Multi-curvature convex mirror having an enhanced field of vision

• US 20090231740A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward N. Smith, Thomas J. Samolis
• Original Assignee: Edward N. Smith, Thomas J. Samolis
• Inventors: Wu, Junzhong, Huang, Sheng
• Application Number:
  US12/077,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231740A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/868
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces

Abstract

A multi-curvature convex mirror is comprised of a first reflective surface having a first curvature and defined by a portion of the surface area of a greater sphere and a second reflective surface having a second curvature greater than the first curvature and defined by a portion of the surface area of a lesser sphere that intersections the surface area of the greater sphere. The primary and secondary reflective surfaces are comprised of a series of locations, each defined by an x, y and z coordinate, determined in accordance with the relationship

$z=\frac{x}{a}+\frac{y}{b}$

where 600≦a≦1,300 and 100≦|b−a|≦200.

Claims

1. A multi-curvature convex mirror, comprising

a primary reflective surface having a first curvature;

a secondary reflective surface having a second curvature, said secondary reflective surface comprised of a series of locations arranged in a line extending from a first edge of said primary reflective surface to a second edge of said primary reflective surface.

2. The multi-curvature convex mirror of claim 1, wherein said multi-curvature convex mirror is configured to provide a vertically oriented field of vision.

3. The multi-curvature convex mirror of claim 1, wherein said multi-curvature convex mirror is configured to provide a horizontally oriented field of vision.

4. The multi-curvature convex mirror of claim 1, wherein said multi-curvature convex mirror is employed as a side-view mirror for a vehicle.

5. The multi-curvature convex mirror of claim 1, wherein sad multi-curvature convex mirror is employed as a rear-view mirror for a vehicle.

6. The multi-curvature convex mirror of claim 1, wherein said primary and secondary reflective surfaces are comprised of a series of locations, each defined by an x, y and z coordinate, determined in accordance with the following equation:

$z=\frac{x}{a}+\frac{y}{b}$

where;

600≦

a≦

1,300; and

100≦

|b−

a|≦

200.

7. The multi-curvature convex mirror of claim 1, wherein said multi-curvature convex mirror has a vertically oriented field of view and wherein said primary and secondary reflective surfaces are comprised of a series of locations, each defined by an x, y and z coordinate, determined in accordance with the following equation:

$z=\frac{x}{a}+\frac{y}{b}$

where;

600≦

a≦

1,300;

100≦

|b−

a|≦

200; and

a<

b.

8. The multi-curvature mirror of claim 1, wherein said multi-curvature convex mirror has a horizontally oriented field of view and wherein said primary and secondary reflective surfaces are comprised of a series of locations, each defined by an x, y and z coordinate, determined in accordance with the following equation:

$z=\frac{x}{a}+\frac{y}{b}$

where;

600≦

a≦

1,300;

100≦

|b−

a|≦

200; and

a>

b.

9. A multi-curvature convex mirror, comprising:

a first reflective surface having a first curvature; and

a second reflective surface having a second curvature, said second reflective surface comprised of a series of locations arranged in a line extending from a first edge of said first reflective surface to a second edge of said first reflective surface;

wherein

said first reflective surface is defined by a portion of the surface area of a greater sphere; and

said second reflective surface is defined by a portion of the surface area of a lesser sphere.

10. The multi-curvature convex mirror according to claim 9, wherein said second curvature of said second reflective surface is greater than said first curvature of said first reflective surface.

11. The multi-curvature convex mirror according to claim 10, wherein said second reflective surface is defined by the intersection of the surface area of said greater sphere and the surface area of said lesser sphere.

12. The multi-curvature convex mirror according to claim 11, wherein:

said lesser sphere has a center point c₁ and a radius r₁,

said greater sphere has a center point c₂ and a radius r₂, said radius r₂ of said greater sphere being greater than said radius r₁ of said lesser sphere; and

said center point c₁ of said lesser sphere being separated from said center point c₂ of said greater sphere by a distance d equal to r₂−

r₁.

13. (canceled)

14. The multi-curvature convex mirror according to claim 13, wherein said greater sphere has a radius of about 780 mm and said lesser sphere has a radius of about 700 mm.