Multifunction lamp unit and rear view device therewith

A multifunctional lamp unit includes a side turn indicator including a housing for at least one light conductor with at least one illuminant, and a projection unit. A rearview device including the multifunctional lamp unit, a method of operating the rearview device, and a vehicle including the rearview device are also described.

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates to a multifunction lamp for motor vehicles and view devices such as mirrors or camera pods. Different functions and devices may be incorporated into and/or controlled with the help of rear view devices.

2. Description of Related Art

A lamp for vehicles, especially for side-view mirrors or other viewing means, is described in European Patent No. 1 657 488 B 1. In this lamp, a weld seam or an adhesive seam inseperably connects a substantially U-shaped front housing part, which is configured as a transparent clear lens, to a back panel in order to provide a closed, watertight housing within which at least one illuminant is arranged. The housing components are described as made of hard plastics, preferably polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or plastics of this family. The back panel can also be made of another plastic, such as polycarbonate (PC), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or the like.

Another such lamp is described in European Patent No. 1 852 306 B1, in which an illuminant, the outside, or the inside of a U-shaped front housing part features a lens system. The lens system is in the form of a surface texturing for the focusing, parallel direction, or scattering of the emitted light.

The construction of these known lamps is expensive. In addition, welding processes negatively affect the tolerances of adjacent clearances. The necessity of a weld seam or adhesive seam also limits the design of the lamps, as with a blinker in a side-view mirror arrangement of a vehicle.

German Patent Application No. 10 2011 103 200 A1 describes a light window for an illuminated unit in a side-view mirror where the light window fits the outer contour of the housing of the side-view mirror and seals an opening in the housing of the side-view mirror. The light window serves as a light conductor and features outcoupling structures on at least one area. The light window is produced out of an optical film which has a molded coating and is configured as a light conductor, where the optical film contains at least one outcoupling structure. A crystal-clear base material or, alternatively, a colored transparent material can be used for production and it can be produced in a single extrusion die. To produce the light window, the optical film is placed into the extrusion die so that a protective layer is injected on the die side of the film and the coating is injected on the core side of the film. The protective layer can be made of PC film and the coating can be made of PC or PMMA.

Molding a coating on a film to produce a light window, such as a blinker, is complicated particularly since a fastening on a housing is also needed.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, an advantage is provided in functions and devices to enhance, extend and/or sustain the functionality of the rear view device during normal or extreme conditions. This may include heating and/or cooling means, cleaning means such as wipers, liquid and/or gaseous sprays, actuator means for moving the rear view device or parts of it, such as for example a display, a camera system and/or parts of a camera system including, for example, lenses, filters, light sources, adaptive optics like deformable mirrors, sensors and/or mirrors, and/or actuator means for inducing movement of other objects, for example parts of the vehicle and/or objects surrounding the vehicle. Furthermore, it may include linear tracks and/or rotating wheels such as a filter wheel, for exchanging optical elements, including lenses, mirrors, light sources, sensors, adaptive optics like deformable mirrors, filters, and/or other optical elements.

Some examples for functions and devices incorporated into or controlled with the help of rear view devices include illumination devices such as any kind of light module like an external light module, an internal light module, a front light, a back light, a fog light, a brake light, an acceleration light, a turn signal, a logo lamp, a puddle light, a flash light, a navigation light, a position light, an emergency light, a spotlight, a green light, a red light, a warning light, a turn signal light module, an approach light, a search light, an information light, a display and/or any combination thereof.

Further examples for functions and devices incorporated into or controlled with the help of rear view devices include a tiredness detection system, a microsleep detection system, a distance and/or velocity determination system, such as a LIDAR (Light detection and ranging) system, a blind spot indicator system, a lane change assistant system, a navigation assistant system, a tracking assistant system, a human-machine interaction system, a machine-machine interaction system, an emergency and precaution assistant system like an accident avoiding assistant system, a counter-measures assistant system, a brake assistant system, a steering assistant system, an acceleration assistant system, an escape assistant system, including, for example, an ejection seat system, a direction indicator, a blind spot indicator, an approach system, a strong braking system, an emergency braking system, a charging status indicator, a vehicle mode system, comprising for example a sports mode system, an economy mode system, an autonomous drive mode system, a sleep mode system, an anti-theft system, a vehicle locked indicator system, a vehicle stolen indicator, a warning signal system, a temperature indicator system, a weather indicator system, a traffic light signal system, a fuel status system, and/or any combination thereof.

In an aspect, a method for manufacturing a lamp for vehicles overcomes the disadvantages of the state of the art. For example, a lamp should be easy to manufacture and offer large freedom of design with high light yield.

In an aspect, a multifunction lamp unit for a vehicle includes a housing, at least one light conductor together with at least one illuminant provided by at least one LED on a printed circuit board, at least one light foil, and a clear lens.

The unit may be produced out of plastic in a 3-component injection procedure, wherein the refractive index of the plastic of the clear lens is selected to be different from the refractive index of the plastic of the light conductor, the boundary between the clear lens and the at least one light conductor adjacent to it is at least partly formed with a structure.

The light foil is arranged at least partly between the clear lens and at least a part of the at least one light conductor.

At least one light conditioning area, such as for tinting, dying, reflecting, scattering or the like, is introduced into at least one of the at least one light conductor and the clear lens by choosing at least one additive for the respective plastic.

The housing may be formed with a first recess to build an installation space for at least one illuminant, wherein the first recess is sealed.

The housing may be formed with a second recess to build an installation space for a control unit, wherein the second recess is sealed.

The control unit may be connected to at least one of the at least one illuminant, the light foil and the vehicle.

The light foil may extend along at least a part of the clear lens.

The at least one light coupling area may be provided at a first end of a first light conductor facing the installation space or a first end of a second light conductor extending along a region of the light foil.

Each light conductor may be enclosed by the housing and the clear lens.

The light rays from a first illuminant may be subjected to a total reflection at the boundary between the first light conductor and the clear lens outside at least one light decoupling area.

