Transparent Side-Door Display for Mirrorless Rear-View Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side mirrors on vehicles increase the risk of damage during collisions, reduce fuel economy due to air resistance, and detract from aesthetics, while also providing limited visibility of rear and side views when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A display device comprising a camera unit, a transparent display panel, and an optical unit that projects rear and side views onto the vehicle's side door, eliminating the need for physical mirrors by using a light collector and display driver to control image display based on operational states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If side mirrors are installed on the vehicle, then the driver can observe rear and side views for safe driving, but the vehicle experiences increased air resistance reducing fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical side mirror system with an optical imaging system consisting of cameras mounted on the vehicle body and display screens positioned within the cabin. This substitution eliminates the need for protruding mirrors while maintaining the safety function through electronic image transmission, thereby reducing air resistance and improving fuel economy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies of the rear and side views by using cameras to capture images and displaying them on screens inside the vehicle. This copying mechanism allows drivers to perceive the same visual information that would traditionally be obtained through physical side mirrors, without requiring the mirrors themselves to be present on the vehicle exterior.
2Reliability
If side mirrors are installed on the vehicle, then the driver can monitor surrounding objects and obstacles, but the side mirrors may be broken during collisions with other vehicles or objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vulnerable mechanical side mirror structure with an integrated camera-display system where cameras are mounted on the vehicle body in protected positions and display screens are located within the cabin. This eliminates the protruding elements that are susceptible to damage during collisions, while maintaining the monitoring function through electronic imaging and display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cameras and display screens as intermediary devices between the external environment and the driver's observation. Instead of directly exposing mirrors to external damage risks, the system uses protected cameras to capture images and transmitted displays to present the information, creating a buffered observation path that protects the monitoring system from collision damage.
3Reliability
If side mirrors are installed on the vehicle, then the driver can observe rear and side views, but the side mirrors deteriorate the aesthetics of vehicle design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical side mirror structure with a sleek camera-display system. The cameras can be integrated into the vehicle body with minimal visual impact, and the display screens are positioned within the cabin, eliminating the need for protruding external mirror assemblies that compromise the vehicle's aerodynamic shape and aesthetic design.
4Loss of information
If a camera unit is operated to capture images, then rear and side views can be displayed on the transparent display panel, but light from the window cannot be transmitted to the display area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically controllable window unit that can change its light transmission properties based on operational mode. When the camera is active, the window unit transitions to a state that blocks external light to ensure optimal image quality on the transparent display panel. When the camera is inactive, the window unit returns to its transparent state to allow natural light transmission, thus adapting to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching between camera operation and normal light transmission modes. The window unit alternates between blocking and transparent states according to whether the camera is actively capturing images, creating a rhythmic operational pattern that ensures both image display quality and natural light transmission are optimized at different times.
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
Enhances safety by providing continuous rear and side views without physical mirrors, improves fuel efficiency by reducing air resistance, and enhances vehicle aesthetics by eliminating the need for side mirrors.
Implementation Method 1
an optical unit that controls a path of light received from the window unit
Implementation Method 2
a first lens concentrating the light received from the window unit; a second lens concentrating the light having passed through the light path controller
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a light collector including a camera unit having a camera and a window unit having a window, an optical unit that controls a path of light received from the window unit, and a transparent display panel including at least one pixel area that displays an image based on an image captured by the camera unit and at least one transmissive area that displays an image received from the optical unit.