Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
  • B60R1/10—Front-view mirror arrangements; Periscope arrangements, i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like ; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
  • B60R1/001—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
  • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a motor vehicle rear view mirror for producing an image located outside and behind the vehicle.
• motor vehicle is meant any type of vehicle comprising its own drive or propulsion means, such as passenger cars, utility vehicles (vans, trucks, tractor, etc.), motorcycles.
• the present invention is not limited purely to vehicles traveling on land routes, but can also be applied to other flying or navigating vehicles.
• the present invention therefore applies very particularly to the field of motor vehicle equipment intended to assist the driver to facilitate or widen his field of vision, in particular towards the rear.
• the mirror increases the lateral dimensions of the vehicle and thus constitutes not only a projecting element which can collide with another vehicle, a passer-by or any other structure, but also decreases the coefficient of penetration into the air of the vehicle.
• it is already known to equip conventional mirrors with a system for folding the mirror along the vehicle.
• folding mechanisms electric or purely mechanical, generates an increase in the number of parts of the mirror as a whole. And this increase in the number of parts generates of course an increase in the overall cost of the mirror.
• mirror systems are already known using lenses in combination with one or more reflecting mirror (s). This is for example the case of US Pat. No. 6,882,146.
• the rear view mirror comprises an objective lens situated outside the vehicle, a plane reflecting mirror and a field lens situated inside the vehicle. This mirror therefore uses two different lenses and a flat mirror.
• the present invention aims to improve such a mirror and lens mirror so that it is easier to manufacture, easier to assemble, with a reduced number of parts and a reduced cost.
• the present invention provides a motor vehicle rear view mirror for producing an image of an object located outside the rear of the vehicle, comprising a lens and a mirror, characterized in that the lens is a divergent concave lens. having an optical axis and an optical focus and the mirror is a substantially concave mirror, the light beams passing through the lens diverging in the direction of the mirror which returns the rays convergently substantially without optical distortion in a direction which corresponds to the axis of vision of the conductor towards the mirror, characterized in that the mirror defines a concave reflecting surface which roughly corresponds to a segment of a cylinder.
• the rear view mirror includes only one lens and only one mirror.
• the concavity of the mirror defines a relatively simple geometric surface which is particularly easy to produce industrially. Indeed, it is easy and known to produce cylindrical surfaces from plates or flat sheets so that the surface obtained meets the definition of a cylinder.
• a flat plate or sheet By deforming a flat plate or sheet, in one direction it defines a curvature, and in the other perpendicular direction it defines a straight line.
• This perfectly meets the definition of a cylinder which results from the projection along a generatrix of a directing curve which can have any trajectory.
• a circular cylinder in fact results from the projection of a circle along a generatrix which passes through the center of the circle, and which advantageously extends perpendicular to the plane in which the circle is defined.
• the concave reflecting surface has a cylindrical configuration and can be produced from a section, a piece, a cut, or more generally a segment of a cylinder.
• the cylinder is parabolic and has a plane of symmetry and a focal line located in this plane.
• a parabola is a curve in two dimensions which is characterized by a directrix, a focus and an axis of symmetry. When such a curve is projected along a generatrix perpendicular to both the director and the axis of symmetry, we obtain a cylinder whose section defines a parabola.
• the concave reflection surface is produced from a section, of a piece or segment of such a parabolic section cylinder.
• the axis of the parabola is projected according to the generatrix so as to form a plane of symmetry and the point focus of the parabola is also projected according to the generatrix so as to form a rectilinear focal line which is situated in the plane of symmetry of the parabolic cylinder.
• the plane of symmetry is substantially parallel to the axis of vision of the driver in the direction of the mirror.
• the parabolic curvature of the concave reflecting surface extends in a substantially horizontal plane.
• the reflection surface of the mirror defines a horizontal center line and a vertical center line which intersect substantially in the center of the mirror, the horizontal line having a substantially parabolic curvature, the vertical line being substantially straight, all vertical lines also being straight and all horizontal lines having the same parabolic curvature as the horizontal center line.
• This definition corresponds to that of a surface formed from a section of cylinder whose directing curve is a parabola.
• the optical focus of the lens defines a focal line.
• the focal line is arranged substantially vertically relative to the mirror.
• This focal line can be perfectly straight, substantially straight or even curved.
• the fact that the lens defines a focal line and not a focal point means that the lens is not of revolution, such as for example a spherical or aspherical lens.
• the optical focus of the lens is punctual and is in the form of a point located on the focal axis which is a line.
