Vehicle Mirror Adjustment Using Head Outline Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for adjusting vehicle mirrors and screens require high computing power and additional systems, making them inefficient and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method using a standard passenger-compartment camera to capture the driver's head outline relative to the vehicle geometry, calculating the head position, determining the target mirror or screen position, and activating actuators to adjust the mirrors or screens, all with low computing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If elaborate 3D camera systems are used to capture driver-specific information, then the accuracy of driver detection and mirror adjustment is improved, but the computing power requirement and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for mirror adjustment - specifically the head outline and its relationship to vehicle geometry - rather than capturing complete 3D driver information. This selective extraction reduces computing requirements while maintaining sufficient accuracy for the adjustment task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a standard passenger-compartment camera instead of expensive 3D camera systems. By utilizing an existing, lower-cost camera component already present in the vehicle, the system achieves the necessary functionality without the high computing power requirements of elaborate 3D systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional 3D camera systems and computing capacities are added to the vehicle, then the capability to detect and adjust mirrors individually is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing passenger-compartment camera serve multiple functions - it is used both for its original purpose (monitoring the passenger compartment) and for capturing head outline information for mirror adjustment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated 3D camera systems while maintaining individual mirror adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses resources already available in the vehicle - the existing camera and its image processing capabilities - to perform the mirror adjustment function. Rather than adding separate systems, the existing infrastructure is leveraged to provide the additional functionality.
3Use of energy by moving object
If standard passenger-compartment cameras are used instead of 3D camera systems, then the computing power requirement and energy consumption are reduced, but the measurement precision for capturing driver position may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical geometric relationship - the head outline's position relative to fixed vehicle geometry points - from the camera image. By focusing on this specific extracted information rather than attempting to capture complete 3D head geometry, the system achieves sufficient precision for mirror adjustment using standard camera capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by capturing only the necessary portion of driver information (head outline and its spatial relationship to vehicle geometry) rather than attempting to capture the complete driver profile. This partial information capture is sufficient for the mirror adjustment task while reducing processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for adjusting at least one vehicle mirror and/or a screen includes capturing a head outline of a driver in relation to at least one vehicle geometry of the passenger compartment of the vehicle using a passenger-compartment camera of the vehicle. The position of the head of the driver is calculated using, at least in part, the captured head outline and calibration information with respect to the at least one vehicle geometry of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a target position of the at least one vehicle mirror and/or of the screen using, at least in part, the calculated head position. The method further includes activating an actuator of the at least one vehicle mirror and/or of the screen for the purpose of bringing about the determined target position of the vehicle mirror and/or of the screen.