# US 12,112,637 B2 · Exterior mirror assembly with blind zone indication module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,112,637 B2 - Document ID: US12112637B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/653,494 - Filed: 2022-03-04 - Published: 2022-06-16 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-28 - Assignees: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Applicants: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Inventors: Craig Kendall; Jeremy R. Shooks; Mark E. Kramer; Mark L. Larson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112637B2 ## CPC - G08G 1/167: {Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection} - B60R 1/006: {Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle (combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10)} - B60R 1/06: mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} - B60R 1/12: Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks - B60R 1/1207: {with lamps; with turn indicators} - B60R 2001/1215: {with information displays} - 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}) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, and a blind zone indication module having a light source that is electrically powered to emit light. When the light source of the blind zone indication module is electrically powered, light emitted by the light source passing through (i) a light-transmitting portion of a housing of the blind zone indication module and (ii) a light-transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate illuminates an icon that is viewable to a driver of the vehicle who views the mirror reflective element. Illumination of the icon is responsive to a blind spot detection system of the vehicle detecting presence of another vehicle that is traveling in the same direction and in a lane adjacent to a lane that the equipped vehicle is traveling in and that is approaching or is overtaking the equipped vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate coated with a mirror reflector; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a light-transmitting aperture; a blind zone indication module having a light source that is electrically powered to emit light; wherein said blind zone indication module is disposed at said mirror back plate, and wherein said light source is electrically powered to emit light through said mirror reflective element; wherein said light source comprises at least two light emitting diodes disposed at a circuit board of said blind zone indication module; wherein said circuit board comprises circuitry and electrically conductive terminals, and wherein said electrically conductive terminals extend into a connector portion of a housing of said blind zone indication module; wherein said connector portion, with said electrically conductive terminals therein, is configured to connect to a connector of a wire harness of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said circuit board comprises a constant current circuit, and wherein the constant current circuit generates a constant current over a range of voltages provided via the wire harness of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly by a power source of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein at least two light emitting diodes of the at least two light emitting diodes are electrically connected in series at said circuit board; wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a diffuser that diffuses light emitted by the at least two light emitting diodes when the at least two light emitting diodes are electrically powered to emit light; wherein, when the at least two light emitting diodes electrically connected in series at said circuit board are electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the at least two light emitting diodes passing through (i) a light-transmitting portion of said housing of said blind zone indication module and (ii) the light-transmitting aperture of said mirror back plate illuminates an icon that is viewable to a driver of the equipped vehicle who views said mirror reflective element of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the icon comprises a light-transmitting window through said mirror reflector of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element; and wherein illumination of the icon is responsive to a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle detecting presence of another vehicle that is traveling in the same direction as that of the equipped vehicle in a lane adjacent to a lane that the equipped vehicle is traveling in and that is approaching or is overtaking the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 2 (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 the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a front glass substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface spaced from the first surface by a thickness dimension of the front glass substrate, and wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a rear glass substrate having a third surface and an opposing fourth surface spaced from the third surface by a thickness dimension of the rear glass substrate, and wherein the rear glass substrate comprises said mirror reflector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic medium disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate, the electrochromic medium bounded by a perimeter seal that spaces the third surface of the rear glass substrate from the second surface of the front glass substrate, and wherein the fourth surface of the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a rear side of said mirror reflective element, and wherein the third surface of the rear glass substrate is coated with said mirror reflector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein no dimension of the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element extends beyond any dimension of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein a perimeter metallic band circumscribes a border region of the second surface of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element, the perimeter metallic band masking the perimeter seal of the electrochromic mirror reflective element from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, changes with ambient light at the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the ambient light at the equipped vehicle is sensed by a photosensor of the equipped vehicle, and wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, varies responsive to an output of the photosensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, changes in accordance with pulse width modulation of voltage applied to the at least two light emitting diodes when electrically powered to emit light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a nighttime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of less than 1,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a nighttime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of less than 800 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, as daytime transitions to dusk and then to night, luminance of the icon, when illuminated, decreases. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein, as daytime transitions to dusk and then to night, luminance of the icon, when illuminated, progressively decreases. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein, as daytime transitions to dusk and then to night, luminance of the icon, when illuminated, stepwise decreases. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein, as daytime transitions to dusk and then to night, luminance of the icon, when illuminated, decreases responsive to ambient light detection by a photosensor of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the icon comprises a triangular shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the constant current generated by the constant current circuit that is passed by any one of the at least two light emitting diodes when electrically powered to emit light has an amperage less than 100 milliamps. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least two light emitting diodes comprise three light emitting diodes that are electrically connected in series at said circuit board. ### Claim 17 A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate coated with a mirror reflector; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a light-transmitting aperture; a blind zone indication module having a light source that is electrically powered to emit light; wherein said blind zone indication module is disposed at said mirror back plate, and wherein said light source is electrically powered to emit light through said mirror reflective element; wherein said light source comprises at least two light emitting diodes disposed at a circuit board of said blind zone indication module; wherein said circuit board comprises circuitry and electrically conductive terminals, and wherein said electrically conductive terminals extend into a connector portion of a housing of said blind zone indication module; wherein said connector portion, with said electrically conductive terminals therein, is configured to connect to a connector of a wire harness of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said circuit board comprises a constant current circuit, and wherein the constant current circuit generates a constant current over a range of voltages provided via the wire harness of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly by a power source of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein at least two light emitting diodes of the at least two light emitting diodes are electrically connected in series at said circuit board; wherein the constant current generated by the constant current circuit that is passed by any one of the at least two light emitting diodes when electrically powered to emit light has an amperage less than 100 milliamps; wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a diffuser that diffuses light emitted by the at least two light emitting diodes when the at least two light emitting