The light rays from a second illuminant may be decoupled along at least a part of the extent of the second light conductor.

The light rays decoupled from the second light conductor may pass at least one of the light foil, the clear lens, and the housing.

The light rays decoupled from the second light conductor may pass an opening in at least one of the light foil and the housing.

The light rays from a third illuminant may be coupled at a first end of a third light conductor and decoupled at the second end of the third light conductor.

There may be a plurality of light decoupling regions provided by at least one of the clear lens and the housing.

There may be a plurality of at least one of light decoupling directions and light decoupling ranges.

There may be a plurality of light decoupling regions, with light having different characteristics being decoupled from the different decoupling regions.

The clear lens may be made out of a polymeric substrate, where the polymeric substrate is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating, and the polymeric substrate and the chromium-based reflective coating are at least in part permeable to light originating from at least one of the light foil and the at least one illuminant.

The coating may be an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

The polymeric substrate may include a polymeric light pipe into which light from a fourth illuminant is coupled.

The alloy may be a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.

The atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy may range from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

The dopant material may be selected from hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

The dopant material may be selected from hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium and cobalt.

The alloy may be a binary alloy and the dopant material may be zirconium where the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy may be in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

The alloy may be a binary alloy and the dopant material may be titanium, and where the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy may be in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

The alloy may be a binary alloy and the dopant material may be cobalt, where the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy may be in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

The coating may have a thickness of 200 nm, 100 nm, be in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, be in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm, or be about 60 nm.

The polymeric substrate may be formed from a material selected from the group of polyacrylate, polyester, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, polyamides, polycarbonate, epoxy, phenolic, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylonitrile-styrene-arylates, acetal and blends of these.

The polymeric substrate may be formed from a material selected from the group of polycarbonate, poly(2,2′-dihydroxyphenylpropane) carbonate, polydiethyleneglycol bis(allyl carbonate), polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene, or blends thereof.

The polymeric substrate may include a pre-coated film in the form of either a hardcoat, an inorganic oxide, or a thin metal film, or a combination of such pre-coated films.

A rear view device of a vehicle may include the multifunction lamp unit.

The illuminant and the light foil may fulfill different light functions.

At least two illuminants may fulfill different light functions.

The rear view device may further include a head moveable relative to the vehicle, with the head including at least one casing part providing at least one opening for the multifunction lamp unit.

The clear lens may extend along the casing part.

The clear lens may be connected at least to the casing part.

The casing part may be provided by a bezel.

The rear view device may include at least one of a camera and a reflective element.

The camera may be arranged within the head.

The rear view device may further include at least one light decoupling region providing at least one of a turn light indicator, a blind spot indicator, a puddle light, a logo light and an approach light.

In another aspect, a multifunctional side turn indicator lamp unit includes a side turn indicator having a housing for at least one light conductor with at least one illuminant; and a projection unit.

The illuminant may include at least one of an LED on a printed circuit board (PCB) and a laser diode and one light foil.

A light source for emitting yellow or amber light may be provided by the illuminant for both the side turn indicator and the projection unit.

The projection unit may include either a light source for emitting white light or two light sources, one for emitting yellow or amber light and another one for emitting white light.

Either the illuminant may include one or more light sources combined physically or electrically with the projection unit, or the projection unit may include one or more light sources either combined physically or electrically with the side turn indicator.

In case at least one clear lens is used with the side turn indicator lamp unit, the side turn indicator lamp unit, including the clear lens and the at least one light conductor, may be produced out of plastic in a 3-component injection procedure, where the refractive index of the plastic of the clear lens is selected to be different from the refractive index of the plastic of the at least one light conductor, and the boundary between the clear lens and the at least one light conductor adjacent to it is at least partly separated by a structure.

In yet another aspect, a rear view device of a vehicle includes a multifunction lamp unit in form of the multifunctional side turn indicator lamp unit.

The rear view device may include at least one casing part providing at least one opening or window for light emitted by the multifunction lamp unit. In case there are at least two casing parts they may provide at least one opening or window there between for light emitted by the multifunction lamp unit.

In case the rear view device has a head moveable relative to the vehicle, the head may include the at least one or two casing parts.

The at least one or two casing parts may be opaque and each window may be transparent.

The at least one casing part and one window may be produced out of plastic in a 2-component injection procedure.

The at least one window may be made of clear or tinted polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC).

The at least one opaque casing part may be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The clear lens may extend along the at least one or two casing parts and/or be connected to at least the at least one or two casing parts.

The rear view device may further include at least one of a camera and a reflective element, and/or at least one light decoupling region providing at least one of a blind spot indicator, a puddle light, a logo light and an approach light, in addition to a side turn indicator light, where the projection unit preferably provides either a side turn indicator light or a logo light.

The at least one casing part may be a scalp part.

The multifunction lamp unit may be mounted to at least one casing part, with preferably at least one PCB of the multifunction lamp unit being mounted to at least one casing part.

A cooling element may be provided, where the at least one PCB of the multifunction lamp unit may be connected to the cooling element.

The above embodiments each allow for a particularly simple and cost effective manufacturing of the rear view device. In case the window for the multifunction lamp unit is solidly connected with a casing part body, it is also particularly stable against mechanical stresses, for example vibrations or shock stresses caused by the movement of a vehicle carrying such a rear view device.

At least one window may be made of clear or tinted polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC). This allows for the unhindered passage of light from the multifunction lamp unit. Moreover, both polymers are also mechanically stable and resistant against heat, UV-degradation and scratches.

The opaque housing part body may be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In this manner, a mechanically stable and warp resistant housing part may be provided.

The at least one housing part may be a scalp part of the mirror housing. The scalp of the mirror housing may be the upper housing part. Alternatively, the window can also be arranged in a lower housing part of the mirror housing, sometimes called the “sword”. Both alternatives allow for an unhindered emission of light from the multifunction lamp unit in the desired directions.

