Patent Description:
<CIT> relates to a rear-view mirror with multiple interchangeable signals for vehicles.

Passenger vehicles, such as cars, trucks, etc., typically include winglets, such as side mirrors, sideview mirrors, external rearview mirrors, cameras or radars. Vehicle winglets are typically mounted outside the vehicle cabin to allow the driver to see the environment to the side of the vehicle. The winglets may be folded inward when, for example, the vehicle is parked so as to protect the winglets from accidental collision or impact from other vehicles passing by. This may be done by a motor housed within the winglet, for example.

It has been known to equip the winglets with a lighted turn signal that illuminates. For example, when the driver of the vehicle activates a turn signal indicator (such as a lever), a light within the winglet may correspondingly activate to indicate to other vehicles that the driver intends to turn or change directions. If the driver activates the turn signal indicator so as to indicate an intention to turn left or change direction toward the left, the turn signal within the left-side winglet may correspondingly illuminate. The right-side winglet may have a similar turn signal that illuminates in response to the driver activating the turn signal indicator so as to indicate an intention to turn right or change direction toward the right.

In one embodiment, a vehicle winglet includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed thereon. A light guide is connected to and covers the LEDs. The light guide is made of a translucent material and is configured to guide light illuminated by the LEDs and transfer the light out of the light guide. The light guide includes a plurality of light guide towers extending therefrom, each light guide tower aligned with a respective one of the LEDs. In some embodiments, a plurality of collimators are provided, with each collimator aligned with a respective one of the LEDs. The collimators are configured to redirect light illumined from the respective one of the LEDs into a respective one of the light guide towers.

In another embodiment, a sequential blinker assembly for a vehicle winglet is provided. A cover is coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB). First and second light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged along the PCB, the first and second LEDs configured to illuminate in a sequence. A light guide is coupled to the cover and covering the PCB. The light guide has a main body, a first light guide tower extending from the main body and aligned with the first LED, and a second light guide tower extending from the main body and aligned with the second LED. First and second collimators are provided, with the first collimator aligned with the first LED and configured to redirect light into the first light guide tower, and the second collimator aligned with the second LED and configured to redirect light into the second light guide tower.

In yet another embodiment, a system for sequentially illuminating regions of a vehicle winglet during a turn signal event is provided. A plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are configured to illuminate in sequence. A light guide extends over the LEDs, the light guide having a main body and a plurality of light guide towers extending therefrom, each light guide tower aligned with a respective one of the LEDs. A plurality of collimators are provided, with each configured to direct light from a respective one of the LEDs into a respective one of the light guide towers. An outer shell defining a plurality of pockets is configured to receive the light guide towers, wherein the outer shell separates the light guide towers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the Figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other Figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.

Directional terms used herein (e.g., "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "top," "bottom," etc.) are intended to refer to the orientation of how the various components are illustrated in the Figures, and how the winglet disclosed herein is oriented relative to an upright vehicle. These terms are intended for contextual purposes.

This application is directed to a turn signal on a winglet of a vehicle. The vehicle winglet can include an external rearview mirror, a wing mirror, sideview mirror, camera, radar, lidar, or other such terms that refer to a winglet extending outside the vehicle cabin.

Modern vehicle winglets may be equipped with turn signals that can illuminate. This may be accomplished with a light source such as an incandescent bulb or a light emitting diode (LED). The light source may be placed directly in front of and aligned with a translucent portion of the winglet such that some or all of the light from the light source can pass directly from the light source through the translucent portion. The winglet may also be provided with light reflectors that reflect the light from the light source toward the translucent portion of the winglet. Sequential blinkers are also known in which LEDs are energized in a sequential manner in response to the turn signal switch being activated.

According to various embodiments described herein, a vehicle winglet is equipped with a sequential blinker provided with an array of light sources (e.g., LEDs) and corresponding light guides. In certain embodiments, each light guide is aligned with a respective one of the light sources, and also includes an optical prism or collimator to align the light from the light source for more effective light being shone through the winglet. The light sources may be arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) that is connected (e.g., over-molded) with the light guides.

