GB2341365A

GB2341365A - Exterior rear view mirror with light

Info

Publication number: GB2341365A
Application number: GB9819517A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew John Assinder; Michael Edgar Newton; Quentin John Harmer; Michael Stuart Hazell; Simon James Smith
Original assignee: Britax Wingard Ltd
Current assignee: SMR Automotive Mirrors UK Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-09
Filing date: 1998-09-09
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Also published as: GB9819517D0

Abstract

A vehicle exterior rear view mirror comprises a reflective element 24 positioned in a housing and a floodlight 36 projecting light from the housing generally downwardly on to an area adjacent to the portion of the vehicle. An actuator causes illumination of the floodlight 36, and a lock-out prevents actuation of the floodlight 36 when the vehicle is being driven at normal highway speeds. A sensor prevents operation of the lock-out when the vehicle speed is below about 3 miles per hour so that the floodlight 36 can be used during low-speed manoevering.

Description

2341365 EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH LIGHT This invention relates to an

exterior rear view mirror system for a vehicle of the type comprising an exterior mirror including a housing and a reflective element positioned in the housing, a floodlight projecting light from the housing generally downwardly on to an area adjacent to the portion of the vehicle, an actuator arranged to cause illumination of the floodlight and lockout means for preventing actuation of the floodlight when the vehicle is in motion.

GB-A-2275329 discloses a rear view mirror system of this type. The actuator is arranged to respond to a signal from a remote transmitter. This signal may be the same signal as is used to unlock the vehicle doors.

is Additionally, the actuator may be operated by a switch on the vehicle which also controls the interior lights. The lock-out means can be operated either by placing the vehicle transmission in gear or by sensing movement of the vehicle.

According to the invention, in an exterior rear view mirror system of the type described above, lock-out means is arranged to respond to a sensor adapted to produce an output when the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined value so as to prevent operation of said lock-out means when the vehicle speed is below said value.

Thus, a system in accordance with the invention allows the security light to be illuminated when reversing and manoeuvring at low speeds in confined spaces as well as when the vehicle is stationary. Preferably, the security light is arranged to emit light of a colour which does not conflict with vehicle regulations. For example, if such light is visible from the rear of the vehicle, the colour may be amber rather than white.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a motor car equipped 2 with the rear view mirror having a floodlight in accordance with the invention, showing the light pattern generated by the floodlight; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the rear view mirror shown in Figures 1, taken from the rear of the motor car; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a control system for the floodlight of the rear view mirror shown in Figures 2 and 3; and Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the control system shown in Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows having an exterior rear view mirror 10 in accordance with the invention, mounted on a door 12 of a motor car 14. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the mirror 10 comprises a bracket 16 having a mounting face 18 which abuts against the door 12. A spigot 20 projects upwardly from the bracket 16 and has a mirror housing 22 pivotally mounted thereon in a conventional manner. The housing 22 contains a mirror glass 24 which is secured to a mirror carrier 26 having a spherical formation 28 adapted to engage in a complementary socket 30 on a support member 32 which is secured to the inside of the housing 22. Conventional means (not shown) are provided for adjusting the orientation of the mirror carrier 26 relative to the housing 22.

The bottom part of the housing 22 includes a lamp chamber 34 containing a bulb 36. A downwardly facing opening is closed by a lens 38 which may have prism formations 40 on its inner surface so as to provide a desired light distribution.

Figure 4 shows a control system in accordance with the invention which includes a pocket-sized radio frequency (R.F.) transmitter 50 intended to be carried by the vehicle operator. The transmitter 50 has an antenna 52 for sending a radio frequency signal to an antenna 54 of an R.F.

3 receiver 56 mounted on the vehicle. As is conventional, the receiver 56 provides output signals to a remote door lock circuit 58 for locking and unlocking the vehicle doors. The transmitter 50 has a first push button 60 for sending a signal to cause the remote door lock circuit to lock the vehicle doors, and a second push button 62 for sending a signal to cause the remote door lock circuit 58 to unlock the vehicle doors.

The "unlock,' output from the receiver 56 is also connected to a controller 64 which also receives an output from a speed sensor 66 and a manual actuator 68. The speed sensor 66 supplies a signal to the controller 64 indicating whether the vehicle speed is less or greater than a threshold value, in this example, 5 m.p.h. The is controller 64 supplies an output signal which both starts a timer 68 and causes energisation of the bulb 38 in the mirror housing 10 and a corresponding bulb 70 in a similar mirror on the opposite side of the vehicle 10.

The operation of the system illustrated in Figure 4 will now be described, reference also being made to Figure 5. Starting from a condition when the bulbs 36 and 72 in the two mirrors are not energised, then at step 80, the controller 64 determines whether the output from the speed sensor 66 indicates a vehicle speed of less than 5 m.p.h. and whether the receiver 56 is producing a "door unlock,' signal. If both these conditions are true, then the controller 64 produces an output signal (at step 82) to energise the bulbs 36 and 72 and, at the same time, starts the timer 68 which produces an output to the controller 64 after a preset time period (90 seconds in this example).

At step 84, the controller 64 continues to monitor the output from the speed sensor 66 and, if the vehicle speed increases to greater than 5 m.p.h., produces an output signal to switch off the bulbs 36 and 72 (step 86).

If the road speed remains below 5 m.p.h., the controller 64 checks whether the timer 68 is producing an output 4 indicating that its preset time period has elapsed (step 88). If so, the controller 64 produces an output signal to switch off the bulbs 6 and 72 (step 86). If not, the controller 64 checks whether the manual actuator is producing an "off signal" (step 90). If so, the system controller 64 produces an output signal to switch off the bulbs 36 and 72 (step 86). If not, the controller 64 goes back to step 84.

Claims

1. An exterior rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle, having a light for illuminating an exterior area adjacent a vehicle on which the mirror assembly is mounted, and a control system that controls operation of said light, the control system including a vehicle speed responsive control device that enables energization of said light from a vehicle speed of zero up to a predetermined vehicle speed of at least three miles per hour in either forward or backward directions and that de-energizes and/or disables energization of said light at vehicle speeds in excess of said predetermined vehicle speed.

2. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a manually operable switch that selectively energizes or de-energizes said light at any time the vehicle speed is less than said predetermined vehicle speed.

3. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control system includes a timing device that is initiated upon energization of said light and that de-energizes said light after a predetermined lapse of time.

4. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the control system includes a radio frequency responsive device that energizes and deenergizes said light responsive to predetermined radio signals.

5. An exterior rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accopmanying drawings.