Abstract: A monolithic substrate of glass or glass ceramics and methods for manufacturing are provided, where the substrate has a lightweight structure. The lightweight structure includes recesses that are delimited by webs, such webs forming tetragonal or four-corner-shaped pockets. Due to the lightweight structure, the weight of the substrate can be significantly reduced, and at the same time a high rigidity can be ensured. The substrate can be used as a mirror support or a mirror and can be employed terrestrially and/or extra-terrestrially.

Abstract: A new and useful optical element for an optical imaging system is provided, characterized in that the optical element comprises a reflecting surface that is rotationally symmetric and oriented at a grazing angle to a relatively small slit that is illuminated over a relatively large range of angles, such that the optical element collects radiation from the relatively small slit that is illuminated over a large range of angles, and the reflecting surface reflects the collected radiation. The optical element is configured to convert a large range of angles leaving a very small slit, to a much smaller range of angles over a larger area.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A multi-curvature convex mirror is comprised of a first reflective surface having a first curvature and defined by a portion of the surface area of a greater sphere and a second reflective surface having a second curvature greater than the first curvature and defined by a portion of the surface area of a lesser sphere that intersects the surface area of the greater sphere. The primary and secondary reflective surfaces are comprised of a series of locations, each defined by an x, y, and z coordinate, determined in accordance with the relationship z = x a + y b where 600?a?1,300 and 100?|b?a|?200.

Abstract: An optical system having an optical waveguide for collecting light, a receiver for receiving the light, and redirecting optics for transferring the light from the optical waveguide to the receiver. The optical system can be used for concentrating light such as in solar applications. The optical system can also be used for diffusing light in illumination applications by replacing the receiver with a light source such that the light flows in the reverse of the concentration system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reflective surface substantially perpendicular to a vector field described by the equation: W(x,y,z)=T (proj(x,v,z))?(x,v,z)+proj(x,v,z)?(x,v,z)?T(proj(x,y,z))?(x,y,z)? ?proj(x,y,z)?(x,y,z)? and a method for forming the reflective surface. The reflective surface is capable of providing a non-reversed, substantially undistorted direct reflection.

Abstract: A mirror assembly having a versatile clamping assembly for use during hunting or other outdoor sporting activities comprises an adjustable mirror which provides a user with a wide viewing angle to the rear and periphery of a current location. The mirror assembly is attached to an upper end of a flexible arm element that provides multiple degrees of articulation as desired by the user. A bottom end of the arm element is affixed to a clamping mechanism which enables the assembly to attach to various sized branches, railings, platforms, or other structures. The clamping mechanism further provides a pair of thumb-screw fasteners on the handle which enable the clamp to be secured to inserted branches or similar objects.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a motor vehicle includes a base that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A housing is fixedly secured to the base. The housing defines an opening. A mirror is operatively secured to the housing at the opening. The mirror defines a main viewing portion and a spotting mirror portion wherein the main viewing portion and the spotting mirror portion are fabricated from a unitary structure. The mirror is a reflective element and defines a main viewing portion of one curvature and a spotting mirror portion for viewing the blind spot which is defined by having a radius of curvature less than the main viewing portion. Both viewing portions of the mirror are integral to one unitary structure that is fabricated from sheet metal such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminum that may optionally be chrome plated, polished, or anodized.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing and dome-type mirror lens. The lens has a first base footprint portion with a constant radius of curvature and a diameter, and a second base footprint portion comprised of an elliptical portion with a base major axis and a base minor axis. The mirror lens includes a first surface portion having a first surface radius and conforming to the first base footprint portion. The lens additionally includes a second surface portion conforming to the second base footprint portion. The second surface portion is comprised of a second surface major radius of curvature corresponding to a major surface axis and a second surface minor radius of curvature corresponding to a minor surface axis.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a glass substrate and a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The auxiliary wide angle curved portion has a curved recess established at a region of the rear surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and may have a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and may have a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

Abstract: A hand held mirror includes a body having a first and second body portion. The second body portion is arranged at a variable angle of between 0 and 50 degrees from the plane of the first body portion. A convex mirror is attached to the underside of the second body portion such that when the hand-held mirror is attached to the body of the user and raised or tilted slightly, the user has a view of the activities behind the user. The hand-held mirror may be attached to a piece of clothing or other article worn by the user including a glove or strap worn around the hand or lower wrist of the user. In addition, the hand-held mirror may include an additional device such as a watch, temperature gauge, altimeter, cell phone, radio, GPS, heart rate monitor, mapping device or turn signal indicator.