<FIG> show examples of sequential turn signals with sequential illumination that can be activated by the methods described herein. For example, <FIG> illustrates a winglet <NUM> configured to extend from an external side <NUM> of a vehicle <NUM>. The winglet <NUM> includes a strip <NUM> with a plurality of designs, such as arrows <NUM> formed thereon. The arrows <NUM> may be etched or otherwise formed on the strip <NUM>. The entire strip <NUM> may be translucent, such that some or all light can pass through. Alternatively, only the regions of the strip <NUM> where the arrows <NUM> are located may be translucent. In response to the driver activating the turn signal (in this case, the right turn signal), the arrows <NUM> illuminate in a sequential pattern, for example in the direction indicated by arrow <NUM>. Once all of the arrows <NUM> are illuminated, at least some of the arrows <NUM> may be dimmed or darkened, until one-by-one the arrows <NUM> are again illuminated in the direction indicated by arrow <NUM>.

<FIG> shows another example of sequential illumination of the winglet during a turn-signal event. In this embodiment, a winglet <NUM> is provided with a translucent region <NUM> which may be or include a lens cover. A plurality of illuminating bars <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. may be provided that are illuminated in the direction of arrow <NUM> when activated. The bars may increase in size along the direction of arrow <NUM>; bar <NUM> may be larger than bar <NUM>, which may, in turn, be larger than bar <NUM>. Thus, as the bars <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. are illuminated, an increasing size of illuminated bars appears visible to outsiders.

Each bar <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. may be a light guide such as those described below. The translucent region <NUM> may be optional, and instead the light guides <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. may be interconnected with an exterior surface of a skull cap <NUM> of the winglet <NUM>. As will be described, each light guide <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. may be aligned with a respective light source (e.g., LED) located beneath a respective one of the light guides (i.e., below each bar with respect to the orientation shown in <FIG>). Thus, as each light source is illuminated, light travels from that light source and up a respective one of the light guides <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc..

<FIG> is another example of sequential illumination of the winglet during a turn-signal event. Here, a winglet <NUM> includes a plurality of light guides <NUM> that collectively form a logo (such as one to identify the brand of the vehicle) when all light guides <NUM> are illuminated. Separate portions of the logo may be aligned with a respective one of the light sources; for example, using the design "LOGO" shown in <FIG>, each of the letters "L", "O", "G", and "O" may be aligned with a respective light source (e.g., LED). As the light sources (e.g., LEDs) are activated in the direction of the arrow <NUM>, the full design "LOGO" becomes illuminated.

In another example, the sequential illumination is made in multiple directions, such as from left to right, right to left, middle inside to outside, or combinations of the same. This may be a "welcome" feature when, for example, the driver locks or unlocks the vehicle, the vehicle senses the mobile device (e.g., cellular phone, key fob, wearable device such as a watch, etc.) entering within a certain range of the vehicle, the driver calling for an automatic start of the vehicle, etc. For example, in response to the driver pressing the unlock button on the mobile device, the lights on the winglet illuminate from left to right, and then right to left, and then all lights remain illuminated until the driver enters the vehicle and/or starts the engine. This disclosure is also not limited to only illuminating the lights in a linear fashion; the lights may also illuminate with a strobe light pattern, revolving light pattern, an alternating light pattern, a flashing light, a pulsating light, an oscillating light or any combination thereof. Additionally, references to "illuminating" herein can also mean modulating the power intensity of the lights to create a variable intensity light signal.

<FIG> are merely examples of sequential illumination of light sources (e.g., LEDs) and light guides in a vehicle winglet. The remaining Figures illustrate various embodiments of structure configured to provide such sequential illumination. The structure described below can be configured to provide the sequential illumination shown in <FIG>, for example.

<FIG> illustrate one example of a sequential blinker assembly <NUM> for implementation in any of the winglets described above. <FIG> shows a front cross-sectional view of the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> taken from a perspective of a front of the vehicle (i.e., the same perspective as <FIG>), with a skull cap <NUM> removed for clarity. <FIG> shows a side cross-sectional view of the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> taken along line <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, with the skull cap <NUM> included. <FIG> shows a top cross-sectional view of the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> taken along line <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, with the skull cap <NUM> included.

Referring to <FIG>, the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of components assembled together, including a PCB with light sources, a light guide, a cover, electrical connects, etc., that will be described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> includes a PCB <NUM> powered by an external power source (not shown) via an electrical connector <NUM>, such as an electrically-conductive pathway like a copper wire, coupled to the PCB <NUM>.

The PCB <NUM> supports and delivers power to a plurality of light sources. The light sources can include LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Each LED <NUM>-<NUM> may be arranged linearly along the PCB <NUM>. Spaced above the PCB <NUM> is a light guide <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> is configured to transmit the light emitting from the LEDs with high light transmissivity and low light loss.

