Blind zone indicator module for exterior rearview mirror assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10170001-B2
Application number	US-201715844996-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2017
Priority date	Sep 28, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A blind zone indicator module for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a hollow housing that includes a front end for attaching the indicator module at the rear of a mirror reflective element configured for use by an exterior rearview mirror assembly, a rear end opposite the front end, and an intermediate portion between the front end and the rear end. The hollow housing comprises an inner surface that is white and is diffusely reflective of light incident thereat. A diffuser element is attached at the front end of the hollow housing and closes the front end of the housing. Potting material is disposed at and over a circuit board to seal the circuit board in the module. Light emitted by a light emitting diode, when activated, reflects off the white inner surface of the hollow housing and passes through the diffuser element to exit the indicator module.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An indicator module for an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the indicator module comprising:
a hollow housing formed by injection molding of white plastic material;
wherein the hollow housing comprises (i) a front end configured for attaching the indicator module at the rear of a mirror reflective element configured for use by an exterior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) a rear end opposite the front end, and (iii) an intermediate portion between the front end and the rear end;
wherein the hollow housing comprises an inner surface that is white and is diffusely reflective of light incident thereat;
a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein at least one light emitting diode is disposed at the first side of the circuit board;
wherein the circuit board is disposed between the rear end of the hollow housing and the front end of the hollow housing such that the first side of the circuit board faces the front end of the hollow housing and the second side of the circuit board faces away from the front end of the hollow housing;
a diffuser element attached at the front end of the hollow housing, wherein the diffuser element closes the front end of the hollow housing;
potting material disposed at and over the second side of the circuit board to seal the rear side of the circuit board;
wherein, when the at least one light emitting diode is activated, light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode reflects off the white inner surface of the hollow housing and passes through the diffuser element to exit the indicator module; and
wherein the indicator module comprises a blind zone indication module.

2. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element is attached at the front end of the hollow housing via a double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

3. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the indicator module is configured to be disposed at an aperture formed through a mirror back plate of the mirror reflective element, and wherein, with the indicator module disposed at the aperture formed through the mirror back plate of the mirror reflective element, light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode that passes through the diffuser element passes through the mirror reflective element.

4. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board comprises circuitry and electrically conductive terminals in electrical connection with circuitry of the circuit board, and wherein the electrical conductive terminals are received in a connector portion of the hollow housing, and wherein the connector portion, with the electrically conductive terminals received therein, is configured to connect to a connector of a wire harness of an exterior rearview mirror assembly.

5. The indicator module of claim 4 , wherein the connector portion is formed with the hollow housing via injection molding.

6. The indicator module of claim 4 , wherein the connector portion has a front surface that is co-planar with a front end surface of the front end of the hollow housing.

7. The indicator module of claim 4 , wherein the connector portion is part of the hollow housing and forms part of a housing profile.

8. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode comprises at least two light emitting diodes connected in series at the circuit board.

9. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the diffusely light reflecting surface increases the intensity of light that exits the indicator module.

10. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion of the hollow housing comprises at least one aperture corresponding with the at least one light emitting diode, and wherein light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode passes through the at least one aperture.

11. The indicator module of claim 10 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein the intermediate portion of the hollow housing comprises a plurality of apertures, each corresponding with a respective one of the plurality of light emitting diodes.

12. The indicator module of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises three triangularly-arranged light emitting diodes and wherein the intermediate portion comprises three corresponding triangularly-arranged apertures.

13. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the front end of the hollow housing, with the diffuser element attached thereat, comprises an attaching surface configured to attach the indicator module at the mirror reflective element.

14. The indicator module of claim 13 , wherein a surface of a connector portion of the hollow housing forms part of the attaching surface.

15. The indicator module of claim 13 , wherein the circuit board is oriented parallel to the attaching surface of the front end of the hollow housing.

16. The indicator module of claim 13 , wherein the attaching surface of the hollow housing is configured to attach at the mirror reflective element via a pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

17. The indicator module of claim 16 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is adhesively attached at the attaching surface of the hollow housing, and wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprises an aperture therethrough that corresponds to the shape of an opening at the attaching surface of the hollow housing.

18. The indicator module of claim 1 , wherein the white plastic material comprises at least one of (i) ABS and (ii) ABS/polycarbonate.

19. An indicator module for an exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the indicator module comprising:
a hollow housing formed by injection molding of white plastic material;
wherein the hollow housing comprises (i) a front end configured for attaching the indicator module at the rear of a mirror reflective element configured for use by an exterior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) a rear end opposite the front end, and (iii) an intermediate portion between the front end and the rear end;
wherein the hollow housing comprises an inner surface that is white and is diffusely reflective of light incident thereat;
a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein three light emitting diodes are disposed at the first side of the circuit board;
wherein the three light emitting diodes are disposed at the first side of the circuit board in a triangular relationship one to the other;
wherein the circuit board is disposed between the rear end of the hollow housing and the front end of the hollow housing such that the first side of the circuit board faces the front end of the hollow housing and the second side of the circuit board faces away from the front end of the hollow housing;
a diffuser element attached at the front end of the hollow housing, wherein the diffuser element closes the front end of the hollow housing;
potting material disposed at and over the second side of the circuit board to seal the rear side of the circuit board;
wherein, when the at least one light emitting diode is activated, light emitted by the three emitting diodes reflects off the white inner surface of the hollow housing and passes through the diffuser element to exit the indicator module;
wherein the front end of the hollow housing, with the diffuser element attached thereat, comprises an attaching surface configured to attach the indicator module at the mirror reflective element;
wherein the circuit board is oriented parall

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Kendall Craig
• Shooks Jeremy R
• Kramer Mark E
• Larson Mark L

Classifications

• B60R2001/1215

  with information displays · CPC title

• B60R1/1207

  with lamps; with turn indicators · CPC title

• G08G1/167 Primary

  Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection · CPC title

• B60R1/06

  mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R1/12

  Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks · CPC title