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A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a reflectance element that is moveably mounted on an actuator for providing remote positioning of the reflectance

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly that is adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a reflectance element that is moveably mounted on an actuator for providing remote positioning of the reflectance element. The mirror system further includes a turn signal light assembly, which is fixedly mounted in the exterior mirror assembly separate from the reflectance element whereby movement of the reflectance element is independent of the turn signal light assembly. The turn signal light assembly comprises a light source and radiates light from the light source at least along a light-radiating axis that extends generally rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle. In one form, the turn signal assembly includes at least one louver, which is configured to shield the driver from light radiated by the light source.

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1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudinal axis, said mirror system comprising:an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;said exterior mirror assembly including a reflect

1. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudinal axis, said mirror system comprising:an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;said exterior mirror assembly including a reflectance element, said reflectance element being moveably mounted on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element;a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said turn signal light assembly;wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises at least one light source chosen from an incandescent light source, a light-emitting diode, a halogen light source, a fluorescent light source, and a light pipe, said signal light assembly radiating light from said light source at least along a light-radiating axis that extends generally rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said signal light assembly, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of a least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and said exterior mirror assembly incorporating a floodlight adapted to project light generally downwardly and rearwardly on an area adjacent a portion of said vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area; andwherein said turn signal light assembly is incorporated in said exterior mirror assembly in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said exterior mirror assembly. 2. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 3. The mirror system of claim 2, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 4. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of from at least approximately 25 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 5. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light radiated by said signal light assembly comprises one chosen from red colored light and amber colored light. 6. The mirror system of claim 5, wherein said amber colored light is provided by at least one chosen from an amber light-emitting diode and an amber filtering lens. 7. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens and wherein said lens comprises one chosen from a segmented lens, a prismatic lens, and a Fresnel lens. 8. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light pipe. 9. The mirror system of claim 8, wherein said light pipe comprises a fiber optic bundle. 10. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a reflector. 11. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 12. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light-emitting diode. 13. The mirror system of claim 12, wherein said light-emitting diode comprises one of a red light-emitting diode and an amber light-emitting diode. 14. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element. 15. The mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a breakaway joint assembly for mounting said exterior mirror assembly to the side of the vehicle. 16. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens portion configured for facing rearward of the vehicle and another lens portion that wraps around the side of said exterior mirror assembly outboard the mounting of said exterior mirror assembly to the side of the vehicle, said a nother lens portion projecting a pattern of light to function as a side marker for the vehicle. 17. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a filtering lens. 18. The mirror system of claim 17, wherein said filtering lens comprises an amber filtering lens. 19. The mirror system of claim 17, wherein said filtering lens comprises a red filtering lens. 20. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said turn signal assembly includes at least one louver, said at least one louver configured in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said light source. 21. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly is adapted for connection to a circuit comprising a photosensor, said signal light assembly emitting a light intensity, said circuit dimming said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly when said signal light assembly operates under low ambient light conditions about said vehicle. 22. The mirror system of claim 21, wherein said circuit dims said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly by pulse-width modulation. 23. The mirror system of claim 21, wherein said photosensor comprises one chosen from a photoresistor, a photodiode, and a phototransistor. 24. The mirror system of claim 21, wherein said photosensor is part of one chosen from an automatic mirror circuit, a vehicle headlamp activation circuit, and a headlamp daylight running light control circuit. 25. The mirror system of claim 21, wherein said photosensor is integral with said signal light assembly. 26. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a turn signal light module. 27. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a removable turn signal light module. 28. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a plurality of individual light-emitting sources mounted at an angle on a circuit board. 29. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a plurality of individual light emitting sources separated by louvers. 30. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a fluorescent light source. 31. