Rearview Mirror Video Display Glare-Adaptive Brightness Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior rearview mirrors with video display screens face issues with brightness adjustment, as forward-facing light sensors are prone to blockage and inaccurately adjust display brightness due to forward light sources, leading to washed-out images, especially in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts display brightness based on captured image data rather than ambient light levels, using image data from rearview cameras to determine light levels and adjust the display's intensity, and independently controls LEDs or OLEDs to enhance contrast and visibility, particularly in low-light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If forward-facing light sensors are used to adjust display brightness, then the system can automatically adapt to ambient light conditions, but the sensors are prone to blockage and inaccurately adjust brightness due to forward light sources, resulting in washed-out images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the brightness control function from forward-facing light sensors and relocates it to rearward-facing light sensors. This separation removes the interfering factor (forward light sources) from the measurement process, allowing accurate detection of actual ambient light conditions without blockage or false readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rearward-facing light sensors as an intermediary element to indirectly measure ambient light conditions. Instead of directly sensing light in front of the vehicle (which causes measurement errors), the system uses rearward sensors to detect light levels that correlate with ambient conditions, providing accurate brightness adjustment data without the interference of forward light sources.
2Illumination intensity
If display brightness is increased to improve visibility in low-light conditions, then visibility improves, but image quality deteriorates due to washed-out appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where rearward-facing light sensors continuously monitor ambient light conditions and automatically adjust display brightness accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the display emits the precise amount of light needed for visibility without excessive brightness that would wash out the image, maintaining optimal image quality across varying lighting conditions.
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
This approach provides clearer, more accurate image representation by reducing unnecessary brightness and enhancing contrast, ensuring improved visibility of displayed images by adjusting display brightness according to actual lighting conditions and object detection.
Implementation Method 1
visible light emitted by the video display device passes through the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images
Implementation Method 2
intensity of the visible light emitted by the video display device is reduced to increase visibility of at least portions of the displayed video images that do not include the glare light source
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustable relative to a mounting base. The mirror head accommodates a mirror reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector and a video display device disposed behind the mirror reflective element and operable to display video images derived from image data captured by a camera of the vehicle. The displayed video images are viewable through the transflective mirror reflector by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to determination of a glare light source present in a field of view of the camera, intensity of a portion of the displayed video images that corresponds to the glare light source is reduced relative to adjacent portions of the displayed video images.