Asymmetric multiple constant radii of curvature convex mirrors
An asymmetrical mirror lens, usable on front fenders of school buses and similar vehicles, which has a plurality of mirror sections, each having a distinct constant radius of curvature to reduce image distortion. Optional sections located between sections of the constant radius of curvature have a step-wise changing radii of curvature to smooth the image sizes as an object moves across the mirror lens.
1. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:
a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections each having a radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second radius of curvature which is different from the first radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens; and
wherein said convex mirror dome lens further comprises a first distance from the height-wise axis to a right edge of the mirror dome lens at the peripheral edge that is different than a second distance from the height-wise axis to a left edge of the mirror dome lens, producing an asymmetric lens surface, and wherein the peripheral edge lies in a flat plane with a first portion of the edge lying above the width-wise extending axis and another portion below the width-wise extending axis.
2. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 1 , wherein the mirror lens further comprises a third section having a third radius of curvature which is different from the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature, located relative to the center of the height-wise extending axis.
3. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 2 , further comprises a fourth section located between the first section and the third section, the fourth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from the first radius of curvature to the third radius of curvature, in incremental steps along the width-wise extending axis.
4. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:
a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections each having a radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second radius of curvature which is different from the first radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens; and
wherein said convex mirror dome lens further comprises a first distance from the height-wise axis to a right edge of the mirror dome lens at the peripheral edge that is different than a second distance from the height-wise axis to a left edge of the mirror dome lens, producing an asymmetric lens surface, and wherein a peak section of the peripheral edge extends over a chord and has a constant radius along a peripheral edge section that defines the peak of the base of the mirror lens.
5. An asymmetric mirror lens, comprising:
a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the other side relative to the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens;
wherein the mirror lens further comprises a third section having a third constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature and the second constant radius of curvature, located relative to the center of the height-wise extending axis; and
wherein the peripheral edge lying in a flat plane defines a closed curve which has a width and a height dimension, where the width dimension is measured along the width-wise axis and the height dimension is measured along the height-wise axis.
6. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 5 , wherein said convex mirror lens further comprises a first distance from the height-wise axis to a right edge of the mirror lens at the peripheral edge that is different than a second distance from the height-wise axis to a left edge of the mirror lens, producing an asymmetric lens surface.
7. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 5 , wherein the first constant radius of curvature is 8 inches, the second constant radius of curvature is 10 inches, and the third constant radius of curvature is 5 inches.
8. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 5 , further comprises a fourth section located between the first section and the third section, the fourth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from the first radius of curvature to the third radius of curvature, in incremental steps along the width-wise extending axis.
9. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 8 , wherein the fourth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from 8 inches to 5 inches, in incremental steps along the width-wise extending axis.
10. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 9 , wherein the fourth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from 8 inches to 5 inches, every tenth of an inch along the width-wise extending axis.
11. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 10 , further comprises a fifth section located between the second section and the third section, the fifth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from the second radius of curvature to the third radius of curvature, in incremental steps.
12. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 11 , wherein the fifth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from 10 inches to 5 inches, in incremental steps along the width-wise extending axis.
13. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 12 , wherein the fifth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from 10 inches to 5 inches, every tenth of an inch along the width-wise extending axis.
14. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 5 , wherein the peripheral edge lies in a flat plane with a first portion of the edge lying above the width-wise extending axis and another portion below the width-wise extending axis.
15. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 14 , wherein a peak section of the peripheral edge extends over a chord and has a radius along a peripheral edge section that defines the peak of the base of the mirror lens.
16. An asymmetric mirror lens, comprising:
a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the other side relative to the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens;
a support panel secured to said convex mirror lens;
a mounting structure attached to said support panel and adapted to be mounted to an external surface of a vehicle for viewing objects both in front of and alongside the vehicle or both in back of and alongside the vehicle; and
wherein the mirror lens comprises a plurality of height-wise extending sections, each having a respective constant radius of curvature measured along the height-wise extending axis.
17. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 16 , further comprises a third section having a third constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature and the second constant radius of curvature, located relative to the center of the height-wise extending axis.
18. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 17 , further comprises a fourth section located between the first section and the third section, the fourth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from the first radius of curvature to the third radius of curvature, in incremental steps.
19. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 18 , further comprises a fifth section located between the second section and the third section, the fifth section has radii of curvature that change, step-wise, from the second radius of curvature to the third radius of curvature, in incremental steps.