Automobile exterior rear view mirror blind spot warning indication device

Abstract

A blind spot warning indication device for an exterior mirror of an automobile includes a light guide member. A plurality of wedge-shaped bosses are arranged side by side along an axis on the light guide member corresponding to a setting direction of the PCB. One side of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses has a light incident end surface for aligning with a corresponding light source. An upper surface of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses includes a light reflecting side having an optical pattern for reflecting and scattering. The reflecting side having the optical pattern is an upwardly convex arc surface. A lower surface of the wedge-shaped boss has a light emitting side. The outermost wedge-shaped boss has the largest curvature of the light-reflecting side compared to the other wedge-shaped bosses arranged side by side, and the outermost wedge-shaped boss has the longest length of the light-emitting side compared to the other wedge-shaped bosses arranged side by side. The device has the functions of reflection and scattering at the same time. The uniformity of the emitted light at the front surface and certain angles is better, and the warning effectiveness is improved. The LOGO pattern can be better combined with the emitted light.

Claims

1. An indication device for a rearview device of a vehicle, comprising: a light source assembly for emitting an indicating light beam, and a light guide member for reflecting the indicating light beam to a marking region, wherein the light source assembly and the light guide member are disposed in a mounting cavity of a carrier plate, the light source assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of juxtaposed light sources mounted on the PCB, and wherein the light guide member comprises: a plurality of wedge-shaped bosses arranged side by side along an axis on the light guide member corresponding to a setting direction of the PCB; one side of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses has a light incident end surface for aligning with a corresponding light source; an upper surface of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses includes a light-reflecting side having an optical pattern for reflecting and scattering and at least a portion having one of a wave-like configuration or a combined step-like and wave-like configuration; the light-reflecting side having the optical pattern is an upward convex arc surface; a lower surface of the each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses has a light emitting side; and an outermost wedge-shaped boss has a largest curvature of the light-reflecting side compared to the remaining plurality of wedge-shaped bosses arranged side by side and has a longest length of the light-emitting side compared to the remaining plurality of wedge-shaped bosses arranged side by side.

2. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the outermost wedge-shaped boss has a fan-shaped or fin-shaped profile, and the width of the end of the outermost wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the side of the PCB is smaller than the width of the other side of the curved end.

3. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the light reflecting side of at least one of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses is the wave-like configuration.

4. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the light reflecting side of at least one of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses is the combined step-like and wave-like configuration.

5. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the light-reflecting side has the optical pattern in the form of a thin strip or a lattice or a wavy line, and the optical pattern is uniformly distributed concave and convex parts.

6. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the number of the wedge-shaped bosses is two; the two wedge-shaped bosses comprise a first wedge-shaped boss and a second wedge-shaped boss which are arranged side by side; the first wedge-shaped boss is an outer wedge-shaped boss; an outer side of the first wedge-shaped boss is a vertically disposed end surface; an inner side of the first wedge-shaped boss directly intersects with the second wedge-shaped boss; and the side of first wedge-shaped boss away from one end of the PCB is curved.

7. The indication device of claim 6, wherein the width of the second wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the side of the PCB is greater than the width of the first wedge-shaped boss.

8. The indication device of claim 7, wherein the width of the side of the second wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the PCB is greater than or equal to twice the width of the side of the first wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the PCB.

9. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses are a first wedge-shaped boss and second wedge-shaped boss, and a plurality of alternately arranged bumps used for locating the PCB and light source assembly relative to the first and second wedge-shaped bosses are disposed along an edge of the light guide member at the position where the light guide member is matched with the PCB.

10. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the light source assembly is responsive to a detected vehicle in a driver blind spot and the indication device is a blind spot warning indication device.

11. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the rearview device is one of an interior rearview mirror, an exterior mirror mounted for driver viewing within the vehicle, or a display unit receiving a camera image; the carrier plate is a mirror carrier plate or a display carrier plate; and the marking region is a mirror surface marking region or display marking region.

