Extended field of view exterior mirror element for vehicle

An exterior sideview mirror assembly suitable for use on a vehicle, said exterior sideview mirror assembly comprising:

• a mirror housing;
• a mirror backing plate element;
• wherein said mirror backing plate element is movable within said mirror housing by an electrically-operable actuator;
• a main plano mirror element fixedly disposed at a first portion of said mirror backing plate element;
• said main plano mirror element having a first primary field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with said exterior sideview mirror assembly;
• an auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element fixedly disposed at a second portion of said mirror backing plate element;
• wherein said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element comprises a metallic reflector coating and wherein said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element comprises a curved glass substrate;
• wherein said main plano mirror element and said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element are adjacently disposed at said mirror backing plate element in a side-by-side relationship and are not superimposed with one mirror element on top of the other mirror element;
• wherein said second portion of said mirror backing plate element has a curvature at least partially matching the curvature of said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element;
• said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element having a second auxiliary field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said first primary field of view of said main plano mirror element overlaps said second auxiliary field of view of said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element;
• wherein said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element that is at said second portion of said mirror backing plate element is angled relative to said main plano mirror element that is at said first portion of said mirror backing plate element;
• wherein said mirror backing plate element mounts to said actuator such that movement of said mirror backing plate element by said actuator simultaneously and similarly moves said main plano mirror element and said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element;
• wherein said mirror backing plate element comprises a polymeric molding;
• wherein said main plano mirror element comprises a generally flat glass substrate having a surface coated with a metallic reflector coating;
• wherein the overall rearward field of view of said main plano mirror element combined with said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element is at least about 25 degrees relative to the side of the equipped vehicle;
• and
• wherein the overall rearward field of view of said main plano mirror element combined with said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element is less than about 50 degrees relative to the side of the equipped vehicle.

An exterior sideview mirror assembly suitable for use on a vehicle, said exterior sideview mirror assembly comprising:

• a mirror housing;
• a mirror backing plate element;
• wherein said mirror backing plate element is movable within said mirror housing by an electrically-operable actuator;
• a main plano mirror element fixedly disposed at a first portion of said mirror backing plate element;
• said main plano mirror element having a first primary field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with said exterior sideview mirror assembly;
• an auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element fixedly disposed at a second portion of said mirror backing plate element;
• wherein said main plano mirror element has a fixed reflectance and wherein said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element has a fixed reflectance;
• wherein said main plano mirror element and said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element are adjacently disposed at said mirror backing plate element in a side-by-side relationship and are not superimposed with one mirror element on top of the other mirror element;
• said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element having a second auxiliary field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said first primary field of view of said main plano mirror element overlaps said second auxiliary field of view of said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element by between about 2 degrees and about 20 degrees;
• wherein said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element that is at said second portion of said mirror backing plate element is angled relative to said main plano mirror element that is at said first portion of said mirror backing plate element;
• wherein said mirror backing plate element mounts to said actuator such that movement of said mirror backing plate element by said actuator simultaneously and similarly moves said main plano mirror element and said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element;
• wherein said mirror backing plate element comprises a polymeric molding;
• wherein said main plano mirror element comprises a generally flat glass substrate having a surface coated with a metallic reflector coating;
• wherein the overall rearward field of view of said main plano mirror element combined with said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element is at least about 25 degrees relative to the side of the equipped vehicle;
• and
• wherein the overall rearward field of view of said main plano mirror element combined with said auxiliary non-plano curved mirror element is less than about 50 degrees relative to the side of the equipped vehicle.