Exterior rearview mirror system

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle and having a mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic. The mirror reflective element includes at least one glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of the at least one glass substrate. A turn signal display element is provided in a moldable form and integrated into the mirror shell. The turn signal display element includes a plurality of printable light emitting diodes and is operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the vehicle activates a turn signal system of the vehicle.

1 . An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
 an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system;   said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic;   said mirror reflective element comprising at least one glass substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said at least one glass substrate;   a turn signal display element provided in a moldable form and integrated into said mirror shell; and   said turn signal display element comprising a plurality of printable light emitting diodes and operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the equipped vehicle activates a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one printable light emitting diode of said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises a pattern printable transparent conductive ink. 
     
     
         3 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , comprising a printable heater pad established at a rear surface of said at least one glass substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said turn signal display element comprises a printable electrically conductive layer at a surface of said at least one glass substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said turn signal display element comprises a moldable light emitting diode element. 
     
     
         6 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said at least one glass substrate and another substrate are joined together with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 6 , wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium. 
     
     
         8 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 10 lumens/watt. 
     
     
         9 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 30 lumens/watt. 
     
     
         10 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 50 lumens/watt. 
     
     
         11 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 1 , wherein a heater pad is screen printed at the back of said mirror reflective element. 
     
     
         12 . An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
 an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system;   said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic;   said mirror reflective element comprising an electro-optic medium sandwiched between two substrates;   a mirror reflector established at a surface of one of said two substrates;   a turn signal display element provided in a moldable form and integrated into said mirror shell; and   wherein said turn signal display element comprises a plurality of printable light emitting diodes and is operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the equipped vehicle activates a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 12 , wherein said electro-optic medium comprises an electrochromic medium. 
     
     
         14 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 10 lumens/watt. 
     
     
         15 . An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle, said exterior rearview mirror system comprising:
 an exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle equipped with said exterior rearview mirror system;   said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror reflective element housed by a mirror shell formed of plastic;   said mirror reflective element comprising a substrate and a mirror reflector established at a surface of said substrate;   a turn signal display element provided in a moldable form and integrated into said mirror shell;   said turn signal display element comprising a plurality of a printable light emitting diodes and operable to function as a turn signal indicator that illuminates when a driver of the equipped vehicle activates a turn signal system of the equipped vehicle; and   wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 10 lumens/watt.   
     
     
         16 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 15 , wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a single glass substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 15 , wherein said mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic mirror reflective element and wherein said substrate and another substrate are joined together with an electro-optic medium disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 17 , wherein a heater pad is screen printed at the back of said mirror reflective element. 
     
     
         19 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 30 lumens/watt. 
     
     
         20 . The exterior rearview mirror system of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of printable light emitting diodes comprises at least one printable light emitting diode operable at greater than 50 lumens/watt.