Mirror device for motor vehicles

0001The present disclosure relates to mirror devices for motor vehicles.

BACKGROUND

0002Currently mirror devices for motor vehicles are increasingly incorporating more technical features and functions apart from the rear view function, such as LEDs in turn signal indicators and in day running lights, sensing means, cameras, antennae, etc.

0003The provision of lights, such as turn signal indicators, in the modern mirror devices is also combined with features of design for enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the overall shape.

0004For example, document <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US7195385B"><text>US7195385</text></patcit> discloses an exterior rear view mirror for motor vehicles with an auxiliary turn signal. One wall of the mirror housing is made of a transparent plastic material in the area in which the light emitted by the vehicle light is to pass to the exterior. This area is painted with a paint of a matching colour such that the vehicle light arranged within the mirror head cannot be recognized from the exterior but the light emitted by it can penetrate to the exterior to a satisfactory degree.

0005<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2001055214A"><text>US2001055214</text></patcit> discloses a rear view mirror device provided with a transparent or semi-transparent casing having a coating layer applied thereon. At least a light-transmissible portion is formed on the casing by removing a predetermined portion of the coating layer on the casing. A light source is provided within the casing for generating light to be emitted from the light-transmissible portion to the outside of the casing, allowing the rear-view mirror device to serve as a turning signal. The casing is attached with a cover having a mirror piece enclosing the light source in the casing.

0006Document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="GB2338693A"><text>GB2338693</text></patcit> discloses a rear view mirror for motor vehicles comprising a mirror housing for receiving a light source which is activated synchronously with an illuminated film provided outside the housing to produce a flashing light. A shield is provided outside the illuminated film for protecting the illuminated film and the light guide and for changing the light emitted by the illuminated film through an appropriate lens. Document <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US2011001428A"><text>US2011001428</text></patcit>, which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, shows a rear-view mirror assembly <u>with two or more light modules for emitting corresponding turn</u><u>signals</u> synchronized with each other. The light modules have a transparent or translucent part including at least one outer cover through which the respective light signals exit towards the exterior.

0007Document <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US7396147B"><text>US7396147</text></patcit> refers to a side mirror for motor vehicles comprising a panel which when viewed from one side the panel has a first appearance when not illuminated from the reverse side, but has a second appearance when illuminated from the reverse side. Means are provided for reducing effects upon the panel caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

0008<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US2001055214A"><text>US2001055214</text></patcit> discloses a rear-view mirror device including a transparent or semitransparent casting with a coasting layer, a light-transmissible portion formed thereon and a light source within for generating light to be emitted from the light-transmissible portion to the outside of the casing such that the rear-view mirror device acts as a turning signal.

0009In general, the provision of such additional technical features and functions in the mirror device results in that the outer mirror casing needs to be redesigned to be adapted to the mounting of the inside parts. As a result, manufacturers are required to re-mould the casing for the rear view mirror and to produce new designs to suitably house the parts therein. This is cost ineffective and time consuming. In addition, aerodynamics is adversely affected due to shapes that are required to be adapted for these technical functions and features.

0010A mirror device for motor vehicles has been thus devised which has been found that solves or at least mitigates the above technical problems while providing significant advantages as it will be explained further below.

SUMMARY

0011A mirror device for motor vehicles as defined in claim 1 is disclosed herein. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

0012The present mirror device comprises an outer housing that is made of any suitable resistant material adapted for receiving a mirror therein as well as for receiving a number of parts such as illumination elements and electronic related parts as it will be disclosed hereinbelow. The outer housing of the present mirror device is suitably designed for being mounted on a motor vehicle. However, other different applications are not ruled out.

0013The mirror device is further provided with a cover. The cover serves the purpose of covering at least part of the front portion of the outer housing.

0014As used herein, front, rear, side, etc. portions of the outer housing refer to those portions of the outer housing relative to the vehicle. For example, the front portion of the mirror device refers herein to one portion that is directed toward the front of the motor vehicle.