The light guide <NUM> may be a molded, single-piece component made of a plastic, such as acrylic or polycarbonate for example. The light guide <NUM> has a plurality of light guide towers, such as light guide tower <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. When assembled, each light guide tower is aligned vertically with a respective one of the LEDs. For example, light guide tower <NUM> is aligned with LED <NUM>, light guide tower <NUM> is aligned with LED <NUM>, light guide tower <NUM> is aligned with LED <NUM>, and light guide tower <NUM> is aligned with LED <NUM>. The light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> may extend vertically away from the main body of the light guide <NUM>, and may be horizontally separated from one another by air, the skull cap <NUM> (described below), or other structure to give the appearance of a separate illuminated bar or strip as each LED is illuminated.

The light guide <NUM> may be connected to a cover <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may support the PCB <NUM> from beneath, or may be spaced vertically from the PCB <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> can be connected to the cover <NUM> in multiple locations by a snap-fit or via fasteners during assembly. The cover <NUM> may also extend beneath the light guide <NUM> and wrap around the rear of the light guide <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The cover <NUM> may be made of any suitable material configured for light-weight support (e.g., plastic), and may be indirectly or directly mounted to other parts of the winglet for proper fixation of the sequential blinker assembly <NUM>.

As mentioned above, each light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM> is aligned vertically with a respective one of the LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>. Thus, when each of the LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> are individually illuminated during operation of the sequential blinker (e.g., from left to right in <FIG>), light is correspondingly guided through each respective light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM> sequentially. These light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> are visible from the outside of the vehicle, and provide the appearance of a sequential blinker (such as shown in <FIG>) as the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> are sequentially illuminated. The light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> may also be covered and aligned with a translucent strip (such as those described above with reference to <FIG>) such that illumination of each light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM> illuminates a respective pattern, such as an arrow, a letter, a portion of a logo, the "welcome" feature described above, etc..

The light guide <NUM> may also be provided with collimators to help guide the light. For example, the light guide <NUM> may have a plurality of collimators <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> each aligned with a respective one of the light guide towers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Also, each collimator <NUM>-<NUM> can be integrally formed during the molding process of the light guide <NUM>. The collimators <NUM>-<NUM> are convex lens-shaped features that can narrow the light emitted from each of the LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, causing the direction of motion of the light from each LED to be more parallel as the light moves toward the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM>. As each LED <NUM>-<NUM> is illuminated, the light hits a respective collimator <NUM>-<NUM> to travel vertically into a respective light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM>. With the help of the collimators <NUM>-<NUM>, the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> has a designated light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM> for each LED <NUM>-<NUM> as the LEDs are illumined sequentially.

Vehicle winglets, or side mirrors, can also include a skull cap, known in the art. Skull caps typically are the outer-most shell or housing component of a winglet. Skull caps typically cover an upper portion of the winglet, and fasten to another shell component either beneath the skull cap or on the side of the vehicle.

<FIG> show one embodiment of the skull cap <NUM> for attachment to the sequential blinker assembly <NUM>. The skull cap <NUM> can be formed to include a plurality of indentations or pockets <NUM>. Each pocket <NUM> is sized and configured to receive a respective one of the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM>. As shown in the view of <FIG>, this can create an undulating or serpentine shape of the skull cap <NUM> with intermittent locations of light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM>.

The skull cap <NUM> may contact and partially surround the rear, unexposed side of the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM>. Each of the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> may include surface features to engage the skull cap <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the light guide tower <NUM> includes a rear surface <NUM> that includes corrugated or ribbed surface features. This can facilitate a connection to a front surface <NUM> of the skull cap <NUM>. An adhesive may be provided in the area between the rear surface <NUM> of the light guide tower <NUM> and the front surface <NUM> of the skull cap <NUM>.

The sequential blinker assembly <NUM> can also include a frame or housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is located beneath the skull cap <NUM> and can fasten or otherwise secure to the skull cap <NUM>. The housing <NUM> can also support and/or attach to the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> from beneath. The combination of the housing <NUM> and the skull cap <NUM> can encapsulate the sequential blinker within the winglet.