12. The indication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses are two wedge-shaped bosses.

13. A blind spot warning indication device for an exterior mirror of a vehicle, comprising: a light source assembly for emitting an indicating light beam, and a light guide member for reflecting the indicating light beam to a mirror surface marking region, wherein the light source assembly and the light guide member are disposed in a mounting cavity of a mirror plate of the exterior mirror, the light source assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of juxtaposed light sources mounted on the PCB, and wherein the light guide member comprises: two wedge-shaped bosses are arranged side by side along an axis on the light guide member, a first wedge-shaped boss defining an outermost wedge-shaped boss and a second wedge-shaped boss abutting the first wedge-shaped boss; one side of each of the two wedge-shaped bosses has a light incident end surface for aligning with a corresponding light source; an upper surface of each of the two wedge-shaped bosses includes a light reflecting side having an optical pattern for reflecting and scattering light configured as an upward convex arc surface and the upper surface of one of the two wedge-shaped bosses includes a portion having at least one of a wave-like configuration or a combined step-like and wave-like configuration; a lower surface of the two wedge-shaped bosses has a light emitting side; and the first wedge-shaped boss has the largest curvature of the light-reflecting side and the longest length of the light-emitting side compared to the second wedge-shaped bosses.

14. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 13, wherein the portion of the upper surface of the at least one of the two wedge-shaped bosses is a combined step-like and wave-like pattern.

15. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 13, wherein the upper surface of the light-reflecting side has the optical pattern in the form of one of a thin strip, a lattice, or a wavy line.

16. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 13, wherein the optical pattern is uniformly distributed concave and convex parts; an outer side of the first wedge-shaped boss is a vertically disposed end surface; an inner side of the outermost wedge-shaped boss directly intersects with the other wedge-shaped boss; and the side of first wedge-shaped boss away from one end of the PCB is curved.

17. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 13, wherein the width of one wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the side of the PCB is greater than the width of the other wedge-shaped boss.

18. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 17, wherein the width of the side of the one wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the side of the PCB is greater than or equal to twice the width of the side of the first wedge-shaped boss adjacent to the PCB.

19. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 13, wherein a plurality of alternately arranged bumps used for locating the PCB and light source assembly relative to the first and second wedge-shaped bosses are disposed along an edge of the light guide member at the position where the light guide member is matched with the PCB.

20. The blind spot warning indication device of claim 13, wherein the wave-like pattern is oriented along the axis on the light guide member and repeated along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the side by side orientation of the two bosses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment example of the light guiding device.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment example according to FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3A is a reflection side or reflection layer having a step-like structure.

(4) FIG. 3B is a reflection side or reflection layer having a combined step-like and wave-like structure.

(5) FIG. 3C is a reflection side or reflection layer having a wave-like structure.

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment example according to FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illumination device having a light guiding device with focus on the light incoupling.

(8) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an illumination device having a light guiding device with focus on the light outcoupling.

(9) FIG. 7A is an exploded view of a rearview device having a light guiding device.

(10) FIG. 7B is an exploded view of a rearview device, similar to FIG. 7A, having a selectively emitting light guiding device.

(11) FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an indication device of a rearview device of a vehicle according to the invention.

(12) FIG. 9 is an enlarged, perspective view of an indicator of the indication device of FIG. 8.

(13) FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the light guide device of FIG. 9 showing a schematic illustration of a light emission and reflection path.

(14) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a light guide member of the indication device of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(15) Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a top view of a light guiding device 2 having a light incoupling side 4, a reflection side 6, a reflection layer 8 (see FIG. 2), and a light outcoupling side 10. In the top view of FIG. 1 the reflection side 6 is disposed under the light outcoupling side 10 and the reflection layer 8 is disposed under the reflection side 6. The light outcoupling side 10 is disposed opposite the reflection side 6 and therefore also opposite the reflection layer 8, so that reflected light reaches the light outcoupling side 10 as uniformly as possible. The clearance between the light outcoupling side 10 and the reflection side 6 and therefore also the reflection layer 8 decreases as the distance from the light incoupling side 4 increases. The light outcoupling side 10 and the reflection side 6 can thus converge continuously or form an edge 14 that can also have a reflection layer 8.

