Exterior rearview mirror for motor vehicles with a welcome lighting function

Abstract

Exterior rearview mirror (RTR) for a motor vehicle (VHL), comprising a base (EMB) intended to be fixed to a body part (PRT) of the vehicle (VHL), a hollow housing (CQU) mounted with adjustable pivoting on said base within predetermined angular ranges in elevation and azimuth respectively, and a mirror (MIR) fixed to the opening of the housing; said housing comprising a light projection module (PRJ) mounted movable inside the housing, and coupled to the pivoting mechanism (MEP) of the housing capable of projecting a beam of light (FSC) onto the ground under the housing when the rearview mirror is fixed to the vehicle, with the same reference angle of incidence regardless of the pivoting adjustment of the housing within the predetermined angular ranges. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Exterior rearview mirror for motor vehicles incorporating a welcome lighting function

[0001] The invention relates in general to exterior rearview mirrors, also referred to as side mirrors, and relates more particularly to an exterior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle comprising a welcome lighting function, also referred to as "puddle light" in Anglo-Saxon terminology.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to an exterior rearview mirror which includes a base intended to be fixed on the outside side of a bodywork element of the vehicle, for example on the window frame of a front door of the vehicle or directly on the door of the vehicle.

[0003] The rearview mirror further comprises a housing defining a shell mounted pivotally on the base. The generally hemispherical shell supports a mirror that closes the shell and which, in the type of rearview mirror considered in the present invention, is fixed. The adjustment of the rear view, made possible by the exterior rearview mirror, is achieved by pivoting the shell, and therefore the mirror, relative to the base, in elevation and azimuth.

[0004] This adjustment is made electrically by a control accessible from inside the vehicle's passenger compartment by the vehicle user. This control actuates an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor, coupled to a mechanism that allows the housing to pivot in elevation and azimuth relative to the base, respectively, within predetermined angular ranges. This adjustment makes it possible to adapt the rear lateral vision on the right or left side of the vehicle according to the user's size, primarily the vehicle driver.

[0005] Some exterior mirrors are equipped with a welcome light or "puddle light" function which is activated when the vehicle's doors are opened remotely and / or a specific control dedicated to the welcome light.

[0006] This function is particularly useful when approaching the vehicle to illuminate the area around the vehicle and especially the ground near the front door of the vehicle on the driver's side in order to allow the driver to avoid any puddle, hole, curb, or any other obstacle near the vehicle.

[0007] This welcome lighting function is achieved using a light source, either a bulb or an LED (Light-Emitting Diode), combined with a lens that forms a light projection module, or spotlight, onto the ground. A mask with a specific design, such as the vehicle brand logo, may be integrated. to the module in such a way as to project the logo onto the ground roughly vertically from the rearview mirror.

[0008] Since the projection module is fixedly arranged inside the rearview mirror housing, the angular adjustment of the housing (pivoting the housing in azimuth or elevation) significantly modifies the angle of incidence of the light beam projected onto the ground relative to a position corresponding to a reference setting in elevation and azimuth, for which, for example, the beam arrives on a substantially horizontal surface of the ground with a principal direction of the beam substantially vertical (angle of incidence of 90°).

[0009] The angle of incidence following angular adjustment by pivoting the rearview mirror housing in elevation and / or azimuth can vary significantly if there is a substantial difference in size between a short user and a tall user. The pattern projected onto the ground may therefore be distorted and / or have its sharpness altered depending on the adjustment of the rearview mirror housing.

[0010] Which, in terms of aesthetic performance, may be poorly perceived by the user and degrade the perceived quality rating.

[0011] The invention therefore aims in particular to overcome this drawback by offering an exterior rearview mirror that allows the projection module to be automatically repositioned in a so-called reference position regardless of the pivot angle of the rearview mirror housing within the adjustment ranges of the rearview mirror.

[0012] To this end, the invention has as its first object an exterior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle, comprising a base intended to be fixed on a part of the vehicle's bodywork, a hollow shell mounted pivotally adjustable according to angular ranges determined respectively in elevation and azimuth, on said base and having an opening on its front face closed by a mirror fixed on the opening of the shell; said shell comprising a light projection module mounted movable inside the shell, capable of projecting a beam of light onto the ground under the shell when the rearview mirror is fixed on the vehicle, with a determined reference angle of incidence;said shell further comprising a shell pivoting mechanism coupled to a repositioning mechanism for the mobile projection module, arranged inside the shell to be capable of repositioning the mobile projection module so that the latter projects said beam onto the ground with the same reference angle of incidence regardless of the shell pivoting setting within the determined angular ranges.

