Ummm, Really?...Gee, who'd have thought?

Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent

Isn't this exactly like what Ford's been supplying on SD's lower mirrors for about 15 years now?

 

If you took the time to read the article, it's not the same thing at all!

 

I did. Twice. And as a side note, I'm an aerospace engineer so I get the 'math' part, but seriously, it's little more than an over-glorified convex parabolic mirror which are already standard equipment on damn near every vehicle, especially our SD lower mirrors. It's silliness, that's all. The patent clerks are asleep at the wheel.

Have a nice day.

 

Well, if you're an engineer, you should know that the devil is in the details!...

 

1998 Mercedes were equipped with parabolic mirrors in Germany, but those were not available in USA for liability reasons. I had to buy mine from Yugoslavian ebay seller.
So they were consider danger in USA 15 years ago and now somebody is getting patent on them?
Personally I have mixed feelings about those, as it is harder to judge the distance when you want to change the lane, but since this is wife car, it better have wider angle.

 

And another side note, maybe you're right, let's never improve upon old designs. This fuel injection thing is just silliness! Cars have had carbs for a hundred years, why fix it if it ain't broke!!! *slaps forehead*

 

there you go adding logic to the discussion, what is your problem? this thread is about emotion.

 

The key is achieving the 45 degrees of viewing angle without any major distortion. Parabolic mirrors achieve that viewing angle, but distort the image. Straight lines are cured.

 

Yeah, so you can see left headlight of the vehicle on left lane attached to right headlight, while the hood gets cured on the mirror joint
There is no perfect solution, I chose parabolic mirror because my wife had couple of incidents when she could not see car in dead spot.
For me, when I pass left lane idiots on the right, quite often I merge left with a foot between the bumpers. Precise mirror is critical.

 

I think you have missed the point of this thread entirely. Go back and read the first post... The new mirror design provides wide angled viewing, with very little distortion, including curved AND distance distortion.

 

You did quote my answer to redford not the one to the main topic.
Where did you read the new mirror is NOT distorting the distance anyway?