(16) By way of example FIG. 1 moreover depicts two holding devices 12, which extend away from the light guiding device 2 in the plane of the light outcoupling side 10, wherein each holding device demonstrates a predetermined breaking point 14. Depending on the application of the light guiding device, in a right or a left rearview device of a motor vehicle for example, the unneeded holding device 12 can be separated, broken off for example.

(17) FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the light guiding device of FIG. 1. Light can enter the light guiding device 2 through the light incoupling side 4, especially basically parallel to the light outcoupling side 10. The reflection side 6 and the reflection layer 8 then deflect the light in the direction of the light outcoupling side 10.

(18) FIG. 3A depicts an enlarged representation of a reflection side 6 and/or reflection layer 8 configured step-like. Such a step-like configuration, which can alternatively or additionally be wave-like, can improve the guidance of the light beam arriving from the light incoupling side 4 to the effect that the light outcoupling by the light outcoupling side 10 is distributed as homogeneously as possible and uniformly across the light outcoupling side 10. FIG. 3B depicts an enlarged representation of the reflection side 6 configured as a combined wave-like and step-like surface configuration. FIG. 3C depicts an enlarged representation of the reflection side 6 configured as a compound wave-like surface configuration in both the longitudinal and lateral directions of the light outcoupling side 10.

(19) FIG. 4 depicts the light guiding device 2 in a perspective representation. The light guiding device 2, which is optimized for three light sources 18, has a reflection side 6 and reflection layer 8 configured with three funnels, 5a, 5b, and 5c; however more or fewer funnels may be provided if so desired. Still further, the funnels do not have to be identical, but may vary. The longitudinal axis of these funnels extends along the principal direction of the incoupled light. The light guiding device 2 can be adapted for any other number of light sources 18, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more.

(20) FIGS. 5 and 6 depict an illumination device 16 having three light sources 18 which are arranged on a printed circuit board 20. The printed circuit board 20 having the LED light sources 18 is so arranged with respect to the light guiding device 2 that the light is emitted essentially parallel to the light outcoupling side 10, as illustrated by the arrows. To this end, the reflection side 6 and especially the reflection layer 8 deflect the light so that it leaves the light guiding device 2 via the light outcoupling side 10, as seen from the arrows in FIG. 6. As shown in a dotted outline, the light outcoupling side 10 may have a restricted light outcoupling window 10 that provides a homogeneous illumination output over an area less than the entire light outcoupling surface 10.

(21) FIG. 7A depicts an explosion view of a rearview device 22 having a light guiding device 2, which can be arranged on a printed circuit board 20 or directly on a mounting 32. The rearview device 22 furthermore has a rearview reflection surface 24 and a heating layer 26 thereunder, wherein the rearview reflection surface 24 has a pictogram for a blind spot monitor indicator, which can be illuminated by the light guiding device 2 and by a recess 30 in the heating layer 26. The printed circuit board 20, light guiding device 2 and rearview reflection surface 24 having the heating layer 26 can be arranged on a mounting 32. For the sake of clarity, the remaining parts of the rearview device 22, like the housing for example, are not illustrated.

(22) FIG. 7B depicts an exploded view of a rearview device 22, similar to that shown in FIG. 7A, having a light guiding device 2 that includes restricted light outcoupling windows 10. Each of the independently operable light guiding funnels 5a, 5b, and 5c may optionally include restricted light outcoupling windows 10 to illuminate a specific portion of the icon 28. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, fewer than all of the funnels 5a, 5b, and 5c may include one or more of the outcoupling windows 10 to illuminate select portions of the icon 28 or increase the illumination intensity of a portion of the icon. In the illustrated embodiment, the icon 28 comprises three regions representing a first vehicle, a second vehicle and a region between said two vehicles. Each light source 18 with its associated light guiding funnel 5a, 5b or 5c and light outcoupling window 10 can serve to homogenously illuminate one icon region. The light guiding funnels 5a-5c, the associated light sources 18, and the optional restricted light outcoupling windows 10 may emit different colors or may be sequentially strobed to provide an animation component to the icon to improve visibility.

