Wide field of view automotive rear vision optical system

• US 5,221,990 A
• Filed: 03/09/1992
• Issued: 06/22/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amcol International Corporation (Minerals Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, Lacy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US07/848,592
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 359/362-366, 359/399-432, 359/503-506, 359/838, 359/844, 359/850-866, 359/726-731
• US Class Current: 359/399
• 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

The present optical system (20) provides an all-reflective vehicle rear vision optical system. A planar mirror (22), acting like a conventional vehicle rearview mirror, would be positioned to receive a beam. The beam would be provided by an image erecting assembly (30) which, in turn, would reflect the beam into a three-mirror anastigmat telescope (24, 26 and 28) to provide rearward image beam to the first planar mirror and in turn, to the exit pupil (25). The optical system provides a 2X magnification at a wide field of view which substantially eliminates blind spots.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview optical system comprising:

first reflecting means for providing a driver with a rear view of a scene, said reflecting means being adjustable to accommodate viewing by the driver;

second reflecting means for providing a magnified image of said scene, said second reflecting means positioned to reflect rays to said first reflecting means to provide a wide field of view of the scene to the driver, and

wherein said second reflecting means includes an afocal three-mirror anastigmat telescope providing magnification of said scene being viewed.

2. The rearview optical system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle has a roof and said second reflecting means is adapted to be positioned on the vehicle roof.

3. The rearview optical system according to claim 1 wherein said second reflecting means includes a reflecting image erecting assembly for providing a view of the scene and directing the scene to said afocal three-mirror anastigmat telescope.

4. A rearview optical system for a vehicle comprising:

a single fold mirror adapted to be positioned within a vehicle and adjustable by a driver, said single fold mirror providing the driver with a view of a scene rearward of his position within the vehicle;

an afocal three-mirror anastigmat telescope for providing a magnified image of said scene, said three-mirror anastigmat positioned to direct rays from the viewed scene to said single fold mirror; and

reflective image erecting assembly for providing said scene to said three-mirror anastigmat telescope, said image erecting assembly positioned to direct ray from said scene to said three-mirror anastigmat telescope to provide a wide field of view of the scene to the driver.

5. The rearview optical system according to claim 4, wherein said three-mirror anastigmat telescope includes all powered mirrors.

6. The rearview optical system according to claim 4 wherein said image erecting assembly includes a trio of planar fold mirrors.

7. The rearview optical system according to claim 4 wherein the vehicle has a roof and said three-mirror anastigmat telescope and image erecting assembly are adapted to be positioned on the vehicle roof.

8. The rearview optical system according to claim 7 wherein said system substantially eliminates blind spots in the driver'"'"'s view of the scene rearward of his position in the vehicle when utilized in the vehicle.

9. The rearview optical system according to claim 4 wherein magnification of said three-mirror anastigmat telescope is 2X.

10. A vehicle including a rearview optical system comprising:

a vehicle having a roof panel, said roof panel forming a top of a passenger compartment;

a single fold mirror positioned within said passenger compartment and being adjustable by a driver, said single fold mirror providing the driver with a view of a scene rearward of his position within the vehicle passenger compartment;

an afocal three-mirror anastigmat telescope for providing a magnified image of said scene, said three-mirror anastigmat positioned on said vehicle roof panel to direct rays of the viewed scene to said single fold mirror; and

a reflecting image erecting assembly for providing said scene to said three-mirror anastigmat telescope, said image erecting assembly positioned to direct ray from said scene to said three-mirror anastigmat telescope to provide a wide field of view of the scene to the driver.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said three-mirror anastigmat telescope includes all powered windows.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11 wherein two of said mirrors have positive powers and the other mirror having negative power.

13. The rearview optical system according to claim 10 wherein said image erecting assembly includes a trio of planar fold mirrors.

14. The rearview optical system according to claim 10 wherein said system substantially eliminates blind spots in the driver'"'"'s view of the scene rearward of his position of the vehicle when utilized in the vehicle.