US 11,850,998 B2
Vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly with ground illumination and icon projection module
Justin E. Sobecki, Rockford, MI (US); and Gregory A. Huizen, Hudsonville, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/656,439.
Application 17/656,439 is a continuation of application No. 16/947,771, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,285,866.
Application 16/947,771 is a continuation of application No. 16/461,002, granted, now 10,744,930, issued on Aug. 18, 2020, previously published as PCT/IB2017/057462, filed on Nov. 28, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/426,806, filed on Nov. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212596 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/26 (2006.01); B60R 1/06 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); F21V 5/04 (2006.01); F21V 9/08 (2018.01); F21S 43/50 (2018.01); F21Y 113/13 (2016.01); F21Y 115/10 (2016.01); G02B 19/00 (2006.01); G03B 21/00 (2006.01); G02B 3/00 (2006.01); G03B 21/20 (2006.01); F21S 43/20 (2018.01); F21S 43/14 (2018.01); G03B 29/00 (2021.01); G02B 7/02 (2021.01); F21W 104/00 (2018.01); F21W 107/10 (2018.01)
CPC B60Q 1/2665 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/2696 (2013.01); B60R 1/06 (2013.01); B60R 1/1207 (2013.01); F21S 43/14 (2018.01); F21S 43/26 (2018.01); F21S 43/51 (2018.01); F21V 5/04 (2013.01); F21V 9/08 (2013.01); G02B 3/0037 (2013.01); G02B 3/0075 (2013.01); G02B 7/021 (2013.01); G02B 19/0066 (2013.01); G03B 21/001 (2013.01); G03B 21/2033 (2013.01); G03B 29/00 (2013.01); B60Q 2400/50 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1215 (2013.01); F21W 2104/00 (2018.01); F21W 2107/10 (2018.01); F21Y 2113/13 (2016.08); F21Y 2115/10 (2016.08)] 40 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;
a ground illumination module comprising (i) a freeform optic and (ii) a plurality of light sources comprising a ground illumination light source, a first icon light source, a second icon light source and a third icon light source;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a side of a vehicle and when the ground illumination light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the ground illumination light source passes through the freeform optic to illuminate a ground region adjacent to and along the side of the vehicle at which the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the ground illumination light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the ground illumination light source that passes through the freeform optic illuminates the ground region adjacent to and along the side of the vehicle with a ground illumination intensity;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the first icon light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the first icon light source projects a first projected image onto an icon region that is within the ground region;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the second icon light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the second icon light source projects a second projected image onto the icon region;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the third icon light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the third icon light source projects a third projected image onto the icon region; and
wherein the first, second and third projected images are individually projected to provide animated images projected onto the icon region.
 
28. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element;
a ground illumination module comprising (i) a freeform optic and (ii) a plurality of light sources comprising a ground illumination light source, a first icon light source, a second icon light source and a third icon light source;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a side of a vehicle and when the ground illumination light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the ground illumination light source passes through the freeform optic to illuminate a ground region adjacent to and along the side of the vehicle at which the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the first icon light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the first icon light source projects a first projected image onto an icon region that is within the ground region;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the second icon light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the second icon light source projects a second projected image onto the icon region;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the third icon light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the third icon light source projects a third projected image onto the icon region;
wherein the first, second and third projected images are individually projected to provide animated images projected onto the icon region;
wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle and when the ground illumination light source is electrically powered to emit light, light emitted by the ground illumination light source (i) passes through the freeform optic to illuminate the ground region around the icon region with a first illumination intensity and (ii) passes through the freeform optic to illuminate the icon region within the ground region with a second illumination intensity, and wherein the first illumination intensity is greater than the second illumination intensity; and
wherein the first projected image as projected at the icon region has an illumination intensity greater than the first illumination intensity, and wherein the second projected image as projected at the icon region has an illumination intensity greater than the first illumination intensity, and wherein the third projected image as projected at the icon region has an illumination intensity greater than the first illumination intensity.