Side-view mirror

Last updated

Dual-contour side mirror. Large inboard convex surface is separated from small outboard aspheric surface. Wing mirror.jpg
Dual-contour side mirror. Large inboard convex surface is separated from small outboard aspheric surface.
Ford Fiesta side mirror with integrated turn signal repeater Wing mirror with indicator light.JPG
Ford Fiesta side mirror with integrated turn signal repeater
Large side mirror from a Honda Ridgeline with vortex generators to reduce wind noise 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline Side-view mirror.jpg
Large side mirror from a Honda Ridgeline with vortex generators to reduce wind noise

A side-view mirror (or side mirror), also known as a wing mirror, is a mirror placed on the exterior of motor vehicles for the purposes of helping the driver see areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle, outside the driver's peripheral vision (in the "blind spot").

Contents

Almost all modern cars mount their side mirrors on the doors—normally at the A-pillar—rather than the wings (the portion of the body above the wheel well).

The side mirror is equipped for manual or remote vertical and horizontal adjustment so as to provide adequate coverage to drivers of differing height and seated position. Remote adjustment may be mechanical by means of bowden cables, or may be electric by means of geared motors. The mirror glass may also be electrically heated and may include electrochromic dimming to reduce glare to the driver from the headlamps of following vehicles. Increasingly, the side mirror incorporates the vehicle's turn signal repeaters. There is evidence to suggest that mirror-mounted repeaters may be more effective than repeaters mounted in the previously predominant fender side location. [1]

Optional side mirror

Through the 1940s, most roads had just two lanes, one in each direction. Drivers usually had to be aware only of traffic ahead of and directly behind them. Due to this, early cars had just a single rear-view mirror mounted on the top of the windshield or on top of the dashboard. When side mirrors were introduced to help drivers see overtaking vehicles, most cars only had the driver side mirror as standard equipment. A passenger side mirror was optional on most cars through the 1970s. Today all 3 mirrors are standard on almost all passenger vehicles.

Planar, convex, aspheric

In the U.S. and Canada, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 and the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 require the driver-side mirror to provide "unit magnification", i.e., an undistorted 1:1 reflection achieved with a flat mirror. However, unit magnification limits the field of view that can be provided by a mirror of size compatible with the vehicle body. The ECE regulations in use throughout most of the world except North America permit the driver-side mirror to have a planar, convex, or aspheric surface; an aspheric section is often combined with a larger convex section, and the two sections are separated by a visible line to alert the driver to the two sections' different perspective shifts. [2] [3]

Side mirror with warning legend: "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" Rear-view-mirror-caption.jpg
Side mirror with warning legend: "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear"

Because of the distance from the driver's eye to the passenger side mirror, a useful field of view can be achieved only with a convex or aspheric mirror. However, the convexity also minifies the objects shown. Since such objects seem farther away than they actually are, a driver might make a maneuver such as a lane change assuming an adjacent vehicle is a safe distance behind, when in fact it is quite a bit closer. [4] In the United States, [5] Canada, [6] India, Korea and Australia [ citation needed ], non-planar mirrors are etched or printed with the warning legend objects in the mirror are closer than they appear . In Canada, this warning is often supplemented by a transparent decal on the passenger side window repeating the warning in French: les objets dans le retroviseur sont plus proche qu'ils ne le paraissent. In Korea, the warning appears in Korean. Warnings of this nature are not required in Europe.

Other requirements

Driver's control for side mirrors, with tiny curb-view button Mirror control.JPG
Driver's control for side mirrors, with tiny curb-view button

More commonly in cars manufactured since the 2000s, side mirrors may be manually or electrically folded in, to protect them when the car is parked or being washed in an automated car wash.[ citation needed ] Passing cars can easily clip protruding side mirrors; the folding capability helps protect them from harm. ECE Regulation 46 requires that side mirrors be mounted such that they swing away when struck by a test cylinder meant to represent a pedestrian. [7]

Until March 1983, the Japanese Ministry of Transport did not allow cars to be registered without mirrors on front fenders, [8] so the mirrors were mounted far forward atop the front fenders. More recent Japanese-specification vehicles have side mirrors similar to those in other countries. [9] Taxi drivers and other professional drivers retain a preference for the wing-mounted mirrors as they feel that they work better in extremely tight traffic. [9]

U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 requires that convex side-view mirrors must have a curvature radius of between 889 mm and 1651 mm. [5] Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 stipulates a range of between 890 mm and 1800 mm. [6] Neither the U.S. nor the Canadian standard allows for aspheric mirrors. [3] The European ECE Regulation 46 used throughout most of the world permits planar, convex, and/or aspheric mirrors on either side of the vehicle. [3] [7] American research suggests non-planar driver side mirrors may help reduce crashes. [2] [10]