(23) Referring now to FIGS. 8-11, there is illustrated an embodiment of an indication device of a rearview device on a vehicle. Specifically, the embodiment illustrates the indication device as a blind spot warning indication device for an exterior mirror of an automobile. However, the rearview device may be any vehicular device for providing a driver with a visual image of the rear and side areas of a vehicle, such as an automobile, a truck, a motorcycle, or other form of conveyance. The blind spot warning indication device comprises a light source assembly 56 for emitting an indicating light, and a light guide member 54 for reflecting the indicating light to a mirror surface 50 marking region, shown as a LOGO pattern 52. The light source assembly 56 and the light guide member 54 are disposed in a mounting cavity 62 of a mirror carrier plate 60. The light source assembly 56 is composed of a PCB 58 and a plurality of juxtaposed light sources 56a mounted on the PCB 58, as shown in FIG. 9. A plurality of wedge-shaped bosses, shown as a first or outermost wedge-shaped boss 64 and a second or adjacent wedge-shaped boss 66, are arranged side by side along an axis Y on the light guide member 54 corresponding to a setting direction of the PCB 58. One side of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses 64 and 66 has a light incident end surface 72 for aligning with a corresponding light source. An upper surface of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped bosses 64 and 66 includes a light reflecting side 74 having an optical pattern for reflecting and scattering incoming light. The reflecting side 74 having the optical pattern is an upward convex arc surface. A lower surface of the wedge-shaped bosses 64 and 66 has a light emitting side 76. The outermost wedge-shaped boss 64 has the largest curvature of the light-reflecting side 74 compared to the other wedge-shaped boss 66, arranged side by side. The outermost wedge-shaped boss 64 has a length, L1, that is the longest length of the light-emitting side compared to a length, L2, of the other wedge-shaped boss 66 arranged side by side.

(24) The outermost wedge-shaped boss 64 has a fan-shaped or fin-shaped profile as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. A width, W1, of the end of the outermost wedge-shaped boss 64 adjacent to the side of the PCB 58 is smaller than a width, W2, of the other side of the curved end, as shown in FIG. 11.

(25) The upper surface of the light-reflecting side 74 has the optical pattern in the form of a thin strip, a lattice, or a wavy line, and the optical pattern has uniformly distributed concave and convex parts. The concave and convex parts may also be an optical pattern having concave and convex portions such as an arc shape, a triangle shape, a polygonal shape, or a hemispherical shape. The upper surface of the reflecting layer may also comprise a texture.

(26) An outer side 64a of the first wedge-shaped boss 64 is a vertically disposed end surface. An inner side 64b of the first wedge-shaped boss 64 directly intersects with the second wedge-shaped boss 66, and an end side 64c of first wedge-shaped boss 64, away from one end of the PCB 58, is curved.

(27) A width, W3, of the second wedge-shaped boss 66 adjacent to the side of the PCB 58 is greater than the width, W2, of the first wedge-shaped boss 64. The width, W3, of the side of the second wedge-shaped boss 66 adjacent to the PCB 58 is greater than or equal to twice the width, W1, of the side of the first wedge-shaped boss 64 adjacent to the PCB 58.

(28) The light incident end surface 72 of the first wedge-shaped boss 64 corresponds to one light source of the plurality of light sources 56a, and the light incident end surface of the second wedge-shaped boss 66 corresponds to two light sources of the plurality of light sources 56a.

(29) A plurality of alternately arranged bumps or tabs 70, used for locating the PCB 58 and light source assembly 56 relative to the wedge-shaped bosses 64 and 66, are disposed along an edge of the light guide member 54 at the position where the light guide member 54 is matched with the PCB 58.

(30) The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.