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`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 001
`
`

`

`FILE HISTORY
`US 6,717,712
`
`6,717,712
`PATENT:
`INVENTORS: Lynam, Niall R.
`Lindahl, John O.
`Fuchs, Hahns Yoachim
`
`TITLE:
`
`Exterior mirror plano-auxiliary reflective
`element assembly
`
`APPLICATION
`NO:
`FILED:
`ISSUED:
`
`US2000745172A
`
`20 DEC 2000
`06 APR 2004
`
`COMPILED:(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)9 AUG 2017
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 002
`
`

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`
`0;F IGINAL
`
`ISSUING CLASSIFICATI
`,-,
`CROSS REFERENCE(S)
`
`CLASS
`
`SUBCLASS
`
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`
`SUBCLASS (ONE SUBCLASS PER BLOCK)
`
`INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
`
`35
`
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`
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`
`Continued on Issue Slip Inside File Jacket
`
`] FICHE Li CD-ROM
`
`[Attached in pocket on rlght inside flap)
`
`ME, IN FILE
`I,. .... , E
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 003
`
`

`

`6,717,712
`
`EXTERIOR MIRROR PLANO-AUXILIARY REFLECTIVE ELEMENT
`ASSEMBLY
`
`Transaction History
`
`
`Transaction Description
`Date
`12-20-2000 Miscellaneous Incoming Letter
`12-20-2000
`Initial Exam Team nn
`01-12-2001
`IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security Review
`02-07-2001 Correspondence Address Change
`02-07-2001 Correspondence Address Change
`02-22-2001 Notice Mailed--Application Incomplete--Filing Date Assigned
`03-28-2001 Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`06-25-2001 Miscellaneous Incoming Letter
`11-30-2001 Notice Mailed--Application Incomplete--Filing Date Assigned
`02-12-2002 New or Additional Drawing Filed
`02-12-2002 Additional Application Filing Fees
`02-12-2002 A statement by one or more inventors satisfying the requirement under 35 USC
`115, Oath of the Applic
`02-12-2002 Applicant has submitted new drawings to correct Corrected Papers problems
`03-08-2002 Application Is Now Complete
`03-21-2002 Application Dispatched from OIPE
`04-25-2002
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`04-25-2002
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`05-02-2002 Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`07-01-2002 Restriction/Election Requirement
`07-02-2002 Mail Restriction Requirement
`09-09-2002 Response to Election / Restriction Filed
`09-09-2002 Request for Extension of Time - Granted
`09-19-2002 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`12-02-2002 Restriction/Election Requirement
`12-03-2002 Mail Restriction Requirement
`12-31-2002 Response to Election / Restriction Filed
`01-08-2003 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`03-10-2003 Non-Final Rejection
`03-17-2003 Mail Non-Final Rejection
`06-17-2003 Response after Non-Final Action
`07-08-2003 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`09-22-2003 Notice of Allowance Data Verification Completed
`09-22-2003 Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`09-23-2003 Mail Notice of Allowance
`09-25-2003 Dispatch to Publications
`10-01-2003 Receipt into Pubs
`10-02-2003 Workflow - File Sent to Contractor
`10-03-2003 Workflow - Customer Service Request - Finish
`10-03-2003 Workflow - Customer Service Request - Begin
`11-10-2003 Receipt into Pubs
`12-22-2003
`Issue Fee Payment Verified
`12-22-2003 Workflow - Drawings Finished
`12-22-2003 Workflow - Drawings Matched with File at Contractor
`12-22-2003
`Issue Fee Payment Received
`12-22-2003 Receipt into Pubs
`01-27-2004 Receipt into Pubs
`02-05-2004 Receipt into Pubs
`02-23-2004 Application Is Considered Ready for Issue
`02-26-2004 Receipt into Pubs
`02-27-2004 Receipt into Pubs
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 004
`
`

`

`Issue Notification Mailed
`03-18-2004
`04-06-2004 Recordation of Patent Grant Mailed
`04-06-2004 Patent Issue Date Used in PTA Calculation
`04-28-2008 Post Issue Communication - Certificate of Correction
`05-14-2008 Post Issue Communication - Certificate of Correction
`05-19-2008 Post Issue Communication - Certificate of Correction
`04-29-2016 Expire Patent
` 
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 005
`
`