[0013] According to one feature, the hull pivoting mechanism comprises a stepper motor enabling the hull to pivot relative to the base according to a control signal, and in which the repositioning mechanism of the mobile projection module, coupled to the mechanism the pivoting of the hull includes mechanical means allowing the repositioning of the mobile projection module relative to the hull.

[0014] According to another feature, the hull pivoting mechanism includes a first stepper motor enabling the hull to pivot relative to the base according to a first control signal and in which the repositioning mechanism of the mobile projection module includes a second stepper motor coupled to the mobile projection module; said second motor being controlled by a second control signal whose effect is the opposite of that of the hull pivoting.

[0015] According to another feature, the shell has a general hemispherical shape closed by a substantially flat mirror.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one exterior rearview mirror as described above.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] illustrates a motor vehicle equipped with an exterior rearview mirror according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic view of the rearview mirror according to the invention in three azimuth pivot adjustment positions; and

[0020] [Fig. 3] illustrates a schematic view of the rearview mirror according to the invention in three Pivot adjustment positions in elevation.

[0021] The elements represented in the figures are oriented within the same orthonormal XYZ coordinate system and identical elements are designated by the same alphanumeric references.

[0022] For this purpose, and unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orthonormal coordinate system XYZ to identify the directions of extension of the rearview mirror mounted on the vehicle, and the associated relative concepts, including a longitudinal direction (along X), a transverse direction (along Y), and a vertical direction (along Z). The longitudinal direction X extends between the front and rear of the vehicle, the transverse direction Y extends between the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle as identified relative to the driver in the driving position, and the vertical direction Z defines the vehicle's elevation from its ground plane. Consequently, the relative concepts front and rear are identified longitudinally, the lateral concept and the relative concepts right and left are identified transversely, and concepts such as upper and lower, or other related relative concepts such as lower and upper, ...are defined vertically relative to the vehicle's running plane on the ground.

[0023] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the present invention considers an exterior rearview mirror, or side rearview mirror, RTR, here the left exterior rearview mirror, of which the mirror MIR used to allow the UTI driver to view the left side rear of his VHL vehicle, is fixedly mounted on the RTR rearview mirror housing defining a hollow hemispherical shell CQU; the MIR mirror closing the hemispherical shell CQU.

[0024] The CQU shell is pivotally mounted on an EMB base itself fixedly mounted on an external part of the bodywork, here on the window frame of the front left door PRT of the VHL vehicle.

[0025] The adjustment of the MIR mirror is therefore done by pivoting the housing, or CQU shell, in site SIT and in azimuth AZT according to respective determined angular adjustment ranges, typically + or - 12° around a so-called reference position.

[0026] We will subsequently consider a reference position in which the pivot in azimuth AZT and in site SIT is 0° (angle of incidence AIR of the beam FSC equal to 90°).

[0027] The CQU shell contains a pivoting mechanism MEP cooperating with the EMB base to ensure the pivoting of the CQU shell in SIT elevation and AZT azimuth. This MEP mechanism is a known electromechanical device of the type comprising an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor controlled from inside the passenger compartment of the VHL vehicle by the driver, the UTI user of the RTR rearview mirror when the UTI user is seated in the driving position in the VHL vehicle.

[0028] This setting will depend on the user's UTI size and will be different between a small person and a tall person.

[0029] The CQU housing supports a PRJ projection module for a light beam FSC onto the ground, intended to provide welcome lighting for the UTI user of the VHL vehicle when approaching the VHL vehicle, particularly when entering the VHL vehicle following a remote opening command of the VHL vehicle's PRT door. Such a PRJ projection module generally comprises a light source, bulb or LED, combined with an optical system (one or more lenses) to create a light beam. The angle of incidence of the FSC beam with the ground depends on the dimensions of the optical system and its positioning within the CQU housing of the RTR rearview mirror.

[0030] This welcome lighting, particularly useful at night or in low-light conditions, takes the form of a spotlight SPT extending onto the ground. Its generally circular or elliptical shape allows the UTI user to safely reach their vehicle, avoiding any puddles, holes, or other obstacles near the front left door PRT of the vehicle VHL. The same type of rearview mirror can be mounted on the front right door, on the front passenger side.

