Vehicle exterior mirror system

Abstract

A lighted exterior mirror system includes an exterior mirror assembly having a folding portion and a non-folding portion. A ground illumination light of the exterior mirror assembly is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the vehicle at least at a front door region at the side of the vehicle where occupants may enter/exit exit the vehicle. The ground illumination light includes at least one light emitting diode, which is connected in series with a resistor that acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, with the resistor having a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms. The ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the vehicle.

1 . A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
 an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element;   a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle;   wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode;   wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms; and   wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said ground illumination light is disposed in said non-folding portion of said exterior mirror assembly, and wherein said ground illumination light provides said lighted zone regardless of the position of said folding portion relative to said non-folding portion, and wherein said lighted zone is generally unaffected by movement of said folding portion relative to said non-folding portion. 
     
     
         3 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said resistor reduces an ignition voltage in the range of about 9 to 16 volts to a reduced voltage that is on the order of about 1 volt to about 5 volts. 
     
     
         4 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 3 , wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,000 ohms. 
     
     
         5 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 4 , wherein said resistor has a resistance of greater than about 200 ohms. 
     
     
         6 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said ground illumination light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each of said light emitting diodes is connected in series to a respective resistor having a resistance of less than 1,500 ohms. 
     
     
         7 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said ground illumination light comprises a unitary module. 
     
     
         8 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 7 , wherein said unitary module is configured to connect to an electrical system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said ground illumination light illuminates the equipped vehicle at least at the front door region of the equipped side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said ground illumination light includes a housing, a light source positioned in said housing, a light reflector and a light-transmitting cover. 
     
     
         11 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said housing is substantially positioned in said non-folding portion of said exterior mirror assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 11 , wherein said light-transmitting cover is substantially flush with an outer surface of said non-folding portion of said exterior mirror assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said light-transmitting cover comprises at least one of a diffusive optic lens, a diffractive optic lens, a refractive optic lens, a reflective optic lens, a holographic optic lens, a binary optic lens, a clear optic lens, and a sinusoidal optic lens. 
     
     
         14 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said light-transmitting cover is at least one of (a) welded to said housing of said ground illumination light and (b) adhesively attached to said housing of said ground illumination light. 
     
     
         15 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 10 , wherein said ground illumination light housing comprises a material selected from one of a polycarbonate, polyester, nylon, acetal, polypropylene, and ABS, and wherein said light reflector comprises one of a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a reflective metal, a vacuum metalized substrate, a reflector coated substrate, and a reflective metal filled substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises a powerfold exterior mirror assembly operable to move said folding portion relative to said non-folding portion via electrical operation of a powerfold actuator of said powerfold exterior mirror assembly, and wherein said powerfold actuator of said powerfold exterior mirror assembly is operable to move said folding portion between a normal operating position and a folded position responsive to at least one of (a) a switch operable by a user of the equipped vehicle, (b) a speed sensor of the equipped vehicle and (c) a wireless transmission from exterior of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
 an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element;   a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle;   wherein said ground illumination light comprises a unitary module;   wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode;   wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms;   wherein said resistor reduces an ignition voltage in the range of about 9 to 16 volts to a reduced voltage that is on the order of about 1 volt to about 5 volts; and   wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 17 , wherein said ground illumination light is disposed in said non-folding portion of said exterior mirror assembly, and wherein said ground illumination light provides said lighted zone regardless of the position of said folding portion relative to said non-folding portion, and wherein said lighted zone is generally unaffected by movement of said folding portion relative to said non-folding portion. 
     
     
         19 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 17 , wherein said resistor has a resistance of greater than about 200 ohms. 
     
     
         20 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 17 , wherein said ground illumination light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each of said light emitting diodes is connected in series to a respective resistor having a resistance of less than 1,500 ohms. 
     
     
         21 . A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
 an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element;   a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle;   wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode;   wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms;   wherein said resistor reduces an ignition voltage in the range of about 9 to 16 volts to a reduced voltage that is on the order of about 1 volt to about 5 volts; and   wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  21 , wherein said resistor has a resistance of greater than about 200 ohms. 
     
     
         23 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 21 , wherein said ground illumination light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each of said light emitting diodes is connected in series to a respective resistor having a resistance of less than 1,500 ohms. 
     
     
         24 . A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle, said lighted exterior mirror system comprising:
 an exterior mirror assembly comprising a folding portion and a non-folding portion, wherein said exterior mirror assembly comprises at least one of a powerfold exterior mirror assembly and a breakaway exterior mirror assembly, wherein said non-folding portion is configured to mount to a side of a vehicle equipped with said lighted exterior mirror system, and wherein said folding portion includes a reflective element;   a ground illumination light disposed in one of said folding portion and said non-folding portion, wherein said ground illumination light is configured to illuminate with white light a ground area adjacent the equipped side of the equipped vehicle at least at a front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle;   wherein said ground illumination light comprises a unitary module;   wherein said ground illumination light comprises at least one light emitting diode;   wherein said at least one white light-emitting light emitting diode is connected in series with a resistor and wherein said resistor acts as a voltage divider to reduce an ignition voltage of the equipped vehicle to a reduced voltage, and wherein said resistor has a resistance of less than about 1,500 ohms;   wherein said ground illumination light is disposed at said assembly such that a light-transmitting portion of said unitary module is substantially flush with an outer surface of said exterior mirror assembly; and   wherein said ground illumination light provides ground illumination of at least about one lux illumination intensity at least on the ground area adjacent the front door region at the equipped side of the equipped vehicle where occupants may enter and exit the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         25 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 24 , wherein said light-transmitting portion comprises a light-transmitting cover of said unitary module. 
     
     
         26 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 24 , wherein said resistor reduces an ignition voltage in the range of about 9 to 16 volts to a reduced voltage that is on the order of about 1 volt to about 5 volts 
     
     
         27 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 26 , wherein said resistor has a resistance of greater than about 200 ohms. 
     
     
         28 . The lighted exterior mirror system of  claim 24 , wherein said ground illumination light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each of said light emitting diodes is connected in series to a respective resistor having a resistance of less than 1,500 ohms.