Rear-view mirror

A rear-view mirror (or rearview mirror) is a Convex mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle's rear window (rear windshield). A rear-view mirror (or rearview mirror) is a Convex mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle's rear window (rear windshield). In cars, the rear-view mirror is usually affixed to the top of the windshield on a double-swivel mount allowing it to be adjusted to suit the height and viewing angle of any driver and to swing harmlessly out of the way if impacted by a vehicle occupant in a collision. The rear-view mirror is augmented by one or more side-view mirrors, which serve as the only rear-vision mirrors on trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. Among the rear-view mirror's early uses is a mention by Dorothy Levitt in her 1909 book The Woman and the Car which noted that women should 'carry a little hand-mirror in a convenient place when driving' so they may 'hold the mirror aloft from time to time in order to see behind while driving in traffic'. However, earlier use is described in 1906, in a trade magazine noting mirrors for showing what is coming behind now popular on closed bodied automobiles, and to likely be widely adopted in a short time. The same year, a Mr. Henri Cain from France patented a 'Warning mirror for automobiles'. The Argus Dash Mirror, adjustable to any position to see the road behind, appeared in 1908. Earliest known rear-view mirror mounted on a racing vehicle appeared on Ray Harroun's Marmon race car at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 race in 1911. Harroun himself claimed he got the idea from seeing a mirror used for a similar purpose on a horse-drawn vehicle in 1904. Harroun also claimed that the mirror vibrated constantly due to the rough brick surface, and it was rendered largely useless. Elmer Berger is usually credited with inventing the rear-view mirror, though in fact he was the first to patent it (1921) and develop it for incorporation into production streetgoing automobiles by his Berger and Company. Recently, rear-view video cameras have been built into many new model cars, this was partially in response to the rear-view mirrors' inability to show the road directly behind the car, due to the rear deck or trunk obscuring as much as 3–5 metres (10–15 feet) of road behind the car. As many as 50 small children are killed by SUVs every year in the USA because the driver cannot see them in their rear-view mirrors. Camera systems are usually mounted to the rear bumper or lower parts of the car, allowing for better rear visibility. There are three types of rearview cameras. Surface MountedFlush MountedLicense Mounted Surface Mounted CamerasThese cameras are mounted on a flat surface of the vehicle by focusing them high up. By doing so they provide a perfect view and an excellent depth perception. These features make this type of camera to be more efficient and that’s why they are chosen for larger vehicles so they would produce a better picture with a wider angle. Flush Mounted CamerasFlush mounted cameras can be installed in any hole that is present in the backside of the vehicle so that they produce a nice and clean image. Though they provide a clear image it is not possible for these type of rearview camera to provide a deeper view as the surface mounted camera unit.