Patent ID: 9616808
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: B60Q,B60R,E05B,F21V,F21Y,G07C

Claim:
1. A ground illumination system for a vehicle, said ground illumination system comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured to attach at a side of a vehicle equipped with said ground illumination system; a ground illumination module disposed at said exterior rearview mirror assembly and comprising a light source operable to emit light; wherein, when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached at the side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is operated, light projected by said ground illumination module illuminates a ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein said ground illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element; wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects an icon established by said reconfigurable display element; wherein said reconfigurable display element is operable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon for display and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element for an icon for display; and wherein, when said light source is operated and with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at the side of the equipped vehicle, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said ground illumination module projects the icon of said reconfigurable display element onto the ground area at the side of the equipped vehicle.