`

`I09/75172l
`
`'Jc6'6 U.S. PTO
`
`12/20/0
`
`INITIALS
`
`CONTENTS
`Date Received
`IncI. C. of M.)
`or
`Date Mailed
`
`Date Received
`(Incl. C. of M.)
`or
`Date, Mailed
`
`1. Application.
`
`papers.
`
`3.
`
`S.
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`64.
`
`65.
`
`66.
`
`67.
`
`68.
`69.
`70.
`
`71.
`
`72.
`
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`
`74.
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`75.
`
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`
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`----
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`
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`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 006
`
`

`

`ISSUE SLIP STAPLB AREA (for additional cross references)
`
`POSITION
`
`--
`
`INITIALS
`
`4
`
`4
`
`FEE DETERMINATION
`O.I.P.E. CLASSIFIER
`FORMALITY REVIEW
`RESPONSE FORMALITY REVIEWED
`
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`
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`
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`147
`148
`
`154
`
`11It(0 ,
`
`If more than 150 claims or 10 actions
`
`staple additional sheet here
`
`(LEFT INSIDE)
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 007
`
`

`

`(RIGHT OUTSIDE)
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 008
`
`

`

`
`
`I Ilhllliliii IlI I Il l IIll
`
`
`111 11 II l 11111111 11111 NI
`
`Ifl i l
`
`US006717712B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Lynam et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`(54) EXTERIOR MIRROR PLANO-AUXILIARY
`REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Niall R. Lynam, Holland, MI (US);
`John 0. Lindahl, Fruitport, MI (US);
`Hahns Yoachim Fuchs, Iolland, MI
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Donnelly Corporation, Holland, MI
`(US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 84 days.
`
`Appl. No.: 09/745,172
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 20, 2000
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/002026 Al Jun. 13, 2002
`
`5,550,677
`5,557,467
`5,621,577
`5,668,663
`5,724,t87
`5,751,489
`5,784,211
`5,793,S42
`5,805,367
`5,910,854
`6,116,743
`6,154,306
`6,511,192
`6,522,451
`
`8/1996
`* 9/1996
`4/1997
`*
`9/1997
`.3/1998
`5/1998
`* 7/i998
`* 8/1 998
`* 9/1998
`6/1999
`*9/2000
`11/2000
`1/203
`* 2/2003
`
`Schofield et al ............
`MeColgan et al.
`Lang et al.
`Varapras.ad et al .........
`Varaprasad et al ..........
`Caskey et al ...............
`Mingledorff
`Kondo et al.
`Kanazawa
`Varaprasad et al ..........
`Hoek
`Varaprasad et al ..........
`Henion et at.
`Lynam
`
`359/604
`
`359/608
`359/608
`359/603
`
`359/273
`
`359/273
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`9/1975
`* 12/1987
`* 4/1992
`9/1988
`* 9/1996
`* 5/1999
`9/1929
`* 8/1982
`7/1989
`
`2409748
`3620228
`4026578
`0310261
`0729864
`0917987
`2628042
`2092534
`1186443
`
`B60R/1/02
`
`............
`
`360R/1/06
`
`B60R/1/06
`
`.B6OR/1/08
`
`...
`
`........
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`. . .
`
`(51)
`
`(63) Continuation -in-part of application No. 09/478,315, filed on
`Jan. 6, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,522,451.
`. . . .
`. . . G02F 1/15; G02B 5/08;
`.. .
`Int. C 7.
`(0213 S/10; 60213 7/182; B60R 1/06
`359/265; 359/267; 359/841;
`(52) U.S. Ci ........................
`359/850; 359/864; 359/866; 359/868; 359/872;
`359/877; 248/549; 248/900
`.........
`359/841, 850,
`.....
`(58) Field of Search
`359/851, 854, 855, 864, 865, 866, 868,
`872, 877, 265, 267; 248/549, 900
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`-
`
`8/1967
`3,338,655 A
`3/1968
`3,375,053 A