Digital

In 2018, side mirrors in a form of camera and display were introduced for a better peripheral recognition upon driving. It has advantages over conventional ones as it may provide wider angle of sight and less air resistance without obstructing driver's frontal view, though the first of these problems can be alleviated in regular mirrors by adjusting them such that the view presented offers only minimal overlap with that of the interior mirror. [11]

Problems with digital mirrors include difficulties relating to the inherent lack of binocular vision (such as impaired depth perception, and the requirement for the viewer to readjust focus to the distance of the mirror surface instead of merely the distance to the object), as well as from problems related to both the reduced dynamic range and the sensitivity of a camera in low light conditions. This type of mirror also needs power to function.

These side mirrors are applied to various types of vehicles such as Hyundai Ioniq 5, Audi e-tron. Mercedes-Benz introduced such a system 2018 in the Actros under the name "MirrorCam".

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive safety</span> Study and practice to minimize the occurrence and consequences of motor vehicle accidents

Automotive safety is the study and practice of automotive design, construction, equipment and regulation to minimize the occurrence and consequences of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles. Road traffic safety more broadly includes roadway design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle blind spot</span> Area around vehicle that cannot be directly observed by the driver while at the controls

A blind spot in a vehicle or vehicle blind spot is an area around the vehicle that cannot be directly seen by the driver while at the controls, under existing circumstances. In transport, driver visibility is the maximum distance at which the driver of a vehicle can see and identify prominent objects around the vehicle. Visibility is primarily determined by weather conditions and by a vehicle's design. The parts of a vehicle that influence visibility include the windshield, the dashboard and the pillars. Good driver visibility is essential to safe road traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">School bus</span> Bus operated by a school or school district for student transport

A school bus is any type of bus owned, leased, contracted to, or operated by a school or school district. It is regularly used to transport students to and from school or school-related activities, but not including a charter bus or transit bus. Various configurations of school buses are used worldwide; the most iconic examples are the yellow school buses of the United States which are also found in other parts of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lane departure warning system</span> Mechanism designed to warn a driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane

In road-transport terminology, a lane departure warning system (LDWS) is a mechanism designed to warn the driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane on freeways and arterial roads. These systems are designed to minimize accidents by addressing the main causes of collisions: driver error, distractions and drowsiness. In 2009 the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began studying whether to mandate lane departure warning systems and frontal collision warning systems on automobiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rear-view mirror</span> Mirror in vehicles that allows the driver to see rearwards

A rear-view mirror is a, usually flat, mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle's rear window.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daytime running lamp</span> Vehicle lights

A daytime running lamp is an automotive lighting and bicycle lighting device on the front of a roadgoing motor vehicle or bicycle, automatically switched on when the vehicle's handbrake has been pulled down, when the vehicle is in gear, or when the engine is started, emitting white, yellow, or amber light. Their intended use is not to help the driver see the road or their surroundings, but to help other road users identify an active vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive lighting</span> Lighting system of a motor vehicle

A motor vehicle has lighting and signaling devices mounted to or integrated into its front, rear, sides, and, in some cases, top. Various devices have the dual function of illuminating the road ahead for the driver, and making the vehicle visible to others, with indications to them of turning, slowing or stopping, etc., with lights also indicating the size of some large vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell-tale (automotive)</span> Light that indicates malfunction of a system

A tell-tale, sometimes called an idiot light or warning light, is an indicator of malfunction or operation of a system, indicated by a binary (on/off) illuminated light, symbol or text legend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Actros</span> German heavy-duty truck

The Mercedes-Benz Actros is a heavy-duty truck introduced by Mercedes-Benz at the 1996 Commercial Vehicle IAA in Hanover, Germany, as the replacement for the SK. It is normally used for long-distance haulage, heavy-duty distribution haulage, and construction haulage. It is powered by an inline-6 diesel engine with a turbocharger and intercooler. Daimler Trucks/Lorries launched version II of the Actros in 2002 and version III in 2007. The fourth generation of the Actros, officially named "the New Actros," launched in July 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blind spot monitor</span>

The blind spot monitor or blind-spot monitoring is a vehicle-based sensor device that detects other vehicles located to the driver’s side and rear. Warnings can be visual, audible, vibrating, or tactile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parking sensor</span> Proximity sensor

Parking sensors are proximity sensors for road vehicles designed to alert the driver of obstacles while parking. These systems use either electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backup camera</span> Vehicle accessory

A backup camera is a video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to reduce the rear blind spot. The rear blind spot has been described as a "killing zone" because of the accidents it contributes to. Backup cameras are usually connected to the vehicle's head unit display. A common variant is a surround-view system, which assembles a synthetic but positionally accurate top-down view of the vehicle and its adjacencies.

