Vehicular rearview mirror assembly with forward vision optical system

• US 6,104,552 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hempel, Thomas, Polzer, Herwig, Thau, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US08/985,928
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 359/402, 359/503, 359/726, 359/737, 359/831, 359/833, 359/834, 359/837, 359/838, 359/857, 359/861, 359/850, 359/871, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/726
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles incorporates a forward vision improving system allowing improved visibility of the opposite roadway forward of the vehicle for safer passing. Preferably, the forward vision system includes a pair of prisms mounted in a mirror housing, one of which is directed at an angle of incidence past and to the left of a front, slower vehicle, the other of which receives the image from the first, and is positioned in the driver'"'"'s line of sight. In one embodiment of the vision system, the front prism of the pair of prisms is replaced by a divergent lens.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a direction of forward motion and adapted to be operated by a driver, comprising:

a housing including a mirror element for viewing rearwardly of the vehicle;

a mount for supporting the housing on a vehicle; and

an optical system for viewing in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted, said optical system including a pair of viewing optical elements, a first optical element of said pair of viewing optical elements having a side facing the direction of forward motion of the vehicle and positioned to provide a field of view therethrough forward of the vehicle which extends in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle, said field of view providing an image, and a second optical element of said pair of viewing optical elements being positioned rearwardly of said first optical element with respect to the direction of forward motion of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted and receiving said image of said field of view, said second optical element having a side visible to the driver of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted and providing said image to the driver said image provided to the driver being at a position which is adjacent to said mirror element;

both of said optical elements being prisms.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing has a first end closest to the vehicle and a second end farthest from the vehicle;

the second prism having a side extending at an acute angle to the direction of motion of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted, said prisms being mounted adjacent said second end of said housing.

3. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a direction of forward motion and adapted to be operated by a driver, comprising:

a housing including a mirror element;

a mount for supporting the housing on a vehicle; and

an optical system for viewing in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted, said optical system including a pair of viewing optical elements, a first optical element of said pair of viewing optical elements having a side facing the direction of forward motion of the vehicle and positioned to provide a field of view therethrough which extends in the direction of forward motion of the vehicle, said field of view providing an image, and a second optical element of said pair of viewing optical elements being positioned rearwardly of said first optical element with respect to the direction of forward motion of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted and receiving said image of said field of view, said second optical element having a side visible to the driver of the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted and providing said image to the driver at a position which is adjacent to said mirror element;

both of said optical elements being prisms;

said housing having a first end closest to the vehicle and a second end farthest from the vehicle;

said prisms being spaced from one another and mounted adjacent said second end of said housing;

each prism having a side facing the other prism, said facing sides being generally parallel to one another.