Digital Side Mirror Optics for Faster Driver Refocusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital side mirrors in vehicles cause a safety issue due to delayed pupil focus recovery from changes in focal length when switching between the front view and the side mirror monitor, and they have limited design freedom due to glare and reflection concerns.
Innovation Solution
A side mirror system that displays two-dimensional or three-dimensional images with a focal length greater than the distance to the monitor surface, using a camera outside the vehicle and a monitor inside, with optical components like mirrors, glass panels, and coatings to prevent optical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a digital side mirror displays images on a monitor, then the driver can see the rear environment, but the focal length changes when switching between front view and monitor, causing delayed pupil focus recovery and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the display system by using a glass panel with specific optical properties and coating parts to adjust the focal length of the displayed image. The glass panel and coatings are designed to make the focal length of the rear environment image match the distance from the driver's eye to the monitor surface, thereby reducing focal length changes when switching views and minimizing pupil focus recovery time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a side mirror monitor is installed at various positions, then design freedom increases, but glare and reflection of light occur, limiting the position of the monitor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of light reflection into a beneficial one by applying a coating part to the glass panel. This coating is specifically designed to prevent unwanted glare and reflections from the monitor while allowing the necessary light transmission. The coating transforms potentially harmful reflected light into controlled optical behavior, enabling the monitor to be positioned without causing driver distraction from glare.
3Ease of manufacture
If a glass panel is used to project image light, then the image can be displayed, but optical interference occurs that needs to be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coating part as an intermediary layer on the glass panel to mediate between the projected image light and the surrounding environment. This coating acts as a mediator that prevents optical interference by controlling the interaction between light and the glass panel surface, eliminating harmful reflections and glare while maintaining the image projection function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution minimizes the change in focal length when switching views, enhancing safety by reducing cognitive decline, and improves design freedom by preventing glare and reflection, thus enhancing the user's recognition of the rear environment.
Implementation Method 1
a first mirror configured to refract and reflect an incident image light
Implementation Method 2
a first mirror configured to refract and reflect an incident image light
Implementation Method 3
a second mirror on which the image light reflected from the first mirror is incident and configured to expand and reflect the incident image light
Implementation Method 4
a coating part provided on one side of the glass panel and configured to prevent optical interference
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a side mirror for recognition of left and right rear environment of a vehicle and the vehicle having the same.The side mirror includes: a camera provided on an exterior of a vehicle and configured to obtain an image of a rear environment; and a monitor provided inside the vehicle and configured to display the image obtained by the camera. The image displayed on the monitor has a focal length greater than a distance to a surface of the monitor from a user's location.