Abstract: An electro-optic rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a caseless electro-optic rearview mirror reflective element and a plate attached at the rear of the reflective element. The mirror reflective element connected to and pivotal about a windshield electronics module via a ball and socket pivot joint. Control circuitry may be disposed in a windshield electronics module for automatically controlling dimming of the electro-optic medium or alternatively, dimming of the electro-optic medium is automatically controlled via a multifunctional rear backup camera system of the equipped vehicle. Optionally, the control circuitry controls dimming of the electro-optic medium of the mirror reflective element via wiring that passes through the ball and socket pivot joint. Optionally, image data captured by the multifunctional rear backup camera may be used for ambient light determination and to provide video image display at the interior rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflector sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate, a heater pad, and a blind zone indication module that includes a plastic housing. When at least one light emitting diode of the blind zone indication module is electrically powered, light emitted by the light emitting diode exits the blind zone indication module via a light-transmitting portion of the front end of the plastic housing. With the blind zone indication module disposed at the mirror reflective element, and with the light-transmitting portion of the front end of the plastic housing juxtaposed with a light-transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate, light emitted by the light emitting diode passes through the mirror reflective element and illuminates an icon of the mirror reflective element that is viewable by a driver of a vehicle equipped with the mirror assembly.

Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a mounting arm configured for attachment at the vehicle, a mirror head disposed at an end of the mounting arm and movable relative to the mounting arm, and an electrically operated actuator operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting arm. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element that, when the actuator is electrically operated, moves in tandem with the mirror head. The actuator, with the mounting arm attached at the exterior portion of the vehicle, and when the actuator is electrically operated, moves the mirror head relative to the mounting arm to vertically and horizontally adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle who is viewing the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head movably disposed at a movable portion that is movable relative to a non-movable portion configured for attachment at a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element fixedly attached at an attachment portion and fixed relative to the mirror casing. The mirror reflective element moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head relative to the exterior portion of the vehicle. A first electrically-operated actuator has an axis of rotation when operated that moves the movable portion relative to the non-movable portion about a first axis, and a second electrically-operated actuator has an axis of rotation when operated that moves the mirror head relative to the movable portion about a second axis. The axis of rotation of the first electrically-operated actuator is non-orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the second electrically-operated actuator.

Abstract: A vehicular sensing device for a vehicular function control system includes a plurality of sensors and at least one illumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons at a cover element, each icon of the plurality of icons representative of a respective vehicle function. With the vehicular sensing device disposed at a vehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and each sensor of the plurality of sensors has a respective field of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality of icons. Responsive to sensing by one of the sensors of proximity or movement of a user in the field of sensing of that sensor, a controller generates an output to control the vehicle function that is represented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.

Abstract: A method for extending and retracting a mirror head of an exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing an exterior rearview mirror assembly having (i) a mounting base, (ii) a mirror head having a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element and (iii) an electrically-operated actuator. The mirror head is adjustably mounted at the mounting base via first and second links, with the links having respective base ends that pivotally attach at the mounting base and respective head ends that pivotally attach at the mirror head. The actuator is operated to pivot the first link to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base from a retracted position toward an extended position. As the mirror head moves toward the extended position, the first and second links pivot at their respective base ends relative to the mounting base and at their respective head ends relative to the mirror head.

Abstract: A vehicular window assembly includes a glass window panel and a display device. The display device includes a display element at the glass window panel and an electrical connector that extends from the display element for electrical connection to a wire harness of a vehicle. The display device is operable to backlight or illuminate at least one icon or alphanumeric character so that the at least one icon or alphanumeric character is viewable at the glass window panel by a person exterior the vehicle. With the window assembly mounted at a vehicle, the display device may be activated to backlight or illuminate the at least one icon or alphanumeric character to indicate at least one vehicle status, and may include indication responsive at least in part to determination that an in-cabin temperature of the vehicle is above a threshold level.

Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes a receiver disposed in the vehicle and operable to wirelessly receive signals generated by a portable garage door opening module when the portable garage door opening module is actuated. The portable garage door opening module includes a separate, non-integrated portable remote control garage door opening module. A control, responsive to the receiver wirelessly receiving signals generated by the portable garage door opening module, controls an accessory of the vehicle.

Abstract: An exterior door handle assembly for a vehicular door includes a base portion and a handle portion. The base portion is configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of the vehicular door and the handle portion is movable relative to the base portion to actuate a door opening latch mechanism. A pocket lighting and sensing module includes at least one LED and at least one light sensor. The LED, when energized, emits light to illuminate a pocket surface at the base portion. With the LED energized to emit light, the light sensor senses the light emitted by the LED and reflected off the pocket surface. Responsive to light sensed by the light sensor with the light emitting diode energized being below a threshold level, the pocket lighting and sensing module determines presence of a person's hand at the handle portion.

Abstract: A method of applying a film to upper and lower appliques of a rear slider window assembly includes providing a support structure and positioning a rear slider window assembly at the support structure, with the rear slider window assembly including spaced apart fixed window panels, upper and lower appliques extending between the spaced apart fixed window panels, and a frame portion attached at the fixed window panels and appliques. An applicator includes first and second applicating devices for dispensing a strip of film onto a respective applique. The applicator is moved to a starting position where a roller of each applicating device presses an end region of the film onto the respective applique, and then is moved along the appliques with the rollers rolling along the respective appliques to press the film onto the appliques. The film strips are cut and pressed onto the respective appliques.