• the optical axis is in the form of an optical plane and the focal line is located in this optical plane.
• the respective focal lines of the cylinder and of the lens are substantially parallel, but distinct, that is to say not confused.
• the focal line of the cylinder is located near the optical axis of the lens.
• the optical axis of the lens is an optical plane.
• the lens comprises a concave front face and a substantially planar rear face oriented towards the mirror, the front face defining an optical surface having a substantially cylindrical configuration.
• both the mirror and the lens have a substantially cylindrical configuration.
• the generators of the two cylinders are advantageously parallel and arranged vertically.
• the optical surface defines a horizontal center line and a vertical center line which intersect substantially at the center of the optical surface, the horizontal center line having a curvature in a plane perpendicular to the vertical center line, all the horizontal lines having substantially the same curvature as the horizontal center line in respective planes perpendicular to the vertical center line.
• the curvature of the horizontal lines is circular so as to define an arc of a circle having a determined radius.
• the vertical center line is straight, as are all the other vertical lines.
• the optical surface of the lens then responds exactly or substantially to the definition of a cylinder, the guide curve of which is advantageously circular.
• a cylindrical lens is particularly easy to produce, since it can be produced by extrusion because its cross section is constant.
• the vertical center line is curved, so that the optical surface has an overall toric configuration.
• the vertical curvature can advantageously be circular so as to respond to an arc of a circle having a determined radius.
• the curvature can have any other trajectory whatsoever.
• the vertical curvature further accentuates the concavity of the optical surface.
• This vertical concavity has the optical result of tightening the vertical field lines so that the subjects visible at the mirror have a "normal" appearance with regard to the horizontal and vertical proportions.
• the horizontal curvature of the lens has the effect of tightening the image at the level of the mirror so that the subjects visible on the mirror are particularly fine, while keeping a normal height.
• the optical surface By also bending the optical surface in the vertical direction, this defect in the proportion of subjects at the level of the mirror is corrected.
• the optical surface then has a configuration which is that of a segment of curved tube, which can generally be described as a torus.
• This geometric configuration is characterized by the fact that the transverse or horizontal curvature in a plane perpendicular to the vertical or longitudinal curvature is constant, and for example circular.
• the vertical center line has a lower region at the level of which its curvature is greater.
• the curvature of the horizontal lines (which is not necessarily in the horizontal plane) can be kept constant if we consider the lines of curvature in planes which are always perpendicular to the curvature of the vertical line.
• the increase in the curvature at the level of the lower zone of the optical surface makes it possible to deviate very strongly the beams downwards, that is to say towards the roadway or the pavement, which allows the driver to have a view, certainly distorted, in the area located at the sidewalk.
• This field of vision on the sidewalk makes it possible in particular to facilitate or improve the parking of the motor vehicle as close as possible to the sidewalk, or at least parallel to the sidewalk.
• the vertical center line can thus have a substantially constant curvature over most of its height and a greatly increased curvature at its lower zone.
• the lens has a prismatic configuration capable of deflecting the light beams towards the interior of the automobile.
• This prismatic configuration of the lens corresponds to the combination or association of a lens and a prism making it possible to deflect the beams towards the interior of the vehicle, so that the mirror can be installed more inside the vehicle than would be the case if it did't for this prismatic configuration. Therefore, the prism incorporated into the lens allows the mirror to be shifted towards the interior of the vehicle, which further reduces the size of the mirror outside the vehicle.
• the optical axis of the lens makes an angle ⁇ of the order of 10 degrees relative to the beam passing through the center of the lens and the center of the mirror.
• the lens has been slightly rotated so that its optical axis is no longer coincident with the beam passing through its center and the center of the mirror.
• This rotation of the lens optimally covers the blind spot and consequently reduces the field of vision on the vehicle body, which is not necessary. As a result, the field of vision is more oriented towards the side of the vehicle and no longer along the vehicle.
• the beam passing through the center of the lens and the center of the mirror makes an angle ⁇ of the order of 10 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
• the optical axis of the lens makes an angle of the order of 15 to 25 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, which is that of the window of the vehicle door.
• the lens can be a lens defining a linear focal point which can advantageously be combined with a cylindrical mirror which is preferably parabolic.
• the lens due to its linear local focus generates optical distortions only in the horizontal plane and not at all in the vertical plane.
• the mirror only needs to correct the horizontal optical distortions, and a particularly advantageous embodiment is that of a cylindrical mirror whose guiding curve is advantageously parabolic.
