherein the second lighting sector is an adaptive cornering light, and wherein the control system activates the adaptive cornering light in response to steering angle input and vehicle speed input, whereby the cornering light is adaptively activated if the control system receives input data indicating that both: (i) the steering angle is greater than a threshold value, and (ii) the vehicle speed is below a threshold speed.

16. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , further comprising a third lighting sector configured to project at least one arrow or chevron image onto the ground to the side of the vehicle and directed away therefrom, wherein the third lighting sector is operatively linked in the control system to activate in response to activation of the turn signal indicator function.

17. The exterior rearview system according to claim 1 , further comprising a third lighting sector which is directed forward for providing a daytime running light function and is operatively linked in the control system.

18. A vehicle exterior rearview system comprising:
a housing adapted for mounting to an exterior side of a vehicle, the housing holding at least one of a reflective mirror surface and a display screen for displaying to a driver an image of the area to the side and rear of the vehicle;
one or more lighting modules disposed in and secured to said housing and providing at least one first lighting sector for implementing a turn-signal indicator and at least one second lighting sector for implementing additional illumination to the outside or inside of a vehicle, the second lighting sector being adaptively controlled; and
a control system for receiving input data concerning one of: (a) vehicle status parameters from vehicle status sensors or (b) the vehicle's environment conditions from environmental sensors; and adaptively activating the second lighting sector in response to the input data.

19. The vehicle exterior rearview system of claim 18 wherein, the second lighting sector illuminates inside the vehicle in response to the vehicle status sensor and illuminates inside and outside the vehicle in response to the environmental sensors.

20. A vehicle exterior rearview system comprising:
a housing adapted for mounting to an exterior side of a vehicle, the housing holding at least one of a reflective mirror surface and a display screen for displaying to a driver an image of the area to the side and rear of the vehicle;
one or more lighting modules disposed in and secured to said housing and providing at least one first lighting sector for implementing a turn-signal indicator and at least one second lighting sector for implementing additional illumination to the outside or inside of a vehicle, the second lighting sector configured to illuminate or display one of a message or an alert and being adaptively controlled; and
a control system for receiving input data concerning one or more of: (a) vehicle status parameters from vehicle status sensors, (b) the vehicle's environment conditions from environmental sensors; and (c) a user's intentions from a user input device; and for adaptively activating the second lighting sector in response to the input data.

21. The vehicle exterior rearview system of claim 20 wherein the input data is the detection of an entry remote within a defined proximity, and the second lighting sector displays a message in the form of a non-white, colored illumination upon sensing one of a low tire pressure, a low oil level, or a low coolant level.

Assignees

• Smr Patents Sarl

Inventors

• Fritz Daniel
• Rötzer Ilka
• Meier Eugen
• Schmidt Oliver
• Wieczorek Romeo
• König Andrea
• Hein Peter
• Dobrete Alexandru
• Herrmann Andreas
• Moase Christopher
• Di Fiore Adam
• Mckenzie Phillip
• Cid Marco
• Belcher Simon

Classifications

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title

• B60Q1/2696

  Mounting of devices using LEDs · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title

• B60Q3/258

  Rear-view mirrors · CPC title

• B60Q1/085

  due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence) · CPC title