Exterior rear view mirror for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles

p0001The invention relates to an exterior rear view mirror for vehicles, preferably for motor vehicles, according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002In a known but not previously published, exterior rear view mirrors of this type (<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE19538771A1"><text>DE 195 38 771 A1</text></patcit>) Is provided in the mirror housing, a turn signal. As a light source disposed behind a light-transmissive disc incandescent lamp is used, the light issues to the exterior through the light emission window. The bulb generates considerable heat inside the mirror housing and has a relatively short life. Moreover, the bulb has a large amount of space and can only be consuming mounted within the mirror housing.

p0003There is also an exterior rearview mirror is known (Patent Abstracts of Japan 08-268168A), in which a device is housed, with the blind spot of the exterior rearview mirror to be turned off. In the mirror housing of this mirror, an ultrasonic sensor is provided, which is connected via an optical fiber to an electrical circuit. As soon as the ultrasonic sensor detects a vehicle in the blind angle of the exterior rearview mirror, it transmits over the optical fiber a light pulse whereby the driver receives a corresponding signal.

p0004The invention has for its object, the generic exterior rear view mirror in such a way that a simple and economical installation of the light source is ensured in the mirror housing.

p0005This object is achieved in the generic exterior rearview mirror with the characterizing features of claim 1.

p0006When exterior rearview mirror according to the invention, the light exit opening is at least partially, advantageously completely, filled by the light guide. About the light guide the light emitted by the light source can be easily guided to the light exit opening. The use of an optical fiber has the advantage that as a light source advantageously has at least one LED may be used. On it, the light guide is connected. With the optical fiber, a very simple mounting of the mirror housing and thus of the exterior rearview mirror is possible. The light guide with the light source is advantageously used as a turn signal repeater.

p0007Further features of the invention result from the additional claims, the description and the drawings.

p0008The invention is illustrated with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a cross section of a mirror housing of an exterior rearview mirror according to the invention,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a section along the line II-II in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>.</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a section through a fastening point of a light guide of the external rear-view mirror according to the invention,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a rear view of Spiegefgehäuses the exterior rearview mirror according to the invention.</dd></dl>

p0009The exterior rear-view mirror has a (not shown) the mirror to which it is attached to a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle. On mirror a mirror head 1 is mounted, the in and against the direction of travel of the vehicle relative to the mirror is advantageously hinged. The mirror head 1 has a mirror housing 2, in which in a known manner (not shown) glass carrier plate is mounted adjustable, which carries a mirror glass. The glass carrier plate by means of an in<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> only hinted ball joint 3 pivotally mounted in the mirror housing 2 and can be adjusted manually or by electric motor.

p0010The mirror housing 2 has, on its in the direction of travel F of the vehicle forwardly facing wall 4 on at least one opening 5, in which at least one light window is housed, which consists of light-conducting material, thus forming a light guide 6th In the embodiment, the optical fiber 6 extends transversely horizontally to the direction of travel. He formed band-shaped and extends over more than half the width of the holder. 2

p0011The light guide 6 is so formed that its outer side 7 (<figref idrefs="f0002">Figs. 2 and 3</figref>) At least approximately forms a continuous extension of the wall 4 of the mirror housing 2 in the region of the opening. 5 The light guide 6 has a circumferential, reduced in thickness bearing part 8, which is formed by an edge, with which it rests on the inside 9 of the mirror housing 2 (<figref idrefs="f0002">Figs. 2 and 3</figref>). Of course, the plant part 8 must not extend over the entire circumference of the light conductor the 6th So may be only 8 provided in sections of the landing member. Advantageously, however, the plant extends part 8 over the entire circumference of the light guide 6, thereby closing the gap between the edge of the opening 5 and the light guide 6, so that dirt and the like from entering the mirror housing 2 is not inward. The system part 8 is curved over its width corresponding to the curvature of the wall 4 of the mirror housing 2, so that it rests flat on the inner side 9 of the mirror housing 2 about its width. The light guide 6 is so far inserted from the inside of the mirror housing 2 in the opening 5, to the plant part 8 abuts the inner side 9 of the mirror housing second The system part 8 of the optical fiber 6 may be adhered with an adhesive and the like at the inner side 9 of the mirror housing second However, to ensure easy interchangeability of the light guide 6, it is advantageously releasably on the mirror housing 2 is held. For this purpose at least one support member 10 is provided which rests on the back of the light guide 6 and is detachably secured to the mirror housing second The support member 10 is advantageously formed so that it is only present at the contact part 8 of the optical fiber 6, but otherwise has a distance from the light guide. The support member 10 is for this purpose provided with an edge 11, which rests on the bearing part 8 of the light conductor the 6th advantageously extends the edge 11 around the circumference of the holding part 10. There is at least one screw 12 (<figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 3</figref>) Attached to the mirror housing. 2 It is for this purpose provided with a protruding from its inside 9 lug 13, in which the screw 12 is screwed. In addition, the holder member 10 is provided with a sealing part 14 which bears against the inner side 9 of the mirror housing 2 (<figref idrefs="f0002">Figs. 2 and 3</figref>). The sealing portion 14 protrudes beyond the edge 11 of the mounting part 10 and prevents light from exiting the light guide 6 into the interior of the mirror housing 2 and is radiated to the rear.

p0012The light guide 6 is provided with at least one light source 15 (<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>), Which an LED is advantageous. She sits on a printed circuit board 16, which is arranged in a receptacle 17 on the inner side 9 of the Spiegeigehäuses second The light source 15 is provided on a narrow side of the substantially rectangular light conductor the 6th The light guide 6 is advantageously made of transparent plastic and directs the light emitted by the light source 15 light to an end portion 18 which is provided on the inside with a profiling 19th On her, the light is formed and focused and directed outwards. As<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows the end portion 18 is facing away from the vehicle end of the light guide 6. The end portion 18 protrudes from the contour of the mirror housing 2 outward. The transverse to the direction of travel F measured length of the end region 18 may be different depending on the desired requirements. The profile 19 may extend over the entire length of the light guide 6, so that the light over the entire length of the light guide 6 is emitted to the outside.

p0013The emitted light is clearly visible. Since the light guide 6 is on the front in the driving direction F side of the mirror housing 2, the light is from the front and clearly energized by a high level of attention. The end portion 18 of the light guide 6 is provided in the illustrated embodiment close to the end facing away from the vehicle outer edge of the mirror housing 2, so that the emitted light is also visible from the side.

p0014The use of LEDs as a light source 15 has the advantage that only a low heat in the mirror housing 2, and maintain the LED has a very long lifetime. In addition, it is insensitive, requires little space and can be easily fixed. The LED can be mounted on the circuit board 16 by soldering without difficulty.

p0015The electrical supply to the circuit board 16 is made by the (not shown) mirror the exterior rearview mirror. Therefore, an additional hole in the vehicle body for this electrical lead is not required. Since an LED requires no socket as an incandescent lamp, there are also no contact and / or corrosion problems.

p0016The light guide 6 can, unlike the embodiment in accordance with <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 4</figref>Have any other suitable shape. So it is quite possible to provide several light guide at the back of the mirror housing. 2 The light guide 6 must also have non-rectangular cross-section but may have any suitable contour. The light source 15 may be colored so that via the light guide 6 light with different color tone can be sent.