Exterior mirror with blind zone indicator

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

• a mirror reflective element;
• a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;
• a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;
• wherein said signal indication module comprises a conical-shaped inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said light source is disposed at a passageway formed through said conical-shaped inner surface at an end region of said conical-shaped inner surface;
• wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said conical-shaped inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;
• wherein said baffle is formed as part of said conical-shaped inner surface and protrudes radially inward towards an axis of said conical-shaped inner surface;
• and
• an indicia element disposed at said mirror reflective element at said aperture, wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated.

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

• a mirror reflective element;
• a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed in a plastic injection molding operation and wherein an aperture is formed through said mirror back plate;
• a signal indication module having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said signal indication module attaching at said mirror reflective element via said aperture, wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said signal indication module includes a housing that substantially encases said light source therein;
• wherein said signal indication module comprises an inner surface that is at an angle relative to said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said light source is disposed at an end region of said inner surface distal from said mirror reflective element;
• wherein said inner surface comprises a diffusely light reflecting inner surface for reflecting light incident thereon to enhance the intensity of light that exits said signal indication module when said light source is activated;
• wherein said signal indication module includes a baffle disposed at said inner surface and at least partially in front of said light source, said baffle partially but not fully occluding light emitted by said light source to reduce a bright spot at the reflective element when the reflective element is viewed when said light source is activated;
• an indicia element disposed at said mirror reflective element at said aperture, wherein light emitted by said light source is transmitted through said indicia element when said light source is activated;
• and
• wherein (i) said signal indication module comprises a blind zone indicator and wherein said inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed inboard towards the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached, and wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface and protrudes from an outboard portion of said inner surface that is outboard of said light source, or (ii) said signal indication module comprises a turn signal indicator and wherein said inner surface is configured so that, with said exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by said light source is generally directed outboard away from the side of the equipped vehicle at which said exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached, and wherein said baffle is formed as part of said inner surface and protrudes from an inboard portion of said inner surface that is inboard of said light source.