GB2509500A

GB2509500A - Vehicle wing mirror providing extended field of view using multiple reflections

Info

Publication number: GB2509500A
Application number: GB1300056.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Bosanko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-03
Filing date: 2013-01-03
Publication date: 2014-07-09
Also published as: GB201300056D0

Abstract

Â A reflection device is mountable at or near the left or right hand sides of a vehicle 2, and preferably on both sides. The reflection device comprises a plurality of planar or non-planar reflective, or partially reflective, surfaces 5, 7 arranged to reflect light 7 from an object several times before being observed as a single view by a driver 3 of vehicle 2. The reflective or partially reflective surfaces may be internally reflective surfaces of a prism (1, Figure 2) or may be formed in a plurality of optical components. The device may extend the field of view of driver 3 and reduce the size of the blind spot, improving road safety. The device may also be compact, improving the aerodynamics of vehicle 2.

Description

A REFLECTION DEVICE WHICH ENABLES A DRIVER OR RIDER TO SEE OUTSIDE

HIS/HER FIELD OF VIEW

This invention relates to a reflection device which is mounted towards one side of a vehicle which enables the driver or rider of the vehicle to view an area outside his/her field of view.

Currently vehicles are fitted with exterior rear view mirror which are also referred to as a Fender mirrors, Side mirrors, Wing minors or Handlebar mirrors, These provide a view to the driver, rearwards down the left and/or right hand side of the vehicle, this mirror is usually mounted externally and is usually positioned in order to give the best possible view to the driver or rider of the vehicle.

In most countries there are standards or minimum legal requirements for the view that can be seen by the driver or rider, notably in the European Economic Community directives 2003/97/EEC and 2007/3SIEEC.

Due to the geometry and positioning of the exterior minors, there are limits to the near horizontal angle of view that can be seen reflected in the mirror, this is due to the angle of incidence being equal to the angle of reflection on the plain mirrors, This limitation in the view which can be observed, leads to areas which cannot be observed, this area is often referred to as the blind spot.

In countries where it is legal, convex or distorted mirrors are used in order to increase the angle of view, but this gives an error of distance perception, sometimes causing the driver to misjudge the distance to an overtaking vehicle, and these minors are a compromise between the narrow angle and distortion of the view.

Sometimes the restriction in the field of view is countered with the addition of devices such as smaller mirrors, closed circuit television cameras etc, but these usually require the driver to look at two displays simultaneously and add to the complexity and cost of the assembly.

In order to give the best possible field of view to the occupant or rider of the vehicle, Exterior rear view mirrors are mounted as far outside the vehicles bodywork as possible. This presents a serious risk to pedestrians and cyclists and accounts for a large number of the people killed or seriously injured by motor vehicles each year.

Legislation within parts of Europe (Regulation 46 ECE) requires the mirror housing to pivot when struck to try and reduce severity of the injuries; however the mirrors can still cause significant injuries as it can be at the same height as a child's head.

There are also many minor accidents not involving injuries, with the mirrors catching the mirrors of other vehicles, or on the edge of the garage door.

There are also many accidents due to the limited near horizontal angle of view in a minor, with overtaking vehicles not being observed as they are positioned in the blind spot.

The protrusion of the mirror from the vehicles bodywork has significant effect on the aerodynamics of the vehicle. This causes increased fuel consumption and lower acceleration rates. And the increase in fuel used has a detrimental effect on the environment.

There is therefore a need for a device which allows the occupant or rider of a vehicle to see a wider field of view andlor the same view with less projection on the outside of the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a reflection device mounted towards the left or right hand sides of a vehicle, this reflection device consists of a multitude of planar or non-planar reflective or partially reflective surfaces.

The planar or non-planar reflective or partially reflective surfaces are arranged to reflect the light from a viewed object a multitude of times before being observed as a single view, by the driver or rider of a vehicle. The arrangement of reflective or partially reflective surfaces may take the form of a single optical component with internal reflection in the fonn of a prism, or a multitude of optical devices arranged to reflect the light more than once before being observed as a single view. It is envisaged that more than one internal retlection device could be used on a single vehicle as it is common place to fit mirrors on both the left and right hand side of the vehicle.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-FIG. I Shows a schematic overhead view of a section of a vehicle, This vehicle has a reflection device with a multitude of reflective surfaces one being a non-planar reflective surface and one a planar partially reflective surface (often referred to as a One or Two way mirror), mounted close to the position of a traditional wing mirror. The diagram shows the multiple reflection of a single ray of light prior to being observed by the driver.

FIG.2 shows a schematic view of a vehicle with a prism mounted in the frame of the vehicles door. The prism allows multiple internal reflection of the light on its surfaces prior to being observed by the Driver as a single view.

Referring to the drawing fig 1 shows a reflection device mounted to one side of a vehicle 2 to enable the driver 3 to see outside his/her field of view. Light 8 enters the device from an area outside the drivers 3 field of view. The light 8 is shown entering through a cover lens 6, the cover lens 6 in this instance has little or no reflection or refraction of the light 8 and is shown as a means of keeping the reflective surfaces clean.

The light 8 once it has passed through the cover lens 6 strikes a planar partially reflective surface 7 some of the light 8 is reflected by the planar partially reflective surface 7 towards the non planar reflective surface 5, when the light 8 strikes the non planar reflective surface 5 the light again reflected back towards the partially reflective surface 7.The light 8 after being reflected by the non planar reflective surface 5 strikes the planar partially reflective surface 7, some of the lights passes through the planar partially reflective surface 7 and proceeds in a direction towards the driver 3.

The driver 3 by looking into the device is able to observe light 8 originating outside his/her field of view which has been reflected a multitude of times by the device.

Fig2 shows a prism 1 mounted into the door 4 of a vehicle 2, the prism 1 is constructed so that internal reflection occurs within the prism a multitude of times before being observed as a single view by the driver 3 enabling him/her to see an area outside his/her field of view.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A reflection device mounted towards the left or right hand side of a vehicle, The reflection device consists of a multitude of planar or non-planar reflective or paitially reflective surfaces which are arranged to reflect the light from an object outside the driver or riders field of view a multitude of times before the light is observed as a single view by the driver or rider of a vehicle.
2 A reflection device as claimed in Claim I, wherein the planar or non planar reflective or partially reflective surfaces are provided by means of internal reflection within a suitably shaped prism 3 An internal reflection device as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein a multiple of internal reflection devices are mounted on a single vehicle.