United States Patent 19
`Kondo et al.
`
`54 AUTOMOBILE MIRROR ASSEMBLY
`76 Inventors: Hiroshi Kondo, 29-17. Aza-Hachigaike,
`Ooasa-Miyoshi. Miyoshi-cho,
`Nishikamo-gun, Aichi-ken; Shinji Oota,
`20-16, Hirako 2-chome, Minami-ku,
`Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken; Tomoyasu
`Yamada, 69-1. 70-2. Tomioka,
`Sango-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi-ken;
`Harunasa Oota, 72-1, Yutaka,
`Ooshima-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken;
`Hiroyoshi Kondo, 40, Kaminogo.
`Igaya-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi-ken, all of
`Japan
`
`21 Appl. No.:768,671
`22 Filled:
`Dec. 18, 1996
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63) Continuation of Ser. No. 540,711, Oct. 11, 1995, abandoned.
`30
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Oct. 11, 1994
`JP
`Japan .................................... 6-272.812
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................ G02B 5/10; B6OR 1106
`52 U.S. Cl. ........................... 359/864; 359/866; 359/868
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 359/838, 864
`359/866, 868, 872
`
`56)
`
`1872,905
`2,778,273
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`8/1932 Dading ................................... 3597868
`l/1957 Fellmeth ................................ 359/864
`(List continued on next page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0210757 2/1987 European Pat. Off. ............... 359/864
`2420452 10/1979
`... 359/868
`19397.56 2/1971
`... 359/868
`1941895 3/1971
`... 359/868
`27032O6 8/1978
`... 359/868
`OO51635 4,980
`... 359/868
`Olo6403 8/1980 Japan ..................................... 359/868
`
`USOO.5793542A
`Patent Number:
`11
`45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,793,542
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`0105103 5/1987 Japan ..................................... 359,868
`1279158 6/1972 United Kingdom ................... 3597868
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`David Emil Thomas; "Mirror Images"; Scientific American;
`Dec. 1980; pp. 206-224.
`Primary Examiner-Ricky D. Shafer
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman,
`Langer & Chick
`ABSTRACT
`57
`An automobile minor assembly improves safety during
`driving of a car by widening the visual field of the driver
`with little distortion. The mirror is mounted on a car with a
`support member and a holding member to be adjustable in
`its position. A gradually changing mirror section is provided
`on at least one of an upper, lower and side edges of a main
`mirror section of the mirror. A surface of a gradually
`changing mirror section is defined by a plurality of inter
`sections between curved surfaces provided in at least one of
`a vertical and horizontal directions with hyperbolic curves
`provided in a direction perpendicular to one of the vertical
`and horizontal directions. Each respective curved surface
`passes through circular arcs, the radii of curvatures of the
`circular area being calculated from Equation 1 indicated
`below. The radii of curvatures of the circular arcs gradually
`become smaller in an extending direction. The intersection
`of the hyperbolic curves and the curved surfaces define the
`surface of the gradually changing mirror. The Equation 1 is
`as follows:
`
`Sn) = 1 +
`
`1
`W 1 - (K+ 1) xc a +
`
`{(A1) x x1 +
`
`An - 1) x n - 1) x (An) x in
`
`. . An-1. An are asphericity factors
`where: A1, A2, .
`representing asphericity at respective portions in the at least
`one of the horizontal and the vertical directions, n is any
`integer, K=0, and C=1/rO, and whereinri) represents a radius
`of curvature at a starting position of the gradually changing
`mirror section.
`
`3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`/
`
`starting position of 11
`gradual change
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 001
`
`

`

`5,793,542
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,857,810 10/1958 Troendle ................................. 359/868
`3,389,952 6/1968 Tobin, Jr. ................................ 3597864
`3,764,201 10/1973 Haile .....................
`... 3598.68
`4,035,064 7/1977 Cowman, Jr. et al. ................. 359/868
`
`4,258,979 3/1981 Mahin ..................................... 359/868
`4.264,144 4/1981 McCord .................................. 359/868
`4,331,382 5/1982 Graf ....................................... 359/868
`4,449,786 5/1984 McCord .
`... 359/868
`5,005,962 4/1991 Edelman .......
`... 359/866
`5,096,281
`3/1992 Windebank et al. ................... 359/868
`
`
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`4- - -/-
`
`/
`
`starting position of
`gradual change
`
`11
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`9
`
`11
`
`starting position of
`gradual change
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`F ig. 9
`
`di Hy
`(
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`| | -
`|
`TTTTTTTT
`HHR)
`U
`I)
`11
`
`
`
`
`
`7.
`
`s
`
`
`
`starting position of
`gradual change
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 11, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`5,793,542
`
`
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 010
`
`

`

`5,793,542
`
`1.
`AUTOMOBILE MIRROR ASSEMBLY
`
`This application is a Continuation, of application Ser.
`No. 08/540,711 filed Oct. 11, 1995, now abandoned.
`
`2
`longitudinal and lateral ratios of the image greatly differ
`from a region to another and the image in the junction region
`is distorted, the object cannot be accurately determined.
`The present invention is made to overcome the above
`mentioned conventional disadvantages, and intended to pro
`vide an automobile mirror assembly which can improve
`safety during driving of a car by widening the visual field for
`confirmation in the rear and surroundings of the car with a
`simple arrangement.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`automobile mirror assembly which allows the driver to
`accurately determine the object to be confirmed by reflecting
`it in a state with little distortion.
`Still another object of the invention is to provide an
`automobile mirror assembly which reflects the object to be
`confirmed in constant longitudinal and lateral ratios so that
`the driver can determine accurate distance.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`To this end, the present invention is an automobile mirror
`assembly comprising a mirror which is mounted on a car
`with a support member and a holding member so as to be
`adjustable in position A gradually changing mirror section
`has a surface defined by a plurality of intersections of curved
`surfaces formed in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical
`direction and assumed hyperbolic curves formed in a direc
`tion perpendicular to the at least one of the horizontal and
`the vertical directions, the curved surfaces passing through
`circular arcs having radii of curvatures, the circular arcs are
`calculated from Equation 1 hereinbelow, and the circular
`arcs gradually become smaller in the one of the horizontal
`and the vertical directions; and wherein the assumed hyper
`bolic curves intersect the curved surfaces at the plurality of
`intersections; and wherein Equation 1 is as follows:
`
`1.
`Efat) = 1 + == {(A1) x1 +
`- {(K+ 1) x c. xn} +
`\
`(A2) x x22} + (A3) x x3
`... +
`(An - 1) xan - 1c)} x (An) x in
`
`where:
`A1, A2, ... An-1. An are asphericity factors representing
`asphericity at respective portions in the at least one of
`the horizontal and the vertical direction,
`n is any integer,
`K=0, and
`C=1/rO, wherein rO represents a radius of curvature at a
`starting position of a gradual change in the gradually
`changing mirror section; the mirror, to have the curved
`surfaces passing through circular arcs the radii of
`curvature of which gradually become smaller in an
`extending direction, and to have hyperbolic curves, the
`intersection between the curved surfaces at a plurality
`of positions with the assumed hyperbolic curves define
`the surface of the gradually changing mirror section so
`that the intersections occur in a direction perpendicular
`to the extending direction.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating curvatures on a gradually
`changing mirror section;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overview of an
`outside rearview mirror assembly;
`FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2 taken
`along line III-III;
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to an automobile mirror
`assembly.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`An outside rearview mirror, an inside rearview mirror,
`and an outside under view mirror are well known as an
`automobile mirror assembly for confirming rear and sur
`rounding situation of a car. To increase a visual field for
`confirmation, Japanese Published Patent Application No.
`4-20818, for example, proposes an automobile mirror
`assembly comprising a main rearview mirror section con
`sisting of a curved body and being of a rectangular the
`longitudinal direction of which lies in the vertical direction,
`wherein a point is as an intersection on one side edge of the
`main mirror section at a location near the upper edge,
`another point being set as another intersection on the other
`side edge at a location near the lower edge, an inclined line
`being established to be orthogonal to the line connecting
`these intersections at its middle point, a boundary being
`established with a circular arc with a predetermined radius
`which has its center on said inclined line and passes through
`said intersections, another boundary being established with
`a circular arc with a radius larger than said one which has the
`same center, and intersects said side edge at a location near
`the lower edge and the lower edge near the other side edge,
`these boundaries defining a rearview zone consisting of a
`curved surface which is offset to the other upper side region
`and occupies substantially one half area of the main rear
`view mirror section, an under view zone consisting of a
`curved surface which is located in the lower side region of
`the main rearview mirror section, and a junction zone
`consisting of a curved surface which connects both said
`zones, and wherein a line is established to perpendicularly
`pass through said middle point, the radius of curvature of the
`curved surface for the rearview zone the center of which is
`positioned on said line being caused to have a predetermine
`value. the radius of curvature of the curved surface for the
`under view zone the center of which is positioned on said
`line being made smaller than that of the rearview zone, the
`radius of curvature of the curved surface for the junction
`Zone the center of which is positioned on said line being
`made smaller that of the rearview zone but larger than that
`of the under view zone, the radius of curvature at each
`boundary being sequentially translated and continuing from
`a large radius of curvature to a smaller one by causing the
`latter to inscribe the former.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Object of the Invention
`However, the automobile mirror described in the above
`published patent application integrally combines a mirror
`with large curvature with a mirror with small curvature
`through a junction region, in which images reflected signifi
`cantly differin the mirror with large curvature and the mirror
`with small curvature. Accordingly, it is very difficult to
`accurately determine the distance to the object to be con
`firmed. Moreover, if the image of the object to be confirmed
`extends over the mirror with large curvature, the junction
`region, and the mirror with small curvature, because the
`
`55
`
`65
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 011
`
`