• the mirror of the invention fulfills a double function, namely that of classic reflection and that of classic month of correction in the manner of a lens.
• the mirror according to the invention incorporates both a conventional mirror and a lens which makes it possible to correct the optical distortion generated by the divergent concave lens.
• the linear focal lens can be used with any mirror which is not necessarily cylindrical, or parabolic cylindrical. So symmetrical, the mirror of the invention which is cylindrical, and preferably cylindrical parabolic, can be used with any lens which is not necessarily with linear focus. In other words, both the lens and the mirror can be protected separately from each other.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lens and a mirror according to a first nonlimiting embodiment of a motor vehicle rear view mirror according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic optical representation of the mirror of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a rear view mirror using a lens according to a second embodiment of the invention
• Figures 4a and 4b are schematic perspective representations showing the difference in images between the first and the second embodiment of Figures 1 and 3
• Figures 5 and 6 are representations similar to Figures 1 and 3 for a third and a fourth embodiment of a mirror according to the invention, respectively, and
• FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c are views of the mirror revealing the field lines corresponding respectively to the mirror of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.
• the two essential components of the mirror are respectively a lens 1 and a mirror 2.
• the lens and the mirror can be mounted on a common support 3 which can have any suitable shape.
• this support 3 has been schematically represented by a rod or a bar connecting the lens 1 to the mirror 2.
• This support 3 is an optional element so that the lens 1 and the mirror 2 can be mounted on independent or dissociated supports.
• the rear view mirror may include a fourth element visible in FIG. 2: it is a shell 4 which envelops the lens 1 and the mirror 2, and optionally the support 3.
• This shell 4 makes it possible to define an internal housing with the bodywork or the window of the vehicle to accommodate the lens 1 and the mirror 2.
• the shell 4 is also an optional element.
• the lens 1 is a divergent concave lens having a concave front face 10 and a flat rear face 15.
• the front face 10 defines a concave optical surface 11 which is here substantially or perfectly cylindrical.
• this optical surface 11 can be defined as having horizontal lines 12 and vertical lines 13 (of which only the vertical center line has been shown). Since the optical surface 11 is cylindrical, the vertical lines 13 are straight lines which are all parallel to each other.
• the horizontal lines 12 are curves, which are however also parallel to each other.
• the curvature of the horizontal lines 12 is circular so as to form an arc of a circle having a determined constant radius.
• the optical surface 11 can be defined as a section or segment of a circular cylinder.
• This lens 1 of general or overall cylindrical or elongated shape defines an optical axis, or more precisely an optical plane A1 which passes through the vertical center line 13.
• This cylindrical lens therefore defines a focal point F1 which is an optical focal line which s 'extends in the optical plane A1 at a distance from the lens which corresponds to the focal length of the lens. This is visible in Figure 1.
• This focal distance can be of the order of 8 to 10 centimeters.
• the linear focal point F1 is of course located on the side of the concave optical surface 11. Since the optical surface 11 is cylindrical, the focal line F1 is a straight line which extends vertically parallel to the vertical center line 13, and therefore perpendicular to the planes in which the horizontal lines 12 are inscribed.
• the lens 1 defines a fixing edge 14 which allows for example to grip the lens to fix it on any support.
• the mirror 2 comprises a reflecting surface 21 which is here of substantially rectangular shape lying down, that is to say with the long sides extending horizontally and the short sides extending vertically.
• the mirror can define a reflection surface 21 having another configuration, for example oval, elliptical, oblong, polygonal, or of complex geometric shape.
• the reflection surface 21 has a complex concave configuration.
• the concavity of the reflection surface can be globally or roughly or substantially be related to a segment, section, part or portion of a vertical cylinder.
• the reflection surface 21 defines a horizontal central line 22 and a vertical central line 23 which intersect substantially at the center Cm of the mirror. Since the cylinder is vertical or upright, the vertical line 23 is a straight line like all other parallel vertical lines.
• the horizontal line 22 is of substantially or perfectly parabolic shape as well as all the other horizontal lines parallel to the line 22. More precisely, the reflection surface 21 is a segment of a cylinder whose directing curve is parabolic . In other words, the cross section of the cylinder is parabolic in shape. The horizontal line 22 as well as all the other horizontal lines are of parabolic shape and will therefore pass through the central line Cp of the parabolic center of the cylinder. Indeed, any parabola is defined by an axis of parabola or axis of symmetry of parabola as well as by a focal point of parabola. A parabola is further defined by a parabola director (not shown).
