A cloaking device includes an object-side, an image-side, and a cloaked region (CR) between the object-side and the image-side. An object-side CR reflection boundary, an object-side half-mirror, and an object-side external reflection boundary are positioned on the object-side, and an image-side CR reflection boundary, an image-side half-mirror, and an image-side external reflection boundary are positioned on the image-side. The object-side half-mirror and the object-side external reflection boundary are spaced apart and generally parallel to the object-side CR reflection boundary, and the image-side half-mirror and the image-side external reflection boundary are spaced apart and generally parallel to the image-side CR reflection boundary. Light from an object located on the object-side of the cloaking device and obscured by the CR is redirected around the CR via two optical paths to form an image of the object on the image-side of the cloaking device.

A vehicle mirror assembly includes 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.

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a principal reflective element, a wide angle auxiliary reflective element and a back plate. The principal reflective element is disposed at a principal reflective element region of the back plate and has a cutout at a corner region thereof. The wide angle auxiliary reflective element is disposed at the auxiliary reflective element region of the back plate and is adjacent to the principal reflective element at the corner region of the principal reflective element. A single heater pad is disposed between the principal reflective element and the principal reflective element region of the back plate and between the wide angle auxiliary reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element region of the back plate. When powered, the single heater pad heats the principal reflective element and the wide angle auxiliary reflective element.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base, with the mirror head having a mirror casing and a reflective element, and with the mounting base configured for attachment at a vehicle. A camera module is disposed at the mirror head and includes a camera having a field of view and operable to capture image data. The camera module is extendable and retractable relative to the mirror casing. With the camera module retracted, the camera module is oriented such that the field of view of the camera encompasses a blind spot region at least at the body side of the vehicle. With the camera module retracted, an inboard limit of the field of view of the camera partially overlaps an outboard limit of a field of view provided to a driver of the vehicle by the reflective element.

A side mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining an interior volume and a mirror aperture, primary and secondary mirrors coupled to the housing and extending across the mirror aperture, and a support coupled to the housing and at least one of the primary mirror and the secondary mirror. The primary mirror has a first outer surface, and the secondary mirror has a second outer surface. The primary mirror and the secondary mirror are reflective and provide different fields of view. The primary mirror and the secondary mirror are arranged such that the primary mirror is at least partially superimposed on the secondary mirror, thereby defining an overlapped area of the second outer surface. A visible reflective area of the first outer surface is a larger than a visible reflective area of the second outer surface.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting base, with the mirror head having a mirror casing and a reflective element, and with the mounting base configured for attachment at a vehicle. A camera module is disposed at the mirror head and includes a camera having a field of view and operable to capture image data. The camera module is extendable and retractable relative to the mirror casing. With the camera module retracted, the camera module is oriented such that the field of view of the camera encompasses a blind spot region at least at the body side of the vehicle. With the camera module retracted, an inboard limit of the field of view of the camera partially overlaps an outboard limit of a field of view provided to a driver of the vehicle by the reflective element.

A method for enhancing situational awareness in a transportation vehicle includes locating at least one camera on the vehicle. Upon activation of a vehicle brake, the camera is automatically paired with a computing device located inside the vehicle.

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head and a mounting base, with a camera module disposed at the mirror head. The camera module includes a camera having a field of view exterior of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is attached at the vehicle. The camera module is extendable and retractable relative to a mirror casing of the mirror head. With the camera module retracted and with the mirror assembly attached at the vehicle, the camera module is oriented such that its field of view encompasses a blind spot region at least at the body side of the vehicle. With the camera module extended and with the mirror assembly attached at the vehicle, the camera module may be oriented such that its field of view encompasses a region at least along a body side of a trailer being towed by the vehicle.

A visualization system is provided for permitting a driver of a vehicle to observe a 180 degree rearward view of his or her vehicle and surroundings. The visualization system can include a display device which provides a 180 degree substantially rearward view. The 180 degree substantially rearward view can be seamless and/or undistorted. The display device can be positioned within the vehicle in front of the driver. The display device can be mounted on the inside surface of a windshield of the vehicle. At least a portion of the display device can be positioned above the eyes of the driver of the vehicle when the driver is seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

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.