Automotive rearview mirror having a main viewing section and an auxiliary blindzone-viewing section
First Claim
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1. A mirror for automotive rearview application comprising:
- a main viewing outside mirror and an auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror, said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror defining a reflective surface comprised of a planar array of reflecting facets simulating a convex mirror and having a radius of curvature and a magnification less than that of said main viewing outside mirror, wherein said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror is located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of said main viewing outside mirror, and said radius of curvature of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror lies in a plane general perpendicular to said main viewing outside mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said main viewing outside mirror and the rearward limit of the driver'"'"'s peripheral vision when said driver is looking at said mirror.
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Abstract
A composite mirror adapted for use as an outside rearview mirror of a motor vehicle includes a main or primary viewing mirror and an auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror juxtaposed to expose the vehicle blindzone to the vehicle operator. The main viewing mirror is generally of unit magnification. The auxiliary mirror is composed of a planar array of reflecting facets mimicking a convex mirror.
267 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A mirror for automotive rearview application comprising:
a main viewing outside mirror and an auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror, said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror defining a reflective surface comprised of a planar array of reflecting facets simulating a convex mirror and having a radius of curvature and a magnification less than that of said main viewing outside mirror, wherein said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror is located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of said main viewing outside mirror, and said radius of curvature of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror lies in a plane general perpendicular to said main viewing outside mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said main viewing outside mirror and the rearward limit of the driver'"'"'s peripheral vision when said driver is looking at said mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mirror for automotive rearview application comprising:
a main viewing outside mirror and an auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror, said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror defining a segment of a convex mirror having a radius of curvature and a magnification less that that of said main viewing mirror and located behind a first surface of said main viewing outside mirror, wherein said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror is located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of said main viewing outside rearview mirror, and said radius of curvature of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror lies in a plane generally perpendicular to said main viewing outside rearview mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said main viewing outside mirror and the rearward limit of the driver'"'"'s peripheral vision when said driver is looking at said mirror. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- 21. An auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror for attachment to an automotive outside rearview mirror wherein said blindzone viewing mirror is comprised of a thin plate in which a planar array of reflecting facets has been formed, said planar array of reflecting facets simulating a convex mirror wherein said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror having a radius of curvature and a magnification less that that of said main viewing mirror and located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of said outside rearview mirror, and said radius of curvature of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror lies in a plane generally perpendicular to said outside rearview mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said outside mirror and the rearward limit of the driver'"'"'s peripheral vision when said driver is looking at said mirror.
Specification