# US 11,077,801 B2 · Vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly with blind spot indicator module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,801 B2 - Document ID: US11077801B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/929,456 - Filed: 2020-05-04 - Published: 2020-08-20 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-24 - Assignees: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Applicants: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Inventors: Keith D. Foote; Niall R. Lynam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077801B2 ## CPC - B60R 1/1207: {with lamps; with turn indicators} - B60Q 1/0076: {Switches therefor (B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence)} - B60Q 1/0088: {Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195)} - B60Q 1/2607: {comprising at least two indicating lamps} - B60Q 1/2665: {on rear-view mirrors (lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258)} - B60Q 1/2696: {Mounting of devices using LEDs} - B60Q 1/34: for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence) - B60Q 1/503: {using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text} - B60R 1/0602: {comprising means for cleaning or deicing} - B60R 1/072: for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing - B60R 1/08: involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots {, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors (B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence)} - B60R 1/081: {avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors} - B60R 1/088: {using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors} - F21V 23/005: {the substrate is supporting also the light source} - F21V 23/0464: {the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors} - G08G 1/167: {Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection} - B60R 2001/1215: {with information displays} - B60R 2300/802: for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views - B60R 2300/8093: for obstacle warning - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element, a mirror reflector, a mirror back plate, a heater pad and a blind spot indicator module. The heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate and has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with an aperture of the mirror back plate. The blind spot indicator module includes a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion. Light emitted by at least one light emitting diode of the blind spot indicator module passes through the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and through a light-transmitting portion of the mirror reflector and exits the mirror reflective element to provide a visual icon visible to a driver of the vehicle who is driving the vehicle and who is viewing said mirror reflective element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, a heater pad and a blind spot indicator module; said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; a mirror reflector disposed at one selected from the group consisting of (i) the front side of said transparent glass substrate and (ii) the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; wherein said mirror back plate comprises 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 the second side of said mirror back plate being closer than the 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 the first side of said mirror back plate by the plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to an electrically operable mirror actuator of said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from the first side to the second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; wherein the aperture is established through said mirror back plate by the plastic injection molding operation; wherein said heater pad is disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and the second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with the aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with the light transmitting portion of said heater pad; wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion; wherein said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure configured for securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate; wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light; wherein the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module is configured for electrically connecting the circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle; wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of 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 the light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through the 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; and wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated during a daytime driving condition, the visual icon (i) has a luminance of at least 5,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness and (ii) has a luminance of less than 30,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises a light guide that guides light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode of said blind spot indicator module to exit said mirror reflective element in a desired direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle, the desired direction is toward the side of the equipped vehicle at which said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator module is adhesively attached at said mirror back plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module is formed from a white plastic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflective element, and wherein the light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector comprises a transflective portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the light transmitting portion of said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting window established through said mirror reflector by laser ablation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the light transmitting portion of said heater pad comprises an aperture through said heater pad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the visual icon comprises a triangular shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module comprises a diffuse reflective surface, and wherein the diffuse reflective surface diffusely reflects light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle, and during a nighttime driving condition, luminance of the visual icon is reduced responsive to an ambient light sensing photosensor of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflector is disposed at the front side of said transparent glass substrate, and wherein said transparent glass substrate comprises a rear transparent glass substrate of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front transparent glass substrate with an electrically-dimmable electrochromic medium disposed between said front transparent glass substrate and said rear transparent glass substrate, and wherein said mirror reflector is in electrical contact with said electrically-dimmable electrochromic medium. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a front end of the body portion of said blind spot indicator module is non-parallel with a rear end of the body portion of said blind spot indicator module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises an indicia element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the cooperating structure of said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure molded into said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate, respectively. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate comprise comprises snap attachment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle, circuitry disposed at said circuit board receives a power feed from a LIN bus controller of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises at least one organic light emitting diode. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind spot indicator module is sealed so as to be substantially water impervious. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals that extend from the circuit board into the connector portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module comprises an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly that is configured to mount at a driver side of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly that is configured to mount at a passenger side of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 27 A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, a heater pad and a blind spot indicator module; said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; a mirror reflector disposed at one selected from the group consisting of (i) the front side of said transparent glass substrate and (ii) the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; wherein said mirror back plate comprises 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 the second side of said mirror back plate being closer than the 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 the first side of said mirror back plate by the plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to an electrically operable mirror actuator of said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from the first side to the second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; wherein the aperture is established through said mirror back plate by the plastic injection molding operation; wherein said heater pad is disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and the second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has an aperture that is aligned with the aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with the aperture of said heater pad; wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion; wherein said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure configured for securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate; wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light; wherein the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module is configured for electrically connecting the circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle; wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle, the circuitry disposed at said circuit board receives a power feed from a LIN bus controller of the equipped vehicle; wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of 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 the aperture of said heater pad and through the 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; and wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated during a daytime driving condition, the visual icon (i) has a luminance of at least 5,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness and (ii) has a luminance of less than 30,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said blind spot indicator module is adhesively attached at said mirror back plate. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module is formed from a white plastic material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module comprises a diffuse reflective surface, and wherein the diffuse reflective surface diffusely reflects light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle, and during a nighttime driving condition, luminance of the visual icon is reduced responsive to an ambient light sensing photosensor of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein a front end of the body portion of said blind spot indicator module is non-parallel with a rear end of the body portion of said blind spot indicator module. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the cooperating structure of said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure molded into said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate, respectively, and wherein securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate comprise comprises snap attachment. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said blind spot indicator module is sealed so as to be substantially water impervious. ### Claim 36 A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, a heater pad and a blind spot indicator module; said mirror reflective element comprising a transparent glass substrate having a front side and a rear side; a mirror reflector disposed at one selected from the group consisting of (i) the front side of said transparent glass substrate and (ii) the rear side of said transparent glass substrate; wherein said mirror back plate comprises 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 the second side of said mirror back plate being closer than the 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 the first side of said mirror back plate by the plastic injection molding operation; wherein said mirror actuator attaching portion comprises structure for attaching said mirror back plate to an electrically operable mirror actuator of said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture extending from the first side to the second side through the plate thickness of said mirror back plate; wherein the aperture is established through said mirror back plate by the plastic injection molding operation; wherein said heater pad is disposed between the rear side of said transparent glass substrate and the second side of said mirror back plate; wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that is aligned with the aperture of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflector comprises a light transmitting portion that is aligned with the light transmitting portion of said heater pad; wherein said blind spot indicator module comprises a body portion and a connector portion extending from the body portion; wherein said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure configured for securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate; wherein said blind spot indicator module is associated with a blind spot detection system of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module houses a circuit board; wherein circuitry is disposed at said circuit board, the circuitry comprising at least one light emitting diode electrically activatable to emit light; wherein said circuit board comprises electrical terminals that extend from the circuit board into the connector portion; wherein the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module is configured for electrically connecting the circuitry of said circuit board at least to electrical power when said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of the equipped vehicle; wherein the connector portion of said blind spot indicator module comprises an electrical socket connector for electrically connecting circuitry of the circuit board to an electrical plug connector of said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module comprises a diffuse reflective surface, and wherein the diffuse reflective surface diffusely reflects light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode; wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of 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 the light transmitting portion of said heater pad and through the 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; and wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle and with said at least one light emitting diode electrically activated during a daytime driving condition, the visual icon (i) has a luminance of at least 5,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness and (ii) has a luminance of less than 30,000 candelas/square meter as viewed along its axis of highest brightness. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein said blind spot indicator module is adhesively attached at said mirror back plate. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein the body portion of said blind spot indicator module is formed from a white plastic material. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein the light transmitting portion of said heater pad comprises an aperture through said heater pad. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the equipped vehicle, and during a nighttime driving condition, luminance of the visual icon is reduced responsive to an ambient light sensing photosensor of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 42 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein a front end of the body portion of said blind spot indicator module is non-parallel with a rear end of the body portion of said blind spot indicator module. ### Claim 43 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein the cooperating structure of said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate comprise cooperating structure molded into said blind spot indicator module and said mirror back plate, respectively, and wherein securement of said blind spot indicator module to said mirror back plate comprise comprises snap attachment. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein said blind spot indicator module is sealed so as to be substantially water impervious.