`3,389,952 A * 6/1968
`4,268,120 A
`5/1981
`4,449,786 A
`5/1984
`* 7/1987
`4,678,294 A
`4,917,485 A * 4/1990
`8/t993
`5,239,405 A
`5,412,512 A * 5/1995
`
`....... .350/293
`
`Young
`Ward ........
`Tobin, Jr.
`Jitsumori ................. 350/302
`McCord ................ .350/293
`Van Nostrand
`Baldwin, Sr.
`Varaprasad et al .........
`Zebold et al.
`
`359/272
`
`Primary tExaminer-Ricky D. Shafer
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn &
`Burkhart, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`This invention provides a reflective element assembly suit-
`able for use
`in an exterior sideview mirror assembly
`mounted to the side body of an automobile. The reflective
`element assembly includes a first reflective element and a
`second reflective element. The second reflective element is
`angled downwardly and forwardly with respect to the first
`reflective element when the mirror assembly is mounted to
`a side of an automobile to provide an increased field of view.
`In one form, both reflective elements are commonly sup-
`ported on a bezel, which is mounted to the mirror assembly
`casing. In another form, the reflective elements are sepa-
`rately mounted, with the second reflective element fixedly
`mounted to the casing and the first reflective element mov-
`ably supported in the mirror casing, for example, on an
`actuator.
`
`54 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`10
`
`18
`
`14
`
`21
`
`-23
`
`Figure 1
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 010
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`C4
`
`aM
`
`L
`
`rIr
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 011
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`In
`
`'9-
`
`C,,
`
`C
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 012
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`65
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`73"
`
`ccc
`
`Figure 4.
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 013
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`50
`
`Figre 5A
`
`50
`
`Ri9 ure 58
`
`5
`
`0
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Multiradius
`
`Multiradius
`
`55
`
`65
`
`55
`
`Multiradius
`
`Muliradius
`
`D 5
`
`Pa5
`
`Figr ue 5D
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 014
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`Multiradius
`
`Fs3ize 5P
`55
`
`Multiradius
`
`Rgure 5 C-
`
`50
`
`Fur9
`
`e SH
`
`Multiradius
`
`Multiradius
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 015
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`rn
`
`hO
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 016
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`CD
`L.
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 017
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 9 of 13
`
`US 697179712 B2
`
`310
`
`1
`350
`
`FIG.8
`
`412
`
`416
`
`-420
`
`FIG.15
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 018
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`314
`
`314d
`
`317b
`
`318
`
`320b
`
`312c
`
`,321
`-- 320
`
`321a
`
`317
`
`FIG.9
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 019
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`310./
`
`31G
`
`z
`
`xc
`
`330d
`
`332
`
`330
`
`FIG.t I
`
`321A
`
`FIG.IO
`
`321d
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 020
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`314
`
`2
`
`X-AXIS
`
`FIG.]
`
`2
`
`314
`
`312
`Y
`
`NY-AXIS
`
`FIG.15
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 021
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`/
`
`Lzzr
`6j
`
`ILM._
`
`00
`
`o
`
`N~~O
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 022
`
`

