Mirror reflective element sub-assembly for vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

• a mirror reflective element;
• said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side;
• a mirror reflector disposed at the front side of said transparent glass substrate or disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate;
• a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation;
• said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween;
• wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side of said mirror back plate to the rear side of said transparent glass substrate;
• said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side of said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation;
• wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly, and wherein said mirror actuator comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator;
• wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate;
• wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation;
• a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate;
• wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate;
• wherein said light transmitting portion of said heater pad comprises an aperture through said heater pad;
• wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light-transmitting portion that is aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad;
• wherein said light-transmitting portion of said mirror reflector comprises a light-transmitting window established through said mirror reflector by laser ablation;
• a blind spot indicator module comprising a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion;
• wherein the connector portion extends laterally from the body portion;
• wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly;
• wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board;
• wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, said circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light;
• wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals extending therefrom;
• wherein the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board extend into the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light-transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said circuit board is orientated so that said at least one light emitting diode faces towards said mirror reflective element and, when electrically activated, emits light towards said mirror reflective element;
• and
• wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises a diffuser element to diffuse light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode.

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:

• a mirror reflective element;
• said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side;
• a mirror reflector disposed at the front side of said transparent glass substrate or disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate;
• a mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation;
• said mirror back plate comprising a first side and a second side and having a plate thickness therebetween;
• wherein said mirror back plate is disposed at the rear side of said transparent glass substrate with said second side of said mirror back plate being closer than said first side of said mirror back plate to the rear side of said transparent glass substrate;
• said mirror back plate comprising a mirror actuator attaching portion that is established at said first side of said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation;
• wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to a mirror actuator of an exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly, and wherein said mirror actuator comprises an electrically operable mirror actuator;
• wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from said first side to said second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate;
• wherein said aperture is established through said mirror back plate by said plastic injection molding operation;
• a heater pad disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and said second side of said mirror back plate;
• wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with said aperture of said mirror back plate;
• wherein said light transmitting portion of said heater pad comprises an aperture through said heater pad;
• wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light-transmitting portion that is aligned with said light transmitting portion of said heater pad;
• wherein said light-transmitting portion of said mirror reflector comprises a light-transmitting window established through said mirror reflector by laser ablation;
• a blind spot indicator module comprising a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion;
• wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly;
• wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board;
• wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, said circuitry comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes electrically activatable to emit light;
• wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals extending therefrom;
• wherein the electrical terminals extending from the circuit board extend into the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module forming an electrical connector configured for connection to another electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly is mounted at the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, with the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly mounted at the equipped vehicle and with said plurality of light emitting diodes electrically activated, light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes passes through said light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through said light-transmitting portion of said mirror reflector and exits said mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is driving the equipped vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said circuit board is orientated so that said plurality of light emitting diodes face towards said mirror reflective element and, when electrically activated, emit light towards said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises a diffuser element to diffuse light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes;
• and
• wherein the electrical terminals extending from said circuit board and the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module form an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of the exterior rearview mirror assembly utilizing said mirror reflective element sub-assembly.