The at least one housing part may be formed integrally with a cover part for a side turn indicator light. A rear view device formed in this way includes a low number of parts and therefore is cost-effective to manufacture and easy to assemble.

The multifunction lamp unit may be fixed relative to the window by means of clips, screws or the like. This allows for an exact adjustment of the multifunction lamp unit, so that the desired lighting effect can be achieved easily.

In a further aspect, a rear view device of a vehicle includes a multifunction lamp unit as described above, where the at least one illuminant includes a projection unit which is adapted to project a symbol onto a road surface and where the rear view device further includes at least one of a turn light indicator, a warning light, a blind spot indicator, a puddle light, a logo light, a welcome light and an approach light; a rear view device actuating unit configured to move the rear view device in a first direction and in a second direction by driving at least one motor, where the rear view device moves in the first direction toward a first position where the rear view device can observe the rear, and the rear view device moves in the second direction toward a second position where the rear view device cannot observe the rear; a control unit configured to receive information about at least one of a state of the rear view device actuating unit and a position of the rear view device, and to instruct the projection unit to change a state of the projection in response to the rear view device being moved based on the received information.

In this manner, the rear view device and the multifunction lamp unit may provide different functions and information depending on the position of the rear view mirror, enhancing their functionality and usefulness. The control unit may receive the information about the state of the actuating unit or the position of the rear view device directly from the actuating unit, via separate sensors, and/or via control signals from a bus system such as a LIN-bus or CAN-bus.

The control unit may be configured to instruct the projection unit to project a turn signal indication symbol onto the road surface in response to the rear view device being in the first position and the control unit receiving a signal indicating an actuation of a turn signal switch. By projecting the turn signal indication symbol, the intent of a driver to turn a vehicle with such a rear view device is made visible to other road users or pedestrians, even if their view of the vehicle's normal turn signal lights is obstructed. This improves traffic safety.

The control unit may be configured to instruct the projection unit to project a logo such as a manufacturer's logo, onto the road surface when the rear view device is in the second position. In the second position of the rear view device, i.e. its folded state, the projection of turn signal indicator symbols is unnecessary since the folded state is usually only adopted in a parked position of the vehicle.

The control unit may be configured to activate the turn light indicator when the rear view device is in the second position and the control unit receives a signal indicating an actuation of a turn signal switch. This allows for signaling the intent to turn even if the rear view device is accidentally or deliberately left in its folded state.

The control unit may be configured to activate the puddle light and/or the logo light when the rear view device is in the second position. Since the second, folded position of the rear view device is usually adopted when the vehicle is parked, the illumination of the immediate environment of the vehicle can assist the driver in entering or leaving the vehicle and helps to alert other traffic participants that a door of the vehicle is likely to be opened, thereby improving traffic safety.

In yet another aspect, a method is provided for operating the rear view device of a vehicle including a multifunction lamp unit as described above, where the at least one illuminant includes a projection unit which is adapted to project a symbol onto a road surface and wherein the rear view device further includes at least one of a turn light indicator, a warning indicator, a blind spot indicator, a puddle light, a logo light, a welcome light, and an approach light, and a rear view device actuating unit configured to move the rear view device in a first direction and in a second direction by driving at least one motor, where the rear view device moves in the first direction toward a first position where the rear view device can observe the rear, and the rear view device moves in the second direction toward a second position where the rear view device cannot observe the rear; wherein a state of the projection of the projection unit is changed when the rear view device is being moved.

It should be appreciated that the advantages of this aspect of the invention and of its embodiments correspond at least to the advantages of the rear view device as detailed above.

The projection unit may project a turn signal indication symbol onto the road surface in response to the rear view device being in the first position and a signal from a turn signal switch being received.

A logo, such as a manufacturer's logo, may be projected onto the road surface in response to the rear view device being in the second position.

The turn light indicator may be activated when the rear view device is in the second position and a signal indicating an actuation of a turn signal switch is received.

The puddle light and/or the logo light may be activated when the rear view device is in the second position.

The color of the projection by the projection unit may be changed when the rear view device changes its state. This allows for an easy distinction whether a projected symbol is relevant for traffic, e.g. a turn signal, or merely decorative, like a logo.

The projection unit may be deactivated when a hazard light is activated. This minimizes the possible distraction of other traffic participants from the hazard light, so that they are more likely to be aware of a dangerous situation, thus improving traffic safety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “rearview” is herein defined as a view of the surrounding area, which is not in the field of view of the driver, i.e. the directions opposing, left, right, below and above of the viewing direction, but can also comprise the view in the direction of the viewing direction of the driver and/or any combinations of the directions.

The term “driver” and “driver of the vehicle” relates to the person controlling the main parameters of the vehicle, such as for example direction, speed and/or altitude, e.g. normally the person located in the location specified for the controlling person, for example a seat, but can also relate to any other person or entity within or outside of the vehicle.

The term “entity” relates here to any biological and non-biological life form, material and/or machine, which can gather the signals with which the vehicle is conveying information and/or induces some kind of action based on this signals. This may include a device, such as a mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, chemical or biological device and/or any combination thereof, for example a computer, a robot, an artificial intelligence, but also an animal and/or a plant.

In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, the use of a singular term, such as, “a” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also the use of relational terms, such as but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” are used in the description for clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims. Further, it should be understood that any one of the features can be used separately or in combination with other features. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a lamp10includes a housing20, a light conductor40, and a clear lens60. Although not illustrated, a light foil may be arranged within the lamp10in accordance with the description of this application. Details related to the light foil are provided at least in reference toFIGS. 6-13and their accompanying description. These three components are manufactured in an injection molding process. For example, the light conductor40can be produced out of PC in a first phase, the clear lens40out of crystal-clear or tinted PMMA in a second phase, and the housing20out of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) in a third phase. As a result, one unit is formed, for example, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3in longitudinal section and cross-section, respectively.

Still referring toFIGS. 1-3, the housing20is formed with a back panel22and two webs24and26to receive the light conductor40between the webs24and26on the back panel22. In addition, a recess28which builds an installation space30for an illuminant, which is not illustrated, is provided in the housing20. The illuminant can include an LED on a printed circuit board, and the installation space30together with all plug boxes can be sealed by a lid32.

The light conductor40features one end having at least one light incoupling area42adjacent to the installation space30. Its surface, which borders the lower surface of the clear lens60, can be provided with a lens system44which provides the total reflection areas46and outcoupling area48for the light that enters the light conductor40at each incoupling area42. Because the clear lens60is formed with a corresponding lens system62on its surface opposite the lens system44of the light conductor40, and also because the refractive indexes of the plastics of the clear lens60and of the light conductor40differ, total reflection at the outcoupling areas48is excluded.

The optical path within a lamp produced according an example of the invention will be explained in more detail below in reference toFIGS. 4 and 5. The illustrated lamp100differs from the lamp10due to a different geometry for the light, whereas the light conductor40of the lamp10has a rectangular shaped cross section.

To be enclosed between the back panel22, the webs24and26of the housing20, and the clear lens60, the light conductor400of the lamp100has a circular cross section, as illustrated inFIG. 5. In addition, the shape of the housing200and the clear lens600of the lamp100ofFIGS. 4 and 5is also adapted to have this circular shape.

The housing200is again configured into an installation space300for an illuminant by means of a recess230.

The light conductor400in turn features incoupling areas420for light rays from the illuminant, these light rays propagating in the form of the light rays700in the light conductor400in order to be deflected into the total reflecting light rays710at the total reflection areas460and into the light rays720leaving the lamp100at the outcoupling areas480.

The shape of the clear lens600is adapted not only to the shape of the light conductor400, but can also satisfy any design requirements on the lamp100. For example, the surface can feature a wave form as illustrated inFIG. 5.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a cross section of another embodiment of a multifunction lamp unit1110making use of a light foil1115is illustrated. The lamp unit1110is provided as a single module which can be easily installed in a rear view device of a vehicle. Such a rear view device can include at least one reflective element and/or camera. The outer surface of the module is adapted to the contour of the rear view device into which it is to be installed. Further details on such an adaption are, in particular, described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,950,914 B2 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The lamp unit1110includes a housing1111with a first recess11111for housing a first illuminant or light source with a printed circuit board1112carrying an LED1113. Light emitted from the first light source1112,1113is coupled into a first light conductor1114, with the respective light being decoupled from the first light conductor1114at one end of the lamp unit1110.

The lamp unit1110further includes a second light source in the form of a light foil1115. Such light foils are known in the form of, for example, light tapes of the company Light Tape Limited or in the form of a printed lighting as distributed by the company Center of Process Innovation Limited. Making usage of such a light foil1115reduces the overall weight of the lamp unit1110and enables the production of smaller modules. Still further, the use of light foils1115allows in-process integration as it can be inserted into a mould and over-mould.

The light foil1115extends along a light window1116which is provided as a lid for the housing1111. The connection between the light window1116and the housing1111is suited to provide a sealed module which is beneficial when used in an external rear view device.

Still further, the light foil1115is connected with a control unit1117arranged within a second recess11112of the housing1111. This control unit1117may also be connected to the printed circuit board1112and a control device within the vehicle to which the rear view device with the lamp unit1110is attached.

As depicted inFIG. 6, the light foil1115extends from one end of the lamp unit1110to the other end thereof and, thus, overlaps the first light source1112,1113and the first light conductor1114. The light foil1115runs parallel to the interior surface of the light window1116.

The light window1116is acting as a clear lens and is connected to a casing part1120of the rear view device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,950,914 B2.

From the outside of the lamp unit1110ofFIG. 6, a viewer can only see the light foil1115through the light window1116, whereas the first light source1112,1113and the first light conductor1114are hidden. In order to also hide the light foil1115when it is not lit, the light window1116can be coated with a chromium-based reflective coating which is translucent. In fact, it is preferred to produce the light window1116from a polymeric substrate coated with a chromium-based reflective coating as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/936,024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 8depicts a polymeric substrate in the form of a clear lens1336or light window provided with a coating1340. The coating1340is at least in part permeable to light originating, for example, from a light foil placed behind the clear lens1336.

Thus, it is possible to hide both light sources shown inFIG. 6, i.e. the printed circuit board1112, the LED1113and the light foil1115, and to hide the light conductor1114by making usage of the lens1336together with the coating1340instead of the light window1116. The light unit1110can be integrated into a casing with a metallic coating such that the whole surface will have an appealing metallic look. As soon as the light foil1114is lit, respective light rays will pass not only through the lens1336but also through the chromium-based coating1340thereon. But the first light source1112,1113and the first light conductor1114will remain hidden.

FIG. 9illustrates light rays1440emitted from a light foil within a lamp unit1446as well as a light cone1450decoupled from a light conductor into which light from an LED is coupled in line with the embodiment ofFIG. 6. Different functions can be fulfilled by said light rays1440and said light cone1450.

For example, the lamp unit1416can be a turn signal indicator module of a rear view device of a vehicle, in particular an exterior mirror, such that the light cone1450has to fulfill the ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) regulations ensuring that a region beginning from 5° from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, up to 60° to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in the opposite direction of movement is lit up. The light rays1440could provide a decorative effect or additional warning effect.

FIG. 7shows an alternative embodiment of a multifunctional lamp unit1210of the invention which, in contrast to the lamp unit1110ofFIG. 6, has three light sources. The lamp unit1210makes usage not only of a first printed circuit board1222and a first LED1223for coupling light into a first conductor1224and a light foil1235, but in addition uses a second printed circuit board1212and a second LED1213for coupling light into a second conductor1214. The light foil1235extends along a lens1336and overlaps both of the other two light sources1212,1213and1222,1223as well as their respective light conductors1214,1224. The lens1336is coated with the translucent chromium-based coat, but does not have to be coated.

Thus, in addition to the first light source1222,1223and the second light source1235, the lamp unit1250includes the third light source1212,1213.FIG. 10andFIG. 11illustrate light cones decoupled from the first and third light sources1222,1223and1212,1213.

Referring toFIG. 10, a multifunction lamp unit1516emits light rays along its lens in analogy to the lamp unit1416ofFIG. 9. The respective light rays are not shown inFIG. 10.FIG. 10rather serves to explains light decoupled from two light conductors as the two light conductors1214and1224ofFIG. 7. In fact, the first light conductor1224guides all light to one end of the lamp unit1516such that there is a light cone1550, whereas the second light conductor1214decouples light along its extension such that there is a light cone1560as shown inFIG. 10.

Referring toFIG. 10, each of the light cones1550and1560as well as the light rays emitted from the light foil can fulfill different functions. For example, the light cone1550could be used as a turn signal, whereas the light cone1560could be used as an approach light and the light rays emitted from the light foil could have decorative purposes.

Further possibilities of light emissions from multifunctional lamp units of the invention are shown inFIGS. 11 to 13. Those examples are not restricted to the ones illustrated. There are many more possibilities which lie within the knowledge of a person having ordinary skill in the art.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 11, which is providing a slight alternative to the one ofFIG. 10, a lamp unit1616is provided with two light sources each including a printed circuit board and an LED as well as a light guide such that the light cones1650,1660can be decoupled into selected directions. The directions of the light cones1650,1660depend on the functions to be fulfilled. In addition a light foil can be used to emit light ray homogeneously along the lens, although not shown.

FIG. 12shows a lamp unit2110which is installed within a rear view device, e.g. an exterior mirror. A casing part2120of the rear view device is shown to overlap one side of the lamp unit2110, which can be the underside. The casing part2120is provided with a transparent region2121through which a light cone2130can be emitted on the ground in order to provide a puddle light function. The light cone2130could come from a specially oriented third light source and/or light conductor.

The embodiment ofFIG. 13shows another lamp unit3110arranged within a rear view device, e.g. a camera port, having a casing part3120with an opening3121. A light conductor3200is extending from the lamp unit3110towards the opening3121within the casing part3120such that light can be guided into a specific direction to fulfill a specific function which could be the function of a logo lamp.

In an example, the rearview device may also be equipped with different illumination devices. Different functions and devices may be incorporated into and/or controlled with the help of rearview devices including cameras.

Functions and devices to enhance, extend and/or sustain the functionality of the rearview device during normal or extreme conditions are useful. This may include heating and/or cooling means, cleaning means such as wipers, liquid and/or gaseous sprays, actuator means for moving the rearview device or parts of it, such as a display, a camera system and/or parts of a camera system, including lenses, filters, light sources, adaptive optics like deformable mirrors, sensors and/or mirrors, actuator means for inducing movement of other objects such as parts of the vehicle and/or objects surrounding the vehicle, and/or other optical elements. Furthermore, it may include linear tracks and/or rotating wheels such as for example a filter wheel, for exchanging optical elements, including lenses, mirrors, light sources, sensors, adaptive optics like deformable mirrors, filters, and/or other optical elements.

Some examples for functions and devices incorporated into and/or controlled with the help of rearview devices include illumination devices such as any kind of light module like an external light module, an internal light module, a front light, a back light, a fog light, a brake light, an acceleration light, a turn signal, a logo lamp, a puddle light, a flash light, a navigation light, a position light, an emergency light, a spotlight, a green light, a red light, a warning light, a turn signal light module, an approach light, a search light, an information light, a display and/or any combination thereof.

As shown inFIG. 14, a projection unit710can be incorporated into a rear view device720of a vehicle700to provide the ability to project symbols730onto a road surface. In the example shown, the projection unit710acts as an additional side turn indicator and projects the symbol730when a side turn indicator switch of the vehicle700is actuated by a driver of the vehicle. Further examples of symbols730for indicating an impending side turn are summarized in reference toFIG. 15. While this particular embodiment of the invention is discussed in the context of a multifunction lamp unit having a projection unit710, all of the following holds true for any form of multifunction lamp unit discussed above.

FIG. 16shows a first possibility for the integration of the projection unit710into a multifunction lamp unit4110. In this example, the projection unit710is formed integrally with a turn signal indicator light4120of the lamp unit4110. The turn signal indicator light4120may be formed like the lamp10,100or1110described above.

As shown inFIG. 17, the turn signal indicator light4120may also be connected via wires4130to the projection unit710.

Various possibilities for arranging the projection unit710within the rear view device720are illustrated inFIGS. 18 to 21.

For example, as illustrated in the example ofFIG. 16, a clear window740for the projection unit710is provided by a cover4140of the turn signal indicator light4120according toFIG. 18. The clear window740is arranged to cover an opening765between a scalp portion750and a lower casing portion770of a casing760of the rear view device720.

In another example, as depicted inFIG. 19, the cover4140of the turn signal indicator light4120can be arranged to cover an alternative opening766between the scalp portion750and the lower casing portion770of the rear view device720, with the scalp portion750being provided with an additional opening755through which the window740of the projection unit710extends.

In a further example, as illustrated inFIG. 20and referring back toFIG. 17with the turn signal indicator light4120being connected via wires4130to the projection unit710, the window740can be placed within an opening775of the lower casing portion770, also known as the “sword” of the rear view device720.

In all three examples mentioned above, the window740and/or cover4140may be formed integrally with the respective surrounding part, i.e. the scalp portion750or the lower casing portion770of the casing760, by means of 2-component injection molding. This allows for a particularly fast and easy production of the respective part of the rear view device720. Nevertheless, they are not limited to being formed as such.

The window740and/or cover4140may be formed out of transparent, clear or tinted PC or PMMA, while the remainder of the respective part is formed from HDPE, PP or ABS. This yields a scratch-resistant and UV-resistant window740and/or cover4140, which preserves its optical quality. Thus, the display quality for the multi-function lamp unit is preserved, and a mechanically stable and warp-resistant housing part750,770,4140is provided.

The order of the 2-component injection process can be adapted to any particular case, i.e. it is possible to first inject the polymer for the window740, followed by the polymer for the surrounding part750,770,4140or vice versa.

FIG. 21shows a partially opened rear view device720after removal of the scalp portion750, and with the multifunction lamp ofFIG. 18, an upper casing portion780, and a bezel790.

In modern vehicles700, rear view devices720are often foldable, i.e. they can be moved from their operational position as shown inFIG. 14to a folded position, in which they are arranged flatly against the side of the vehicle700. The folded position is used for example when the vehicle700is parked, in order to save lateral space. The folding and unfolding movement of the rear view device720is usually actuated by at least one electrical motor, a shaped memory alloy actuator or the like.

If the projection unit710is incorporated into such a foldable rear view device720, the projection function can be changed depending on the respective position of the rear view device720. For example, the projection unit710can project a turn indicator symbol730when the rear view device720is in its operational position, as shown inFIG. 14. When the rear view device720is moved into its folded position (not shown), the projection can be changed to emit, for example, a manufacturer's logo or the like. It is further possible to change the color of the projection in this case too. For example, the turn indicator symbol730is preferably shown in yellow or amber, to stay in line with the usual color coding of side turn indicator lights. To distinguish the functional and decorative projections, the logo can then be shown in a different color, for example white or blue, which is usually not associated with traffic-related signals.

When the projection unit710is incorporated into a multifunction lamp unit4110, as shown in example ofFIG. 16, further functions of the lamp unit4110can be changed when the rear view device720is folded or unfolded. For example, a turn signal indicator light may still be activated when the rear view device720is in its folded state. Additionally, a puddle light or logo light of the lamp unit4110can be activated when the rear view device720is transitioning into its folded state or upon reaching the folded state, this provides assistance for a driver of the vehicle700when entering or exiting the vehicle700. The function of the projection unit710can also be modified depending on the activity of other functions of the lamp unit4110. For example, the projection unit710may be deactivated when a hazard light is activated in order to minimize distractions to other traffic participants in hazardous situations.

In order to provide the above mentioned functions, the folding mechanism of the rear view device720and the lamp unit4110can be connected to a control unit (not shown). The control unit may issue instructions to the various components of the multifunction lamp unit4110including the projection unit710. The control unit may also receive information about the position of the rear view device720, either directly from an actuator unit of the folding mechanism or from other control units in the vehicle700. This can be achieved, for example, via a bus connection like a CAN-bus, a LIN-bus or the like.

Further examples for functions and devices incorporated into and/or controlled with the help of rearview devices may include for example a tiredness detection system, a microsleep detection system, a distance and/or velocity determination system, such as a LIDAR (Light detection and ranging) system, a blind spot indicator system, a lane change assistant system, a navigation assistant system, a tracking assistant system, a human-machine interaction system, a machine-machine interaction system, an emergency and precaution assistant system, like an accident avoiding assistant system, a counter-measures assistant system, a brake assistant system, a steering assistant system, an acceleration assistant system, an escape assistant system, including for example an ejection seat system, a direction indicator, a blind spot indicator, an approach system, a strong braking system, an emergency braking system, a charging status indicator, a vehicle mode system, including for example a sports mode system, an economy mode system, an autonomous drive mode system, a sleep mode system and an anti-theft system, a vehicle locked indicator system, a vehicle stolen indicator, a warning signal system, a temperature indicator system, a weather indicator system, a traffic light signal system, a fuel status system and/or any combination thereof.

An example for a rearview device including an illumination device fulfilling the brake light functions is described in German Patent Application No. 102012108488, filed on Sep. 11, 2012 for REARVIEW ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A light guidance unit for an illumination device used in a back vision system is described in German Patent Application No. 102012104529, filed on May 25, 2012 for LIGHT GUIDANCE UNIT, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. An illumination device for a rearview device is described in German Patent Application No. 102012107833, filed on Aug. 24, 2012 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE AND REARVIEW DEVICE which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A lighting device for a back-vision unit is described in German Patent Application No. 102012107834, filed on Aug. 24, 2012 for LIGHTING DEVICE AND BACK-VISION UNIT, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A housing and display device of a rearview device is disclosed in European Patent No. 2738043, filed on Dec. 3, 2012 for HOUSING AND DISPLAY DEVICE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. An optical light guide for a vehicle lighting unit is described in European Patent No. 2947378, filed on May 22, 2014 for OPTICAL LIGHT GUIDE FOR A VEHICLE LIGHTING UNIT, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A display device of a rearview device of a vehicle is disclosed in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2015/173695, filed on May 7, 2015 for DISPLAY DEVICE, REAR VIEW DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE and claiming priority to European Patent Application No. 2944866, filed on May 12, 2014 for OPTICAL UNIT, DISPLAY DEVICE, REAR VIEW DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Further a light guiding device for an illumination device, in particular for a motor vehicle or a display device, in a rearview device of a motor vehicle is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 3045944, filed on Jan. 19, 2015 for LIGHT GUIDING DEVICE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Still further a light guiding device for an illumination device, especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearview device of a motor vehicle is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/228,566, filed on Aug. 4, 2016, for LIGHT GUIDING DEVICE and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/000,733, filed on Jan. 19, 2016 for LIGHT GUIDING DEVICE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In addition, an illumination device, particularly for a rear-view device of a motor vehicle and a method for producing the same are described in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2016/147154, filed on Mar. 18, 2016 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE and claiming priority to German Patent Application No. 102015104163, filed on Mar. 19, 2015 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. An improved rear-view device for a motor vehicle which includes an electronic device is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/256,532, filed on Sep. 3, 2016 for ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND REAR-VIEW DEVICE and claiming priority to European patent application No. 3139711, filed on Sep. 3, 2015 for ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND REAR VIEW DEVICE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A lighting device for a rearview device or a footwell device of a vehicle, including at least one luminous means is described in German Patent Application No. 102015115555, filed on Sep. 9, 2015 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE, REAR VIEW DEVICE, FOOTWELL DEVICE AND VEHICLE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. A light module for a light assembly of an exterior rear view device is described in European Patent Application No. 3138734, filed on Sep. 3, 2015 for LIGHT MODULE, LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND REAR VIEW DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A lighting device for a vehicle component, in particular for a rearview device of a motor vehicle, including a logo lamp and a deflection mirror are described in European Patent Application No. 3144183, filed on Sep. 13, 2016 for LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICLE COMPONENT AND VEHICLE and claiming priority to German Utility Patent Application No. 202015104894, filed on Sep. 15, 2015 for LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICLE COMPONENT AND VEHICLE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

A camera module may include a plurality of different optical elements, such as but not limited to a variety of sensors, light sources, and housing parts.

