Computer Assisted Packaging for Driver’s Rear Viewing

A new method, which enlists the aid of a digital computer, has been perfected to quickly and accurately determine the performance of a proposed rearview mirror while still early in the design stage. Because of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) require a minimum viewing performance for both inside and outside left rearview mirrors, and since a common method — by which an intended design can be judged for compliance — would benefit both the Industry and the Federal Government, this method and the appropriate computer programs are being made available to all interested groups. Use of the computer programs results in a tremendous time savings over any manual drafting technique.

This paper is intended to serve as a design guide to be followed when packaging rearview mirrors. A general introduction on the subject of rear viewing is followed by a discussion of the approach to the problem of evaluating the performance of a rear viewing device. A general description of the computer programs is then presented. Next are separate treatments of each type of passenger car mirror which contain: a discussion of packaging considerations, a detailed sample of the use of the computer programs to check compliance to Federal Standards, and a description of the use of the programs for further design studies. The final section deals with the application of the programs to the evaluation of truck mirrors.

Information on how to obtain the computer programs is contained in anappendix.