US 2002/0159169 A1 · Vehicle mirrors and related molds whereon the reflective surface is developed by a two-eye method involving the aniseikonia ratio ZETA of the left & right eye apparent image size pairs

Abstract

Vehicle sideview, rearview, and auxiliary mirrors; and molds, gages, and special tooling for making same are disclosed. These mirrors are comprised of flat, spherical, and aspherical optical surfaces, in combinations, as desired for any vehicle type or mounting position application. The mirror surfaces are developed as a function of certain Two-Eye optical characteristics concerning apparent image size and/or magnification factors between the two Eyes known as aniseikonia ratios, herein designated as ZETA. Desired ZETA () ratios are specified for the Two-Eye-Pairs across all or part of the mirror's surface, as the Vehicle Operator's lines-of-sight focus upon specified “Focus Lines” strategically located on either side of the vehicle. Aspheric Vehicle Mirrors, developed by the methods herein disclosed, have the propensity of becoming optically the most user-friendly possible for any given vehicle application, by selectively controling the apparent image size disparity as instantaneously observed by an Operator's two-Eye-pairs at any given point across the mirror's total viewing surface.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An aspheric mirror for mounting on an automotive vehicle in a specified location having line-of-sight relationships from the vehicle Operator's Two Eyes, whereupon the mirror's surface curvature is developed by a multiplicity of constant sight-line angular iterations (Δθ), for a right side mirror application in a left to right direction, as a function of the ratio () of the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the right eye divided by the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the left eye;

or for a left side mirror application in a right to left direction, as a function of the ratio () of the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the left eye divided by the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the right eye;
the beginning points for constant line-of-sight angular iterations (Δθ) for a right side mirror being LO for the Left Eye and R0 for the Right Eye, and for a left side mirror being RO for the Right Eye and L0 for the Left Eye, respectively, when reflected lines-of-sight from these two points are parallel to each other and direcred straight rearward to infinity.

An aspheric mirror for mounting on an automotive vehicle in a specified location having line-of-sight relationships from the vehicle Operator's Two Eyes, whereupon the mirror's surface curvature is developed by a multiplicity of constant sight-line angular iterations (Δθ), for a right side mirror application in a left to right direction, as a function of the ratio () of the magnification factor of the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the right eye divided by the magnification factor of the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the left eye;

or for a left side mirror application in a right to left direction, as a function of the ratio () of the magnification factor of the apparent image size seen in the miror by the left eye divided by the magnification factor of the apparent image size seen in the mirror by the right eye;
wherein the ratio () is a function of the instantaneous magnification factors (m-right)/(m-left) for a right side mirror, or (m-left)/(m-right) for a left side mirror, as calculated by the formula:
m=(−r)/(2p−(−r)), with the mirror having (r) radius of curvature and the object located (p ) distance from the mirror's reflective surface on a specified Focus Line, which is laterally offset from either the right or left side of the principal vehicle as specified, respectively;
the beginning points for constant line-of-sight angular iterations (Δθ) for a right side mirror being L0 for the Left Eye and R0 for the Right Eye, and for a left side mirror being R0 for the Right Eye and L0 for the Left Eye, respectively, when reflected lines-of-sight from these two points are parallel to each other and direcred straight rearward to infinity.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle mirrors and related molds whereon the reflective surface is developed by a two-eye method involving the aniseikonia ratio ZETA of the left & right eye apparent image size pairs

Life of this patent

Vehicle mirrors and related molds whereon the reflective surface is developed by a two-eye method involving the aniseikonia ratio ZETA of the left & right eye apparent image size pairs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16