Patent ID: 7140755

Claim:
A security lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, comprising: an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle, said assembly including a housing and a mount for attachment to the side of the vehicle; said assembly including a reflective element and an actuator for positioning said reflective element about at least one axis, said reflective element positioned in said housing; said assembly further including a floodlight; said floodlight comprising a light source; said floodlight projecting a pattern of light from said assembly on at least an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area when said assembly is mounted to the side of the vehicle and when said light source is actuated; said floodlight adapted to project said pattern of light at least generally rearwardly and downwardly to contact the ground at a vicinity of entry and exit by occupants of the vehicle to establish a lighted security zone; a control system including radio frequency receiving circuitry in the vehicle and a remote transmitter wherein said radio frequency receiving circuitry is responsive to receipt of a signal from said remote transmitter, said control system actuating said light source in response to receipt of said signal; said remote transmitter comprising a transmitting device carried by a vehicle operator, said control system including a door lock circuit whereby a door of the vehicle either locks or unlocks in response to receipt of said signal from said remote transmitter; said control system including connection with an interior light circuit for actuating a vehicular interior light whereby said interior light actuates in response to receipt of said signal from said remote transmitter; and said control system including a timeout circuit that deactuates said actuated interior light after a delay and deactuates said actuated floodlight after a delay.