Referring back to <FIG>, the sequential blinker assembly <NUM> also includes an additional light source or LED <NUM> positioned on the PCB <NUM>. The additional LED <NUM> is not aligned with a respective light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM>, but it is instead aligned with an optics prism <NUM> formed by surface features on the light guide <NUM>. The optics prism <NUM> includes a plurality of inclined, angled, or tapered surfaces that facilitate the distribution of light from the additional LED <NUM> in many multiple directions. This allows the light from the additional LED <NUM> to be sent through the light guide <NUM> at various angles, creating a full, consistent illumination of the entire light guide <NUM> when the additional LED <NUM> is activated. In other words, the optics prism <NUM> allows the activation of the additional LED <NUM> to illuminate a majority of the light guide <NUM>, as opposed to the collimators <NUM>-<NUM> which specifically direct the light in a single direction (e.g., up the light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM>). In one embodiment, the additional LED <NUM> is activated sequentially after all of the other LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> have been activated to create a more full, brighter light throughout the light guide <NUM>. In another embodiment, the additional LED <NUM> is activated sequentially before any of the other LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> are activated to create a general full-body light in the light guide <NUM> before each light guide tower <NUM>-<NUM> is more brightly illuminated in sequence.

<FIG> illustrates another example of a sequential blinker assembly <NUM>. The sequential blinker assembly includes identical or similar structure as the embodiment of <FIG> unless otherwise described below. The sequential blinker assembly <NUM> includes the LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> and the additional LED <NUM>, along with light guide towers <NUM>-<NUM> as in the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, a light guide <NUM> is over-molded onto the cover <NUM>. This provides a molded connection between the light guide <NUM> and the cover <NUM> that is made during formation of the light guide <NUM>.

Also in this embodiment, the optics prism and one or more of the collimators are not formed as integral features of the light guide, but are rather separately connected. For example, one or more of the collimators, such as collimator <NUM>, can be adhered, fastened, or otherwise secured within the light guide <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> can also be over-molded onto one or more of the collimator <NUM>. Likewise, an optics prism <NUM> can be adhered, fastened, or otherwise secured within the light guide <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> can also be over-molded onto the optics prism <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the over-molded light guide <NUM> includes regions <NUM> that fill the space between each respective collimator <NUM>. In contrast, the light guide <NUM> in the embodiment of <FIG> includes legs that extend downward on either side of each LED <NUM>-<NUM>.

It should be understood that some of the features of the various embodiments disclosed above can be combined to form new embodiments of the sequential blinker assembly.

While not shown in the Figures, the LEDs are selectively illuminated by commands sent from a controller. The controller is on-board the PCB <NUM>, such as controller <NUM> (such as shown in <FIG>). Alternatively, in an embodiment not covered by the claims, the controller may be outside of the vehicle winglet and instead housed within the vehicle itself. The controller can be connected to other controllers in a hierarchy, such as an electronic control unit ("ECU"). The controller may include a processor, memory, and non-volatile storage. The processor may include one or more devices selected from microprocessors, micro-controllers, digital signal processors, microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gate arrays, programmable logic devices, state machines, logic circuits, analog circuits, digital circuits, or any other devices that manipulate signals (analog or digital) based on computer-executable instructions residing in memory. The memory may include a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices including, but not limited to, random access memory ("RAM"), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static random-access memory ("SRAM"), dynamic random-access memory ("DRAM"), flash memory, cache memory, or any other device capable of storing information. The non-volatile storage may include one or more persistent data storage devices such as a hard drive, optical drive, tape drive, non-volatile solid-state device, or any other device capable of persistently storing information. Executable instructions may include, for example, activating the LEDs in sequence based on a signal indicating the turn signal within the vehicle cabin has been activated by the driver.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extent any embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.

Claim 1:
A vehicle winglet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) equipped with a sequential blinker and comprising:
a printed circuit board -PCB - (<NUM>) having a plurality of light-emitting diodes - LEDs - (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed thereon; and
a light guide (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected to and covering the LEDs (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
the light guide (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) made of a translucent material and configured to guide light illuminated by the LEDs (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and transfer the light out of the light guide (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
the light guide (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) including a plurality of light guide towers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending therefrom,
each light guide tower (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) aligned with a respective one of the LEDs (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>),
wherein each of the LEDs (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are individually illuminated during operation of the sequential blinker, light is correspondingly guided through each respective light guide tower (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) sequentially; and
the winglet further comprising a controller on-board the PCB (<NUM>) and configured to sequentially illuminate the LEDs (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in response to a signal indicating a turn signal has been activated or in response to a lock or unlock signal received from a mobile device,
wherein the winglet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) further comprises an additional LED (<NUM>) disposed on the PCB (<NUM>),
wherein the additional LED (<NUM>) is not aligned with a light guide tower, and
wherein the light guide (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes an optics prism (<NUM>, <NUM>) aligned with the additional LED (<NUM>), wherein the optics prism (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a plurality of inclined, angled or tapered surfaces configured to facilitate the distribution of light emitted from the additional LED (<NUM>) throughout the light guide (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).