`

`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`EXTERIOR MIRROR PIANO-AUXILIARY
`REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 09/478,315, filed Jan. 6, 20(KW, entitled "EXTE-
`RIOR MIRROR PLANO-AUXILIARY REFLEC'IVE
`ELEMENT ASSEMBLY", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,451,
`which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF
`THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to exterior sideview mirror
`assemblies suitable for use on an automobile, and more
`specifically, to piano-auxiliary reflective element assemblies
`for use in automobile exterior sideview mirror assemblies.
`Automobiles are typically equipped with an interior rear-
`view mirror assembly (adapted for providing a rearward
`field of view immediately rearward of the vehicle, typically
`principally in the road lane the vehicle is traveling in) and at
`least one exterior sideview mirror assembly attached to the
`side of the vehicle (typically adjacent a front side window
`portion). The exterior side view mirror assembly typically
`comprises a reflective element adapted to provide a rearward
`field of view of the side lane adjacent the vehicle so as to
`allow the driver see whether a side approaching vehicle is
`present when the driver is contemplating a lane change.
`Conventionally, automobiles are equipped with a driver-side
`exterior mirror assembly and, very often, with a passenger-
`side exterior sideview mirror assembly mounted to the side
`of the automobile body opposite to that of the driver-side
`assembly. While the combination of an interior rearview
`mirror with a driver-side exterior mirror (and especially in a
`three-mirror system comprising an interior rearview mirror
`with a driver-side exterior mirror and a passenger-side
`exterior mirror) works well in many driving situations, rear
`vision blind spots present a potential safety hazard while
`driving. A rear vision blind spot is an area adjacent the side
`of an automobile where a view of another vehicle
`(overtaking on that side) is not captured in the rearward field
`of view of the exterior mirror reflector on that side. This
`presents a potential safety hazard as the driver, upon check-
`ing the view in the exterior sideview mirror and seeing no
`overtaking vehicle therein, may deem it safe to initiate a lane
`change, unaware that there is a vehicle immediately adjacent
`in a blind-spot of the exterior mirror reflector.
`Various attempts have been made conventionally to mini-
`mize and/or eliminate exterior mirror blind-spots on
`vehicles. One approach
`is to make the exterior mirror
`reflector larger, and particularly wider with respect to the
`vehicle body. By increasing the width of the exterior mirror
`reflector, it has a wider field of view rearwards, and hence
`the reflector blindspot is reduced. While use of a wide
`exterior mirror reflector is an option for trucks, buses and
`commercial vehicles, increasing the width of the reflector
`used in an exterior sideview mirror assembly mounted on
`automobiles (such as sedans, station wagons, sports cars,
`convertibles, minivans, sports utility vehicles, pick-up
`trucks and similar passenger carrying automobiles) is often
`not an option. In such domestic automobiles, increasing the
`width of the exterior mirror reflector increases the size of the
`exterior sideview mirror assembly with a concomitant
`increase in aerodynamic drag, increase in fuel consumption,
`increased difficulty in parking in tight parking spaces, and
`increased reflector vibration. Use of a non-flat, curved
`exterior mirror reflector
`is commonly used to increase
`rearward field of view without increasing reflector size.
`
`While working well to increase field of view, use of a
`curved reflector (such as a convex, spherically-curved
`reflector) has disadvantages. The field of view rearward
