Digital Rear Mirror ETCS Integration With Thermal Substrate Separation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic toll collection systems (ETCS) require a separate terminal on vehicles, which can affect vehicle aesthetics and occupy valuable space, and may lead to overheating and reduced design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

An integrated digital rear mirror device that combines a digital rear mirror module and an ETCS module within a single housing, with separate substrates to minimize space usage and prevent overheating, allowing for intuitive information display during driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate ETCS terminal is mounted on the vehicle, then electronic toll collection function is achieved, but vehicle aesthetics are compromised and valuable space is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic toll collection functionVSAvoidvehicle aesthetics

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ETCS terminal functionality with the digital rearview mirror housing, integrating two separate devices into one unified unit. This merging eliminates the need for a separate ETCS terminal mounted on the vehicle, thereby preserving vehicle aesthetics while maintaining electronic toll collection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The digital rearview mirror housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a rearview mirror housing and an ETCS terminal housing. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to support both rearview observation and electronic toll collection without requiring additional separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separate ETCS terminal is mounted on the vehicle, then electronic toll collection function is achieved, but valuable vehicle space is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic toll collection functionVSAvoidvehicle space occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ETCS terminal functionality with the digital rearview mirror housing, integrating two separate devices into one unified unit. This merging eliminates the need for a separate ETCS terminal mounted on the vehicle, thereby preserving vehicle aesthetics while maintaining electronic toll collection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The digital rearview mirror housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a rearview mirror housing and an ETCS terminal housing. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to support both rearview observation and electronic toll collection without requiring additional separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If digital rear mirror module and ETCS module are integrated in a single housing, then space utilization is improved, but overheating may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoiddevice temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the integrated housing into separate compartments or zones for the digital rear mirror module and the ETCS module. This segmentation allows each module to have its own thermal management space, preventing heat accumulation from one module from directly affecting the other while maintaining overall compact integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements localized thermal management features within different regions of the housing, such as dedicated ventilation channels or heat dissipation structures positioned near heat-generating components. This local quality approach addresses overheating concerns in specific areas without compromising the overall integrated design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12573244B2ETCS-supporting integrated digital rear mirror device and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 THINKWARE

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an electronic toll collection system (ETCS)-supporting integrated digital rear mirror device and an operating method thereof. According to an example embodiment, the digital rear mirror device may include a digital rear mirror module configured to provide a rear view of a vehicle within a single housing and an ETCS module for electronic toll collection for the vehicle. A substrate of the digital rear mirror module and a substrate of the ETCS module may be separately arranged rather than being stacked within the digital rear mirror device. According to another example embodiment, the ETCS module may transmit information received from an external device to the digital rear mirror module, and the digital rear mirror module may display the information while providing the rear view. Here, the information may include at least one of billing information, event information, traffic information, environmental information, and disaster situation information.