Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-25
2003-12-02
Ben, Loha (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
C359S267000, C359S589000, C359S839000, C362S545000, C362S540000, C362S503000, C362S249070, C362S494000, C362S488000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06657767
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rearview mirror assembly having a turn indicator incorporated therein and/or a flexible circuit board. The invention also pertains to subassemblies for use in a rearview mirror assembly in which an LED is mounted to a circuit board in a novel manner.
Outside rearview mirror assemblies incorporating turn signal indicators have become increasingly popular. An example of one significant advantage that can be achieved by such a “signal mirror” is evident from
FIG. 1
, wherein vehicle A includes an outside signal mirror assembly
100
. The driver of vehicle B is positioned in what is commonly referred to as the blindspot for the driver of vehicle A. Additionally, the driver of vehicle B is unlikely to see the rear turn signal lamp
102
of vehicle A being well outside the optimum viewing area D for that signal lamp. A signal indicator that generates a signal discernable in viewing area C is therefore advantageous as the driver of vehicle B can be alerted to the intent of the driver of vehicle A to change lanes, and can take appropriate action to avoid an accident in response to the viewing of the turn signal indication.
Signal mirrors generally employ one or more lamps in a mirror assembly to generate a turn indication signal. More specifically, outside signal mirrors have employed a lamp assembly positioned either behind the mirror, such that the signal light passes through the mirror, or on the rearview mirror housing, such that the signal lamp is independent of the mirror and projects light from a position either adjacent to or outside the periphery of the rearview mirror. Examples of rearview mirror assemblies incorporating turn signal indicators or other light modules positioned adjacent a rearview mirror are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,059,015; 5,402,103; 5,490,049; 5,497,306; 5,669,704; 5,669,705; 5,823,654; 5,863,116; 6,007,222; 6,049,271; 6,086,229; 6,119,031; 6,152,590; and 6,176,602. Rearview mirror assemblies incorporating a turn signal indicator that is directed forward of the mirror housing and subsequently directed rearward by appropriate light piping is also known in the prior art. Examples of rearview mirror assemblies where a light module is disposed behind the mirror are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D 363,920; D 394,833; D 409,540; D 425,466; D 426,506; D 426,507; D 428,372; D 428,373; D 428,842; D 429,202; D 430,088; 5,014,167; 5,207,492; 5,313,335; 5,355,284; 5,361,190; 5,436,741; 5,481,409; 5,528,422; 5,587,699; 5,619,374; 5,619,375; 5,788,537; 5,938,320; 6,005,724; 6,045,243; 6,076,948; 6,111,684; 6,142,656; 6,166,848; and 6,257,746.
FIG. 2
illustrates one example of a light module mounted behind a mirror, which happens to be an electrochromic mirror. As illustrated, rearview mirror assembly
100
includes a mirror
10
, which is movably mounted within a housing
12
. Housing
12
includes a mounting foot or bracket
14
for mounting the assembly to a vehicle. Mirror assembly
100
may be fixedly mounted to the outside of the vehicle or may be pivotally mounted to allow for folding of the mirror assembly. Mirror assembly
100
further includes a turn signal indicator
20
disposed behind mirror
10
. The detailed construction of turn signal indicator
20
is shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
and discussed further below. As shown in
FIG. 2
, turn signal indicator
20
includes a plurality of light sources each disposed behind regions
22
of mirror
10
that are at least partially transmissive. These partially transmissive regions
22
may be provided in a variety of ways by either etching the reflector of mirror
10
in those regions completely or partially etching portions of the regions
22
as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,683. Alternatively, regions
22
may be formed as partially transmissive, partially reflective regions of mirror
10
or else the entire mirror
10
may include a partially transmissive, partially reflective reflector as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,848.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, turn signal indicator
20
may further include a sensor
56
provided to sense ambient light levels so that an associated circuit
58
may attenuate the light levels emitted by the lamps (i.e., LEDs
54
). This sensor
56
may be disposed behind a region
24
(
FIG. 2
) that is at least partially transmissive and is similar in construction to partially transmissive regions
22
associated with the LEDs
54
. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, LEDs
54
are mounted to a circuit board
50
that is generally parallel to the rear surface
14
b
of the electrochromic mirror
10
. Circuit board
50
is mounted within a light module housing
52
that is secured or otherwise disposed behind the rear surface of mirror
10
. As best shown in
FIG. 4
, LEDs
54
are typically mounted to circuit board
50
with their optical axes inclined at an angle relative to circuit board
50
so as to project light to the side and rear of the rearview mirror assembly but not back at the eyes of the driver so as to not distract the driver.
Referring back to
FIG. 2
, turn signal indicator
20
is electrically coupled to a turn signal actuator
26
provided in the vehicle via one or more electrical wires or cables
28
. The electrochromic mirror may be connected in a variety of ways via one or more wires or cables
36
to an inside mirror control circuit
30
, which in turn is coupled to an ambient light sensor
32
and a glare light sensor
34
so as to adjust the reflectivity of both the inside and outside rearview mirrors based upon ambient light levels and glare levels of light sources located to the rear of the vehicle. An ambient light level signal may also be transmitted via a wire or cable
38
from inside mirror control circuit
30
to a variable attenuator
60
provided in the rearview mirror assembly or elsewhere in the vehicle. Variable attenuator
60
may thus be provided in addition or in lieu of sensor
56
so as to attenuate the light levels of LEDs
54
in response to ambient light sensed by a sensor remote from the outside rearview mirror housing.
The rearview mirror housing may further include a mirror position actuator (not shown), which is mounted to the inside of housing
12
and attached to the rear of mirror
10
via a carrier plate (not shown). The mirror position actuator may be electrically coupled to a mirror position controller
44
located within the vehicle via one or more electrical wires or cables
46
. In this manner, the positioning of mirror
10
within housing
12
may be adjusted remotely within the cabin of the vehicle using an appropriate switch or other user input mechanism.
Additionally, rearview mirror assembly
100
may include a heater circuit provided on the rear of mirror
10
so as to heat the mirror to remove moisture such as snow, frost, or mist from the surface of mirror
10
to thereby allow clear viewing by the driver. Such a heater may be electrically coupled to a heater control circuit
40
via one or more wires or cables
42
. The heater control circuit
40
may be incorporated within the vehicle climate control system such that the heater is activated whenever a window defroster/defogger is activated.
Some details of the structure shown in
FIG. 4
are described further below. Additional details are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,848, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Of significance with respect to
FIG. 4
is the fact that the LEDs
54
are mounted at an angle relative to circuit board
50
. Mounting LEDs at the appropriate angle is difficult using conventional electronic component placement equipment. In general, circuit board
50
is constructed with two vias per LED
54
for receipt of two of the four LED leads. To mount the LEDs on circuit board
50
, two of the leads are inserted in the two corresponding vias while the other two leads abut the same surface of circuit board
50
on which LED
54
i
Bauer Frederick T.
Bonardi Timothy A.
Ben Loha
Gentex Corporation
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
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