US6296379B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle exterior mirror system with turn signal light assembly
Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Inc
•
Filing: 2000-06-16
•
Granted: 2001-10-02
•
Expires: 2020-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly and a light module removably positioned within the exterior mirror housing. The light module is moisture impervious and includes an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure facing generally downwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle, a cover for the light-transmitting opening, and a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-transmitting opening. The light source may be received in a socket which removably engages another opening in the enclosure. In this manner, the light source may be replaced by removing the module from the exterior mirror housing, removing the socket from the enclosure and replacing the light source. The enclosure and mirror housing preferably are configured to self-retain the module in the exterior mirror moving with no, or fewer than one or two, separate fasteners.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd W. Pastrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/2661; B60Q1/2665; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/38; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/12; B60R1/1207; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/05; B60Q2300/054; B60Q2900/00; B60Q2900/30; B60R2001/1284; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A vehicle exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudal axis, said mirror system comprising: an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element; a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said assembly separate from said positionable reflectance element whereby movement of said reflective element is independent of said signal light; wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a plurity of light-emitting diodes and wherein said light-emitting diodes radiate light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle in order to shield the drive from light radiated by said light-emitting diodes, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said angle of said light-radiating axis being independent of movement of said moveable reflective element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A vehicle exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudal axis, said mirror system comprising: an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element; a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said assembly separate from said positionable reflectance element whereby movement of said reflective element is independent of said signal light; wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a plurity of light-emitting diodes and wherein said light-emitting diodes radiate light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle in order to shield the drive from light radiated by said light-emitting diodes, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said angle of said light-radiating axis being independent of movement of said moveable reflective element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 2 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of from at least approximately 25 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said light radiated by said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises one of red colored light and amber colored light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 5 wherein said amber colored light is provided by at least one of an amber light-emitting diode and an amber filtering lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens and wherein said lens comprises one of a segmented lens, a prismatic lens and a Fresnel lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 8 wherein said light pipe comprises a fibre optic bundle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a reflector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises at least one of an orange light-emitting diode, a yellow light-emitting diode, a red light-emitting diode, an amber light-emitting diode and a reddish-orange light-emitting diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprise one of a red light-emitting diode and an amber light-emitting diode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said exterior mirror assembly further incorporates a floodlight adapted to project another pattern of light generally downwardly and rearwardly on an area adjacent a portion of said vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said mounting of said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway joint assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens portion facing rearward of said vehicle and another lens portion that wraps around the side of said housing outboard the mounting of said exterior mirror assembly to said side of said vehicle, said another lens portion projecting a pattern of light to function as a side marker for said vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a filtering lens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 18 wherein said filtering lens comprises an amber filtering lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 18 wherein said filtering lens comprises a red filtering lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly fits within the cavity defined by said housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly is adapted for connection to a circuit comprising a photosensor, said circuit dimming the light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly when said signal light assembly operates under low ambient light conditions about said vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mirror system of claim 22 wherein said circuit dims said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly by pulse-width modulation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror system of claim 22 wherein said photosensor comprises one of a photoresistor, a photodiode and a phototransistor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror system of claim 22 wherein said photosensor is part of one of an automatic mirror circuit, a vehicle headlamp activation circuit and a headlamp daylight running light control circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mirror system of claim 22 wherein said photosensor is integral with said signal light assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a signal light module.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a removable signal light module.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises individual light-emitting diodes mounted at an angle on a circuit board.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprise individual light-emitting diodes separated by louvers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes is connected in series by a current limiting resistor to the ignition of the vehicle when mounted on the vehicle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
211 words
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudinal axis, said mirror system comprising: an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element; a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said assembly separate from said positionable reflectance element whereby movement of said reflective element is independent of said signal light; wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises at least one of an incandescent light source, a light-emitting diode, a halogen light source, a fluorscent light source and a light pipe, said signal light assembly radiating light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said signal light assembly, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said angle of said light-radiating axis being independent of movement of said moveable reflective element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
211 words
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudinal axis, said mirror system comprising: an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle; said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element; a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said assembly separate from said positionable reflectance element whereby movement of said reflective element is independent of said signal light; wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises at least one of an incandescent light source, a light-emitting diode, a halogen light source, a fluorscent light source and a light pipe, said signal light assembly radiating light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said signal light assembly, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said angle of said light-radiating axis being independent of movement of said moveable reflective element.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 33 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of from at least approximately 25 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said light radiated by said signal light assembly comprises one of red colored light and amber colored light.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 36 wherein said amber colored light is provided by at least one of an amber light-emitting diode and an amber filtering lens.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens and wherein said lens comprises one of a segmented lens, a prismatic lens and a Fresnel lens.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light pipe.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 39 wherein said light pipe comprises a fibre optic bundle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a reflector.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light-emitting diode.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mirror system of claim 43 wherein said light-emitting diode comprises one of a red light-emitting diode and an amber light-emitting diode.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
46 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said exterior mirror assembly further incorporates a floodlight adapted to project another pattern of light generally downwardly and rearwardly on an area adjacent a portion of said vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said mounting of said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway joint assembly.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
64 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens portion facing rearward of said vehicle and another lens portion that wraps around the side of said housing outboard the mounting of said exterior mirror assembly to said side of said vehicle, said another lens portion projecting a pattern of light to function as a side marker for said vehicle.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a filtering lens.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 49 wherein said filtering lens comprises an amber filtering lens.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror system of claim 49 wherein said filtering lens comprises a red filtering lens.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly fits within the cavity defined by said housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said housing.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly is adapted for connection to a circuit comprising a photosensor, said circuit dimming the light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly when said signal light assembly operates under low ambient light conditions about said vehicle.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mirror system of claim 53 wherein said circuit dims said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly by pulse-width modulation.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror system of claim 53 wherein said photosensor comprises one of a photoresistor, a photodiode and a phototransistor.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror system of claim 53 wherein said photosensor is part of one of an automatic mirror circuit, a vehicle headlamp activation circuit and a headlamp daylight running light control circuit.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mirror system of claim 53 wherein said photosensor is integral with said signal light assembly.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a signal light module.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a removable signal light module.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises individual light-emitting sources mounted at an angle on a circuit board.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises individual light-emitting sources separated by louvers.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mirror system of claim 32 wherein said signal light assembly comprises a fluorescent light source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-01 | 2005-04-02 | 2005-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-01 | 2009-04-02 | 2009-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-01 | 2013-04-02 | 2013-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |