Patent EP-3600963-A2 (EP)
Title: Rear view assembly for a motor vehicle with interchangeable approach lamp
Inventor: BELCHER SIMON
IPC: B60R1/12
Filed: 2018-03-29
Abstract: The invention refers to a system for providing interchangeable approach lamps for use with an external rear view assembly (1), the system comprising: a first approach lamp module (11) comprising a first housing comprising a front face (16), a rear face (14), a first side face (15), a second side face (18), a proximal face (17) and a distal face (13), the proximal face (17) comprising an aperture for receiving a power cable; a first set of mounting surfaces located on the first housing, the first set comprising one or more mounting surfaces (29); a first printed circuit board (26) mounted adjacent the rear face (14), the first printed circuit board (26) further comprising a power connector (27), a first electronic circuit (25) and a first light source (24) mounted on the first printed circuit board (26), a first optical assembly (21, 23) mounted to receive light from the first light source (24) and comprising a first light exiting surface (21) projecting out of the front face of the first housing; and a second approach lamp module (12) comprising a second housing comprising a front face (16), a rear face (14), a first side face (15), a second side face (18), a proximal face (17) and a distal face (13), the proximal face (17) comprising an aperture for receiving a power cable; a second set of mounting surfaces located on the second housing, the second set comprising one or more mounting surfaces (29); a second printed circuit board (26) mounted adjacent the rear face (14), the second printed circuit board (26) further comprising a power connector (27), a second electronic circuit (49) and a second light source (24) mounted on the second printed circuit board, a second optical assembly (41, 43, 45, 46) mounted to receive light from the second light source (24) and comprising a projection assembly for projecting a logo or a mask, and a second light exiting surface (41) projecting out of the front face of the second housing, wherein the locations of each of the first set of mounting surfaces (29) and the locations of each of the second set of mounting surfaces (29) are identical, and a location and a size of the first light exiting surface (21) is identical to a location and size of the second light exiting surface (41) and a location of the first light source (24) is identical to a location of the second light source (24) such that a distance from the rear face (14) of the first housing to the first light exiting surface (21) is the same as the distance from the rear face (14) of the second housing to the second light exiting surface (41), each location relative to the locations of each of the first set of mounting surfaces (29), so that in use, each of the first approach lamp module (11) and the second approach lamp module (12) are mounted in the same location in the side mirror assembly (1) and project light through an external aperture (9) in the side mirror assembly (1) to allow interchanging of the approach lamp modules (11, 12). The invention also refers to an approach lamp module for use in such a system, an external rear view side mirror assembly for a motor vehicle with such a system and a method of replacing an installed approach lamp for use in such a system.