Patent ID: 8262268
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B60Q,B60R,H04N

Abstract:
1. An exterior minor vision system for a vehicle, said exterior mirror vision system comprising: a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a driver side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior mirror vision system, said driver-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a driver-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, a driver-side exterior minor housing portion, and a driver-side reflective element housed by said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion; wherein said driver-side exterior rearview minor assembly comprises at least one of (i) a driver-side breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly and (ii) a driver-side powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, when said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the driver side of the equipped vehicle, said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said driver-side mounting portion; wherein said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a driver-side light module and a driver-side camera; wherein said driver-side light module is sealed so as to be substantially water-impervious; wherein said driver-side light module comprises a driver-side security light; wherein said driver-side security light, when activated, illuminates a driver-side zone on the ground adjacent the driver side of the equipped vehicle at a cabin entrance at the driver side of the equipped vehicle and wherein said illuminated driver-side zone is substantially unchanged when said driver-side exterior mirror housing portion is moved relative to said driver-side mounting portion of said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said driver-side security light, when activated, illuminates at least a portion of said driver-side zone with at least about one lux ground illumination intensity; a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror assembly comprising a passenger-side mounting portion configured for mounting at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, a passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion, and a passenger-side reflective element housed by said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion; wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one of (i) a passenger-side breakaway exterior rearview mirror assembly and (ii) a passenger-side powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein, when said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle, said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is movable relative to said passenger-side mounting portion; wherein said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a passenger-side light module and a passenger-side camera; wherein said passenger-side light module is sealed so as to be substantially water-impervious; wherein said passenger-side light module comprises a passenger-side security light; wherein said passenger-side security light, when activated, illuminates a passenger-side zone on the ground adjacent the passenger side of the equipped vehicle at a cabin entrance at the passenger side of the equipped vehicle and wherein said illuminated passenger-side zone is substantially unchanged when said passenger-side exterior mirror housing portion is moved relative to said passenger-side mounting portion of said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly; and wherein said passenger-side security light, when activated, illuminates at least a portion of said passenger-side zone with at least about one lux ground illumination intensity.