High definition vehicular mirror

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802544-B2
Application number	US-201314072091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2013
Priority date	Feb 10, 2004
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing or base member, a mirror lens and a connecting gasket member. The mirror lens is provided in the shape of a portion of an end of an ellipsoid. The lens has a varying radius of curvature. The center portion of the tens has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer portions along the major axis of the lens creating an improved field of view of the reflected image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mirror assembly comprising:
a housing member;
a mirror lens member comprising a dome lens having a perimeter forming a base comprising a first base portion having a first base radius of curvature and a second base portion having a second base radius of curvature, said dome lens positioned between said first base portion and said second base portion, and said dome lens having a varying dome lens radius of curvature, said varying dome lens radius of curvature having a minimum value positioned between said first base radius of curvature and said second base radius of curvature, said varying dome lens radius of curvature increasing constantly from said minimum value to said first base radius of curvature and said second base radius of curvature, said varying dome lens radius of curvature being greater at said first base radius of curvature than at said second base radius of curvature, wherein the first base radius of curvature is varying and the second base radius of curvature is varying.

2. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said minimum value is not positioned in the center of said dome lens.

3. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said first base portion is parallel to said second base portion.

4. A mirror assembly comprising:
a housing member;
a mirror lens member comprising a first base portion having a first base periphery, a second base portion having a second base periphery and a dome lens positioned there between having a varying dome lens radius of curvature, said varying dome lens radius of curvature having a minimum value positioned between said first base periphery and said second base periphery, said varying dome lens radius of curvature increasing constantly from said minimum value to said first base periphery and to said second base periphery, and said second base portion being non-parallel to said first base portion, wherein said first base periphery includes a first base radius of curvature, and said second base periphery includes a second base radius of curvature, and wherein the first base radius of curvature is varying and the second base radius of curvature is varying.

5. A mirror assembly as described in claim 4 , wherein said varying dome lens radius of curvature is greater at said first base periphery than at said second base periphery.

6. A mirror assembly as described in claim 4 , wherein said minimum value is not positioned in the center of said dome lens.

7. A mirror lens assembly comprising:
a mirror lens member comprising a first base periphery, a second base periphery and a dome lens, said mirror lens member having a minimum radius of curvature positioned in between said first base periphery and said second base periphery and a varying dome lens radius of curvature increasing from said minimum radius of curvature towards said first base periphery and said second base periphery, said first base periphery being different from said second base periphery, wherein said first base periphery includes a first base radius of curvature, and said second base periphery includes a second base radius of curvature, and wherein the first base radius of curvature is varying and the second base radius of curvature is varying.

8. A mirror lens assembly as described in claim 7 , wherein said mirror lens member comprises a geometric shape.

9. A mirror lens assembly as described in claim 7 , wherein said mirror lens member comprises an ellipsoid.

10. A mirror assembly as described in claim 7 , wherein said varying dome lens radius of curvature is greater at said first base periphery than at said second base periphery.

11. A mirror assembly as described in claim 7 , wherein said minimum value is not positioned in the center of said dome lens.

12. A mirror assembly as described in claim 7 , wherein said first base periphery is parallel to said second base periphery.

13. A mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror lens member comprising a dome lens generally configured to conform to a geometric shape formed using an ellipse, said mirror lens member comprising a first base portion and a second base portion comprising an intersection of an axis of said ellipse, said intersection being non-perpendicular to said axis.

14. A mirror assembly as described in claim 13 , wherein said axis of said ellipse comprises a major axis.

15. A mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror lens member comprising first base periphery, a second base periphery, and a dome lens having a varying dome lens radius of curvature, said varying dome lens radius of curvature configured to generate a first proportion image view located between said first base periphery and said second base periphery, said varying dome lens radius of curvature configured to generate at least one second proportion image view along said first base periphery and said second base periphery, said varying dome lens radius of curvature being greater at said first base periphery than at said second base periphery;
wherein said second proportion image view displays larger image proportions than said first proportion image view, wherein said first base periphery includes a first base radius of curvature, and said second base periphery includes a second base radius of curvature, and wherein the first base radius of curvature is varying and the second base radius of curvature is varying.

16. A mirror assembly as described in claim 15 , wherein said second proportion image view generates larger image proportions at said first base periphery than at said second base periphery.

17. A mirror assembly as described in claim 15 , wherein said image proportions increase constantly from said first proportion image view towards both said first base periphery and towards said second base periphery.

Assignees

• Rosco Inc

Inventors

• Schmidt William P
• Swain Daniel M

Classifications

• B60R1/08 Primary

  involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots {, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors (B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G06F30/33

  Design verification, e.g. functional simulation or model checking · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• B60R1/082

  using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors · CPC title

• G02B5/10

  with curved faces · CPC title