US 12,112,638 B2
Vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly with blind zone indicator
Gregory A. Huizen, Hudsonville, MI (US); and Mark E. Kramer, Zeeland, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/301,286.
Application 18/301,286 is a division of application No. 17/448,952, filed on Sep. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,631,332.
Application 16/840,580 is a division of application No. 15/700,271, filed on Sep. 11, 2017, granted, now 10,614,719, issued on Apr. 7, 2020.
Application 17/448,952 is a continuation of application No. 16/840,580, filed on Apr. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,132,903, issued on Sep. 28, 2021.
Application 15/700,271 is a continuation of application No. 14/849,998, filed on Sep. 10, 2015, granted, now 9,761,144, issued on Sep. 12, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/113,555, filed on Feb. 9, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/049,077, filed on Sep. 11, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0252900 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G08G 1/16 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 1/167 (2013.01) [B60R 1/1207 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1215 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mounting structure configured for attaching at a side region of a vehicle to mount said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly at the vehicle;
a mirror reflective element;
a mirror back plate;
wherein said mirror back plate comprises an aperture formed therethrough;
said mirror back plate comprising a front side and a rear side separated from the front side by a thickness dimension of said mirror back plate;
wherein the front side of said mirror back plate is attached at a rear side of said mirror reflective element;
a heater element disposed between the front side of said mirror back plate and the rear side of said mirror reflective element;
wherein the rear side of said mirror back plate is attached at an electrically operated mirror actuator;
wherein, with said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the vehicle, and when said mirror actuator is electrically operated, said mirror back plate and said mirror reflective element move in tandem relative to said mounting structure to adjust a rearward view of a driver of the vehicle who is viewing said mirror reflective element;
a blind zone indication module comprising a circuit element with circuitry disposed thereat, wherein said circuitry comprises a light source;
wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes;
said blind zone indication module comprising a diffuser;
wherein said blind zone indication module snap attaches at the rear side of said mirror back plate;
wherein said blind zone indication module includes a housing that houses said circuit element and said light source therein;
wherein said circuit element comprises a plurality of electrically conductive terminals in electrical connection with circuitry of said circuit element;
wherein said plurality of electrically conductive terminals is disposed at a connector portion of said housing and is accessible thereat;
wherein said circuitry is operable to electrically power said light source;
wherein said connector portion of said housing is configured to connect said plurality of electrically conductive terminals to a wire harness to electrically power circuitry of said circuit element when said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and used at the vehicle;
wherein said light source, when electrically powered by said circuitry, emits light having a brightness of at least 11,000 nits when at least 9 volts DC is provided to said circuitry; and
wherein said blind zone indication module is associated with a blind spot detection system of the vehicle at which said vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and used.