Multi-Mirror Optical Blind Spot Display System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices fail to effectively reduce blind spots by displaying images of obstructed regions at incorrect positions, and their compact configuration is not adequately achieved, especially in vehicles where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
The optical device employs a configuration with outward and inward mirrors arranged to reflect light in specific angles and directions, allowing the image of a blind spot to be displayed at the correct position, while maintaining a compact size by using multiple reflection surfaces and inclined mirror arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional optical device uses a single flat reflection surface for inward mirrors, then the device can reflect light to display blind spot images, but the device size becomes too large and occupies excessive space in the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The inward mirrors are divided into multiple mirror pieces (first, second, third, and fourth mirror pieces) with different reflection surface configurations. This segmentation allows each piece to handle specific light paths, reducing the overall device volume while maintaining effective blind spot coverage. The divided structure enables compact arrangement of optical components without sacrificing the light reflection capability needed for blind spot visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces inclined arrangement of reflection surfaces at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the optical axis, adding angular dimensionality to the light path control. This dimensional change allows light to be redirected through multiple reflections within a compact space, reducing the device volume while maintaining the necessary optical functionality for blind spot image display.
2Volume of moving object
If the optical device is made compact to avoid annoying occupants, then the device size is reduced, but the ability to display blind spot images at the correct position is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different mirror pieces are assigned specific local functions: the first mirror piece reflects light from the blind spot region, the second mirror piece reflects light from the obstacle region, and subsequent pieces handle different light paths. This local quality differentiation ensures that each component contributes to accurate image positioning, maintaining measurement precision while enabling compact device configuration through specialized functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system uses multiple dynamic light paths with different reflection angles and sequences. By configuring mirror pieces at specific inclinations (e.g., 45 degrees), the system dynamically redirects light from different regions (blind spot, obstacle, background) through distinct optical paths, ensuring accurate image positioning at the obstacle location while maintaining a compact form factor.
3Volume of moving object
If the optical device uses multiple mirror pieces with inclined reflection surfaces, then the device can be made compact and display images at correct positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple mirror pieces are merged into integrated inward mirror units that function as cohesive optical components. The first and second mirror pieces form one inward mirror, while the third and fourth mirror pieces form another inward mirror. This merging approach consolidates multiple reflection functions into unified structures, reducing device complexity while maintaining the compact size and accurate image positioning achieved through the multi-piece configuration.
4Loss of information
If conventional optical devices display blind spot images, then visibility is improved, but the images are displayed at incorrect positions that differ from actual positions
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system creates accurate optical copies of the blind spot region and obstacle region by reflecting light through precisely angled mirror pieces. The multiple reflection surfaces are configured to preserve the spatial relationships and positions of objects in the blind spot, producing faithful optical copies that appear at their actual positions in the driver's field of view, rather than at displaced locations.
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 configuration enables the driver to visualize the blind spot at its actual position, reducing the device's size and enhancing visibility without obstructing the occupant's space, thus improving the recognition of obstructed regions.
Implementation Method 1
a blind spot-side outward mirror disposed on a blind spot-side of the line of sight with respect to the obstacle, and reflecting incident light from the blind spot-side, in a direction crossing the line of sight and away from the obstacle
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device displaying an image of a blind spot includes a blind spot-side outward mirror disposed on a blind spot-side of a line of sight with respect to an obstacle; a blind spot-side inward mirror disposed to face the blind spot-side outward minor; an eye point-side inward mirror disposed on an eye point-side of the line of sight with respect to the obstacle; and an eye point-side outward minor disposed to face the eye point-side inward mirror. Each of the blind spot-side inward mirror and the eye point-side inward mirror has a plurality of reflection surfaces, and the reflection surfaces are arranged in parallel with each other and arranged at positions where the reflection surfaces partially overlap with each other.