`increases as the degree of curvature of the bent substrate
`5 increases (i.e., the field of view rearward increases as the
`radius of curvature of the bent substrate decreases).
`However, such wide-angle mirrors have non-unit magnifi-
`cation and distance perception rearward is distorted. For this
`reason, convex (spherically-bent) exterior mirror reflectors
`10 are required in some countries (such as the United States) to
`carry a safety warning "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE
`CLOSER THAN T1EY APPEAR". Distance perception is
`particularly important for a driver-side exterior mirror.
`Indeed, Federal Vehicle Safety Standard No: 111
`in the
`15 United States (the entire disclosure of which is hereby
`incorporated by reference herein) requires that the driver-
`side exterior mirror reflector exhibit unit magnification, and
`places restrictions on the radius of curvature allowed for any
`bent passenger-side mirror as well as requiring a safety
`.,) warning be placed thereon. As an improvement over spheri-
`cally bent/convex mirror reflectors, aspherical or multiradius
`mirror reflectors (such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
`4,449,786 and 5,724,187, the entire disclosures of which are
`hereby incorporated by reference herein) have been devel-
`25 oped. Such mirrors are widely used in Europe and Asia for
`both driver-side exterior mirror reflectors and for passenger-
`side exterior mirror reflectors. The aspherical or multiradius
`mirror reflectors typically have a less curved (larger radius
`of curvature) reflective region that is inboard or closest to the
`_{} driver when mounted on a vehicle and, usually separated by
`a demarcation line or the like, have a more curved (smaller
`radius of curvature) region that is outboard or farthest from
`the driver when mounted on a vehicle. However, such
`aspherical or multiradius reflectors do not have unit magni-
`35 fication and so cannot be used when unit magnification is
`mandated (such as by FMVSS 1l, referenced above).
`To supplement a flat driver-side exterior mirror reflector,
`an auxiliary and separate bent reflector is sometimes incor-
`porated into the driver-side exterior sideview mirror assem-
`4o bly. However, this is often not suitable for passenger auto-
`mobiles because of the extra space required in the sideview
`mirror assembly to accommodate an auxiliary reflector
`element. Also, in most passenger automobiles, the position
`of the side view mirror reflector is adjustable by the driver
`45 (such as by a hand-adjust, or by a manually adjustable cable
`such as a Bowden cable or by an electrically operable
`actuator, as known in the art) in order to provide to that
`driver his or her desired rearward field of view, which
`ill-suits use of a separate, auxiliary reflector. LikewisL,
`50 addition of stick-on blind-spot mirror reflectors (such as are
`commonly sold in automotive parts stores and the like) onto
`an automobile exterior sideview mirror reflector has
`disadvantages, including obscuring field of view of the
`automobile mirror reflector and adding to mirror element
`55 vibration.
`There is thus a need to provide an automobile exterior
`sideview reflective element, and particularly a driver-side
`automobile exterior sideview reflective element, that over-
`comes the disadvantages above and that provides the driver
`6o of the automobile with a distortion-free field of view with
`unit magnification that is supplemented with a wide-angle
`view of a side lane blind spot, and there is a need that this
`be provided in a unitary reflective element assembly module
`suitable to mount onto, and be adjusted by, the mirror
`reflector adjustment mechanism (such as an electrically
`operated, motorized actuator) provided in the exterior side-
`view mirror assembly.
`
`6S
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 023
`
`