• the lens 1 and the mirror 2 are positioned mutually with respect to each other so that the rear plane face 15 of the lens is turned towards the reflection surface 21 of the mirror.
• the support 3 defines a support axis
• neither the lens 1 nor the mirror 2 is arranged perpendicular to this support axis.
• the lens 1 is slightly turned and the mirror 2 is proficient turned so that the central beam Fc passing through the center Cl of the lens and the center Cm of the mirror 2 is reflected and redirected towards the eye O of the driver.
• the angle ⁇ between the incident central beam and the reflected central beam is of the order of 20 to 50 degrees.
• the angle ⁇ between the optical axis Al of the lens and the central beam Fc passing through the center of the lens and the center of the mirror is of the order from 5 to 15 degrees, for example 10 degrees.
• the central beam Fc is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle by making an angle ⁇ which can also be of the order of 5 to 15 degrees, for example 10 degrees.
• the axis Av can also be considered as the axis of the driver's door or the window of the driver's door.
• the mirror according to the invention must be installed on the vehicle so that the central beam makes an angle of ⁇ relative to the door.
• the lens 1 is located outside the vehicle, while the mirror 2 is located partially inside the vehicle and partially outside the vehicle.
• the mirror 2 can be located in a space which communicates with the interior of the vehicle and which is separated from the exterior of the vehicle by this shell 4.
• the lens 1 then serves as a shutter of the internal space formed by the shell 4 and of light entering inside this shell where the mirror 2 is arranged.
• the viewing angle ⁇ provided by the lens 1 can be of the order of 35 degrees, while with a conventional mirror, the viewing angle is limited to only about 25 degrees.
• the internal lateral beam Fsi intersects the longitudinal axis Av so as to give a vision of part of the body.
• the exterior side beam Fse allows you to widen your vision at the conventional blind spot of a conventional rear view mirror.
• the beams passing through the lens 1 are directed divergently towards the concave mirror 2 which reflects the beams in a convergent manner substantially without optical distortion towards the eye.
• the respective generatrices of the cylinder forming the mirror and of the cylinder forming the lens are arranged in parallel. More concretely, the vertical center line 23 of the mirror is arranged substantially parallel to the vertical center line 13 of the optical surface 11 of the lens 1. Likewise, the horizontal central line 22 of the mirror 2 is located in the same plane as the line horizontal median 12 of the lens 1. Regarding the distance between the lens
• the linear focus Fp of the parabolic cylinder of the mirror is located near the linear focus Fl of the lens. This is visible both in Figure 1 and in Figure 2. It can also be noted that the linear focus of the parabolic cylinder Fp is located on the beam Fc passing through the center Cl of the lens and the center Cm of the mirror.
• the linear foci Fp and Fl preferably extend parallel to one another but are not confused; there is therefore a distance between them. This distinction of the two linear focal points makes it possible to converge the beams reflected by the mirror 2 and directed towards the driver's eye.
• lens 1 and the mirror 2 are both cylindrical in configuration and extend along generatrices which are parallel, the view in horizontal cross section of Figure 2 is entirely representative of Figure 1 and can be located at any height of the lens or mirror.
• the fact of forming the lens with an optical surface 11 of substantially or perfectly cylindrical configuration is particularly advantageous, both from the optical point of view and from the manufacturing point of view. Indeed, from the optical point of view, there is no optical distortion on the vertical, the beams passing without diffraction or distortion through the lens at the level of the vertical center line 13. Diffraction takes place only in the horizontal plane. As for its manufacture, it is simplified due to the cylindrical shape of the optical surface, which is a relatively simple geometric shape to produce.
• the parabolic cylindrical mirror is also advantageous in combination with the cylindrical lens or with any other lens. Indeed, this cylindrical mirror is also easy to produce just like the cylindrical lens, because of the ease with which a cylindrical surface can be produced.
• the combination of the parabolic cylindrical mirror and the cylindrical lens is however advantageous since the parabolic cylindrical mirror 2 does not need to correct any optical distortion coming from the lens, since the latter does not diffract in the vertical plane .
• the optical distortion therefore takes place only in the horizontal plane, and this distortion is easily corrected by the mirror 2, thanks to its parabolic cylindrical shape. This gives an image tightened in the horizontal plane and without distortion in the vertical plane. This is shown in Figure 7a which shows the vision of a driver when looking at the mirror.
• the various points visible on the mirror represent or give an indication of the density of the field lines both horizontal and vertical.