Vehicle regulations are requirements that automobiles must satisfy in order to be approved for sale or use in a particular country or region. They are usually mandated by legislation, and administered by a government body. The regulations concern aspects such as lighting, controls, crashworthiness, environment protection and theft protection, and might include safety belts or automated features.

Government regulation in the automotive industry directly affects the way cars look, how their components are designed, the safety features that are included, and the overall performance of any given vehicle. As a result, these regulations also have a significant effect on the automotive business by generally increasing production costs while also placing limitations on how cars are sold and marketed. Automotive regulations are designed to benefit the consumer and protect the environment, and automakers can face stiff fines and other penalties if they are not followed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collision avoidance system</span> Motorcar safety system

A collision avoidance system (CAS), also known as a pre-crash system, forward collision warning system (FCW), or collision mitigation system, is an advanced driver-assistance system designed to prevent or reduce the severity of a collision. In its basic form, a forward collision warning system monitors a vehicle's speed, the speed of the vehicle in front of it, and the distance between the vehicles, so that it can provide a warning to the driver if the vehicles get too close, potentially helping to avoid a crash. Various technologies and sensors that are used include radar (all-weather) and sometimes laser (LIDAR) and cameras to detect an imminent crash. GPS sensors can detect fixed dangers such as approaching stop signs through a location database. Pedestrian detection can also be a feature of these types of systems.

<i>Objects in mirror are closer than they appear</i> Safety warning on convex mirrors

The phrase "objects in (the) mirror are closer than they appear" is a safety warning that is required to be engraved on passenger side mirrors of motor vehicles in many places such as the United States, Canada, Nepal, India, and South Korea. It is present because while these mirrors' convexity gives them a useful field of view, it also makes objects appear smaller. Since smaller-appearing objects seem further away than they actually are, a driver might make a maneuver such as a lane change assuming an adjacent vehicle is a safe distance behind, when in fact it is quite a bit closer. The warning serves as a reminder to the driver of this potential problem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back-up collision</span>

Back-up collisions happen when a driver reverses the car into an object, person, or other car. Although most cars come equipped with rear view mirrors which are adequate for detecting vehicles behind a car, they are inadequate on many vehicles for detecting small children or objects close to the ground, which fall in the car's blind spot, particularly directly aft. That area has been called a "killing zone." Large trucks have much larger blind spots that can hide entire vehicles and large adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac de Ville series</span> Car model

The Cadillac DeVille is the nameplate used by Cadillac over eight generations, originally used to designate a trim level of the 1949 Cadillac Series 62 and later to designate a standalone model in the brand range. The last model marketed specifically as a DeVille was the 2005 full-size sedan, at the time, Cadillac's largest model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windshield obstruction laws</span>

Some legislations ban the placement of articles, devices and other paraphernalia on the windshields of vehicles.

Omniview technology is a vehicle parking assistant technology that first was introduced in 2007 as the "Around View Monitor" option for the Nissan Elgrand and Infiniti EX. It is designed to assist drivers in monitoring their surroundings, for example, while parking a vehicle in a small space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power side-view mirror</span>

A power side-view mirror is a side-view mirror equipped with electrical means for vertical and horizontal adjustment from the inside of the automobile.

References

  1. Flannagan, M.J.; Reed, M.P. (2005). "Geometric Visibility of Mirror-Mounted Turn Signals". Ref 2005-01-0449. Society of Automotive Engineers. Archived from the original (paper, PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2006.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. 1 2 "Are Convex Driver Side Mirrors Helpful or Harmful?" (PDF). umich.edu. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Synthesis Study of Light Vehicle Non-Planar Mirror Research" (PDF). nhtsa.gov. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  4. Skorucak, Anton. "Why does the passenger side window on my car state 'objects in mirror are closer than they appear?". physlink.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Standard No. 111; Rearview mirrors". edocket.access.gpo.gov. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111". tc.gc.ca. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Text of the 1958 Agreement - Transport - UNECE" (PDF). www.unece.org. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  8. Mainichi Shimbun 19 March 1983 morning p. 22
  9. 1 2 Gordenker, Alice (18 November 2013). "Fender mirrors". Archived from the original on 2 April 2019 via Japan Times Online.
  10. "Response times using flat, convex, and multiradius rearview mirrors" (PDF). umich.edu. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  11. Platzer, George (1 February 1995). "The Geometry of Automotive Rearview Mirrors - Why Blind Zones Exist and Strategies to Overcome Them". Warrendale, PA.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)