`

`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`SUMMARY OF TIIE INVENTION
`According to the present invention, an automobile exte-
`rior sideview mirror system includes an exterior sideview
`mirror assembly having a reflective element assembly. The
`reflective clement assembly includes a first reflective ele-
`ment and a second reflective element, which together pro-
`vide an increased field of view for the exterior side mirror
`assembly.
`In one form of the invention, an automobile exterior side
`mirror system includes an exterior side mirror assembly,
`which is adapted for attachment to a side of an automobile.
`The exterior sideview mirror assembly includes a reflective
`element assembly having a piano reflective element, which
`forms a first reflective element, and a multiradiused reflec-
`tive element which forms a second reflective element. The
`reflective element assembly is mounted to an actuator, which
`moves the reflective element assembly to position the rear-
`ward field of view of the reflective element assembly. The
`reflective element assembly further includes a frame element
`assembly to which the first and second reflective elements
`are mounted and which orients the second reflective element
`such that it has a viewing range which spans outwardly and
`downwardly with respect to the first reflective element to
`thereby provide an increased field of view for the exterior
`sideview mirror assembly.
`In one aspect, the first reflective element and the second
`reflective element are adjacently attached to the frame
`element assembly at a joint. The reflective element assembly
`further includes a demarcation element disposed at its joint
`to form a demarcation between the first and second reflective
`elements that is visible to the driver. In a further aspect, the
`frame element assembly includes a bezel portion which
`extends around the first reflective element, with the demar-
`cation element comprising a segment of the first bezel
`portion.
`In another aspect, the second reflective element comprises
`a bent glass substrate with radii of curvature in the range of
`about 4000 mm to about 100 mm.
`In yet another aspect, the frame element assembly
`includes a frame, with the first and second reflective ele-
`ments being mounted in the frame. The multiradiused reflec-
`tive element is mounted to the frame at an outboard position,
`with the plano reflective element being positioned adjacent
`the multiradiused reflective element and at an inboard posi-
`tion with respect to the multiradiused reflective element
`when the exterior side mirror assembly is mounted to an
`automobile. In a further aspect, the plano reflective element
`is mounted to the frame by a backing plate, which is
`preferably adapted to mount to the actuator.
`In other aspects, the first reflective element includes a
`rearward field of view having a principal axis, which is
`different from and angled to a principal axis of the rearward
`field of view of the second reflective element when the
`reflective element assembly is mounted
`in the exterior
`sideview mirror assembly. The principal axis of the rearward
`field of view of the second reflective element is directed
`generally outwardly and downwardly with respect to a
`longitudinal axis of the automobile when the exterior side
`mirror system is mounted to an automobile. For example,
`the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the second
`reflective element may form a downward angle with respect
`to the principal axis of the rearward field of view of the first
`reflective element in the range from about 0.75' to about 50,
`to about 3.50, in a range of about
`or in a range of about 1.5'
`2* to about 30.
`In other aspects, the principal axis of the second rellective
`element forms an outward angle with respect to the principal
`
`5
`
`axis of the rearward field of view of the first reflective
`element in a range of about 0.750 to about 50, or in a range
`of about 1 to about 30, or in a range of about I.25' to about
`2.50.
`According to another form of the invention, an automo-
`bile exterior side mirror system include.s an exterior side
`mirror assembly, which is adapted for attachment to a side
`of an automobile. The exterior side mirror assembly includes
`a mirror casing, a reflective element assembly, and an
`10 actuator. The reflective element assembly includes a frame
`element assembly, a first reflective element having a unit
`magnification, and a second reflective element having a
`multiradiused curvature. The frame element assembly
`mounts the first reflective element and the second reflective
`element in the mirror casing and is adapted to mount to the
`15 actuator, which adjusts the orientation of the reflective
`element assembly. The first reflective element has a first
`rearward field of view with a first principal axis, and the
`second reflective element has a second rearward field of
`view with a second principal axis, with the second principal
`axis being angled outwardly and downwardly with respect to
`the first principal axis.
`In one aspect, the second principal axis is angled out-
`wardly from the first principal axis at an angle in a range of
`about 0.75' to about 50, or in a range of approximately 1 to
`about 3', or at an angle in a range of about 1.25' to about
`2.5g.
`In another aspect, the second principal axis is angled
`downwardly from the first principal axis at an angle in a
`3() range of approximately 0.75' to about 5', or in a range of
`about 1.5' to about 3.50, or at an angle in a range of about
`20 to about 30.
`In another aspect, the frame includes a support surface for
`the second reflective element, with the support surface
`35 angling the second principal axis of the second reflective
`element.
`In yet another form of the invention, an automobile
`exterior sideview mirror system includes an exterior side-
`view mirror assembly, which is adapted for attachment to a
`40 side of an automobile. The mirror assembly includes an
`actuator and a reflective element assembly. The reflective
`element assembly includes a frame clement assembly, a first
`reflective element, and a second reflective element. The
`frame element assembly is adapted to mount to the actuator
`45 and includes a frame and a support surface for the second
`reflective clement. The actuator adjusts the position of the
`reflective element assembly to thereby adjust the viewing
`angle of the sideview mirror system. r Ibe support surface
`angles the second reflective element downwardly and for-
`50 wardly of the first reflective element when the mirror
`assembly is mounted to an automobile whereby the second
`reflective element provides a viewing range which spans
`outwardly and downwardly with respect to the automobile to
`thereby provide an increased field of view for the exterior
`55 sideview mirror assembly.
`In one aspect, the support surface is provided by a plate
`element, for example a solid plate element or a foraminous
`plate element. In other aspects, the support surface is pro-
`vided by a frame.
`In further aspects, the frame includes a first bezel portion
`and a second bezel portion, with the first bezel portion
`extending around the first reflective element, and the second
`bezel portion extending around the second reflective cle-
`ment. In one form, the second lzel portion is angled
`6S forwardly with respect to the first bezel portion when said
`exterior sideview mirror assembly is mounted to a side of an
`automobile.
`
`60
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1030
`Page 024
`
`