• the cross on the right of the mirror represents the axis of the roadway at the horizon. It can be seen that the density of the points of the median horizontal field line is high, in particular at the edges, while the density of the points of the vertical field lines is constant.
• This mirror gives a very tight image horizontally, but real vertically. The proportion of objects is therefore not preserved. Referring to Figure 3, we will now explain how it is possible to correct this lack of proportion.
• the mirror can be identical to the mirror of the first embodiment.
• the lens 1a differs from the lens 1 of the first embodiment in that the vertical center line 13 ′ here has a curvature, which advantageously corresponds to an arc of a circle.
• the center line 13 is substantially or perfectly straight and extends parallel to the vertical center line 23 of the mirror 2.
• the curved vertical center line 13 ' extends in a plane which also includes the vertical center line 23 of the mirror.
• the horizontal lines 12 ′ of the lens are curved, as in the first embodiment, and their curvature preferably corresponds to an arc of a circle.
• the different horizontal lines 12 ' are substantially parallel to each other, or more precisely, the different curves 12' extend in the respective planes which are perpendicular to the vertical line 13 '.
• the plane in which a horizontal curve 12 'extends is perpendicular to the tangent of the vertical line 13' at the level where this plane intersects the line 13 '. Because the curvature of the vertical line 13 'is small, as can be seen in Figure 3, the horizontal curves 12' extend substantially parallel.
• the rear optical surface 11 ′ of the lens 1 thus defines a torus segment whose cross section is defined by the horizontal lines 12 ′ and whose curved longitudinal extent is defined by the vertical lines 13 ′.
• a torus can be defined as a tube of circular section which has a defined curvature.
• this curvature is advantageously circular, just like the curvature of the lines 12 ′.
• Such a lens also defines a focal line F1 '.
• the vertical line 13 ' is curved, and no longer straight, the rays passing through the middle line 13' are also diffracted, except at the center Cl. Optically, this has the effect of shrinking the image at mirror level.
• Figures 4a and 4b We see in Figure 4a that an object O, here of rectangular geometric shape for the sake of simplicity, goes to through the lens 1 of the first embodiment to give a substantially square image I at the level of the mirror 2. As a result, the conductor will have a substantially square image Ir.
• an object O ′ has been taken which has a size greater than the object O in FIG. 4a.
• the object O ' is higher than the object O: the long sides of the rectangle of the object O' are greater than the long sides of the object O.
• an image F is obtained at the level of the mirror 2 which is of substantially square shape, like the image I in FIG. 4a.
• the conductor will have an image Ir 'which is substantially identical to the image Ir of FIG. 4a. It has thus been possible to see that objects O, O 'of vertically different sizes give a reflected image Ir, Ir' which is substantially identical. This is due to the fact that the vertical line 13 ′ of the lens is slightly curved, while the vertical line 13 is perfectly straight.
• the curvature of the line 13 ′ has the effect of reducing the size of the image F, which corresponds to a narrowing of the optical field lines. Symmetrically, it can be said that an object of identical size will have Ir images of different sizes, the image Ir 'being more vertically tightened than the image Ir.
• FIG. 7b is a view similar to that of Figure 7a, with a mirror according to Figure 3, that is to say with a lens l 'whose vertical line 13' is slightly curved.
• vertical field lines represented by the lines of vertical points, are spaced apart by intervals which are identical to those in FIG. 7a.
• the horizontal field lines are tighter, since we see three horizontal field lines in Figure 7b while we only see the median horizontal field line in Figure 7a .
• lenses 1 and 1 An essential characteristic which is common to lenses 1 and 1 is that they both define an optical focus which extends along a line.
• the optical linear focus F1 of the lens 1 is perfectly rectilinear
• the linear optical focus of the lens 1 ' is curved, in correspondence with the curvature of the vertical center line 13'.
• the mirror 2 can be identical to that of the first and second embodiments of Figures 1 and 3.
• the lens 1 " it differs from the lens in that that the curvature of the vertical line 13 "is greatly increased at its lower zone.
• the curvature of the main zone 131 can be identical to the curvature of the line 13 ′ of the second embodiment of FIG. 3.
• the curvature of the zone 131 can advantageously be circular so as to define an arc of a circle.
• the lower zone 132 has an accentuated curvature, which can also correspond to an arc of a circle.
• the increase in the curvature in the zone 132 achieves a thickening of the lens, as can be seen in FIG. the "horizontal" lines 12 "have a curvature, which can advantageously be identical, and correspond to an arc of a circle.