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudinal axis, said mirror system comprising:an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;said exterior mirror assembly including a reflectance element, said reflectance element being moveably mounted on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element;a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said exterior mirror assembly separate from said reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said signal light assembly;wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a light source;said turn signal assembly radiating light from said light source at least along a light-radiating axis that extends generally rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle;wherein said signal light assembly is incorporated in said exterior mirror assembly in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said exterior mirror assembly; andwherein said signal light assembly is removably mounted in said exterior mirror assembly. 32. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 33. The mirror system of claim 32, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of from at least approximately 25 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 34. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 35. The mirror system of claim 34, wherein said lig ht-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 36. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light radiated by said light source comprises one chosen from red colored light and amber colored light. 37. The mirror system of claim 36, wherein said amber colored light is provided by at least one chosen from an amber light-emitting diode and an amber filtering lens. 38. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens and wherein said lens comprises one chosen from a segmented lens, a prismatic lens, and a Fresnel lens. 39. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light pipe. 40. The mirror system of claim 39, wherein said light pipe comprises a fiber optic bundle. 41. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a reflector. 42. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 43. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode chosen from an orange light-emitting diode, a yellow light-emitting diode, a red light-emitting diode, an amber light-emitting diode and a reddish-orange light-emitting diode. 44. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light source comprises one of a red light-emitting diode and an amber light-emitting diode. 45. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said exterior mirror assembly incorporates a floodlight adapted to project another pattern of light generally downwardly and rearwardly on an area adjacent a portion of said vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area. 46. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element. 47. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said mounting of said exterior mirror assembly comprises a breakaway joint assembly. 48. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens portion configured for facing rearward of the vehicle and another lens portion that wraps around the side of said exterior mirror assembly outboard the mounting of said exterior mirror assembly to the side of the vehicle, said another lens portion projecting a pattern of light to function as a side marker for the vehicle. 49. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a filtering lens. 50. The mirror system of claim 49, wherein said filtering lens comprises an amber filtering lens. 51. The mirror system of claim 49, wherein said filtering lens comprises a red filtering lens. 52. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said turn signal assembly includes at least one louver, said at least one louver configured in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said light source. 53. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said signal light assembly is adapted for connection to a circuit comprising a photosensor, said signal light assembly emitting a light intensify, said circuit dimming said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly when said signal light assembly operates under low ambient light conditions about said vehicle. 54. The mirror system of claim 53, wherein said circuit dims said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly by pulse-width modulation. 55. The mirror system of claim 53, wherein said photosensor comprises one chosen from a photoresistor, a photodiode, and a phototransistor. 56. The mirror system of claim 53, wherein said photosensor is part of one chosen from an automatic mirror circuit, a vehicle headlamp activation circuit, and a headlamp daylight running light control circuit. 57. The mirror system of claim 53, wherein said photosensor is integral with said signal light assembly. 58. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a turn signal light module. 59. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said turn signal light assembly is substantially moisture impervious. 60. The mirror system of claim 31, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes. 61. The mirror system of claim 60, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of individual light-emitting diodes mounted on a circuit board. 62. The mirror system of claim 60, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of individual light-emitting diodes mounted at an angle on a circuit board. 63. The mirror system of claim 60, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises individual light-emitting diodes separated by louvers. 64. The mirror system of claim 60, wherein at least one of said light-emitting diodes is connected in series by a current limiting resistor for coupling to the ignition of the vehicle when mounted on the vehicle. 65. A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment and a longitudinal axis, said mirror system comprising:an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle;said exterior mirror assembly including a reflectance element, said reflectance element being moveably mounted on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element;a turn signal light assembly fixedly mounted in said exterior mirror assembly separate from said positionable reflectance element whereby movement of said reflectance element is independent of said signal light assembly;wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a light source;said turn signal assembly radiating light from said light source at least along a light-radiating axis that extends generally rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of the vehicle when operated on the vehicle, and said exterior mirror assembly incorporating a floodlight adapted to project a light generally downwardly and rearwardly on an area adjacent a portion of said vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area;wherein said signal light assembly is incorporated in said exterior mirror assembly in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said exterior mirror assembly; andwherein said signal light assembly comprises an enclosure having a heat distortion temperature of at least approximately 80 degrees Celsius. 66. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 67. The mirror system of claim 66, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of from at least approximately 25 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 68. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 69. The mirror system of claim 68, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of at least approximately 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 70. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light radiated by said light source comprises one chosen from red colored light and amber colored light. 71. The mirror system of claim 70, wherein said amber colored light is provided by at least one chosen from an amber light-emitting diode and an amber filtering lens. 72. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens and wherein said lens comprises one chosen from a segmented lens, a prismatic lens, and a Fresnel lens. 73. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a light pipe. 74. The mirror system of claim 73, wherein said light pipe comprises a fiber optic bundle. 75. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a reflector. 76. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light-radiating axis is at an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 77. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode chosen from an orange light-emitting diode, a yellow light-emitting diode, a red light-emitting diode, an amber light-omitting diode, and a reddish-orange light-emitting diode. 78. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light source comprises one chosen from a red light-emitting diode and an amber light-emitting diode. 79. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said reflectance element comprises an electrochromic reflectance element. 80. The mirror system of claim 65, further comprising a breakaway joint assembly for mounting said exterior mirror assembly to the side of the vehicle. 81. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a lens portion configured for facing rearward of the vehicle and another lens portion that wraps around the side of said exterior mirror assembly outboard the mounting of said exterior mirror assembly to the side of the vehicle, said another lens portion projecting a pattern of light to function as a side marker for the vehicle. 82. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said signal light assembly comprises a filtering lens. 83. The mirror system of claim 82, wherein said filtering lens comprises an amber filtering lens. 84. The mirror system of claim 82, wherein said filtering lens comprises a red filtering lens. 85. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said turn signal assembly includes at least one louver, said at least one louver configured in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said light source. 86. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said signal light assembly is adapted for connection to a circuit comprising a photosensor, said signal light assembly emitting a light intensity, said circuit dimming said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly when said signal light assembly operates under low ambient light conditions about said vehicle. 87. The mirror system of claim 86, wherein said circuit dims said light intensity emitted from said signal light assembly by pulse-width modulation. 88. The mirror system of claim 86, wherein said photosensor comprises one chosen from a photoresistor, a photodiode, and a phototransistor. 89. The mirror system of claim 86, wherein said photosensor is part of one chosen from an automatic mirror circuit, a vehicle headlamp activation circuit, and a headlamp daylight running light control circuit. 90. The mirror system of claim 86, wherein said photosensor is integral with said signal light assembly. 91. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a turn signal light module. 92. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said turn signal light assembly comprises a removable turn signal light module. 93. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes. 94. The mirror system of claim 93, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of individual light-emitting diodes mounted on a circuit board. 95. The mirror system of claim 93, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of individual light-emitting diodes mounted at an angle on a circuit board. 96. The mirror system of claim 93, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of individual light-emitting diodes separated by louvers. 97. The mirror system of claim 93, wherein at least one of said light-emitting diodes is connected in series by a current limiting resistor for coupling to the ignition of the vehicle when mounted on the vehicle. 98. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said heat distortion temperature is at least 100° C. 99. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said beat distortion temperature is at least 120° C. 100. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said enclosure comprises a material chosen from a nylon material, a polyester material, a mineral-filled nylon material, a glass-filled nylon material, a mineral-filled polyester material, a glass-filled polyester material, an ABS polymer material, and a polycarbonate material. 101. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said turn signal light assembly is substantially moisture impervious. 102. The mirror system of claim 65, wherein said turn signal light assembly includes a light transmitting opening, said signal light assembly further comprising a cover, said cover covering said light transmitting opening. 103. The mirror system of claim 102, wherein said cover comprises an optic chosen from a diffractive optic, a diffusive optic, a refractive optic, a reflective optic, a holographic optic, a binary optic, and a sinusoidal optic.