Patent ID: 9713986
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: B60Q,B60R,F21V,F21Y,G08G

Claim:
1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element; said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; a mirror reflector disposed at one of the front side and the rear side of said glass substrate; a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation; said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween; wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side to the rear side of said glass substrate; said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said mirror actuator comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is generally aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light-transmitting portion thereof that is generally aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad; an indicator comprising at least one light emitting diode activatable to emit light; wherein said indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly; wherein said at least one light emitting diode is disposed at a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, and wherein said circuitry comprises at least one of (i) a DC converter and (ii) a voltage dropping resistor; wherein, when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode activated, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light-transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element; and wherein, during a daytime driving condition and with said at least one light emitting diode activated, said visual icon has a luminance of at least 5,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness when viewed from the front of said mirror reflective element and emitting light therethrough.