0015The present mirror device is further provided with a lens. The lens may be a molded piece at least part of which is at least substantially transparent. The lens is fitted within the outer housing, with at least part of which being arranged behind the cover. The present mirror device is also provided with an inner housing substantially covering the lens. This inner housing may be provided with a dark inner background surface that is substantially parallel to that of the mirror.

0016Illumination means comprising one or a number of illumination elements are also provided within the outer housing. The illumination elements may be one or more LEDs, at least one light guide, at least one light emitting surface or the like, and/or even a combination thereof. Illumination elements may emit light directly or indirectly incident on the lens. At least one of the illumination elements may be a blinker. In some specific embodiments, at least one of said illumination elements may be arranged such that light is directed to the side and/on the rear of the outer housing of the mirror device.

0017The lens of the present mirror device has at least two different areas (first and second area) and the cover has at least two different cover elements (first and second cover element) as it will be explained below.

0018The first area of the lens is mounted internal to the cover, i.e., behind this. This first area of the lens is such that it allows the light to at least partially pass forward and at least partially pass to the vehicle side. A colour modifier filter could be also provided associated with the first area of the lens.

0019The second area of the lens in some embodiments extends to at least one side portion of the outer housing. This second area of the lens is made of a transparent material. The light is thus allowed to pass through the second area of the lens preferably without altering its colour and with negligible loss light relative to the first area. The second area of the lens may also allow light to be directed to the driver if required.

0020The first cover element of the cover is external to the lens. Indeed, the first cover element could extend over the entire length of the cover. The first cover element is of a nature such that at least one of the above mentioned illumination elements of the illumination means is visible from the exterior of the outer housing when the illumination means are activated, i.e. when the illumination elements are turned on, and such that at least one of the above mentioned illumination elements is not visible from the exterior of the outer housing when the illumination means are not activated, i.e. when the illumination elements are turned off.

0021The above is accomplished by providing at least the first cover element of the present mirror device may be provided with a coating with one or more thin films applied by means of a vacuum deposition method, such as for example, through physical vapour deposition (PVD). The thin film(s) is/are applied onto the cover of the mirror device through condensation of a vaporized form of the film materials by means of high temperature vacuum evaporation and subsequent condensation, plasma sputter bombardment, etc. A wide range of decorative coating finishes can be applied in this way. This coating onto the cover makes it possible that visual (optical) information such as side light and blinkers to be provided by the mirror device such that it is only visible when the illumination means are turned on.

0022According to one important design feature of the present mirror device, the first cover element is preferably mounted flush with the second area of the lens for the purposes making the assembly compact and with good aerodynamic characteristics. This is made possible due to the two-area-design of the lens such that the first and second areas of the lens lie in different planes. The second area of the lens is also mounted flush with the outer housing. This results in a very compact, closed assembly that enhances the aerodynamic characteristics of the mirror device when the vehicle is travelling while reducing noise improving travelling comfort to the user.

0023The second cover element is made of a substantially opaque material. It may be overmoulded on the first cover element. The second cover element has an overlapping portion that is arranged behind at least one portion of the first cover element. Specifically, this overlapping portion of the second cover element may be sandwiched between at least one portion of the first area of the lens and at least one portion of the first cover element.

0024At least the first cover element may be made of a lightweight resistant thermoplastic material that is at least substantially transparent. This material is preferably for example PMMA or the like. In addition, at least the first cover element may have a colour matching that of the outer housing of the mirror device.

0025Due to the design of the present mirror device, which combines illumination elements (e.g. turn indicators) that are hidden when turned off together with flush mounted parts, a pleasant aesthetics and enhanced aerodynamic characteristics are obtained. This compact design results in wind noise reduction as there is no joints, grooves or other design discontinuities which improves travelling comfort. The two-area-design of the lens allows two light differentiated, independent areas to be provided such that there is no loss in intensity of light.

