Electronic Mirror Virtual Image Layout for Faster Driver Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic mirror systems for vehicles take time for drivers to focus on displayed images due to the need to shift gaze from road traffic to a nearby display, reducing visibility and comfort.
Innovation Solution
An electronic mirror system that includes an image display unit and an optical system, where the display screen is tilted with respect to the optical path, and an image capturing unit continuously shoots video, allowing the optical system to condense light beams into an eye box, creating a virtual image with a natural sense of distance, enhancing visibility by reducing focus adjustment time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a display device is installed inside the vehicle at a position where the driver may easily monitor the video, then the driver can access the video signal from the image capture device, but it takes time for the driver to find focus on the video when shifting gaze from road traffic to the display device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the display system by introducing an optical system that forms a virtual image at a specific distance from the driver's eye. This allows the display to present video information while maintaining a virtual image distance that matches the driver's natural focal point, eliminating the need for focus adjustment when viewing the display.
2Length of stationary object
If the display screen is placed close to the driver for easy monitoring, then the driver can see the video without moving far from the road, but the video is not easily visible due to focus adjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical system as an intermediary between the display screen and the driver's eye. This optical system includes lenses or mirrors that form a virtual image of the display content at a specific distance, allowing the driver to view the video without direct focus on the physical screen while maintaining close proximity for easy monitoring.
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 system improves visibility and comfort by allowing drivers to quickly and easily focus on displayed images, providing a natural sense of distance and reducing the time needed to adjust their gaze from road traffic to the display.
Implementation Method 1
The optical system condenses, into an eye box, a light beam representing the image displayed on the display screen to make a user, who has a viewpoint inside the eye box, view a virtual image based on the image displayed on the display screen
Implementation Method 2
The optical system condenses, into an eye box, a light beam representing the image displayed on the display screen to make a user, who has a viewpoint inside the eye box, view a virtual image based on the image displayed on the display screen
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic mirror system presents circumstances surrounding a moving vehicle by displaying an image presenting the circumstances surrounding the moving vehicle. The electronic mirror system includes an image display and an optical system. The image display displays, every time image data is acquired from an image capturing unit, the image, based on the image data acquired from the image capturing unit, on a display screen. The image capturing unit continuously shoots video presenting the circumstances surrounding the moving vehicle. The optical system condenses, into an eye box, a light beam representing the image displayed on the display screen to make a user, who has a viewpoint inside the eye box, view a virtual image based on the image displayed on the display screen. The display screen is arranged to be tilted with respect to an optical path that leads from the display screen to the optical system (30).