Patent ID: 9659498
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B60R,G08G

Claim:
1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, wherein said mirror back plate is formed in a plastic injection molding operation, and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate; a blind zone indication module having a light source that is electrically activatable to emit light, wherein said blind zone indication module is disposed at said aperture formed through said mirror back plate, and wherein said light source is electrically activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element; wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a plastic housing formed in a plastic injection molding operation; wherein said housing comprises a first portion and a second portion, with an internal structure formed between said first portion and said second portion, and wherein said housing comprises a connector portion that extends laterally from said second portion; wherein said internal structure, said first portion, said second portion and said connector portion are integrally molded in the plastic injection molding operation that molds said housing; wherein said first portion of said housing is disposed at said aperture formed through said mirror back plate; wherein, with said first portion of said housing disposed at said aperture formed through said mirror back plate, said connector portion of said housing extends parallel to said mirror reflective element; wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a light source, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode disposed at a circuit board of said blind zone indication module; wherein said circuit board comprises circuitry and electrically conductive terminals electrically connected to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry includes said at least one light emitting diode, and wherein said electrically conductive terminals extend laterally from said circuit board; wherein said circuit board is disposed at said second portion of said housing; wherein said internal structure comprises reflective surfaces and at least one aperture; wherein said circuit board is disposed at said second portion of said housing such that said at least one light emitting diode is disposed at said at least one aperture of said internal structure, and wherein said reflective surfaces of said internal structure are configured so that, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode is generally directed towards the side of the vehicle at which the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached; wherein said circuit board is disposed at said second portion of said housing such that said electrically conductive terminals extend into said connector portion of said housing; and wherein said connector portion, with said electrically conductive terminals therein, is configured to connect to a connector of a wire harness of the exterior rearview mirror assembly to electrically connect the wire harness to circuitry of said circuit board.