`

`5,793,542
`
`4
`
`3
`FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG; 2 taken along line
`IV-TV;
`FIG. 5 is a view illustrating how curved surfaces are
`formed in the horizontal direction on the gradually changing
`mirror section;
`FIG. 6 is a view illustrating how hyperbolic curves are
`formed in the vertical direction on the gradually changing
`mirror section;
`FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the principle hyperbolic
`curves in the horizontal direction on the gradually changing
`mirror section;
`FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the principle for forming
`hyperbolic curves in the vertical direction on the gradually
`changing mirror section;
`FIG. 9 is a grid pattern displayed on a screen;
`FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the rear visual field for
`confirmation of a conventional outside rearview mirror
`assembly; and
`FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the rear visual field for
`confirmation of an outside rearview mirror assembly accord
`ing to the present invention.
`
`DETALED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Now, an embodiment of the present invention is described
`according to the drawings which show the present invention
`embodied in an outside rearview mirror,
`Referring to FIGS. 1-8, an outside rearview mirror
`assembly 1 as an automobile mirror assembly (although
`FIGS. 1-4 show only the right outside rearview mirror, the
`left one is of a symmetrical shape so that its illustration and
`detailed description are omitted) is foldably mounted on a
`door of a car (both being not shown) through a support
`member 3. A mirror 7 is mounted adjustably for its position
`on a holding section 5 of the outside rearview mirror
`assembly 1.
`The mirror 7 is made of glass or synthetic resin which is
`surface or back plated, and comprises a main mirror section
`9 and a gradually changing mirror section 11 disposed at the
`right to the main mirror section 9. The main mirror section
`9 is substantially formed in a plane mirror. The boundary
`between the main mirror section 9 and the gradually chang
`ing mirror section 11 is established as a starting position of
`gradual change.
`The gradually changing section 11 is formed to have a
`composite curvature comprising curved surfaces provided in
`at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction and
`hyperbolic curves assumed to exist in a direction perpen
`dicular to the at least one of the horizontal and vertical
`directions, wherein the curved surfaces pass through circular
`arcs, the circular arcs having radii of curvatures which are
`calculated by Equation 1 below such that the radii of
`curvatures become smaller in a direction toward the right,
`and wherein the assumed hyperbolic curves intersect with
`the curved surfaces at a plurality of intersections to define a
`surface of the gradually changing mirror section; and
`wherein Equation 1 is as follows:
`
`10
`
`5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`2 frn) = 1 + i == {(A1) x 1-} +
`\ 1 - (K+ 1) xc n} +
`{(A2) x x2 + {(A3) x x3
`... +
`(An - 1) x an - 1 (N-1)} x (An) x an
`
`where:
`A1, A2, An-1. An are asphericity factors representing
`asphericity at respective portions in the at least one of
`the horizontal and the vertical directions,
`n is any integer.
`K=0, and
`C=1/rO, wherein ro represents a radius of curvature at a
`starting position of a gradual change in the gradually
`changing mirror section.
`As shown FIG. 5, a line L1 is assumed to extend to the
`right from the middle point (x0) of the starting position of
`gradual change in the vertical direction. Then, the positions
`x1, x2, ..., xn-1, Xn are assumed to be on the line L1 with
`an equal interval from the starting position of gradual
`change. After the the radii of curvatures of the arcs at each
`position is calculated by substituting the value of each
`position x1, x2, ..., xn-1, and xn for Equation 1, circles are
`drawn with the calculated radii of curvature around respec
`tive centers at positions corresponding to the asphericity
`factors A1, A2. . . . An-1. An to establish an aspherical line
`C1 commonly passing through these circles. The curved
`surfaces have radii of curvature which become smaller to the
`right from the starting position of gradual change, with the
`rightmost radius of curvature of, for example, 500 mm.
`Moreover, orthogonal axes at respective positions x1, x2.
`. . . . xin-1. and xn on the line L1 are defined as Lx1, Lx2.
`. . . . LXn-1. LXn Ly1, Ly2,..., Lyn-1, Lyn, and intersections
`between LX1, LX2. LXn-1, LXn and the aspherical curve C1
`are defined as al., a2, . . . . an-1 and an.
`Then, hyperbolic curves are created by defining hyper
`bolic curves passing through the intersections a1, a2, . . . .
`an-1 and an with the aspherical curve C1.
`That is, respective curves C2 in the upper regions above
`the line L1 are defined as hyperbolic curves shown in FIG.
`6. In FIG.7, reference tk represents the height of the upper
`region above the line L1 on the gradually changing mirror
`section 11, reference dik represents the depth at the top of the
`gradually changing mirror section 11, reference Arepresents
`an intersection a O(O. being any integer in a range of
`1sosn), and reference B represents the top end of the
`gradually changing mirror section 11 at the intersection a O.
`Then, a hyperbolic curve Ck is determined to pass through
`diagonal corner positions A or and B C in a rectangular
`defined by the height tk and the depth dk.
`This hyperbolic curve can be expressed by an equation
`
`55
`
`Then, a relationship defined by Equation 2 and shown in
`FIG. 8 can be established by assuming positions on the
`hyperbolic curve passing through the diagonal corners of a
`rectangular with diagonal corners P(0) and PO. Ak=P(6) and
`Bk=P0. Equation 2)
`
`65
`
`where T is unit component in height, while D is unit
`component in depth.
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 012
`
`

`

`5
`In addition, if the radius of curvature at the point P0 is R0.
`the following relationship can be established for a hyper
`bolic curve.
`
`5,793,542
`
`6
`radius of curvature. In addition, the automobile mirror
`assembly may be an inside rearview mirror assembly. When
`the present invention is implemented on the inside rearview
`mirror assembly, the gradually changing mirror section may
`be provided at each outer edge of the main section and
`comprising a plane or convex mirror.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An automobile mirror assembly comprising:
`a mirror which is mountable on an automobile with a
`support member and a holding member so as to be
`adjustable in position relative to the automobile;
`said mirror having a gradually changing mirror section
`provided on at least one of side edges of a main mirror
`section of the mirror, the gradually changing mirror
`section having a compound curved surfaces compris
`ing:
`horizontal curved surfaces and vertical curved surfaces;
`wherein curvatures of the horizontal curved surfaces
`become gradually smaller as the horizontal curved
`surfaces extend to the edge, and further said curvatures
`of said horizontal curved surfaces are calculated
`through the following Equation 1 in respective each
`positions (x1, x2 ...xn-1, xn) provided in a horizontal
`direction; and
`wherein the vertical curved surfaces of respective each
`positions (x1, x2 . . . xn-1, xn) have curvatures which
`are determined from Equation 2 of hyperbolic curves;
`wherein said Equation 1 is as follows:
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`In the above equation, since a is set to a value of
`respective positions a1, a2, . . . . an-1 and an with respect to
`the aspherical curve C1, and the radii of curvature R1, R2,
`. . . . Rn-1, and Rn at the respective positions a1, a2, . . . ,
`an-1 and an are set to a desired value, the equation of
`hyperbolic curve is determined by calculating the value of b
`from the positions a1, a2, ..., an-1 and an and the radii of
`curvature R1, R2. . . . , Rn-1, and Rn.
`Now, a grid pattern reflected in the main mirror formed
`with the gradually changing section as described above is
`described.
`Here, when a grid pattern with 10 mm interval is drawn
`on the mirror 7. and light is projected on the mirror 7,
`projected on a screen placed opposite to the mirror 7 is, as
`shown in FIG. 9, an image which is enlarged to have
`constant vertical and horizontal ratios from the starting
`position of gradual change to the right end and the upper and
`lower ends because the gradually changing mirror section 11
`formed in a curved surfaces which are defined by Equation
`1 for horizontal direction and the hyperbolic curves in a
`vertical direction. In this case. reflected in the gradually
`changing mirror section 11 of the mirror 7 is an image which
`is gradually contracted opposite to the image projected on
`the screen to have constant vertical and horizontal ratios
`from the starting position of gradual change to the right end
`and the upper and lower ends.
`Now, how the rear visual field for confirmation is enlarged
`is described.
`Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11. the rear visual field for
`confirmation on the conventional outside rearview mirror 21
`is determined by the angle of line of sight of the driver to the
`right edge of the mirror 23. In this case. as shown in FIG.10,
`the driver can view the rear with in an angle substantially
`matching the angle of line of sight c to a vertical line
`assumed to the right edge of the mirror 23. Contrary to this,
`as, on the outside rearview mirror assembly 1 according to
`the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, the angle of line
`of sight to a vertical line assumed to any position on the
`gradually changing mirror section 11 can be increased from
`the conventional angle c by an angle ot, the driver can view
`a wider range in the rear. In this case, as described above,
`because the gradually changing mirror section 11 can reflect
`an image at any position with constant vertical and horizon
`tal ratios, it is possible to prevent the object reflected in any
`position from being enlarged in the vertical and horizontal
`direction so that the sense of distance to the reflected object
`can be maintained. Similarly, it is possible to prevent the
`image in the gradually changing mirror section 11 from
`being significantly distorted so that the object can be prop
`erly confirmed.
`While, in the above description, the automobile mirror
`assembly is the outside rearview mirror assembly 1, and the
`gradually changing mirror section 11 is provided on the
`outer edge (right or left edge) of the main plane mirror
`section 9 of the mirror 7, the gradually changing mirror
`section 11 may be provided on the upper edge or the lower
`edge or both in addition to the outer edge. The main mirror
`section 9 of the mirror 7 may be a convex mirror with a large
`
`F (i)xi-):
`2:frn) = "We
`\ 1 - (k. k. 2.
`(A2) x x2 + (A3) x 3. ... +
`{(An-1)xan-1-(N-1)} x (An)x n}
`
`where:
`A1, A2, . . . An-1. An are arc asphericity factors repre
`senting asphericity at respective each positions (x1, x2
`. . . xin-1, xn) provided in the horizontal direction,
`n is any integer,
`K=0, and
`C=1/r(), and
`wherein ro represents a radius of curvature at a starting
`position of a gradual change in the gradually changing
`mirror section;
`wherein said Equation 2 is as follows:
`a?-ya,
`
`P(9)-P0+(tk-T)+(dkD)
`
`k=P(e)-POT, in units of height,
`
`dk={P(8)-POD, in units of depth,
`where:
`tk is the height of an upper region above the line of the
`gradually changing mirror section,
`dkis the depth at the top of the gradually changing mirror
`section,
`T is the unit component in height,
`D is the unit component of depth,
`a is the distance in the x direction,
`b is the distance in the W direction,
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 013
`
`

`

`5,793.542
`
`7
`x and y are Cartasian coordinates,
`P(0) represents an optional position A on a curve extend
`ing in the lateral direction at the vertical middle portion
`of the gradually changing mirror section, and
`P0 represents the upper and lower ends of the gradually
`changing mirror section corresponding to the position
`A.
`
`8
`2. The automobile mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein
`said main mirror section of said mirror comprises a plane
`mirror section.
`3. The automobile mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein
`said main mirror section of said mirror comprises a convex
`mirror section having a large radius of curvature.
`
`2:
`
`xk
`
`k
`
`<
`
`x
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1035
`Page 014
`
`