Rear view mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A rear view mirror assembly, comprising:
- (a) a mounting structure adapted for connection to one side of a first vehicle in a fixed position relative to a predetermined observation point within the vehicle;
(b) a mirrored surface supported by said mounting structure for viewing a second vehicle from said observation point when said first vehicle is in a given lane, said second vehicle being in a next adjacent lane along a substantially straight path behind said mirrored surface; and
(c) said mirrored surface including a segment which is curved in any horizontal plane therethrough, the horizontal curvature of said segment defining cooperating object and image angles associated with each point along its horizontal extent with respect to said observation point, said angles being selected so as to result in a predesigned continuous decrease in the magnification ratio of and along the entire extent of said curvature in the direction away from said observation point, said predesigned decrease in magnification ratio defining a linear relationship between(i) the horizontal position of the image on the mirrored surface segment of a particular point on a forward portion of said second vehicle as viewed from said observation point when said second vehicle is located along said path within a predetermined range of distances from said mirrored surface segment, and(ii) the distance back from said mirrored surface of said second vehicle along said path, whereby said image point moves horizontally across said surface segment at a speed substantially linearly proportionate to the speed of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle as said second vehicle moves along said path within said range.
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Abstract
A rear view mirror assembly mounted to one side of a given vehicle is disclosed herein and includes a mirrored surface supported in a fixed position relative to a predetermined observation point for viewing a second trailing vehicle. This mirrored surface includes a first segment horizontally and/or vertically curved in accordance with changing magnification ratios, preferably in a way which defines a substantially linear relationship between the position of the trailing vehicle and the horizontal and/or vertical position of its image on the curved surface segment. In this way, as the trailing vehicle approaches the lead vehicle from behind, horizontal and/or vertical movement of its image across the curved segment is controlled, preferably to a speed linearly proportionate to the speed of the trailing vehicle relative to the lead vehicle. At the same time, the mirrored surface provides a view incorporating the rear section of the lead vehicle including its rear tires on the mirror supported side.
195 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A rear view mirror assembly, comprising:
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(a) a mounting structure adapted for connection to one side of a first vehicle in a fixed position relative to a predetermined observation point within the vehicle; (b) a mirrored surface supported by said mounting structure for viewing a second vehicle from said observation point when said first vehicle is in a given lane, said second vehicle being in a next adjacent lane along a substantially straight path behind said mirrored surface; and (c) said mirrored surface including a segment which is curved in any horizontal plane therethrough, the horizontal curvature of said segment defining cooperating object and image angles associated with each point along its horizontal extent with respect to said observation point, said angles being selected so as to result in a predesigned continuous decrease in the magnification ratio of and along the entire extent of said curvature in the direction away from said observation point, said predesigned decrease in magnification ratio defining a linear relationship between (i) the horizontal position of the image on the mirrored surface segment of a particular point on a forward portion of said second vehicle as viewed from said observation point when said second vehicle is located along said path within a predetermined range of distances from said mirrored surface segment, and (ii) the distance back from said mirrored surface of said second vehicle along said path, whereby said image point moves horizontally across said surface segment at a speed substantially linearly proportionate to the speed of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle as said second vehicle moves along said path within said range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A rear view mirror assembly, comprising:
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(a) a mounting structure adapted for connection to one side of a first vehicle in a fixed position relative to a predetermined observation point within the vehicle; (b) a mirrored surface supported by said mounting structure for viewing a second vehicle from said observation point when said first vehicle is in a given lane, said second vehicle being in a next adjacent lane along a substantially straight path behind said mirrored surface; and (c) said mirrored surface including a segment which is curved in any horizontal plane therethrough, the horizontal curvature of said segment defining cooperating object and image angles associated with each point along its horizontal extent with respect to said observation point, said angles being selected so as to result in a predesigned continuous decrease in the magnification ratio of and along the entire extent of said curvature in the direction away from said observation point, said predesigned decrease in magnification ratio (i) causing the horizontal image width of said second vehicle on said segment as viewed from said observation point to increase in size horizontally as the distance back of said second vehicle from said mirrored surface decreases to about 10 feet, and (ii) defining a linear relationship between the horizontal position of the image on said curved mirrored surface segment of a particular point on a forward portion of said second vehicle as viewed from said observation point when said second vehicle is located along said path within a predetermined range of distance from said mirrored surface segment, and the distance back from said mirrored surface of said second vehicle along said path, whereby said image point moves horizontally across said surface segment at a speed substantially linearly proportionate to the speed of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle as said second vehicle moves along said path within said range. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A rear view mirror assembly, comprising:
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(a) a mounting structure adapted for connection to one side of a first vehicle in a fixed position relative to a predetermined observation point within the vehicle; (b) a mirrored surface supported by said mounting structure for viewing a second vehicle from said observation point when said first vehicle is in a given lane, said second vehicle being in a next adjacent lane along a substantially straight path behind said mirrored surface; and (c) said mirrored surface including a segment which is curved in any vertical plane therethrough, the vertical curvature of said segment defining cooperating object and image angles associated with each point along its horizontal extent with respect to said observation point, said angles being selected so as to result in a predesigned continuous decrease in the magnification ratio of and along the entire extent of said curvature in the direction away from said observation point, said predesigned decrease in magnification ratio (i) causing vertical image width of said second vehicle on said segment as viewed from said observation point to increase in size vertically as the distance back of said second vehicle from said mirrored surface decreases to about 10 feet, and (ii) defining a linear relationship between the vertical position of the image on said curved mirrored surface segment of a particular point on a forward portion of said second vehicle as viewed from said observation point when said second vehicle is located along said path within a predetermined range of distances from said mirrored surface segment, and the distance back from said mirrored surface of said second vehicle along said path, whereby said image point moves vertically across said surface segment at a speed substantially linearly proportionate to the speed of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle as said second vehicle moves along said path within said range.
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28. A rear view mirror assembly, comprising:
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(a) a mounting structure adapted for connection to one side of a first vehicle in a fixed position relative to a predetermined observation point within the vehicle; (b) a mirrored surface supported by said mounting structure for viewing a second vehicle from said observation point when said first vehicle is in a given lane, said second vehicle being in a next adjacent lane along a substantially straight path behind said mirrored surface; and (c) said mirrored surface including a first segment which is planar in any horizontal plane therethrough and a second adjacent segment which is further from said observation point than said first segment and which is curved in any horizontal plane therethrough, the horizontal curvature of said second segment defining cooperating object and image angles associated with each point along its horizontal extent with respect to said observation point, said angles being selected so as to result in a predesigned continuous decrease in the magnification ratio of and along the entire extent of said curvature in the direction away from said observation point, said predesigned decrease in magnification ratio (i) causing the horizontal image width of said second vehicle on said second surface segment as viewed from said observation point to increase in size horizontally as the distance back of said second vehicle from said mirrored surface decreases to about 10 feet, and (ii) defining a linear relationship between the horizontal position of the image on said second segment of a particular point on a forward portion of said second vehicle as viewed from said observation point when said second vehicle is located along said path within a predetermined range of distances from said mirrored surface, and the distance back from said mirrored surface of said second vehicle along said path, whereby said image point moves horizontally across said surface segment at a speed substantially linearly proportionate to the speed of said second vehicle relative to said first vehicle as said second vehicle moves along said path within said range.
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Specification