US 6,176,602 · Granted 2001-01-23
The Side Mirror That Warns Everyone You're About to Turn
Imagine your car's side mirror doesn't just show what's behind you—it also flashes a light to warn other drivers that you're about to turn or change lanes. This patent describes how to build a signal light right into the mirror housing so approaching cars see your intention coming from miles away, but the light doesn't annoy the driver inside the car.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers an exterior mirror assembly that integrates a signal light into the mirror housing itself. What's protected here is the specific design of a light conduiting member (basically a light guide) that projects warning patterns rearward, forward, and sideways from the vehicle, while simultaneously blocking that light from entering the cabin and distracting the driver. The patent also covers variations using reflective surfaces inside the mirror and versions that work with power-folding mirror systems.
Why it matters
This patent represents a safety innovation in vehicle signaling. By embedding turn and lane-change indicators directly into side mirrors, the technology makes driver intentions visible from more angles and distances than traditional lights alone. Donnelly Corporation, a major automotive supplier, locked down this design to give vehicles better 360-degree communication on the road, potentially reducing accidents caused by drivers not seeing or understanding lane-change intentions.
Real-world use
When you're driving and see a car's side mirror light up in an amber or red pattern, you're watching this patent in action—it's warning you that the driver is about to change lanes or turn.
Original USPTO abstract
An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element and a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing, and at least one signal light positioned in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and a light conduiting member which is adapted to project a pattern of light from the housing and yet restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe the pattern of light. The light source may be provided by a light pipe which is optically coupled to a remote light source located, for example, in the vehicle. Preferably, the pattern of light extends rearwardly, forwardly, and laterally from the vehicle. In one form, the light conduiting member includes a light input surface on one end and at least one light emitting surface for directing light outwardly from the housing of the exterior mirror assembly. In another form, the exterior mirror assembly incorporates a signal light which includes a plurality of reflective surfaces for directing light forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle but restricts light from entering into the vehicle and distracting the driver. In yet another form, the exterior mirror assembly includes a powerfold mirror system which incorporates a security light in either the folding portion or non-folding portion of the powerfold mirror system.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,176,602
- Filing date
- 1998-06-22
- Grant date
- 2001-01-23
- Assignee
- Donnelly Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- PASTRICK TODD W., VAN DE VEN MICHIEL P., WHITEHEAD PETER J., MOUSSEAU RICK, LYNAM NIALL R.
- CPC class
- B60Q1/2665
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