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

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

#51

Post by sp332 »

gjm11 wrote: post #37

Blogspam. Original press release from Drexel University: http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2012/J... Added value in PhysOrg article: zero. Please, everyone, stop submitting links from PhysOrg and ScienceDaily . I have never ever ever seen anything on those sites that isn't either (1) bullshit or (2) a recycled press release with zero (or often negative) added value. (Sometimes it's both at once.)…

This site might not add anything, but it's not blogspam. It includes the full text of the press release. Blogspam is like this: http://www.reastech.org/best-android-phones-available-today/ It just gives a piece or a summary of the article (so they can't be accused of copyright infringement) and is only meant to funnel your eyeballs past their ads.

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

#52

Post by anamax »

bermanoid wrote: post #31
kschua wrote: post #12

This is just beautiful. Practical application of maths. I would love to get my hands on one of these when it is done. Glad that he has a patent for that. He should be justly rewarded for coming out with this road safety feature. To those that believe that there is prior art, do note that the patent granted is for "Wide angle substantially non-distorting mirror". It is not just any curve mirror, it is unlike normal cu…

I can't access the actual article, but this doesn't sound like a very substantial bit of work. On its face, it's the type of thing I'd probably expect a decently bright college kid to solve quite well as a week-long project, nothing more. Even if it was, we don't typically give out patents for mere solutions to novel math problems. Why should this be any different?

> Even if it was, we don't typically give out patents for mere solutions to novel math problems.

Actually, we do give out patents for solutions to problems that involve math (the soluions involving math). Those patents do not cover using the same math for other problems.

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

#53

Post by protomyth »

bitrot wrote: post #22
einhverfr wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah. The ideal approach is a flat mirror with a curved one inset either above or below. That way you beg both. However it seems to me that there is a bit of basic math at work here. The more you fit into a mirror of the same size, the smaller the objects will appear and the further away they will look. That strikes me as a very basic premise and I don't think you can get away from that so easily.

I was thinking of having stacked mirrors, the way tractor trucks do. But your comment made me think: is there a way to have a flat mirror turn transparent, revealing a curved mirror behind it? You could activate the transparency just by using your turn signal.

Bigger vehicles such as buses often have a large flat mirror and a small half-globe shaped mirror attached to them. This provides proper distance and gives a nice wide view when you need it.

I would prefer cameras, but I am not sure if they are still not legal in the US.

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

#54

Post by DanI-S »

nitrogen wrote: post #28
okamiueru wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe since it is based on tiny flat mirrors (like a disco ball), that law can somehow be loopholed. If the law was based on wanting to avoid distortions, whether the law applies to these new mirrors should be reconsidered? Surely, _some_ common sense exists in US legislature?

It's not actually flat: Hicks noted that, in reality, the mirror does not look like a disco ball up close. There are tens of thousands of such calculations to produce a mirror that has a smooth, nonuniform curve. I imagine "tens of thousands of such calculations" is newspaper code for integration. If someone assigned me the task of making such a mirror, I would start by treating the mirror like a monitor displaying a…

If I were asked to make such a device, I would build a flexible mirror whose curve could be adjusted by an array of attached screws. I'd fix said mirror to a car, and adjust the screws until the desired curve was reached. I'd then measure the curve and duplicate it in a rigid finished product.

It's actually amazing that it took a physicist/mathematician to think of this thing. I doubt I would have come up with the idea. It goes to show how domain knowledge shapes your perception of the world.

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

#56

Post by CodeMage »

boredguy8 wrote: post #44

Why do you have blind spots in the first place? http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirr... "The paper advocates adjusting the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror." I've been driving this way for a long time, and it's great. You can already see behind you: you don't need 2 more mirrors showing you the same thing.

I don't know about others, but here's an extract from the article you linked that explains why I have blind spots:

Those who have switched to the SAE's approach swear by it, however, some drivers can't adjust to not using the outside mirrors to see directly behind the car and miss being able to see their own car in the side mirrors.

The reason I need to see a bit of my car in the side mirror is because I need to know not only what is behind me, but also where it is in relation to my car.

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

#57

Post by emehrkay »

boredguy8 wrote: post #44

Why do you have blind spots in the first place? http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirr... "The paper advocates adjusting the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror." I've been driving this way for a long time, and it's great. You can already see behind you: you don't need 2 more mirrors showing you the same thing.

When I explain this to people they think that I am crazy. There is absolutely no need to see the same thing in the side mirrors and the rearview. It should be a seamless transition between them, like a multi-monitor setup.

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

#58

Post by adolph »

boredguy8 wrote: post #44

Why do you have blind spots in the first place? http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirr... "The paper advocates adjusting the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror." I've been driving this way for a long time, and it's great. You can already see behind you: you don't need 2 more mirrors showing you the same thing.

Having a bit of own-car in the side mirror allows for verification that the mirror is oriented as intended. Is there an orientation test for the SAE recommendation?

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

#59

Post by simcop2387 »

boredguy8 wrote: post #44

Why do you have blind spots in the first place? http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirr... "The paper advocates adjusting the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror." I've been driving this way for a long time, and it's great. You can already see behind you: you don't need 2 more mirrors showing you the same thing.

I thought that was how you were supposed to adjust the mirrors!

Though I think on some cars this arrangement can leave a blind spot one more lane over (the one next to the one next to you) which isn't as big of a deal since they won't normally be able to cause a problem or even exist on most roads. I haven't finished reading the article but if his mirror solves that issue too it's still an improvement.

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

#60

Post by vacri »

adolph wrote: post #58
boredguy8 wrote: post #44

Why do you have blind spots in the first place? http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirr... "The paper advocates adjusting the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror." I've been driving this way for a long time, and it's great. You can already see behind you: you don't need 2 more mirrors showing you the same thing.

Having a bit of own-car in the side mirror allows for verification that the mirror is oriented as intended. Is there an orientation test for the SAE recommendation?

It also helps a little with reverse parking.
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