[0031] An MTF pattern can be projected onto the ground in the SPT light spot representing, for example, the logo of the vehicle brand VHL.

[0032] The sharpness of the MTF pattern projected onto the ground depends on the angle of incidence of the FSC beam, sharpness which is fixed for a determined positioning of the PRJ projection module.

[0033] As illustrated respectively in Figures 2 and 3, in order to be able to guarantee the sharpness of the MTF pattern projected onto the ground regardless of the azimuth AZT ([Fig.2]) and elevation SIT ([Fig.3]) settings of the RTR rearview mirror in the angular adjustment ranges respectively in azimuth AZT and elevation SIT, the PRJ projection module of the RTR rearview mirror according to the present invention is mounted movably in the CQU shell of the RTR rearview mirror and coupled to a repositioning mechanism MER fixed in the CQU shell of the RTR rearview mirror.

[0034] The PRJ projection module is arranged so as to be able to automatically correct its position according to the position of the RTR rearview mirror CQU shell in order to reposition the PRJ projection module to a so-called reference position corresponding to the reference angle of incidence AIR of the FSC light beam for which the sharpness of the MTF pattern projected onto the ground is optimal.

[0035] By sharpness, we mean optimal brightness of the MTF pattern, without distortion of the MTF pattern.

[0036] This arrangement is achieved, for example, by mechanically coupling the MER repositioning mechanism of the PRJ mobile projection module with the MEP pivoting mechanism of the CQU shell, which includes a stepper motor, so as to compensate for the pivoting of the CQU shell by an inverse pivoting of the PRJ projection module for its repositioning in both azimuth AZT and elevation SIT. A mechanical coupling may, for example, include mechanical means of the type with one or more gears capable of reversing the directions of rotation in azimuth and elevation respectively.

[0037] As an alternative, the PRJ projection module includes its own electric motor, in particular a stepper motor, controlled by a control signal that is the "inverse" of the one controlling the stepper motor dedicated to the MEP pivoting mechanism of the CQU hull. By "inverse" control signal, we mean a control signal that commands the pivoting of the PRJ projection module in the opposite direction to that of the CQU hull and therefore produces an effect opposite to the pivoting of the CQU hull.

Claims

Demands

1. Exterior rearview mirror (RTR) for a motor vehicle (VHL), comprising a base (EMB) intended to be fixed to a body part (PRT) of the vehicle (VHL), a hollow shell (CQU) mounted pivotally adjustable over determined angular ranges respectively in elevation (SIT) and azimuth (AZT), on said base (EMB) and having an opening on its front face closed by a mirror (MIR) fixed to the opening of the shell (CQU); said shell (CQU) comprising a light projection module (PRJ) movablely mounted inside the shell (CQU), capable of projecting a beam of light (FSC) onto the ground under the shell (CQU) when the rearview mirror (RTR) is fixed to the vehicle (VHL), with a determined reference angle of incidence (AIR);said shell (CQU) further comprising a shell pivoting mechanism (MEP) coupled to a mobile projection module (PRJ) repositioning mechanism (MER), arranged inside the shell (CQU) to be capable of repositioning the mobile projection module (PRJ) so that the latter projects said beam (FSC) onto the ground with the same reference angle of incidence (AIR) regardless of the shell pivoting setting (CQU) within the determined adjustment ranges.;

2. Rearview mirror (RTR) according to the preceding claim, wherein the shell pivoting mechanism (MEP) (CQU) comprises a stepper electric motor enabling the shell (CQU) to pivot relative to the base (EMB) according to a control signal and wherein the mobile projection module (PRJ) repositioning mechanism (MER), coupled to the shell pivoting mechanism (CQU), comprises mechanical means enabling the repositioning of the mobile projection module (PRJ) relative to the shell (CQU).

3. Rearview mirror (RTR) according to claim 1, wherein the shell pivoting mechanism (MEP) (CQU) comprises a first stepper motor enabling the shell (CQU) to pivot relative to the base (EMB) according to a first control signal, and wherein the repositioning mechanism (MER) of the mobile projection module (PRJ) comprises a second stepper motor coupled to the module

4.

5. mobile projection (PRJ); said second motor being controlled by a second control signal whose effect is the opposite of that of the pivoting of the hull (CQU). Rearview mirror (RTR) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (CQU) has a generally hemispherical shape closed by a substantially flat mirror. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising at least one exterior rearview mirror (RTR) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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