DMD Road Surface Icon Distortion Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Characters or icons displayed on a road surface by vehicle headlights are distorted due to differences in the illuminating position and the driver's eye position, as well as variations in the vehicle's pitch angle, leading to unclear information for the driver.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted illumination device comprising a light source, a digital mirror device, an eye position obtaining system using an in-cabin camera, a tilt angle sensor, and a display control unit that adjusts the icon shape to correct for distortion based on the driver's eye position and vehicle pitch angle, ensuring clear display without distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If characters or icons are displayed on the road surface by headlight illumination, then information can be provided to the driver, but the displayed characters or icons become distorted due to the difference between the illuminating position and the driver's eye position
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations to determine the optimal icon shape that will appear undistorted when viewed from the driver's eye position. The control unit pre-computes the corrected icon geometry based on the known positions of the light source and driver's eye, applying inverse distortion transformation before the actual display occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the geometric parameters of the displayed icon based on the spatial relationship between the light source and the driver's eye position. By adjusting the icon's shape parameters (width, height, curvature) according to the viewing angle and distance, the system compensates for the perspective distortion that would otherwise occur.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle's pitch angle varies during traveling, then the vehicle can adapt to different road conditions, but the displayed characters or icons become distorted due to the changing angle of the illuminated surface
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the icon shape in real-time based on the vehicle's pitch angle. The control unit continuously monitors pitch angle changes and recalculates the optimal icon geometry to maintain undistorted display appearance, making the display system adaptive to changing vehicle attitudes and road conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from pitch angle sensors to continuously adjust the displayed icon shape. By monitoring the actual vehicle attitude and comparing it with the optimal display conditions, the control unit applies real-time corrections to the icon geometry, ensuring consistent display quality despite pitch variations.
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
The device effectively displays characters or icons on the illuminated road surface without distortion, maintaining clarity regardless of the driver's eye position or vehicle pitch angle, enhancing driver visibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a reflection type digital light deflector reflects light from a light source such as a halogen lamp. When the light is reflected, contrast is added to the reflected light to display characters or icons
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a DMD (digital mirror device) that displays an icon in an illuminated area on a road surface by controlling contrast of light generated by a light source for a headlight that illuminates ahead of vehicle, an in-cabin camera that obtains a driver's eye position, and a display control unit that controls a shape of the icon displayed by the DMD so that the shape of the icon is not distorted when viewed from the driver's eye position by using a difference between a reflection position of a reflected light by the DMD and the driver's eye position obtained by the in-cabin camera.