0026Additional objects, advantages and features of embodiments of the present mirror device will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description, or may be learned by practice thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0027Particular embodiments of the present mirror device will be described in the following by way of several non-limiting examples with reference to the appended drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a general perspective view of the present mirror device for a motor vehicle;</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> is a sectional view taken along line A-A of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref> of a first embodiment of the mirror device for a motor vehicle where the illumination elements comprise a light guide and a LED;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a sectional view taken along line A-A of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref> of a first embodiment of the mirror device for a motor vehicle where the illumination elements all comprise LEDs;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref> is a sectional view taken along line A-A of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref> of a first embodiment of the mirror device for a motor vehicle where the illumination elements comprise a light guide; and</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 5</figref> is a fragmentary enlarged, sectional view taken along line A-A of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref> showing the lens and the cover of the outer housing of the present mirror device.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

0028In the embodiment shown in the figures, where like reference numerals refer to like parts, the example of the present mirror device 100 comprises an outer housing 40 that is suitably adapted for including a number of parts therein such as electrical components like PCBs 50, 55, connectors 60, illumination means 30, 31, etc. The outer housing 40 is also adapted for receiving a rear view mirror (not shown) and it is provided with a vehicle mount portion 45.

0029An inner housing 41 is also provided within the outer housing 40. The inner housing 41 is arranged such that it substantially covers the lens 20 as shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref>. The inner housing 41 is provided with a dark inner background surface (not shown) that is substantially parallel to that of the mirror. The connectors 60 may be formed integral with the inner housing 41.

0030The mirror device 100 of the embodiment shown is further provided with a cover 10. The cover 10 serves the purpose of covering at least a part of the front portion of the outer housing 40, that is, the one corresponding to the front portion of the motor vehicle.

0031A lens 20 is also provided within the outer housing 40. At least part of the lens 20 is arranged behind the cover 10, as it will be explained further below.

0032Illumination means 30, 31 comprising at least one illumination element are also arranged within the outer housing 40. The arrangement of the illumination means 30, 31 defines several embodiments of the mirror device 100. Three of such embodiments are shown as non-limiting examples in <figref idref="f0001">figures 2</figref>, <figref idref="f0002">3 and 4</figref> of the drawings. They will be explained further below.

0033The lens 20 in the embodiments shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref> has two different areas.

0034A first area 21 of the lens 20 is mounted internal to the cover 10 as shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref>. The first area 21 of the lens 20 that is positioned behind the cover 10 is made of a material such that the light emitted from the illumination means 30, 31 is allowed to at least partially pass forward and at least partially pass toward the vehicle side, that is, to a side portion of the outer housing 40. This first area 21 of the lens 20 of the mirror device 100 may include a colour modifier filter (not shown in the drawings).

0035A second area 22 of the lens 20 extends to at least one side portion of the outer housing 40. This second area 22 of the lens 20 is made of a transparent material such that light from the illumination means 30, 31 is allowed to pass through without altering its colour and with negligible loss light relative to the first area 21. The second area 22 of the lens 20 may allow light to be directed to the driver as well.

0036The cover 10 in the embodiments shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref> has two different cover elements 11, 12, as explained below. The first cover element 11 is overmoulded on the second cover element 12. The first cover element 11 is made of PMMA or the like and has a colour matching that of the outer housing 40 of the mirror device 100.

0037The first cover element 11 of the cover 10 is external to the lens 20 as shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref> and in more detail in <figref idref="f0003">figure 5</figref>. The first cover element 11 is of a nature such that the illumination elements 30 are visible from the exterior of the outer housing 40 only when the illumination means are turned on. When the illumination means are turned off, the illumination elements 30 are not visible from the exterior of the outer housing 40.

0038This is accomplished by applying at least one thin film of material through a physical vapour deposition (PVD) onto the first cover element 11. This renders the illumination means 30 visible from the exterior of the outer housing 40 only when the illumination means 30 are on as explained.

0039The first area 21 and second area 22 of the lens 20 lie in different planes. This configuration makes it possible that the second area 22 of the lens 20 is mounted flush with the first cover element 11. This advantageously renders the assembly very compact and with enhanced aerodynamic characteristics.

