Patent ID: 8251555
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: B60Q,B60R,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A lighted exterior mirror assembly configured for attachment to a side of a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror assembly comprising: a housing, wherein said housing houses a reflectance element; wherein said reflectance element is movably positionable by the driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust its rearward field of view when said lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror assembly; a turn signal indicator module disposed at a portion of said housing of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said turn signal indicator module is fixedly disposed at said housing separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said turn signal indicator module; wherein said housing and said turn signal indicator module are configured for mating together to retain said turn signal indicator module at least partially in said housing; wherein said turn signal indicator module comprises an enclosure and a light-transmitting cover permanently joined with said enclosure at an opening of said enclosure forming a substantially moisture impervious unit; wherein said light-transmitting cover of said turn signal indicator module is disposed at an opening at said portion of said housing of said lighted exterior mirror assembly; wherein said light-transmitting cover comprises a portion configured for facing rearward of the vehicle and another portion that wraps around the side of said exterior mirror assembly outboard the mounting of said exterior mirror assembly to the side of the equipped vehicle; wherein said turn signal indicator module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a plane that is generally horizontal when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached to the side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein individual light emitting diodes of said plurality of light emitting diodes are oriented to emit light generally in that plane; wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed behind said light-transmitting cover and wherein, when said lighted exterior mirror assembly is attached to the side of the equipped vehicle and when said plurality of light emitting diodes is powered, said plurality of light emitting diodes emits light that passes through said light-transmitting cover and that is viewable at least rearward of the equipped vehicle; wherein, when said plurality of light emitting diodes is powered, at least one of (a) no more than a minor intensity of a pattern of light emitted by said turn signal indicator module is intercepted by the driver, and (b) a pattern of light emitted by said turn signal indicator module is substantially unobservable by the driver of the equipped vehicle; and wherein the pattern of light emitted by said turn signal indicator module is substantially viewable by a driver of another vehicle overtaking the equipped vehicle at the side and to the rear of the equipped vehicle.