Patent ID: 7492281
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: B60Q,B60R

Abstract:
1. An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising: an exterior mirror assembly having a mirror casing, said mirror casing comprising a mirror portion including a reflective element and an attachment portion including an attachment for attaching said mirror assembly at an exterior side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system, said reflective element being adjustably supported by an actuator within said mirror portion of said mirror casing, said mirror casing having an inboard portion that faces generally toward the exterior side of the equipped vehicle, said inboard portion of said mirror casing being viewable by a driver of the vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is attached at the exterior side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said inboard portion of said mirror casing is substantially not directly viewable by drivers of other vehicles overtaking the equipped vehicle at a side lane adjacent to the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior mirror assembly is mounted when the equipped vehicle is operated on a road; a unitary indicator module at said inboard portion of said mirror casing, said unitary indicator module comprising an illumination source, said indicator module being responsive to a control signal to activate said illumination source to indicate to the driver a detected presence of an object at least one of alongside the equipped vehicle and rearward of the equipped vehicle, said unitary indicator module being substantially sealed so as to be substantially impervious to water; and wherein said unitary indicator module is configured at said inboard portion of said mirror casing so that illumination of said illumination source is readily viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said illumination of said illumination source is generally not viewed by other road users when said exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and when the equipped vehicle is operated on a road.