Display Mirror Assembly With Toggle Glass for Night Glare Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rearview mirror assemblies for vehicles face challenges in minimizing glare from headlights while maintaining visibility of the display through a partially reflective, partially transmissive element, particularly during nighttime driving conditions.

Innovation Solution

The display mirror assembly incorporates a toggle mechanism that adjusts the glass element's position between 'on-axis' and 'off-axis' orientations, allowing the display to be selectively activated or deactivated based on the mirror's position, thereby minimizing glare and optimizing visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a partially reflective, partially transmissive element is used in the mirror assembly, then display visibility is improved, but glare from headlights increases during nighttime driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidglare from headlights
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The glass element is made adjustable between fixed positions using a toggle mechanism, allowing the system to dynamically change its optical configuration based on driving conditions. This enables the mirror to switch between minimizing glare (off-axis position) and maximizing display visibility (on-axis position), resolving the contradiction between these two competing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the angular orientation parameter of the glass element to control the balance between glare reduction and display visibility. By adjusting the angle of the partially reflective, partially transmissive element, the optical path of reflected light is modified, allowing the system to optimize performance for different viewing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If the glass element is positioned in on-axis orientation for display visibility, then display is visible, but glare from headlights interferes with viewing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidglare interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The toggle mechanism enables dynamic repositioning of the glass element between on-axis and off-axis orientations. When glare is problematic, the system switches to off-axis position; when display visibility is prioritized, it returns to on-axis position, allowing adaptive control of the harmful glare effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively positions the glass element in off-axis orientation before or during nighttime driving conditions to preemptively reduce glare interference. This preliminary adjustment prevents glare from compromising display visibility rather than attempting to correct it after the problem occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the glass element is positioned in off-axis orientation to reduce glare, then glare interference is minimized, but display visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglare reductionVSAvoiddisplay visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable toggle mechanism allows the system to switch between off-axis (glare reduction) and on-axis (display visibility) positions based on real-time driving conditions. This dynamic adaptability ensures that neither glare reduction nor display visibility is permanently compromised, as the system can optimize for the current priority.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The angular orientation parameter of the glass element is varied to control the trade-off between glare reduction and display visibility. By changing this geometric parameter, the system can shift the optical characteristics to favor either minimizing harmful reflections or maximizing display viewing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively reduces glare interference during nighttime driving, ensuring clear visibility of the display by adjusting the glass element's position to direct the reflected light away from the driver's line of sight, thus enhancing the usability of the rearview mirror assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a heat sink having an edge lit PCB mounted along a top edge thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element mounted on the first side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

a partially reflective, partially transmissive element mounted on the first side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransmission:

Data Source

PatentEP3371005B1Display mirror assembly incorporating heatsink
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 GENTEX CORP
  • EP3371005B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3371005B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3371005B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display mirror assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises a display device defining a display surface having a display perimeter elongated along a length. The display device is in communication with a primary PCB. The primary PCB comprises a first side and an opposing second side. The first side is directed toward the display device. The assembly also comprises a heat sink in connection with the second side of the primary PCB and extending substantially coextensive with the length display perimeter.