High definition vehicular mirror

1. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a housing member;

a mirror lens member; and

a gasket member;

said mirror lens member having a curvature substantially conforming to the configuration of an end of an ellipsoid;

said mirror lens member having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.

2. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said mirror lens has upper and lower edges which are truncated from the shape of the outer periphery at the end of an ellipsoid.

3. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said minor lens.

4. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

5. A mirror lens for a mirror assembly, said mirror lens having a curvature substantially conforming to the configuration of an end of an ellipsoid;

said mirror lens having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.

6. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 5 , wherein said mirror lens has upper and lower edges which are truncated from the shape of the outer periphery at the end of an ellipsoid.

7. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 6 wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

8. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 5 , wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

9. A method of making a mirror assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing member;

forming a mirror lens member with a curvature substantially conforming to the configuration of an end of an ellipsoid;

positioning said mirror lens member onto said housing member; and

positioning an elastomeric gasket member covering the joint between said housing member and said mirror lens member;

said mirror lens member having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.

10. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 9 , wherein said mirror lens has upper and lower edges which are truncated from the shape of the outer periphery at the end of an ellipsoid.

11. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

12. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 9 , wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

13. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a housing member;

a mirror lens member; and

a cover member positioned adjacent the mating interface between said housing member and said mirror lens member;

said mirror lens member having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.

14. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said mirror lens has upper and lower edges which are substantially parallel to one another.

15. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

16. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said mirror lens has a curvature substantially conforming to the configuration of an end of an ellipsoid.

17. The vehicle mirror assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said cover member is a sealing member covering the joint between said housing member and said mirror lens member.

18. The mirror assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said sealing member is an elastomeric gasket member.

19. A mirror lens for a mirror assembly, said mirror lens having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.

20. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 19 , wherein said mirror lens has upper and lower edges which are substantially parallel to one another.

21. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 19 , wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

22. The vehicle mirror assembly as described in claim 19 , wherein said mirror lens has a curvature substantially conforming to the configuration of an end of an ellipsoid.

23. The mirror assembly as defined in claim 19 further comprising a base member and a sealing member.

24. A method of making a mirror assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing member;

forming a mirror lens member;

positioning said mirror lens member onto said housing member; and positioning a sealing member substantially covering the joint between said housing member and said mirror lens member;

said mirror lens member having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.

25. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 24 , wherein said mirror lens has upper and lower edges which are truncated from the shape of the outer periphery at the end of an ellipsoid.

26. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 24 , wherein said mirror lens has a varying radius of curvature along its major axis, the radius of curvature increasing adjacent the outer edges of said mirror lens.

27. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said sealing member is an elastomeric member.

28. The method of making a mirror assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said mirror lens has a curvature substantially conforming to the configuration of an end of an ellipsoid.

29. A cross-view mirror assembly for a vehicle, said cross-view mirror assembly comprising:

a housing member having an opening on at least one said thereof;

a mirror lens member positioned on said housing member covering said opening;

a cover member positioned on the interface between said housing member and said mirror lens member; and

a bracket member for attaching said mirror assembly to a vehicle;

said mirror lens member having a curved surface with top and bottom edges and two side edges;

said top and bottom edges being elongated and substantially parallel to one another;

said mirror lens member having a major axis and a minor axis perpendicular to said major axis, said major axis having a first radius of curvature along a portion including the midpoint of the axis, and a second radius of curvature along portions adjacent the ends of the major axis, said first radius of curvature being smaller than said second radius of curvature.