Abstract: Optical structure and design concepts are provided, using a Y-Zernike polynomial, and by which optical components, optical components and optical structures, can be designed and produced, to image at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths, at a relatively high NA (e.g. 0.35), with a relatively large field of view (e.g. 26×2 mm). Moreover, an optical structure produced according to the principles of the present invention has a small amount of asymmetry, which enables the components of the optical structure to be manufactured with current manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source, a second light source, a reflective assembly, and a condensing lens defining an optical axis. The first light source includes a first lamp and a first reflector reflecting light beams generated by the first lamp as first parallel light beams. The second light source includes a second lamp and a second reflector reflecting light beams generated by the second lamp. The first light source, the reflective assembly and the condensing lens are arranged in order along the optical axis. The second light source corresponds to the reflective assembly deviated from the optical axis. The reflective assembly reflects light beams reflected by the first reflector back to the first reflector, and reflects light beams from the second reflector to the condensing lens. The condensing lens condenses the first parallel light beams and the light beams reflected by the reflective assembly.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a glass substrate and a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The auxiliary wide angle curved portion has a curved recess established at a region of the rear surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and may have a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and may have a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Provided are a reflective structure, a display apparatus including the reflective structure, and methods of manufacturing the reflective structure and the display apparatus. The reflective structure may include a reflective layer having a multiple uneven structure. The reflective layer may have a curved surface as a result of a plurality of first uneven portions, and wherein the curved surface may has a plurality of second uneven portions having a scale less than that of the first uneven portions. The plurality of first uneven portions may have a micro-scale size, and the plurality of second uneven portions may have a nano-scale size. The reflective layer may be arranged on a lower structure including a plurality of nanoparticles. A flexible material layer may be formed on the reflective layer.

Abstract: A reflecting device with wide viewing angle, reduced distortion and anamorphosis and reduced doubling of reflected images, particularly for vehicles. The reflecting device has a monolithic body made of transparent plastic material and comprising an internal surface and an external surface, the latter facing the objects to be detected and being arranged opposite the internal surface. At least the external surface is constituted by an anamorphic surface which is non-revolution surface.

Abstract: An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear glass substrates and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. The electrochromic mirror reflective element includes a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and has a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters. The electrochromic medium is disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate and may be in contact with the principal planar reflector portion and the auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

Abstract: A reflection device including a sheet made of a flexible material with at least one surface having reflective properties including a first edge and a second edge on opposite sides of a center line of the sheet where the first edge and the second edge of the sheet are shaped such that the flexible material is formed into a mostly parabolic shape in cross section when bent about a line perpendicular to the center line and the sheet is secured at two points along the center line.

Abstract: A flexible substrate having electrical and optical functions. The substrate includes a planar non-conductive film. The substrate also includes a seed layer on a first region of the film for fabrication of conductive traces to couple to an electro-optical component disposed adjacent the first region. The substrate further includes a smooth optically reflective layer disposed on a second region of the film.

Abstract: Information light modulated and emitted by a modulation element is led to a recording medium through a Fourier transform optical system and an optical path shifter. An interference image is recorded on the recording medium by interference of the information light and reference light. A deflection unit of the optical path shifter has a pair of prisms. Optical path of information light transmitted through the respective prisms are shifted in parallel in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the Fourier transform optical system. By rotating the deflection unit around the optical axis, it is possible to shift the optical path of the information light around the optical axis while shifting the optical path in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Therefore, it is unnecessary to perform complicated control and it is possible to multiply record an interference image accurately with an information recording apparatus having a simple structure.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a glass substrate with a principal planar reflector portion having a principal mirror reflector disposed at a first or second surface of the glass substrate and with an auxiliary wide angle curved portion having an auxiliary mirror reflector coated at a curved recess established at a region of the second surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and has a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

Abstract: A reflector (e.g., mirror) for use in a solar collector or the like is provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, a reflector is made by (a) forming a reflective coating on a thin substantially flat glass substrate (the thin glass substrate may or may not be pre-bent prior to the coating being applied thereto), (b) optionally, if the glass substrate in (a) was not prebent, then cold-bending the glass substrate with the reflective coating thereon; and (c) applying a plate or frame member to the thin bent glass substrate with the coating thereon from (a) and/or (b), the plate or frame member (which may be another thicker pre-bent glass sheet, for example) for maintaining the thin glass substrate and coating thereon in a desired bent orientation in a final product which may be used as parabolic trough or dish type reflector in a concentrating solar power apparatus or the like.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing or base member, a mirror lens and a bezel member. The mirror lens is provided in the shape of a portion of an end of an ellipsoid and has a varying radius of curvature. The center portion of the lens has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer portions along the major axis of the lens creating an improved field of view of the reflected image. The bezel is positioned over the intersection of the housing and mirror lens.