• the different curvatures 12 extendend in planes which are perpendicular to the line 13", as in the second embodiment.
• the curvatures 12 "at the level of the lower zone 132 extend in planes which are more and more vertical, since the curvature of the vertical line 13" at the level of the zone 132 is very strong.
• the density of the horizontal lines is substantially identical to that of FIG. 7b, since the curvatures of the horizontal lines 12 "are substantially identical.
• the density of the vertical lines is greatly increased at the level of the lower part of the mirror corresponding to the lower zone 132 of the lens. In fact, it can be seen that the density of the vertical lines is substantially constant over most of the height of the mirror corresponding to the main zone 131. An increase in the density of the lines can, however, be observed. vertical with respect to FIG. 7b. This is due to a slightly greater curvature of the line 13 "compared to the line 13 '.
• the density of the vertical lines in the lower part of the mirror is very high, which makes it possible to have a vision on the lower part of the roadway directly next to the vehicle.
• the driver can have a vision of the sidewalk along which he wants to park. He can then park his car with great precision parallel to the sidewalk and as close as possible to the sidewalk.
• the main function of the lower zone 132 is to give a vision to the driver of the roadway directly next to his vehicle.
• the images at the lower part of the mirror are very strongly distorted, while the distortion is limited or zero at the level of the major part of the mirror.
• the rear view mirror in FIG. 5 therefore gives a practically ideal and particularly extended vision.
• the objects retain their proportionality both horizontally and vertically, the blind spot is particularly well covered, and moreover the driver has a vision at the level of the sidewalk along which he wants to park.
• the lens 1 also defines a linear optical focus F1" which is slightly curved corresponding to the line 13 ".
• the lens is located outside the vehicle shown diagrammatically by the line Av, while the mirror 2 straddles this line.
• the mirror is for a part located outside the vehicle and for another part located inside the vehicle.
• the prism has the well-known function of deflecting the light beams without diffraction or optical distortion.
• the prism 16 is here incorporated into the lens of so as to constitute a one-piece optical part, the optical surface 11 ′ may be identical to that of the lens in FIG. 3.
• the prism 16 has the effect of increasing the thickness of the lens on the right side and of reducing the thickness of the lens on the left side, when looking at FIG. 6.
• This change of orientation of the front face has the effect of giving the lens a prismatic function capable of deflecting the light beams at the exit of the lens without distortion or diffraction. As a result, the light beams are shifted to the right, so that the mirror 2 can be shifted to the right, that is to say inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
• the mirror 2 can be shifted more correspondingly inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
• a prismatic function can be implemented in the other embodiments of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. It is the same with the lower zone 132 of FIG. 5 which can be implemented in the other embodiments of the FIGS. Figures 1, 3 and 6.
• An ideal rear view mirror can be seen in the combination of the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, giving an image corresponding to FIG. 7c with a mirror located inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
• the mirror can be identical and advantageously formed by a segment of a cylinder having a parabolic directing curve. This is because all the lenses of the various embodiments define an optical focus in the form of a line, not a point.
• the various lenses 1, l ', 1 "and l” can be used independently of the parabolic cylindrical mirror, and even of any mirror. In other words, these lenses can be used in optical devices other than a rear view mirror. Each lens can thus be protected independently.
• the parabolic cylindrical shape mirror it can also be used independently of the lenses 1 to ". Indeed, its parabolic cylindrical shape is particularly advantageous for design and manufacturing reasons, so that this mirror can be implemented in other applications, other than a rear-view mirror, so independent protection of this mirror is also possible.
• the lenses 1, l ', 1 "and l" all have an overall rectangular configuration.
• the lens can have any other global configuration, for example round, oblong, elliptical, square, etc., while retaining an overall, substantially or perfectly cylindrical optical surface.
• the mirror of the present invention responds to a linear geometry so that the mirror, but also the lens, has a generally, substantially or perfectly cylindrical configuration with guiding geometry curves relatively simple, like a circle or a parabola.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
• Lenses (AREA)
• Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-12-09 FR FR0553813A patent/FR2894536B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-12-08 WO PCT/FR2006/051312 patent/WO2007066050A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2006-12-08 KR KR1020087016640A patent/KR20080082684A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-12-08 JP JP2008543880A patent/JP2009518228A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-12-08 US US12/096,401 patent/US20080285157A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-12-08 CN CNA2006800523794A patent/CN101336175A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-12-08 EP EP06842123A patent/EP1963135A2/de not_active Withdrawn

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