Electrochromic Rearview Mirror Display With Integrated Video Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior rearview mirror systems lack integrated solutions for displaying video images from cameras or image sensors while maintaining clear visibility for drivers, especially under varying light conditions, and often require separate processors for video display and mirror functions.
Innovation Solution
An interior rearview mirror assembly with a video display screen integrated behind a reflective element, featuring a decoder with a microprocessor that controls the display, allowing for enhanced image processing and elimination of the need for a separate processor for the video display screen, along with a compass chip for directional sensing, all integrated into a single circuit for reduced complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a video display screen is integrated behind a reflective element in the mirror assembly, then video display functionality is provided, but the visibility of displayed images may be reduced under dimming conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the video display screen with the reflective element in a single integrated mirror assembly. The display screen is positioned behind the reflective element, allowing both the mirror function and video display function to coexist in one component, resolving the contradiction by merging two functions into a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a variable reflectivity reflective element that can dynamically adjust its properties. When video display is needed, the reflective element's reflectivity is reduced to allow the display images to pass through. When mirror function is needed, the reflectivity is increased. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between providing video display functionality and maintaining image brightness.
2Ease of operation
If a separate microprocessor is used to control the video display screen, then display control is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the microprocessor control function into the existing decoder unit. Instead of adding a separate microprocessor for display control, the decoder is enhanced to perform both video decoding and display screen control functions. This merging of control functions reduces the total number of processors in the system while maintaining full display control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoder is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a video signal decoder and as the control unit for the video display screen. This universal component performs multiple functions (video decoding, display control, image processing) that would traditionally require separate dedicated units, thereby reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular video camera display system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a casing and an electrochromic reflective element, with a video display device disposed in the casing behind the electrochromic reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, a video display screen of the video display device is operable to display video images that are viewable through the electrochromic reflective element by a driver of the vehicle. A rearward-viewing video camera is disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and views at least rearward of the vehicle. Control circuitry is disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. Image data captured by the rearward-viewing video camera is communicated as a digital signal from the rearward-viewing video camera via a cable to the control circuitry disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly.