Patent Publication Number: US-7594742-B2

Title: Exterior mirror for a vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is related to an exterior mirror of a vehicle according the German Patent application DE 102006025070.2 which is incorporated by reference. 
   Exterior mirrors, into which a light function is integrated, which is provided as a turning signal, are known. Therefore, a turning signal module is integrated into a forward wall of the mirror housing. Within the mirror housing, various components, as e.g. an actuator motor for tilting the mirror, for a respective heater, or for pivoting the exterior mirror into a parking position, are located. 
   It is the object of the invention to provide an exterior mirror for a vehicle, whose application area is expanded in spite of the limited installation space available. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object is accomplished by an exterior mirror of a vehicle with an opening facing rearward in assembled state, in a housing with a cavity, into which a mirror can be received, and a forward wall confining the cavity with an exterior surface, where 
   at least two different light functions can be performed on the exterior surface and/or on the mirror, wherein the light functions comprise illuminants, which are grouped into one or several modules within the housing. 
   Advantageous embodiments and advantages of the invention can be derived from the description. 
   The exterior mirror of a vehicle according to the invention has an opening, facing backward when mounted, in a housing with a cavity, into which a mirror can be received, as well as a forward wall with an exterior surface, confining the cavity. At least two different light functions can be incorporated into the exterior surface and/or the mirror, wherein the light functions comprise illuminants, which are grouped within the housing in one or several, in particular few, preferably a maximum of two modules. The integration of the light functions is performed via the module or the modules with various signal functions, which are installed into the outside mirror. Preferably, at least one light function, or signal function is associated with each module. It is thereby advantageous that also a plurality of illuminants can be used for establishing a light function, which can be arranged on the module in a very compact manner. Wiring can be very short, or can be integrated into the module, e.g. as conductive paths of a circuit board. A circuit board can then be used as a carrier of the illuminant(s), for mounting in the housing, and also for energy supply. By the same token, illuminants for various light functions can be provided in a common module. A common light control unit can be provided, which is integrated into the housing. A module preferably comprises one or several carriers for the illuminant(s), power supply means, mounting means for mounting into the housing, as well as electronics for controlling the illuminant(s). The illuminants can radiate light to the outside through corresponding openings in the housing, or they are inserted into the housing as an insert forming the module. 
   The module(s) are preferably disposed on the inside of the forward wall. In a particularly advantageous manner, the module is provided with electrical elements for activating the various light functions, which are distributed over few circuit boards in the cavity, e.g. over one or two circuit boards. A person skilled in the art will select a suitable number according to requirements. Thereby, an assembly is possible also in limited installation spaces. 
   The illuminants can be disposed in an insert forming a module, which is formed into the forward wall of the outer mirror. This allows an advantageous assembly of a lighting device for one or several light functions before assembling the exterior mirror, and thus facilitates the assembly of the exterior mirror. Furthermore, the insert can be provided very compact. A translucent light disc can be provided on the insert, so that it can easily be inserted into the outside mirror and a separate seal can be avoided. However, alternatively, a separate cover or similar can be provided. 
   Additionally or alternatively, at least one forward facing indentation can be provided in the forward wall, which has a pass-through for an illuminant, which faces outward from the cavity. Here the at least one indentation can be provided oval and/or an indentation can be provided round. 
   In an advantageous manner, the at least one indentation serves as a reflector of the illuminant. If LEDs (light emitting diodes) are being used as illuminants, the indentation can reflect the radiated light at least partially, so that a certain direction is given to the radiated light. If the light function is, for example, a day driving light, a preceding vehicle is better capable to detect the subsequent vehicle, which improves traffic safety. 
   The oval indentation can be disposed approximately horizontal, wherein the illuminant is located in an area of a rim close to the mirror, with the indentation extending away from the rim. 
   In an advantageous manner, the indentation can be provided deep enough, so that a lateral recognition of the light function is possible. 
   In a particularly advantageous manner, each illuminant can be provided with a seal, sealing to the outside. Thus a penetration of dust or humidity into the exterior mirror can be avoided. 
   The seal is preferably provided as a clear layer above the illuminants, e.g. cast over them as a coating. 
   The seal is advantageously placed as onto the housing as a cover. Thus the cover can extend over the entire forward wall, or the cover can be confined to an area with the one or several indentations and/or the insert. 
   Preferably the light functions are at least two from the group comprising signal light, day running light, side marking light (SML), parking light, position light (PO-light), boundary light, curb light, blind spot monitoring light (SWA). The blind spot monitoring light preferably backlights a display, which the driver can see in the mirror glass, while the other light functions are disposed preferably in the area of the forward wall, which cannot be seen directly by the driver, and whose lighting devices radiate light downward, forward, to the side and/or upward. 
   The illuminants can be advantageously provided so that different colors can be represented. Thus the blind spot monitoring light can shine in a color depending on the distance to an obstacle. This can be accomplished with means known to a person skilled in the art like e.g. filter elements or various color illuminants, which can be activated accordingly. 