Abstract: An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. A principal planar reflector portion has a principal mirror reflector disposed at the rear substrate and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion has an auxiliary mirror reflector coated at a curved recess established at a region of a second surface of the front substrate or a third surface of the rear substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and has a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.

Abstract: An optical device is disclosed including: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture. The non-imaging secondary concentrator includes: a first portion proximal the entry aperture which is rotationally symmetric about an optic axis; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about the optic axis.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An electrochromic mirror reflective element includes a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween. A curved recess is established at a second surface of the front glass substrate or a fourth surface of the rear glass substrate. A first metallic reflector is coated at the curved recess, with the reflector-coated curved recess establishing an auxiliary wide angle reflector region of the electrochromic mirror reflective element. A second metallic reflector is coated at a surface of the rear glass substrate, with the reflector-coated surface establishing a principal reflector region of the electrochromic mirror reflective element. The reflective element may include a hiding layer that hides at least a portion of a component of the electrochromic mirror reflective element that is behind the hiding layer from view by the driver of a vehicle equipped with the electrochromic mirror reflective element.

Abstract: A convex mirror formed of a back board, a mirror, a ball head connecting rod, a ball socket, a socket cover and a mounting frame is disclosed. The back board has stub rods and retaining holes for receiving respective locating holes and hollow cylindrical posts of the ball socket to facilitate installation of rivets in affixing the ball socket and the back board together. The mirror has a rim inserted in between a rim and equiangularly spaced locating blocks of the back board to facilitate installation of self-tapping screws in affixing the rim of the back board and the rim of the mirror together.

Abstract: A light-collection apparatus includes a core, a first layer and a second layer. The core is made in the form of a frustum and used as a solid light-passing zone. The first layer is provided on the core. The second layer is provided on the first layer. Therefore, the light-collection apparatus is excellent in collecting light, easily mass-produced at a low cost, durable and environmentally friendly.

Abstract: A bundle-guiding optical collector collects an emission of a radiation source and forms a radiation bundle from the collected emission. A reflective surface of the collector is the first bundle-forming surface downstream of the radiation source. The reflective surface is formed such that it converts the radiation source into a family of images in a downstream plane. The family of images includes a plurality of radiation source images which are offset to each other in two dimensions (x, y) in a direction perpendicular to the beam direction of the transformed radiation bundle and are arranged relative to each other in a non-rotationally symmetric manner relative to the beam direction of the transformed radiation bundle. The transformed radiation bundle in the downstream plane has a non-rotationally symmetric bundle edge contour relative to the beam direction of the transformed radiation bundle. The result is a collector in which the radiation bundle shape generated by the collector.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention concerns an external mirror arrangement comprising a front mirror of the Group of the Directive 2005/27/EG for the visual transmission of a first field of view and for the visual transmission of a second field of view contains a safety mirror. In accord with the invention, the front mirror and the safety mirror are integrated in one mirror head.

Abstract: A mirror reflective element for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror substrate having a front surface and a rear surface. The mirror substrate has a first reflector portion and a second reflector portion, with the first reflector portion having a principal reflector portion of the mirror reflective element. The rear surface of the mirror substrate has a curved recess established thereat, and the second curved reflector portion is established at the curved recess. The curved recess has a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the first reflector portion, whereby the curved recess, when coated by a reflector coating, provides a wide angle auxiliary reflector portion integrally formed with the mirror reflective element.

Abstract: In a light-transmitting mirror substrate having an axisymmetrical aspherical surface, a surface of the mirror substrate on a side opposite to the axisymmetrical aspherical surface is inclined with respect to an axis of symmetry of the axisymmetrical aspherical surface.

Abstract: A method of testing a convex mirror surface figure in which an optical quality substrate material is used having a convex front surface and a rear surface polished to a precise optical figure to create a lens. The lens is then tested by a standard interferometric or wavefront lens-testing method and the convex surface coated once a desired curvature is obtained. Null testing may be attained by passing a collimated interferometer beam through a focusing lens shaped to counter the predicted spherical aberration introduced by a perfect convex mirror/lens.

Abstract: A rearview mirror device includes an elongated mirror body and a housing. The mirror body is formed with a first curved section having two opposite ends, and second and third curved sections extending integrally and respectively from the opposite ends of the first curved section. The first curved section has a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the second curved section and a radius of curvature of the third curved section. A ratio of the radius of curvature of the first curved section to the radius of curvature of either one of the second and third curved sections is not greater than 1.65. The housing includes a frame body with first and second mounting portions. Each of the second and third curved sections is mounted on a respective one of the first and second mounting portions of the frame body.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing and dome-type mirror lens. The lens has a first base footprint portion with a constant radius of curvature and a diameter, and a second base footprint portion comprised of an elliptical portion with a base major axis and a base minor axis. The mirror lens includes a first surface portion having a first surface radius and conforming to the first base footprint portion. The lens additionally includes a second surface portion conforming to the second base footprint portion. The second surface portion is comprised of a second surface major radius of curvature corresponding to a major surface axis and a second surface minor radius of curvature corresponding to a minor surface axis.