Abstract: A rear liftgate window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass window panel configured to be pivotally mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an opened position. A heater grid includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces established at the inner surface of the glass window panel. A pair of busbars are established at the inner surface of the glass window panel and extend outboard of at least one side region of the inner surface of the window panel that contacts a seal at the vehicle when the glass window panel is in the closed position. Electrical connectors are electrically connected to the busbars outboard of the side region. The electrical connectors are configured to electrically connect to a power source of the vehicle when the rear liftgate window assembly is mounted at the vehicle.

Abstract: A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a movable window panel that is movable along upper and lower rails of a fixed window panel. The lower rail includes a water drainage element having (i) a hole established through the lower rail and (ii) a drainage receiving conduit attached at the fixed window panel beneath the hole of the lower rail and spaced from the lower rail. The drainage receiving conduit includes a receiving portion disposed below the opening to receive water from the opening and a guiding portion to guide received water toward an exit of the drainage receiving conduit. The drainage receiving conduit provides a passageway for water to flow from the lower rail, through the hole of the lower rail, and into the drainage receiving conduit, which drains the water exterior the rear slider window assembly.

Abstract: A mirror display system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head and a display device having a video display screen disposed in the mirror head and behind the reflective element of the mirror head. The display screen, when actuated, is viewable through the reflective element. The display screen, when actuated, displays video images derived from image data captured by one or more of a plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras that have respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. Responsive to a driver's touch at a respective region of the turn signal actuator of the vehicle, the video display screen displays video images derived from image data captured by a respective side camera so as to display video images of the blind zone at the respective side of the vehicle.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head accommodating a reflective element. A display device is accommodated in the mirror head and behind the reflective element. The reflective element is tiltable between a mirror mode orientation, where the vehicle driver views rearward of the vehicle via the reflective element, and a display mode orientation, where the display device is actuated and the vehicle driver views images displayed by the display device through the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element. An actuator has an actuator body that is pivotally mounted at the reflective element and that has a pivot element of a pivot joint that pivotally mounts the mirror head at an interior portion of the vehicle. The actuator pivots the reflective element relative to the actuator body to tilt the reflective element between the mirror mode orientation and the display mode orientation.

Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle equipped with a blind spot monitoring system includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly having a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a heater pad disposed between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate. A light transmitting aperture of the heater pad is juxtaposed with a light transmitting aperture of the mirror reflector of the reflective element and with a light transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate. The mirror back plate includes first structure that is configured to attach at an actuator. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the light transmitting aperture of the mirror back plate, and, when activated responsive to a blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle, emits light through the light transmitting apertures, forming an illuminated icon viewable by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle includes a plurality of window panels arranged with at least one pair of adjacent window panels. Adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panels are joined by a respective molded joining element. The molded joining element is at least partially overmolded and joined at the respective edge portions of the adjacent window panels. The adjacent edge portions joined by the respective molded joining element are offset or non-coplanar. The window panels are formed such that the adjacent edge portions and the molded joining element provide a selected pattern.

Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element with a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device is disposed rearward of the mirror reflective element and has a display screen that occupies at least 75 percent of the reflective region of the mirror reflective element. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. When the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. Light emitted by the video display device may exit the mirror reflective element as circularly polarized light.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicular tailgate includes a tailgate bracket at the tailgate of the vehicle, an illumination device pivotally mounted at the tailgate bracket, and a weighted arm pivotally mounted at the tailgate bracket. The weighted arm has a pivot end and a weighted end opposite the pivot end. Pivotal movement of the weighted arm about the pivot end imparts pivotal movement of the illumination device. As the tailgate of the vehicle pivots between its raised position and its lowered position, the weighted arm imparts pivotal movement of the illumination device due to gravitational force at the weighted end of the weighted arm, such that light emitted by the illumination device illuminates the same ground region. The illumination device may project an icon and part of a light-transmitting element through which the emitted light passes may magnify the projected icon when the tailgate is in the lowered position.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element disposed at a housing. The housing and the reflective element are tandemly and pivotally adjustable about a mounting structure mounted at an interior portion of the vehicle to provide a desired rearward field of view to a driver of the vehicle. A user input is actuatable by the driver of the vehicle. A motorized actuator is operable responsive to actuation of the user input to tilt the reflective element and the housing in tandem about a horizontal axis. Responsive to actuation of the motorized actuator responsive to the user input, the motorized actuator tandemly tilts the reflective element and the housing about the horizontal axis to orientate an outermost front surface of the reflective element more towards the driver or more away from the driver.

Abstract: A system for filling a vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror reflective element includes a filling crucible, a compressible sealing element, and a fixture configured to support an unfilled mirror cell. The filling crucible includes a fluid reservoir, a mirror cell receiving portion and a channel between the fluid reservoir and the mirror element receiving portion. The mirror cell receiving portion of the filling crucible is shaped to receive a perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell therein such that the fill port of the unfilled mirror cell is aligned with the channel of the filling crucible. With the unfilled mirror cell supported at the fixture, the mirror cell receiving portion of the filling crucible receives the upper perimeter portion of the unfilled mirror cell with the compressible sealing element between the filling crucible and the unfilled mirror cell. The mirror cell is filled under negative pressure.