Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-23
2001-07-24
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S545000, C362S800000, C340S475000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264353
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to exterior vehicle mirrors which include a supplemental turn signal, and more particularly to the use of a flexible circuit board allowing the turn signal display sections to conform to the surface of various exterior side mirrors and to reduce weight.
Current motor vehicles include turn signals at the front and rear of the vehicle to alert other drivers when the vehicle is turning or making a lane change. It is advantageous to make the turn signals as conspicuous as possible to an adjacent vehicle. However, styling considerations have generally dictated against the use of additional lights on the body of the vehicles.
It is known to project turn signals from the exterior mirrors of a vehicle to provide a prominent turn signal indication in addition to the mandated signal. One commercial exterior side mirror includes a turn signal indicator displayed in the mirror glass. The known mirror apparatus utilizes a mirror glass which is reflective of most visible light wavelengths but substantially transparent to a small predetermined band of light wavelengths. A turn signal indicator is displayed by an LED array behind the mirror glass generating light of the small predetermined wavelength. However, the method for manufacturing the mirror glass which transmits only the predetermined wavelength is expensive. In addition, the light sources required to generate light of the predetermined wavelength are more expensive than a light source which generates a wider spectrum of light wavelengths.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems encountered with conventional turn signal mirrors by providing a turn signal module which allows the use of a common array in various location of an external side mirror. Preferably, a display section adjacent the inventive mirror displays a turn signal which is visible to adjacent vehicles while providing the driver with the required “field of view” from the vehicle mirror. Alternate display sections display the turn signal directly through the exterior mirror glass without intrusion into the “field of view.”
The mirror apparatus of the present invention generally includes a housing, a reflective mirror glass and a display section. The display section is positioned to direct a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to produce a light signal such as a chevron-like flashing turn signal through the mirror glass. By locally removing selective portions of the reflective surface or coating, the mirror glass is provided with a transparent surface portion to allow transmittance of the light signal. The mirror glass therefore provides a reflective view in the conventional manner and the transparent surface portion, which can be defined by a plurality of individual windows. Accordingly, the removal of the reflective coating allows direct transmission of the light signal from the display section and further allows the use of standard mirror glass without the necessity of specialized dichroic coatings. It will be understood that various shapes and configurations can be provided by selectively removing desired portions of the reflective coating.
To arrange and mount the LEDs in a desired orientation within the housing, a module is preferably provided to conform the LEDs and a flexible circuit board to the desired location. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention the display section takes advantage of the flexible circuit board to conform the LEDs to the housing adjacent to or behind the mirror glass. In this embodiment the light signal does not pass through the mirror glass but conforms to the shape of the housing such that the light signal is displayed adjacent to the mirror glass.
REFERENCES:
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Magazine Advertisement for Muth Mirror Systems, published in “Motor Trend”, Aug. 1998 at p. 144.
Photocopies labeled Photo 1 and Photo 2 of a side view mirror kit purchased from Muth Mirror Systems for a Dodge Dakota 1997-2000 vehicle.
Caraher Thomas R.
Youngs John D.
Lear Automotive Dearborn Inc.
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Tso Laura K.
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