   According to a further independent aspect of the invention, on an exterior mirror of a vehicle with an opening facing backwards in an assembled state, in a housing with a cavity, into which a mirror can be received, as well as a forward wall confining the cavity with an outer surface, at least two different light functions can be provided on the outer surface and/or on the mirror, wherein the light functions comprise illuminants, which are grouped in one or several modules within the housing, and wherein at least one backward facing indentation is provided in the forward wall, which has a pass-through for an illuminant, which faces outward from the cavity. 
   According to a further independent aspect of the invention, with an exterior mirror of a vehicle with an opening facing backwards in an assembled state, in a housing with a cavity, into which a mirror can be received, as well as a forward wall confining the cavity with an outer surface, at least two different light functions can be provided on the outer surface and/or on the mirror, wherein the light functions comprise illuminants, which are grouped in one or several modules within the housing, and wherein the illuminants are arranged in an insert forming a module, which is integrated into the forward wall. 
   Further advantages and details of the invention are subsequently explained in more detail, based on the preferred embodiments described in the drawing, without being confined to these embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     It is shown in: 
       FIGS. 1   a, b  an exterior mirror according to a first preferred embodiment with indentation in a top view (a) and as a sectional view (b); and 
       FIGS. 2   a, b  an outside mirror according to a second preferred embodiment with an insert with illuminants in a top view (a) and as a sectional view (b). 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In the figures, elements with the same functions are designated with the same respective reference numerals. 
   The  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrate a first preferred embodiment of an exterior mirror  10  of a vehicle according to the invention in a top view onto a forward wall  34  ( FIG. 1   a ), and as a sectional view along the line b-b ( FIG. 1   b ). 
   The exterior mirror  10  is mounted to the body of a vehicle with a vehicle side adapter  46 , which is only symbolized in the figure. The exterior mirror  10  comprises a housing  12  with a cavity  16  and with an opening  36  facing rearward in assembled state, into which a mirror  18  is inserted. The cavity  16  is confined in forward direction through a bulging forward wall  34  with an exterior surface  14 . 
   On the forward  34  several different light functions or signal functions are displayed, whose illuminants  20 ,  22 ,  24  are grouped in a schematically symbolized module  42 , which is internally mounted to the forward wall  34 . 
   In an exemplary manner, the illuminants  22  can be associated e.g. with a position light, and illuminants  24  with a downward radiating curb light, while the illuminants  20 , which are preferably provided as LEDs, can be used as signal lights. The four illuminants  20  are inserted into four forward facing indentations  30  and protrude from the cavity  16  through one respective pass-through  32  in the forward wall  34  of the housing  12  towards the outside. The oval indentations  30  extend approximately horizontal, wherein the illuminants  20  are located in the area of the rim  44  of the housing  12 , close to the mirror, and the indentation  30  extends away from the rim  44 . The indentations  30  serve as a kind of reflector of the illuminant  20  and allow a recognition of the illuminants  20  from the front and from the side through an at least moderate directional effect upon the light. 
   The indentation  30  can preferably be provided deep enough, so that a lateral recognition of the light function is provided. 
   The illuminants  20 , and also  22 , and  24  are provided with a seal  40  sealing towards the outside, which is placed onto the forward wall  34  of the exterior mirror  10  as a transparent cover. The seal  40 , which is provided as a cover also allows a downward light radiation. Through the flat and all covering configuration of the seal  40 , the interior of the exterior mirror  10  is protected against contamination or against moisture penetration, and the seal  40  can be easily cleaned from the outside. 
   In  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , an alternative embodiment of a preferred exterior mirror  10  is shown, wherein  FIG. 2   a  shows a top view and  FIG. 2   b  shows a cut view along the line b-b. A combination of the two embodiments according to  FIGS. 1   a, b  and  FIGS. 2   a, b  is also possible. 
   The exterior mirror  10  is mounted to the body of a vehicle with a vehicle adapter  46 , which is only symbolized in the figure. The exterior mirror  10  comprises a housing  12  with a cavity  16  and with an opening  36  facing backwards in the assembled state, into which a mirror  18  with an actuator motor  38  for tilting the mirror  18  is inserted. The cavity  16  is confined in forward direction through a forward bulging forward wall  34  with an exterior surface  14 . 
   On the forward wall  34  several different light functions or signal functions are depicted, whose illuminants  26 ,  28  are grouped in a module  48 , which is integrated into the forward wall  34 . Therefore, the forward wall  34  has an opening  30   a.    
   The five illuminants  26  protrude into the openings  32   a  within forward opened reflectors  30   b , and they are surrounded with a ring shaped plurality of illuminants  28 , out of which only a few are designated for reasons of clarity. The illuminants  28  also sit in small reflectors that are not designated in more detail. The illuminants  26  and  28  preferably radiate light in various colors. 
   The module  48 , which is provided as an insert is covered with a seal  40 , provided as a transparent cover, and protected against the penetration of dirt and humidity. The seal  40  can be a component of the module  48 , or a respective cover over the entire forward wall  34  can be provided like in the first embodiment.