Non Distorting mirror receives patent.
Excerpt:
A subtly curved side mirror that eliminates dangerous blind spots for drivers has been issued US Patent No. 8,180,606.
Invented by Drexel University mathematics professor Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, the new mirror dramatically increases the field of view with minimal distortion by using a mathematical algorithm that precisely controls the angle of light bouncing off the curving mirror.
"Imagine that the mirror's surface is made of many smaller mirrors turned to different angles, like a disco ball," Hicks said. "The algorithm is a set of calculations to manipulate the direction of each face of the metaphorical disco ball so that each ray of light bouncing off the mirror shows the driver a wide, but not too distorted, picture of the scene behind him."
...
US regulations dictate that cars coming off the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for passenger-side mirrors only if they include the sentence "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Because of such regulations, Hicks' mirror will not be installed on new cars sold in the US anytime soon. The mirror could be manufactured and sold as an aftermarket product that drivers and mechanics can install on cars after purchase. Slightly curved mirrors are allowed on some new cars in certain European and Asian countries.
Excerpt:
A subtly curved side mirror that eliminates dangerous blind spots for drivers has been issued US Patent No. 8,180,606.
Invented by Drexel University mathematics professor Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, the new mirror dramatically increases the field of view with minimal distortion by using a mathematical algorithm that precisely controls the angle of light bouncing off the curving mirror.
"Imagine that the mirror's surface is made of many smaller mirrors turned to different angles, like a disco ball," Hicks said. "The algorithm is a set of calculations to manipulate the direction of each face of the metaphorical disco ball so that each ray of light bouncing off the mirror shows the driver a wide, but not too distorted, picture of the scene behind him."
...
US regulations dictate that cars coming off the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for passenger-side mirrors only if they include the sentence "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Because of such regulations, Hicks' mirror will not be installed on new cars sold in the US anytime soon. The mirror could be manufactured and sold as an aftermarket product that drivers and mechanics can install on cars after purchase. Slightly curved mirrors are allowed on some new cars in certain European and Asian countries.
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