Rearview mirror with illuminated area

Abstract

The rearview mirror comprises a mirror glass, which is mounted to a carrier plate. A display unit is disposed behind the mirror glass and the carrier plate, which generates a light beam by means of an illuminant, wherein said light beam is coupled into a light conductor. The light beam is directed outward by means of a reflection free portion of the mirror glass, so that light passing through is directed towards the driver by means of the deflection optics.

1 . A rearview mirror assembly for motor vehicles, said rearview mirror assembly comprising:
 a carrier plate;   a mirror glass having a primary surface and a secondary surface, said secondary surface mounted to said carrier plate;   an illuminant disposed between said carrier plate and said secondary surface of said mirror glass for producing light;   a light conductor disposed adjacent said illuminant for receiving the light produced by said illuminant and directing it toward said secondary surface of said mirror glass, said light conductor having a coupling end for receiving the light and a decoupling end whereat the light is transmitted out of said light conductor, and a conductor body extending between said coupling and decoupling ends, said conductor body including reflection surfaces ( 16 ) extending three dimensional curved planes to facilitate the even distribution of the light as the light is transmitted through said decoupling end.   
     
     
         2 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said conductor body includes a plurality of light conductor segments, each extending through a three dimensional curved plane. 
     
     
         3 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 2  including deflection optics at said decoupling end of said light conductor for deflecting the light toward a driver of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said reflection surfaces extend through a reflection surface radius of curvature. 
     
     
         5 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said deflection surface defines a deflection radius of curvature smaller than said reflection surface radius of curvature to homogenize the light as it exits said decoupling end and is received by said deflection optics. 
     
     
         6 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said defection surface is disposed adjacent said secondary surface. 
     
     
         7 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said secondary surface of said mirror glass includes a primary reflective coating to reflect ambient light transmitted through said primary surface back through said primary surface. 
     
     
         8 . A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein a portion of said secondary surface disposed adjacent said deflective optics has a secondary reflective coating less than said primary reflective coating.