Light module for interior rearview mirror assembly

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror casing, a reflective element and a self-contained light module. The light module includes an illumination source, a user actuatable input for activating and deactivating the illumination source, and a first electrical connector. The light module is disposed at least partially within the mirror casing so that the first electrical connector is substantially aligned with an opening in the mirror casing. The casing includes a receiving structure at the opening that is configured to guide and/or at least partially receive a second electrical connector of a wire harness of the vehicle when the second electrical connector is being connected to the first electrical connector. The user actuatable input is operable by an occupant of the vehicle to apply an electrical power signal to the illumination source when the wire harness is connected to the interior mirror assembly.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising: 
 a mirror casing;    a reflective element;    a self-contained light module, said self-contained light module at least partially within said mirror casing;    said self-contained light module comprising an illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a user actuatable input for activating and deactivating said illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a first electrical connector;    said self-contained light module disposed at least partially within said mirror casing so that said first electrical connector is substantially aligned with an opening in said mirror casing;    said casing including a receiving structure at said opening, said receiving structure being configured to at least one of (a) guide and (b) at least partially receive a second electrical connector of a wire harness of the vehicle when said second electrical connector is being connected to said first electrical connector of said self-contained light module;    said wire harness and said second electrical connector providing an electrical power signal to said self-contained light module; and    said user actuatable input operable by an occupant of the vehicle to apply said electrical power signal to said illumination source when the interior mirror assembly is mounted to a portion of the interior of the vehicle and when said wire harness is connected to the interior rearview mirror assembly.    
   
   
       12 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said illumination source comprises a festoon light source.  
   
   
       13 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a housing generally houses said illumination source and wherein said housing comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       14 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said first electrical connector comprises at least one conductive element that is molded within said housing.  
   
   
       15 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said self-contained light module includes electrical contacts for electrically contacting said illumination source, said electrical contacts being disposed at an inner portion of said housing for contacting said illumination source.  
   
   
       16 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said electrical contacts are configured to connect said illumination source between opposite contacts.  
   
   
       17 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 14 , wherein at least one conductive element of said self-contained light module is electrically connected to said user actuatable input, said user actuatable input being electrically connected to said first electrical connector.  
   
   
       18 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a housing generally houses said illumination source and wherein said housing includes a reflective surface, said reflective surface being configured to direct illumination from said illumination source generally through a lens.  
   
   
       19 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said lens is attached to said housing.  
   
   
       20 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said opening in said mirror casing is located at a rearward portion of said mirror casing.  
   
   
       21 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said second electrical connector of the vehicle wire harness comprises a plug and said first electrical connector is configured to at least partially receive said plug of the vehicle wire harness to electrically connect the vehicle wire harness to said first electrical connector of said self-contained light module.  
   
   
       22 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said self-contained light module is configured to snap into an aperture in said mirror casing to secure said self-contained light module at least partially within said mirror casing.  
   
   
       23 . An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising: 
 a mirror casing;    a reflective element;    a self-contained light module, said self-contained light module at least partially within said mirror casing;    said self-contained light module comprising an illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a user actuatable input for activating and deactivating said illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a housing that generally houses said illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a first electrical connector;    said self-contained light module being disposed at least partially within said mirror casing so that said first electrical connector is substantially aligned with an opening in said mirror casing;    said casing including a receiving structure at said opening, said receiving structure being configured to at least one of (a) guide and (b) at least partially receive a second electrical connector of a wire harness of the vehicle when said second electrical connector is being connected to said first electrical connector of said self-contained light module;    said wire harness and said second electrical connector providing an electrical power signal to said self-contained light module; and    said user actuatable input operable by an occupant of the vehicle to apply said electrical power signal to said illumination source when the interior mirror assembly is mounted to a portion of the interior of the vehicle and when said wire harness is connected to the interior mirror assembly.    
   
   
       24 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said housing comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       25 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said first electrical connector comprises at least one conductive element that is molded within said housing.  
   
   
       26 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said self-contained light module includes electrical contacts for electrically contacting said illumination source, said electrical contacts being disposed at an inner portion of said housing for contacting said illumination source.  
   
   
       27 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least one conductive element of said self-contained light module is electrically connected to said user actuatable input, said user actuatable input being electrically connected to said first electrical connector.  
   
   
       28 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said housing includes a reflective surface, said reflective surface being configured to direct illumination from said illumination source generally through a lens.  
   
   
       29 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said opening in said mirror casing is located at a rearward portion of said mirror casing.  
   
   
       30 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said second electrical connector of the vehicle wire harness comprises a plug and said first electrical connector is configured to at least partially receive said plug of the vehicle wire harness to electrically connect the vehicle wire harness to said first electrical connector of said self-contained light module.  
   
   
       31 . An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising: 
 a mirror casing;    a reflective element;    a self-contained light module, said self-contained light module at least partially within said mirror casing;    said self-contained light module comprising an illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a housing that generally houses said illumination source;    said housing comprising a polymeric material;    said housing having a reflective surface;    said reflective surface being configured to direct illumination from said illumination source generally through a lens;    said self-contained light module including a user actuatable input for activating and deactivating said illumination source;    said self-contained light module including a first electrical connector;    said self-contained light module being disposed at least partially within said mirror casing so that said first electrical connector is substantially aligned with an opening in said mirror casing; and    said casing including a receiving structure at said opening, said receiving structure being configured to guide and at least partially receive a second electrical connector of a wire harness of the vehicle when said second electrical connector is being connected to said first electrical connector of said self-contained light module;    said wire harness and said second electrical connector providing an electrical power signal to said self-contained light module; and    said user actuatable input operable by an occupant of the vehicle to apply said electrical power signal to said illumination source when the interior mirror assembly is mounted to a portion of the interior of the vehicle and when said wire harness is connected to the interior mirror assembly.    
   
   
       32 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said first electrical connector comprises at least one conductive element that is molded within said housing.  
   
   
       33 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said self-contained light module includes electrical contacts for electrically contacting said illumination source, said electrical contacts being disposed at an inner portion of said housing for contacting said illumination source.  
   
   
       34 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 33 , wherein said electrical contacts are configured to connect said illumination source between opposite contacts.  
   
   
       35 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 32 , wherein at least one conductive element of said self-contained light module is electrically connected to said user actuatable input, said user actuatable input being electrically connected to said first electrical connector.  
   
   
       36 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said opening in said mirror casing is located at a rearward portion of said mirror casing.  
   
   
       37 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said second electrical connector of the vehicle wire harness comprises a plug and said first electrical connector is configured to at least partially receive said plug of the vehicle wire harness to electrically connect the vehicle wire harness to said first electrical connector of said self-contained light module.  
   
   
       38 . The interior rearview mirror assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said self-contained light module is configured to snap into an aperture in said mirror casing to secure said self-contained light module at least partially within said mirror casing.