0040The second cover element 12 of the cover 10 is made of a substantially opaque material and it is placed behind the first cover element 11 such that an overlapping portion 13 is defined. More specifically, and as shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref>, and more clearly in <figref idref="f0003">figure 5</figref>, this overlapping portion 13 of the second cover element 12 is defined between an end portion of the first area 21 of the lens 20 and one portion of the first cover element 11.

0041The different embodiments of the illumination means 30, 31 are now disclosed in connection with <figref idref="f0001 f0002">figures 2-4</figref> of the drawings.

0042In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref>, the illumination means of the mirror device 100 include a first set of illumination elements 30 and a second set of illumination elements 31. The sets of illumination elements 30, 31 are different and independent from each other although embodiments where the sets of illumination elements 30, 31 are dependent on each other are not ruled out. In this particular embodiment of <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref>, the first set of illumination elements comprises a light guide 30 that is connected to a PCB 50. The light guide 30 extends substantially along the first area 21 of the lens 20 as shown in <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref> of the drawings. The second set of illumination elements comprises a LED 31. The LED 31 is provided such that light is incident on the second area 22 of the lens 20. LED 31 is connected to a corresponding PCB 55. The PCB 55 of the LED 31 is arranged inclined within the outer housing 40 such that light is directed to side and rear portions of the outer housing 40.

0043In the embodiment of the illumination means depicted in <figref idref="f0002">figure 3</figref>, the illumination means comprise a first set of illumination elements 30 and a second set of illumination elements 31. In this case both the first and the second sets of illumination elements 30, 31 comprise LEDs. Specifically, the first set of illumination elements comprises a number of LEDs 30 connected to a PCB 50. The PCB 50 and the LEDs 30 extend substantially along the first area 21 of the lens 20. The second set of illumination elements comprises a LED 31. The LED 31 provided such that light is incident on the second area 22 of the lens 20. The LED 31 is connected to a PCB 55. The PCB 55 of the LED 31 is arranged inclined inside the outer housing 40 such that light is directed to side and rear portions of the outer housing 40. Like the embodiment of <figref idref="f0001">figure 2</figref>, the LEDs of the first and the second sets of illumination elements 30, 31 are independent from each other although embodiments where they are dependent on each other are not ruled out.

0044A further alternative embodiment of the illumination means is shown in <figref idref="f0002">figure 4</figref>. In this case, the illumination means comprise a single illumination element comprising a light guide 30 connected to a PCB 50. The light guide 30 of the illumination means in this case extends substantially along the entire length of the lens 20, that is, substantially along the first and second areas 21, 22 of the lens 20. Light emitted from the light guide 30 is directed on the lens 20 both to the front, side and rear portions of the outer housing 40. The light guide 30 may be turned on such that the first and second areas 21, 22 of the lens 20 are simultaneously illuminated. Alternatively, selective parts of the light guide 30 may be turned on such that the first area 21 and/or the second area 22 of the lens 20 are illuminated. An end portion 35 of the light guide 30 may be adapted such that light is directed to the side and rear portions of the outer housing 40. According to this embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">figure 3</figref>, the light guide 30 could be additionally or alternatively a light emitting surface.

0045In all the above described embodiments with regard to <figref idref="f0001">figures 2</figref>, <figref idref="f0002">3 and 4</figref> of the drawings, at least one of the illumination elements 30, 31 is a blinker. For example, the illumination element(s) 30 associated with at least the first area 21 of the lens 20 is a blinker so that the mirror device 100 is fitted with a turn indicator feature.

0046Although only a number of particular embodiments and examples of the present mirror device have been disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof are possible. For example, although different embodiments of the illumination means have been shown and disclosed comprising a light guide combined with a LED, a plurality of LEDs or a single light guide or light emitting surface, the illumination means may alternatively comprise other different suitable combinations of such illumination elements. On the other hand, the second set of illumination elements in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0001">figures 2</figref> and/or 3 could alternatively comprise a number of LEDs, for example.

0047The present disclosure thus covers all possible combinations of the particular embodiments described herein.

0048Reference signs related to drawings and placed in parentheses in a claim, are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim, and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular embodiments, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.