Rearview Mirror Camera Alignment for Stable Driver Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle interior vision systems face suboptimal field of view and resolution issues due to the positioning of cameras at rearview mirrors, leading to blind spots and decreased effectiveness in monitoring occupants, especially when the mirror is adjusted, and existing systems struggle with glare reduction.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a vertically and horizontally offset lens relative to the image sensor, combined with a gimbal mounting system and electronic control unit, adjusts the field of view to prioritize high-interest areas and dynamically adjusts lens position and mirror dimming based on image data to maintain optimal surveillance and reduce glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera is positioned at the interior rearview mirror to monitor the vehicle interior, then the system can detect occupant presence, but the field of view becomes suboptimal with blind spots when the mirror is adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic field of view adjustment system that automatically adapts the camera's viewing angle and position based on detected glare conditions and occupant positions. The system dynamically modifies the field of view parameters to maintain optimal monitoring coverage while accounting for mirror adjustments and external lighting conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable detection and adaptability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the lens is positioned at the center of the image sensor to simplify alignment, then manufacturing is easier, but the field of view coverage is suboptimal for monitoring high-interest areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing an offset lens position relative to the image sensor center, creating a non-uniform field of view distribution that prioritizes coverage of high-interest areas such as the driver and front passenger regions. This deliberate asymmetry in optical quality distribution enhances monitoring precision for critical zones while accepting reduced coverage in less important areas, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and field of view optimization precision.
3Area of stationary object
If the camera uses a wide-angle lens to maximize field of view coverage, then more area is visible, but image resolution and quality decrease in the captured footage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the resolution-field of view contradiction by transitioning from a single static camera perspective to a multi-dimensional solution that includes offset lens positioning and dynamic field of view adjustment. This creates multiple viewing zones with different effective resolutions, allowing the system to maintain high resolution in priority monitoring areas while expanding overall coverage through angular and positional diversity, effectively adding dimensional complexity to the imaging geometry.
4Ease of operation
If the mirror is adjusted to improve rearward visibility for the driver, then driving visibility improves, but the camera's field of view changes creating blind spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors mirror position and detected occupant positions, then automatically adjusts the camera's field of view parameters in response. This closed-loop control ensures that occupant monitoring reliability is maintained even when the driver adjusts the mirror for optimal rearward visibility, as the system compensates for field of view changes by dynamically repositioning or reorienting the effective viewing area.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera disposed at a mirror head of an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle and viewing at least the head of a driver of the vehicle. The camera moves together and in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted by the driver of the vehicle to adjust a rearward view of the driver. Responsive to the driver of the vehicle adjusting the orientation of the mirror head, and responsive to processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera, the vehicular driver monitoring system maintains the camera's view of at least the head of the driver as it was before the driver adjusted the orientation of the mirror head. The vehicular driver monitoring system, at least in part via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera, monitors the driver of the vehicle.