Abstract: A mirror includes a substrate of transparent material defining a first side and a second side. The second side includes a primary mirror surface defining a first focal axis and a secondary mirror surface defining a second focal axis. The second focal axis is directed in a direction different than the first focal axis.

Abstract: An alignment system for side view mirrors featuring a mirror with regions of diverse curvature, with an upright alignment line in a region of greater curvature. The side view mirror is set up so that the side of a user's vehicle lies entirely on the side of the alignment line closest to the vehicle. This generates a cone of vision to the rear of the vehicle which overlaps with the cone of vision from a rear view mirror such that blind spots are greatly reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing or base member, a mirror lens and a connecting gasket member. The mirror lens is provided in the shape of a portion of an end of an ellipsoid. The lens has a varying radius of curvature. The center portion of the lens has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer portions along the major axis of the lens creating an improved field of view of the reflected image.

Abstract: A multi-curvature convex mirror is comprised of a first reflective surface having a first curvature and defined by a portion of the surface area of a greater sphere and a second reflective surface having a second curvature greater than the first curvature and defined by a portion of the surface area of a lesser sphere that intersections the surface area of the greater sphere. The primary and secondary reflective surfaces are comprised of a series of locations, each defined by an x, y and z coordinate, determined in accordance with the relationship z = x a + y b where 600?a?1,300 and 100?|b?a|?200.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing and dome-type mirror lens. The lens has a first base footprint portion with a constant radius of curvature and a diameter, and a second base footprint portion comprised of an elliptical portion with a base major axis and a base minor axis. The mirror lens includes a first surface portion having a first surface radius and conforming to the first base footprint portion. The lens additionally includes a second surface portion conforming to the second base footprint portion. The second surface portion is comprised of a second surface major radius of curvature corresponding to a major surface axis and a second surface minor radius of curvature corresponding to a minor surface axis.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a motor vehicle includes a base that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A housing is fixedly secured to the base. The housing defines an opening. A mirror is operatively secured to the housing at the opening. The mirror defines a main viewing portion and a spotting mirror portion wherein the main viewing portion and the spotting mirror portion are fabricated from a unitary structure. The mirror is a reflective element and defines a main viewing portion of one curvature and a spotting mirror portion for viewing the blind spot which is defined by having a radius of curvature less than the main viewing portion. Both viewing portions of the mirror are integral to one unitary structure that is fabricated from sheet metal such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminum that may optionally be chrome plated, polished, or anodized.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing or base member, a mirror lens and a connecting gasket member. The mirror lens is provided in the shape of a portion of an end of an ellipsoid. The lens has a varying radius of curvature. The center portion of the lens has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer portions along the major axis of the lens creating an improved field of view of the reflected image.

Abstract: Asymmetric sectioned mirrors are presented. The mirrors include, for example, constant radius of curvature sections that are selected to increase the sizes and improve the definitions of images, for example images of children milling, walking and/or standing about either the front or alongside regions of a school bus. The mirrors may be asymmetric in either or both the horizontal and vertical directions. The mirrors may include a mounting system capable of using both ball mounts and tunnel mounts.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reflector having a light-diffusing property which suppresses inter-object reflection over a wide angle, and giving particularly high reflectance in an intended range of viewing angle; and to provide a reflection type liquid crystal display device using the same. The reflector includes a plurality of light-reflective concave portions. Each of the concave portions is formed so that an inclination angle (an angle between a plane tangential to a point on a concave surface and the surface of the base material) is maximum on a side portion of the curved surface, and so that the direction of the side portion having the maximum inclination angle is on a far side from a view point of an observer.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing and dome-type mirror lens. The lens has a first base footprint portion with a constant radius of curvature and a diameter, and a second base footprint portion comprised of an elliptical portion with a base major axis and a base minor axis. The mirror lens includes a first surface portion having a first surface radius and conforming to the first base footprint portion. The lens additionally includes a second surface portion conforming to the second base footprint portion. The second surface portion is comprised of a second surface major radius of curvature corresponding to a major surface axis and a second surface minor radius of curvature corresponding to a minor surface axis.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a motor vehicle includes a base that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. A housing is fixedly secured to the base. The housing defines an opening. A mirror is operatively secured to the housing at the opening. The mirror defines a rear view mirror portion and a spotting mirror portion wherein the rear view mirror portion and the spotting mirror portion are fabricated from a unitary structure.