Vehicle Camera Mirror View Adjustment Without Mechanical Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle rear-view mirror systems require mechanical actuators to adjust the field of view, which increases cost, complexity, and the likelihood of damage over time.
Innovation Solution
A camera monitoring system that manages the field of view of rear-view mirrors without mechanical actuators, allowing users to adjust the view through touch or gesture detection on a control surface, either directly on a screen or through touchless gestures, and is controlled by the vehicle's electronic control unit to ensure safe operation when the vehicle is stationary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical actuator is used to adjust the field of view of the rear-view camera, then the field of view can be changed, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical actuator system with an electronic image processing system. Instead of physically moving the camera to change the field of view, the system captures a wide-angle image and uses electronic control to select and display different regions of interest from the captured image, thereby achieving field of view adjustment without any mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from spatial dimension (physical camera movement) to data dimension (image region selection). By capturing the entire scene in one wide-angle shot and then selecting different portions of the image for display, the system achieves multiple field of view positions without mechanical actuation, effectively moving the adjustment from physical space to digital space.
2Ease of operation
If a touch screen control surface is used for field of view adjustment, then user control is enabled, but the screen may get dirty from direct touching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera-based gesture recognition system as an intermediary between the user and the control function. Instead of direct touch on the screen, users perform gestures in the air that are captured by a camera and translated into control commands, thereby maintaining ease of operation while preventing screen contamination.
3Ease of operation
If the control surface is placed on the exterior mirror, then field of view adjustment is convenient, but the mirror size must be increased to accommodate the control interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control interface with the interior door panel or dashboard rather than placing it on the exterior mirror. The control surface is integrated into the interior environment where it does not add to the exterior mirror dimensions, while still providing convenient access for the driver through the vehicle's interior controls.
Data Source
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AI summary
A camera monitoring system, CMS, for motor vehicles (10), comprising image capturing means (1102, 1112) being associated with an exterior rear-view mirror (110, 111), rearwardly oriented and located outside the vehicle (10), for capturing an image from the external environment; an ECU (500) connected to the image capturing means (1102, 1112) and configured to select an image region (210, 211) from the captured image, smaller than the captured image and movable within it; and at least one display device (100, 101, 102) connected to the ECU (500) and comprising at least one screen located inside the vehicle (10). The screen of the display device (100, 101, 102) can be a touch screen (200) and the CMS further comprises a control surface in the touch screen (200) configured to move, through driver's touches, the image region (210, 211) displayed in the touch screen (200) or in another additional screen of the display device (100, 101, 102). The CMS can further comprise a gesture detector to move, through driver's gestures, the displayed image region (210, 211).