The housing of a camera module may be made out of plastic, metal, glass, any other suitable material and/or any combinations thereof and may be used in combination with the techniques described below to change or modify the properties of the material or the material surface. Housings are, for example, described in German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3, filed on May 3, 2016 for CLEANING SYSTEM FOR A CAMERA and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, filed on Sep. 30, 2016 for TELESCOPING REARVIEW ASSEMBLY WITH CAMERA AND LENS WIPING SYSTEM, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The camera may include for example CCD or CMOS or light field sensors, as for example described in German Patent Application No. 102011053999, filed Sep. 28, 2011 for DETECTION SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL DETECTION OF OBJECT AND/OR REGION OF SPACE FOR DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND/OR DISPLAY SYSTEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE, HAS OPTICAL SENSOR ARRANGED AS LIGHT FIELD SENSOR FOR DETECTION and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140, filed on Jan. 26, 2001 for MONITORING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR, MOTOR VEHICLES, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,925, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Also an area of the sensor can be reserved for different purposes, for example to detect a test beam, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, filed on Sep. 9, 2014 for CAMERA SYSTEM, METHOD FOR OPERATION OF A CAMERA SYSTEM AND SENSOR DEVICE OF A CAMERA SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The optical elements may be molded or formed from any type of glass or any other suitable material. Glass is herein defined as a non-crystalline amorphous solid showing a glass transition when heated towards the liquid state. It includes, for example, the group of polymeric glasses, metallic glasses, silica glasses, but any other suitable material showing the glass transition may be used. The glass may be in a flat, wedge, rectangular, cylindrical, spherical, conical, elliptical, and/or circular shape, as described for example in German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3, and German Patent Application No. 102011103200, filed on May 31, 2011 for LIGHT WINDOW FOR USE AS LIGHT CONDUCTOR FOR TURN INDICATOR IN OUTSIDE MIRROR ARRANGEMENT OF VEHICLE, HAS UNCOUPLING STRUCTURES AT CERTAIN LOCATION OF WINDOW, AND OPTICAL FILM WITH MOLDED COATING AND PROVIDED WITH UNCOUPLING STRUCTURES, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The glass may also have a shape according to different needs or lens types. As non-limiting examples, camera modules may be equipped with lenses, like a wide-angle or fish-eye lens suitable to provide peripheral images, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,127, filed on Apr. 19, 2011 for REAR VIEW MIRROR SIMULATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,238,434, a Fresnel lens or micro lenses as described in German Patent Application No. 102011053999, filed on Sep. 28, 2011 for DETECTION SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL DETECTION OF OBJECT AND/OR REGION OF SPACE FOR DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND/OR DISPLAY SYSTEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE, HAS OPTICAL SENSOR ARRANGED AS LIGHT FIELD SENSOR FOR DETECTION, and a TIR (total internal reflection) lens as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,427, filed on Sep. 8, 2010 for OPTIMAL LIGHT COUPLING FOR REAR VIEW DEVICES, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Another type of optical element know to be used in camera modules are optical fibers, such as fiber bundles and preferably fiber bundles having an optical head, as described for example in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140, filed on Jan. 26, 2001 for MONITORING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR, MOTOR VEHICLES, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,925, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. Different methods can be used to produce such optical elements, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,060, filed on Jan. 30, 2009 for METHOD FOR CREATING A COMPLEX SURFACE ON A SUBSTRATE OF GLASS, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

