Vehicular rearview/sideview mirror assembly utilizing afocal optical assembly

• US 8,331,038 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, Joseph C., Ruse, James A., Foote, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US12/548,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 359/726, 359/727, 359/868, 359/869, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/727
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00

Abstract

An afocal rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle having a side door and a dashboard includes a housing attached to the motor vehicle adjacent the side door and dashboard. The housing has a low-profile, rounded external portion and an internal portion. A selectively movable reflective element is enclosed within the housing, and has opposed curved surfaces for reflecting unfocused light rays from outside the external portion through the internal portion of the housing. A selectively movable lens is enclosed within the internal portion of the housing for controlling light transmitted from the selectively movable reflective element to an occupant of the motor vehicle. The selectively movable lens can converge the unfocused light rays reflected from the selectively movable reflective element to a focused image observable by the occupant of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An afocal rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle having a side door and a dashboard, the afocal rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a housing attached to the motor vehicle adjacent the side door and a dashboard, and having a low-profile, rounded external portion and an internal portion;

a selectively movable reflective element enclosed within the housing, and having opposed curved surfaces for reflecting unfocused light rays from outside the external portion through the internal portion of the housing; and

a selectively movable lens enclosed within the internal portion of the housing for controlling light transmitted from the selectively movable reflective element to an occupant of the motor vehicle;

wherein the selectively movable lens is adaptable to converge the unfocused light rays reflected from the selectively movable reflective element to a focused image observable by the occupant of the motor vehicle.

2. The afocal rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein the external portion of the housing is located externally of the motor vehicle and the internal portion of the housing is located within the interior of the motor vehicle.

3. The afocal rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein the selectively movable reflective element has a convex surface and a concave surface.

4. The afocal rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising an adjustment assembly for adjusting the orientation of the selectively movable reflective element.

5. The afocal rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein the selectively movable lens can be adjusted so that an image is focused at eyes of the occupant of the motor vehicle .

6. The afocal rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein the selectively movable reflective element and the selectively movable lens can cooperatively provide an enlarged operational field of view of at least one of an exterior rear region and an exterior side region of the motor vehicle.

7. The afocal rearview mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing encloses a single reflective element and a single lens.