`

`US 6,717,712 B2
`
`In another aspect, the second reflective element is located
`outboard of the first reflective clement.
`These and other advantages, features, and modifications
`will become more apparent when reviewed in conjunction
`with the drawings and the detailed description which fol-
`lows.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIlE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. I is a perspective view of an automobile equipped
`with exterior sideview mirror assemblies according to this
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a top plan partial fragmentary view of the
`driver's side exterior rearview mirror assembly of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a plano-
`multiradius reflective element assembly of the mirror assem-
`bly in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a demarcation
`element of the plano-multiradius reflective element assem-
`bly of FIG. 3;
`FIGS. 5A-5H illustrate views of various locations for a
`plano reflective element and an auxiliary reflective element
`according to this present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a
`piano reflective element assembly according to the present
`invention including a demarcation element formed as a
`dividing wall in a backing plate element;
`FIG. 6A is a cross-section taken along line XX of FIG. 6;
`FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of
`FIG. 6;
`HG. 7 is a schematic of a third embodiment of a piano-
`auxiliary reflective element assembly according
`to this
`present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of
`a plano reflective element assembly according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the plano
`reflective element assembly of FIG. 8;
`FIG. 10 is an end view of the plano reflective element
`assembly of FIG. 8 as viewed from line X-X of FIG. 8;
`FIG. I1 is a top view of the piano reflective element
`assembly of FIG. 8 as viewed from line XI-XI of FIG. 8;
`FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the piano reflec-
`tive element assembly of FIG. 8 illustrating the orientation
`of the reflective element;
`FIG. 13 is another schematic representation of the orien-
`tation of the reflective elements of the piano rellective
`element in FIG. 8;
`FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the range of viewing of
`the reflective elements of the plano reflective element
`assembly of FIG. 8; and
`FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of
`an exterior rearview mirror system of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIlE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`As illustrated in FIG. 1, passenger automobile 10 (which
`may be a sedan, a station-wagon, a sports car, a convertible,
`a minivan, a sports utility vehicle, a pick-up truck or a
`similar passenger carrying non-commercial, personal trans-
`portation automobile) includes an interior rearview mirror
`assembly 18 positioned within interior vehicle cabin 25.
`Interior vehicle cabin 25 further includes a steering wheel
`16, a driver seat 20 positioned at steering wheel 16, a front
`
`passenger seat 21 adjacent to driver seat 20 in the front
`portion of cabin 25, and a rear passenger seat 23 in the rear
`portion of cabin 25. Automobile 10 further includes a
`driver-side exterior sideview mirror assembly 12 and a
`5 passenger-side exterior sideview mirror assembly 14, each
`adapted for attachment to opposing sides of automobile
`body 11, most preferably adjacent to the seating position of
`the driver seated in driver seat 20 for driver-side assembly
`12 and adjacent to the front passenger seat 21 for passenger-
`side assembly 14. Exterior sideview mirrors, mounted as
`shown in FIG. 1 close to the driver seating location, are
`commonly referred to as door-mounted exterior sidevicw
`mirror assemblies. Driver-side exterior sideview mirror
`assembly 12 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a piano-
`multiradius exterior sideview reflective element assembly
`15 30. Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly 30 is
`mounted to a reflective element positioning actuator 36. The
`orientation of plano-multiradius reflective element assembly
`30, and hence its rearward field of view, is adjustable by
`actuator 36 in response to control 37. Control 37 can
`20 comprise a handset control that allows the driver manually
`move the orientation of plano-multiradius reflective element
`assembly 30 within exterior mirror housing 40 (such as by
`a lever control or by a cable control) and hence reposition
`the rearward field of view of plano-multiradius reflective
`25 element assembly 30. Alternately, when actuator 36 com-
`prises an electrically actuated actuator that is electrically
`operable incorporating at least one motor, control 37 can
`comprise a switch (which, preferably, is operable under
`control of the driver seated in cabin 25) or control 37 can
`_Q comprise a memory controller, as known in the automotive
`mirror art, that controls actuator 36 to move the position of
`plano-multiradius reflective element assembly 30 to a pre-
`set orientation that suits the rearward field of view prefer-
`ence of an individual driver. Actuator 36 is mounted to
`35 bracket 38 which attaches to vehicle body side 11. Plano-
`multiradius reflective element assembly 30 is positionable
`by actuator 36 within exterior mirror housing 40.
`Plano-multiradius reflective element assembly 30, as
`shown in FIG. 3, comprises a piano element 50 and a
`4o separate multiradius element 55. Preferably, piano element
`50 is adjacent to