Liquid Crystal Electronic Mirror With Gradient Refraction Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle mirrors suffer from issues such as excessive glare, limited field of view, and susceptibility to damage, while electronic mirrors, although enhancing safety and convenience, may fail due to camera or display failures, necessitating a backup mechanism.
Innovation Solution
An electronic mirror system incorporating a liquid crystal cell with a varying voltage profile across its electrodes to provide a reflective mode with adjustable magnification, using a high-resistivity area to generate a refractive index gradient, ensuring functionality even when the display fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a uniform voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, then the mirror provides a standard reflective view, but the field of view and magnification are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a non-uniform voltage distribution across the liquid crystal layer, with different voltage values in different regions (higher voltage at edges, lower at center). This creates spatially varying refractive indices that enable adjustable magnification and expanded field of view without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the voltage parameters applied to the liquid crystal layer to adjust optical properties. By varying voltage magnitude and distribution patterns, the system can switch between different magnification levels and field of view configurations, providing adaptability without mechanical moving parts.
2Reliability
If the electronic mirror relies on camera and display components, then safety and convenience are enhanced, but the system becomes vulnerable to component failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a backup reflective mechanism using the liquid crystal layer's inherent reflective properties. When the camera or display fails, the liquid crystal layer can still function as a traditional mirror through voltage control, providing a fallback safety mechanism that cushions against component failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal layer serves multiple functions: it acts as both a display medium for electronic images and a reflective surface for traditional mirror operation. This multi-functionality ensures that if one system fails, the other can take over, enhancing overall system reliability without adding separate backup components.
3Measurement precision
If a varying voltage profile is applied to create refractive index gradient, then adjustable magnification is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage control where the voltage profile across the liquid crystal layer can be adjusted in real-time based on viewing requirements. The system can switch between uniform voltage (standard view, lower energy) and non-uniform voltage (magnified view, higher energy) modes, optimizing energy consumption based on actual needs.
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
Ensures continuous mirror functionality by providing adjustable magnification and visibility of displayed images through a liquid crystal cell, maintaining safety and convenience even in display failures.
Implementation Method 1
when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer change their orientation
Implementation Method 2
the refraction index of the liquid crystal layer gradually varies from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic mirror comprises a liquid crystal cell, wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, a liquid crystal layer comprising liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and an AC voltage source configured to apply an alternating voltage across the liquid crystal layer between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, wherein, when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer change their orientation, and the electronic mirror is configured to apply a varying voltage across the liquid crystal layer which gradually decreases from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer such that the refraction index of the liquid crystal layer gradually varies from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer.