Ellipsoid vehicular mirror
View Patent ↗A vehicle mirror assembly is provided comprising a base. The base comprises a first base portion defined by a first base longitudinal line and a first base periphery. The first base portion has a first base radius of curvature. The base further includes a second base portion defined by the first base longitudinal line and a second base periphery. The second base portion has a second base radius of curvature. A dome lens conforms to the base. The dome lens has a varying dome lens radius of curvature. The dome lens comprises a center surface portion having a center surface radius of curvature. The center surface radius corresponding to a position on said dome lens aligned with a first base longitudinal midpoint to said dome lens and is perpendicular to the first base longitudinal line. A peripheral surface portion has a peripheral surface radius of curvature corresponding to the first base periphery. The peripheral surface radius of curvature is greater than the center surface radius of curvature.
1. A mirror assembly comprising:
a base comprising:
a first base portion defined by a first base longitudinal line and a first base periphery, said first base portion having a first base radius of curvature; and
a second base portion defined by said first base longitudinal line and a second base periphery, said second base portion having a second base radius of curvature; and
a dome lens conforming to said base, said dome lens comprising a major axis tip portion of an ellipsoid, said major axis tip portion formed by dividing said ellipsoid across a major axis, said dome lens generating a first proportion image view and a second proportion image view, said first proportion image view generating smaller image proportions than said second proportion image view, said first proportion image view positioned at an ellipsoid tip point.
2. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said ellipsoid is divided perpendicular to said major axis and then further divided parallel to said major axis to form said major axis tip portion.
3. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said first base portion is perpendicular to said second base portion.
4. A mirror assembly as described in claim 3 , wherein a said ellipsoid tip point is positioned in between said first base periphery and said second base periphery.
5. A mirror assembly as described in claim 3 , wherein said ellipsoid tip point is positioned adjacent said second base periphery.
6. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said first base portion is co-planar with said second base portion.
7. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said first base portion is non-planar with said second base portion.
8. A mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said ellipsoid includes a minor axis length less than half of a major axis length.
9. A method of improving a vehicle driver's field of view comprising:
mounting a mirror assembly on the front of a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:
a base comprising:
a first base portion defined by a first base longitudinal line and a first base periphery, said first base portion having a first base radius of curvature; and
a second base portion defined by said first base longitudinal line and a second base periphery, said second base portion having a second base radius of curvature; and
a dome lens conforming to said base, said dome lens comprising a major axis tip portion of an ellipsoid, said major axis tip portion formed by dividing said ellipsoid across a major axis, said dome lens generating a first proportion image view and a second proportion image view, said first proportion image view generating smaller image proportions than said second proportion image view, said first proportion image view positioned at an ellipsoid tip point; and
positioning said mirror assembly such that a vehicle reflection is reflected to the driver within said first proportion image view; and
positioning said mirror assembly such that said second proportion image view reflects to the driver a front-of-vehicle view and a side-of-vehicle view.
10. A method as described in claim 9 , further comprising:
orientating said mirror assembly such that said second base portion is parallel with a vehicle hood plane, said ellipsoid tip point positioned adjacent said second base periphery.
11. A method as described in claim 10 , wherein said first base portion is perpendicular to said second base portion.
12. A method as described in claim 9 , further comprising:
orientating said mirror assembly such that said ellipsoid tip point is positioned closer to the vehicle than said first base periphery.