diodes are electrically powered to emit light; wherein, when the at least two light emitting diodes electrically connected in series at said circuit board are electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the at least two light emitting diodes passing through (i) a light-transmitting portion of said housing of said blind zone indication module and (ii) the light-transmitting aperture of said mirror back plate illuminates an icon that is viewable to a driver of the equipped vehicle who views said mirror reflective element of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the icon comprises a light-transmitting window through said mirror reflector of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element; wherein illumination of the icon is responsive to a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle detecting presence of another vehicle that is traveling in the same direction as that of the equipped vehicle in a lane adjacent to a lane that the equipped vehicle is traveling in and that is approaching or is overtaking the equipped vehicle; and wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a daytime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of at least 4,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a daytime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of at least 6,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a front glass substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface spaced from the first surface by a thickness dimension of the front glass substrate, and wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a rear glass substrate having a third surface and an opposing fourth surface spaced from the third surface by a thickness dimension of the rear glass substrate, and wherein the rear glass substrate comprises said mirror reflector, and wherein no dimension of the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element extends beyond any dimension of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein a perimeter metallic band circumscribes a border region of the second surface of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element, the perimeter metallic band masking a perimeter seal of the electrochromic mirror reflective element from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic medium disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate, the electrochromic medium bounded by the perimeter seal that spaces the third surface of the rear glass substrate from the second surface of the front glass substrate, and wherein the fourth surface of the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a rear side of said mirror reflective element, and wherein the third surface of the rear glass substrate is coated with said mirror reflector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, changes with ambient light at the equipped vehicle, and wherein the ambient light at the equipped vehicle is sensed by a photosensor of the equipped vehicle, and wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, varies responsive to an output of the photosensor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, changes in accordance with pulse width modulation of voltage applied to the at least two light emitting diodes when electrically powered to emit light. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a nighttime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of less than 1,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 23, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a nighttime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of less than 800 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the icon comprises a triangular shape. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least two light emitting diodes comprise three light emitting diodes that are electrically connected in series at said circuit board. ### Claim 27 A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate coated with a mirror reflector; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate comprises a light-transmitting aperture; a blind zone indication module having a light source that is electrically powered to emit light; wherein said blind zone indication module is disposed at said mirror back plate, and wherein said light source is electrically powered to emit light through said mirror reflective element; wherein said light source comprises at least two light emitting diodes disposed at a circuit board of said blind zone indication module; wherein said circuit board comprises circuitry and electrically conductive terminals, and wherein said electrically conductive terminals extend into a connector portion of a housing of said blind zone indication module; wherein said connector portion, with said electrically conductive terminals therein, is configured to connect to a connector of a wire harness of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein said circuit board comprises a constant current circuit, and wherein the constant current circuit generates a constant current over a range of voltages provided via the wire harness of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly by a power source of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein at least two light emitting diodes of the at least two light emitting diodes are electrically connected in series at said circuit board; wherein the constant current generated by the constant current circuit that is passed by any one of the at least two light emitting diodes when electrically powered to emit light has an amperage less than 100 milliamps; wherein said blind zone indication module comprises a diffuser that diffuses light emitted by the at least two light emitting diodes when the at least two light emitting diodes are electrically powered to emit light; wherein, when the at least two light emitting diodes electrically connected in series at said circuit board are electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the at least two light emitting diodes passing through (i) a light-transmitting portion of said housing of said blind zone indication module and (ii) the light-transmitting aperture of said mirror back plate illuminates an icon that is viewable to a driver of the equipped vehicle who views said mirror reflective element of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly; wherein the icon comprises a light-transmitting window through said mirror reflector of said glass substrate of said mirror reflective element; wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, changes in accordance with pulse width modulation of voltage applied to the at least two light emitting diodes when electrically powered to emit light; and wherein illumination of the icon is responsive to a blind spot detection system of the equipped vehicle detecting presence of another vehicle that is traveling in the same direction as that of the equipped vehicle in a lane adjacent to a lane that the equipped vehicle is traveling in and that is approaching or is overtaking the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a front glass substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface spaced from the first surface by a thickness dimension of the front glass substrate, and wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a rear glass substrate having a third surface and an opposing fourth surface spaced from the third surface by a thickness dimension of the rear glass substrate, and wherein the rear glass substrate comprises said mirror reflector, and wherein no dimension of the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element extends beyond any dimension of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein a perimeter metallic band circumscribes a border region of the second surface of the front glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element, the perimeter metallic band masking a perimeter seal of the electrochromic mirror reflective element from direct view by the driver of the equipped vehicle. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises an electrochromic medium disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate, the electrochromic medium bounded by the perimeter seal that spaces the third surface of the rear glass substrate from the second surface of the front glass substrate, and wherein the fourth surface of the rear glass substrate of the electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a rear side of said mirror reflective element, and wherein the third surface of the rear glass substrate is coated with said mirror reflector. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a daytime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of at least 4,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 30, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a daytime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of at least 6,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 30, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a nighttime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of less than 1,000 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 32, wherein said blind zone indication module is operable during a nighttime driving condition of the equipped vehicle to illuminate the icon of said mirror reflective element that is viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle with a luminance of less than 800 candelas per square meter as viewed by the driver. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, changes with ambient light at the equipped vehicle, and wherein the ambient light at the equipped vehicle is sensed by a photosensor of the equipped vehicle, and wherein luminance of the icon, when illuminated, varies responsive to an output of the photosensor. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 28, wherein the icon comprises a triangular shape. ### Claim 36 (depends on 27) The vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least two light emitting diodes comprise three light emitting diodes that are electrically connected in series at said circuit board.