The optical elements can be transparent as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/242,829, filed on Sep. 23, 2011 and published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0154587 for CAMERA ARRANGEMENT AND DOOR HANDLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. But the optical elements can also be semitransparent, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,127, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Still further, the optical elements can be completely or partially coated with different types of coatings to realize different effects, such as for example anti-reflective coatings as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, chromium-based reflective coatings as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,181,616, filed on Jan. 24, 2012 for CHROMIUM-BASED REFLECTIVE COATING, and other coatings, for example for polymeric substrates as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/936,024, filed on Nov. 9, 2015 for COATED POLYMERIC SUBSTRATES and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/124,310, filed on Feb. 20, 2015 and published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0015802 for DECORATIVE COATINGS FOR PLASTIC SUBSTRATES, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Preferably the optical elements are made of a scratch-proof material as described for example in German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The optical elements can have uncoupling structures at certain locations of the optical elements, and an optical film, for example an extrusion film, and a molded coating can be applied as described in German Patent Application No. 102011103200, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A coating to spectrally and stress control is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/124,310, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Different filters can be integrated into the optical elements such as for example gray filters or polarization filters, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/809,509, filed on Jul. 27, 2015 and published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0096487, for APPARATUS FOR LIGHT INTENSITY ADJUSTMENT, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Electrochromic substrates, polymer electrolytes and other charge conducting medias may be used for the optical elements based on the descriptions of European Patent Application No. 08103179.1, filed on Mar. 31, 2008 for PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ELECTROCHROMIC SUBSTRATES AND ELECTROCHROMIC ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, European Patent No. 2202826, filed on Dec. 23, 2008 for POLYMER ELECTROLYTES AND DEVICES CONTAINING, U.S. Pat. No. 7,999,992, filed on Jan. 7, 2005 for CHARGE CONDUCTING MEDIUM_and U.S. Pat. No. 8,537,451, filed on Mar. 26, 2008 for PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING ELECTROCHROMIC SUBSTRATES AND ELECTROCHROMIC ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The camera module can also be equipped with apparatuses for light intensity adjustment as described for example in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/809,509 and light level intensifier tubes as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The electrochromic substrates and devices used in European Patent Application No. 08103179.1, European Patent No. 2202826, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,999,992, and 8,537,451, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, can also be used for this purpose as well as a transflector to transmit or reflect light based on a corresponding input signal, as described in German Patent Application No. 102016106126.3, filed on Apr. 4, 2016 for IMAGING SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The camera module or a cover adapted to the camera module can be moved using different actuators, drives and/or a flexible track, as for example described in German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, filed on Sep. 30, 2016 for TELESCOPING REARVIEW ASSEMBLY WITH CAMERA AND LENS WIPING SYSTEM, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Still further, the camera module can also include cleaning elements to clean the optical element facing outwards and being exposed to the environment. The cleaning element can for example include wipers, brushes, lips, nozzles, fans and similar elements as are described in European Patent Application No. 14165197.6, filed on Apr. 17, 2014 for OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, CLEANING DEVICE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING AN OPTICAL SYSTEM, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, filed on Sep. 30, 2016 for TELESCOPING REARVIEW ASSEMBLY WITH CAMERA AND LENS WIPING SYSTEM, German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3, European Patent Application No. 13163677.1, filed on Apr. 15, 2013 for LENS WIPER, European Patent Application No. 15173201.3, filed on Jun. 22, 2015 for LENS CLEANING WITH FLEXIBLE ACTUATOR and European Patent No. 1673260, filed on Oct. 14, 2003 for CLEANING DEVICE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The cleaning devices are not limited in composition, and may for example include any fabric, elastomeric, sponge, brush, or combination of these. Special wiper elements including wiper arms, wiper blades, wiping cloth, wiping tissue and combinations thereof are described in European Patent Application No. 14165197.6, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A wiper element may for example be controlled according to the method described in European Patent Application No. 130164250.6, filed on Apr. 18, 2013 for METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIPER DEVICE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. A reservoir for holding a cleaning liquid as described in European Patent Application No. 14165197.6, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Such a reservoir can be attached to or integrated into the camera module to provide the cleaning liquid to the optical elements of the camera module.

Different methods may be used to detect dirt or other obscurations preventing or reducing the functioning of the camera module, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,395,514, filed on Jun. 24, 2008 for OPTICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING OPTICAL SYSTEM OBSCURATION IN A VEHICLE, European Patent No. 1328141, filed on January 12, for ASSEMBLY HAVING A CONDUCTOR FROM FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, filed on Sep. 9, 2014 for CAMERA SYSTEM, METHOD FOR OPERATION OF A CAMERA SYSTEM AND SENSOR DEVICE OF A CAMERA SYSTEM, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Also, light sources can be installed or integrated into the camera module to increase the visibility of surrounding objects, measure distances and directions and detect dirt, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, filed on Sep. 9, 2014 for CAMERA SYSTEM, METHOD FOR OPERATION OF A CAMERA SYSTEM AND SENSOR DEVICE OF A CAMERA SYSTEM, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/470,658, filed on Mar. 13, 2017, 2016 for LIGHT EMITTING MIRROR BEZEL and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140, filed on Jan. 26, 2001 for MONITORING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR, MOTOR VEHICLES, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Different heating means, like heating coils, heating devices integrated into the lens holder or the bezel, or other heating elements can be used to impede condensation and icing at the surface of optical elements, as for example described in German Patent Application No. 102016108247.3, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/470,658, and German Patent Application No. 102016107545.0, filed on Apr. 22, 2016 for HEATING DEVICE FOR A CAMERA LENS, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

A watertight seal against weather effects, as well as against the influence of washing processes with detergents, solvents and high pressure cleaners can be used on the housing of the camera module as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,127, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

In another example, the housing can be made of a body including plastic and conductive material, wherein the conductive material is dispersed in the plastic material to form a conductive mass to allow a power source, preferably a DC voltage source, to connect via at least two electrodes to the body and heat the body accordingly, as described in German Patent Application No. 102016107545.0, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

A conductor track can be embedded within plastic parts of the camera module as described in European Patent No. 1328141 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,311, filed on Jan. 12, 2002 for CONDUCTOR OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, COMPONENT COMPRISING SUCH FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SUCH CONDUCTOR, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The camera module may include a power harvesting system as described for example in European Patent Application No. 09171683.7, filed on Sep. 29, 2009 for SELF SUSTAINING REAR VIEW MIRROR, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

A fault detection system for electric consumers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,487,633, filed on Jan. 14, 2010 for FAULT DETECTION OF ELECTRIC CONSUMERS IN MOTOR VEHICLES, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, can be used to detect failure of the camera module.

Different types of fixings can be used to fix the camera module to the vehicle or other components, such as for example the snap-fit connection described in European Patent No. 2233360, filed on Mar. 27, 2009 for SNAP FIT CONNECTION IN A REAR VIEW MIRROR, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Different control means and analyzing devices can be used, such as the computation units described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,127, German Patent Application No. 102016106126.3, German Patent Application No. 102011053999, European Patent No. 2146325, filed on July 16, for RECORDING DEVICE FOR RECEIVING, PROCESSING AND STORING IMAGE FILES IN A VEHICLE AND METHOD, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,849,104, filed on Jul. 16, 2008 for RECORDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING AND PROCESSING IMAGE DATA IN A VEHICLE, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In addition, HDR (high dynamical range) technology can be used according to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/830,406, filed on Aug. 19, 2015 for REAR VIEW DEVICE FOR A MOTOR and published as US 2015/0358590, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

There are many more variations of the amount of light sources, the type of light sources and the relative arrangement of the light sources within a multifunctional lamp unit of the invention. The invention is restricted neither to special rear view devices nor to special arrangements of a lamp unit with such a device.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the figures can be essential for realizing the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in any desired combination.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS